***I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for feedback.
This story, a diary of my characters adventures thus far, is already posted at another board which will remain nameless, least I violate any CoC rules. Theres not a lot of traffic over there, and I'm hopeing for constructive comments and critisisim from the gentle readers from this board.
It should be noted that my writing is pretty sparse near the beginning of this diary. When I started it I had no idea that it would be read by anyone other than my own group, nor that it would reach it's current proportions. As i began posting it on a public forum, I also made an attempt to expand on my writing style a little in an attempt to give more depth.
Thanks for taking the time, if you do read this.***
The Diary of Doorag Marzipan: Book I
Ptchwl 6
Have recently arrived in Toulouse, a town I have not visited for quite some time. I believe the last time the Old Man and I came here for supplies and news it was my seven-tenth summer. Not much has changed in four years. I don't plan on staying long. Perhaps a day or two to pad my supplies and get my bearings before heading to Havilah.
Ptchwl 7
My journey to Havilah has been postponed. Baran, the captain of the guard here in Toulouse, has asked me to accompany a small band of scouts to check on the condition of a monastery a days walk from here. According to him the monks that reside there visit the town every year around this time. Thus far they have not come, and Baran is worried for them. He has asked myself and four others to make sure they are well, and has even added the incentive of a twenty-five gold payment. I would do it without the coin, but I can't say it won't come in handy in the days to come.
We leave tomorrow. Five of us in all. I have only met my new companions briefly, but already I have a good feeling about them. There is Griffon, a human warrior; Coribdis, another human, young, but he carries a bow. I hope he knows how to use it. There is Taklinn, a dwarven priest of Clangeden; obviously devout and zealous. Mayhap a bit OVER zealous, but one must admire faith. And last, besides myself, is another small folk. Her name is Happy, and she’s a Greenie. She packs a lot of blades, I'll say that for her!
Ptchwl 8
The day has been a harsh journey to the east, into the forested mountains and a winter storm that seems awfully harsh. The end of the day found us at the monastery where no life appears to exist. It is bitterly cold, so cold that the door was iced over. We found a dead monk in the frozen pond in the front, but that was to be the least of the horrors we'd face.
Upon entering the monastery Griffon was attacked by a Delver (?). The ensuing fight was short, dark, and ultimately we proved victorious, but not without some damage being done to Griffon.
Pressing on, we found the kitchen, and beyond it a dining room that showed signs of struggle. Two skeletons dressed in the rags of monks robes suddenly animated and attacked! My companions fought valiantly! Happy risked her life to help Taklinn deal with one of the undead, and with supreme team work we were able to dispatch them.
Stairs lead up to sleeping quarters, empty and cold. More stairs led down to a basement and an odd furnace, and in that room were we nearly brought down! From a pile of coal an undead hand slapped at me, nearly knocking me senseless! I could do little but make my escape as my stalwart comrades stepped in to deal with the atrocity. It was then that Taklinn was hit hard enough to be brought down. The rest of the party fell upon the monkish zombie with vengeance in mind, and it soon fell dead.
Which finds us here, back in the kitchen, warmed by fire and furnace, keeping careful watch over the unconscious Taklinn. He breaths and sleeps peacefully, which is a good sign. It has been an exhausting day and I must sleep. With all the undead that seem to be in this place I think it would be a good idea to memorize Disrupt Undead. Also, if I have time, I am going to try my hand at scroll scribing.
Ptchwl 10
Another days rest and we believe Taklinn is out of the woods. He is on the mend, and we think that we'll be able to move on tomorrow or the next day. My scroll work is coming along nicely, but I don't want to over do it. I am doing a bit of healing myself.
I have had little time to talk about my companions, and certainly more will be said later, but for now I must write a few small accolades.
I feel very lucky to have fallen in with this lot. Though Griffon seems fatalistic and concerned only with finding the monks wine supply, he is a ferocious warrior! Taklinn is a rock, and his healing spells have already come in handy. His axe is a thing to behold, and with it he makes short work of undead skulls. I am quickly seeing where Happy's expertise lies. She is always eager to scout silently ahead and check for traps. Yes, a roguish lass she is, but she seems more about the fun of the caper than the actual loot. One can't fault a small folk for natural curiosity. She is also quite brave. And speaking of brave, Caribdis has the courage to recite poetry in the heat of battle! Such bravery have I rarely seen! He is also quite a shot with his bow, and though he's quite young, I feel we're fortunate to have him.
Unfortunately, for my part I seem able to do little more than lug a torch. Still, it's been only a couple of days. I'm sure a spell or two will come in handy when the time comes.
Ptchwl 11
We head back out tomorrow. Taklinn is back on his feet, but needs a day to recover his spells. Caribdis and Griffon scouted up the stairs briefly and reported a hall full of foreboding doors. In the morning we will set out to get to the bottom of this mystery and root out the evil that infests this once beautiful monastery.
My scroll looks good. I believe all has gone well and I now have Unseen Servant on paper.
Ptchwl 12
Whew! What a day it has been! Full of combat, mishaps and flaming zombies.
We ascended the stairs this morning and the first door we opened found us face to face with a pair of the undead that infest this place. I was able to apply a little flaming oil to one of them while Griffon mopped up the second. All would have gone like clock work had Happy and I not tried to help. We both hurled daggers at the creature, but we both missed and ended up hitting Griffon! He was not badly injured, and seemed to forgive us, but I wouldn't blame him if he holds a bit of resentment against us. Our clumsiness in battle did nothing to alleviate the reputation we small folk have as troublemakers.
At any rate, soon after this fight, Caribdis suddenly became terrified and obsessed with fleeing the monastery. He claimed to have seen a ghost or a vision of a woman watching him. He swears that we are in terrible danger, more than we understand. It may be a ghost, but I'm not so sure. The way he made it sound it could well have been someone scrying us. I've seen the Old Man scry plenty of times. It could easily have been Caribdis sensing himself being magically watched. Whatever the case, the mystery deepens, and we will do well to be on our guard.
Back to the events of the day, we moved on, checking out the rooms on the upper floor, discovering still undead! One room in particular, the library, seemed positively bursting at the seams with them. Courage, determination and fighting prowess won the day, and I was even able to make use of all the Disrupt Undead spells I'd memorized. Unfortunately, I would prove far less effective in our next fight.
After clearing out the second floor we discovered a stair case leading up to the third floor. The first thing we saw upon climbing them was a room with t
wo doors and as many statues. We were leery of the statues, but not leery enough! Taklinn touched one of the doors and the two stone monks sprang to life! We have fought battles, but nothing like this! The two statues moved faster than they should have, and struck with powerful stone fists. Worse yet, the only one of us who seemed capable of hurting them was Griffon, and even he was only just able to dent them. My spells proved useless, and Taklinn, our only other strong fighter, was at a loss. His axe simply lacked the power to breech their stone skin! I tried to aid Griffon and perhaps redeem myself from the dagger throwing incident by helping him to flank one of the statues and hopefully distracting it while Griffon concentrated his attacks. I don't really know if it worked, but in the end Griffons sword was the end for the statue. Good thing, to, for one hit from the statue would surely have been the end of me.
Badly wounded, Griffon turned to deal with the second statue, which Taklinn and Caribdis had been managing to stave off, but the magic that gave the stone life must have been finite, for at that point the second statue ceased to move and became harmless granite once again. We took no chances, however, and smashed it to pieces.
We were all quite the worse for wear after such a fight, and have decided to bed down for a couple of days to regain our strength before breeching the doors. My Unseen Servant came in quite handy for opening suspect doors. I believe I'll make another such scroll. I feel that my skills have benefited greatly from even this small amount of real world work.
Ptchwl 16
Today we head back to Toulouse, for victory is ours and the murderous evil that made puppets out of monks has been driven from the monastery. I can only hope that more of their order will eventually come and repopulate the place and bring life back to it.
I write this while we rest on the trail back to Toulouse. I haven’t much time, but, extraordinarily enough, there is little to tell. Still, what there is to relate is gripping enough!
We rested for two days, honing our blades and reciting our spells, all the while glancing nervously upwards, knowing that we would soon face whatever dwelt behind those last doors. Finally, with our loins properly girded, we fit the correct key into one of the key holes and let the door swing open.
The creature within greeted us with the hiss of hatred that only the undead can muster. This had obviously once been a high ranking monk, and he was the last stand of evil in this place. He crouched low amongst the ruined room, eager to pounce upon the first to come close enough. But it was not to be.
I know that clerics can have power over the undead, and I've seen Taklinn try his hand at rebuking several of the zombies that we've crossed paths with already, all with dismal results. He claims that manipulation of the undead is not his particular forte, and until today he had done nothing to disprove that. But this morning, in the face of the purest evil I have yet to see, Taklinn stepped forward, roaring the name of Clangiden, calling upon the dwarven god to smite this abomination before him.
And Clangiden did!
The zombie monk suddenly whimpered and cried out in fear and frustration, and fled before the glow that radiated from Taklinn's holy symbol. The pitiful creature sought a way to escape, but there was none. Taklinn backed it into a corner, and held it at bay while it cowered before him. Grif and Caribdis wasted no time in filling it full of bolts and arrows until it lay still.
Grif says it is time to move if we want to make it to Toulouse by sundown. I will write more when there is more to tell.
Ptchwl 18
It's been far too long since my last entry. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat would not be pleased. He always said that the keeping of a journal is an exercise in discipline, and discipline is at the heart of successful wizardry. I shall try to better stay abreast of events in this log.
Our arrival back in Toulouse roused a sleeping Baron, it being well past dusk. He gratefully received our report though, as well as the letter we had found addressed to him. He read it with some concern and then sifted our story for details. It was clear that he was much troubled, and I daresay it was no help that Caribdis decided that it was an appropriate time to pump him for more money, reminding him incessantly of our deeds and the fact that the job had turned out to be far more difficult than the mere delivering of a letter. I was quite appalled, but he is young, and Baran took it in stride. I do hope that our impetuous bard will one day soon learn the fine art of subtlety.
Baron sent us to The Happy Merchant to enjoy an evening of refreshment and a clean bed, courtesy of Toulouse, promising to meet us there in the morning with our payment and more information.
Weather it was Caribdis' hinting, or Baron’s own sense of fairness I don't know, but the following day he brought to each of us a pouch heavy with 40 gold! Fifteen more than promised. We were all well pleased, and it certainly made us receptive to his offer of further aiding him. Sitting down to dine with us, he told us what he knew.
The abbot of the monastery, it seems, was a gruff piece of work by the name of Alluzin who had split away from some monks order or another because it wasn't strict enough for him. It seems that he had, before starting his own order, raised a sister whom Baron feels might have cause to resent him. She is a possible suspect as the culprit behind the monastery murders, especially considering Caribdis' tale of seeing visions of a woman. The motive may be a bit tenuous, but it is still there, so Baron felt it wise to at least tell us of her, and ask us to undertake a second mission on his behalf.
He wants us to travel to Ravens Hollow to see Yigil Sakeri, a wizard of some renown. I recall the name from The Old Man in the Pointy Hat, though not very many details. Baron assures me that my having apprenticed under The Old Man in the Pointy Hat will lend weight to our meeting, but I don't know. It's always been my experience that wizards consider apprentices to be slightly beneath privy cleaners on the importance scale. We shall see.
We have accepted the mission, though it pains me a bit. On the one hand, I desire travel the opportunity to see new things and face new challenges. But I worry that I may become too involved in the affairs of this kingdom and lose the freedom to follow my whims. Still, it's for a good cause, and I must admit to a certain curiosity as the mystery deepens. The culprit must be brought to justice, and to a certain extent, I think it only right that we be the ones to do so.
On a side note, I've finally finished research on those new spells. At last, I have Mage Armor and Sleep. While I find it difficult to make room for defensive spells, I feel sure that the time will soon come when they will come in handy. Already I can cast more spells than I could only a week ago. My learning has accelerated dramatically. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat was right! There is no class room like the real world! I find that I have very little time for study, but the research I am able to get in seems to correlate far more clearly with real world examples than they do in the lab. It's as if the danger has forced my mind to respond to it by swiftly grasping the nuances of my craft. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat said it would be so, and it is.
And while Shield and Mage Armor may go unused for a bit longer, I'm very excited at the prospect of Sleep. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat swears by this spell, still preferring to have one about him even at his power. I'm eager to try it out, my one reservation being its area of effect. I would hate to accidentally knock out one of my fellow party members due to poor calculations of distance. I shall try to be careful.
Note to self: See about buying some scrolls in Ravens Hollow. Now that I have some money it's time to supplement my own research with purchased spells, though I daresay I hardly have the funds to copy them into my book. That may soon change, however, as one of the spoils of our recent adventure turned out to be an amazing book that promises to reveal to me the secretes of scribing at half the page space and even less the cost! I have been pursuing it ravenously. This book could save me many thousands of gold in the long run, though it is a slow and painful read.
Ptchwl 23
We are on the road to Ravens Hollow, a week away from Toulouse. Not all of us were so eager to lend our strength to Baron, but he hints that our solidarity may be our best source of income, an already formed and cohesive party being quite valuable. It remains to be seen, but in the meantime we have a weeks worth of travel to gel even more. It's a perfect opportunity to get to know one another better, though I'm afraid I may be losing out on this time due to my studies. I have so much to learn and read that it takes up most of my spare time. I hope my companions do not think me anti-social. My research really is necessary.
Happy has bought a donkey, which she has named, Don Kay, and her (the donkeys) back is broad enough for the both of us to ride. She wanted to purchase a small horse with my financial help, but I convinced her to save some gold and go with a pack animal. I'm a terrible rider, so it would be pointless for me to claim part ownership in a horse. I am far more comfortable astride the slow but sure Don Kay, where I am able to read and study along the road.
The rest of the party has also bought mounts, but none are worried that we're slowing them down. We are under no pressure, and were even able to spend a couple of days in Toulouse in preparation before hitting the trail. I was able to scribe a couple more scrolls (Sleep and Mage Armor), which is always helpful.
Ptchwl 26
Once again I have felt the sting of an enemy’s weapon! This life of adventure is rife with reward, but the downside of its danger can be only too apparent sometimes.
It was an ambush. Riding through a dense forest, we rounded a bend and for some reason I looked up from my book. To my surprise I was able to spot several creatures hidden in the overgrowth that lined the road. Hobgoblins! Nasty beasts with foul tempers and wicked blades. As nonchalantly as I could, I slipped my book into my pack and muttered to the rest what I had seen. Taklinn had also spotted them, and he stiffened his axe at the ready. Caribdis twirled an arrow from its quiver and all hell broke loose.
The order of events is murky to me, but suffice to say, I was able to try out my new Sleep spell. Zeroing in on a hobgoblin, I uttered the incantation, and to my near surprise and great pleasure, he dropped into a deep slumber, effectively taking him out of the fight!
And then I got shot with a crossbow!
I leapt from Don Kay's back and scurried into the cover of the woods while Taklinn and Griffin charged forward to meet the threat head on. Taklinn seemed to take particular glee in the fight, and in no time at all he had split the skull of a hobgoblin. Griffin took on another, and traded blows back and forth with the beast, when all of the sudden Happy appeared behind the hapless hobgoblin and drove her dagger into his blind side. She left a grievous wound, and Griffin was easily able to finish him off. Caribdis continued to show his bow skills and dropped another hobgoblin with a volley of arrows. With four of them taken down so swiftly, the last two quickly fled into the forest.
We are now left with a prisoner, the hobgoblin that I put to sleep. We found sets of manacles on each of the hobgoblins, and first we thought they were slavers, but our prisoner scoffs at the idea. We now believe they were trying to specifically capture us. It appears that we have made an enemy!
We plan to turn the hobgoblin over to the local authorities in Ravens Hollow. I need to rest now. Taklinn was able to heal me fully, but I can still feel the ghost of the bolt in my shoulder, and it's been quite difficult to study this evening. I look forward to getting back on the road tomorrow.
Ptchwl 28
At last, a spot of peace and quiet. It seems that these moments are coming few and far between lately.
I write this from the relative comfort and safety of the first floor of Yigil's tower. He has allowed us to stay the night, with promise of more information, and perhaps a job, in the morning. After the day we've had I'm sure we'll all be able to use the rest. Even Griffin seems more attracted to his bed than his bottle tonight, and Ambrose is already curled up asleep. I would join him, but the adventures of the day still run through my mind, and I'd best get them on paper while they are still fresh.
But to do that I must back up a bit. I have been unable to update my journal since our first run in with the hobgoblins on the road to Ravens Hollow, and much has happened since. I would be remiss if I didn't take up my tale where it left off.
After defeating the ambushing hobgoblins, we took our prisoner and set out again, wanting to put as much distance between ourselves and the ambush site as possible. But we were unable to outrun the surviving hobgoblins, for that night, as we lay asleep, the two that had ran away embarked on a daring rescue mission that ended in disaster when they alerted Taklinn, who was on watch. And fortunate that he was, for he is the only one among us who can see in the dark! He was able to spot the marauders and set to work with his axe. His bellows roused us, but we could do little but stumble around in the night while Taklinn settled accounts with the hobgoblins by himself.
The failure of the rescue attempt seemed to be the last blow to the moral of our prisoner, for the next day when I questioned him; he seemed far more willing to deal.
It turned out that his ambushing group was about half of a band of scallywags hired specifically to capture us. After some coaxing, he decided to trade his comrade’s life for his own, and agreed to take us to his bands campsite in return for his freedom and a sword. He also said that whoever had hired them in the first place was a spell caster, but he did not know exactly where or who they were. We would have to settle with taking out the remaining hobgoblins and their two bugbear leaders.
We followed the road to Ravens Hollow until we were mere miles from the town, then the hobgoblin led us into the forest to a small farmhouse not far away. There showed no signs of movement, but he assured us that they were there, and after some quick reconacense, he proved true. A hobgoblin was busy chasing chickens in the back yard. We led him several hundred yards into the forest, and freed him, and that’s the last we've seen of the traitorous fellow. I'd say it was a good trade though, for we were able to mount an assault that laid many more of his kind low that day.
Quickly formulating a plan, we crept around to the back of the farmhouse and drew back our missile weapons, hoping to take out the chicken chasing hobgoblin in a single, silent, volley of arrows, daggers and bolts. Griffin recently came across a crossbow that suited him, and he gave me his old one. I decided that this would be the perfect time to try it out. It was a shot of beauty! Most of us hit the hapless bad guy, but my bolt took him right through the eye. At the time I felt quite enamored of the weapon, and it would prove still more potent in the coming days.
The hobgoblin went down without a single grunt of alarm, and we crept forward, toward the rear of the house. I crept around the side of the house, hoping to get a peek in the window and get an idea of what we faced before going in, but Taklinn had other ideas. With a great dwarven war bellow, he kicked open the rear door and waded into the fray. Nearly half a dozen hobgoblins sprang to meet his challenge, grabbing up their weapons and quickly surrounding him. By this time I was peering through the window, so I did what I was able to and cast a Sleep spell. Unfortunately it was rather ineffective, and only one of the thugs went down. Still, it took a bit of pressure off of Taklinn, and by that time Griffin had followed him in and the two warriors set to work with sword and axe, cleaving a bloody swath through the room.
I had little time to appreciate the skill with which my two friends fight, however, for at that moment, around the front corner, came a massive hobgoblin, charging right for me! What could I do but flee? He chased me back to the rear of the house, into the goat pen. Fortunately Happy was back there as well, and she commenced to harrie the brute with well placed daggers. Still, she didn't drop him, and I ran out of the pen and back toward the house where Caribdis stood, firing arrows into the fray inside. And it was Caribdis who downed my hobgoblin pursuer when he chased me a bit too close to Caribdis for his liking. The young bard and Happy filled the bugger with enough steel to drop him, after which we turned our eyes to the inside combat.
Taklinn and Griffin had mopped up the hobgoblins downstairs, but the gang’s leaders had joined the battle now, charging down the stairs. One final hobgoblin and two bugbears. I have heard of bugbears, but in the flesh, they seem impossibly huge and strong. They swung their massive morningstars as if they were made of rotten wood, and a single hit from one would surely do me in. Taklinn and Griffin stood their ground, but it was a desperate fight. Things looked grim, but the turning point came when it seemed that Griffin had met his end. Overstepping through one of his sword thrusts, he was caught off balance, and the bugbear was able to grab him by the hair while the last hobgoblin flanked him from the opposite side. The hobgoblin tried to grab Griffin, as if to pin his arms, but our warrior was too slippery, and, with his hair still clenched in the bugbears fist, he whirled and struck, downing the hobgoblin, and then following through for a mighty backswing into the bugbear that took the beast to its knees! With a heavy thud, the bugbear slumped to the floor.
Caribdis was able to fire his arrows, but Happy and I could do little as we watched Taklinn and Griffin square off against the final bugbear. I toyed with the idea of trying another Sleep spell, but was stymied by it's area of effect. Happy would not throw for fear of hitting one of our comrades. The lessons learned in the zombie fight have stayed with us.
As it turned out, our warriors were more than able to handle themselves, and with a mighty double team, the two struck high and low, axe and sword cleaving through muscle and bone. The bugbear went down with a defeated grunt, and the house was still.
Wounded, hurting and weary, we still had to secure the house. Griffin went upstairs, and to our horror, he discovered two young human girls, tied to the beds and obviously mistreated and ravaged. They were physically sound, but the hell they had gone through showed on their faces. Griffin wrapped them in blankets and Happy soothed them while Taklinn tended to their wounds. The girls were able to tell us that the farm had belonged to an elderly couple called the McDonalds. Hoping against hope that they might still be alive, we manacled the sleeping hobgoblin (and a still alive but unconscious bugbear) and forced him to tell take us to the McDonalds. We found them in a gully in the forest, heads bashed in and tossed aside like so much garbage. Our hobgoblin prisoner was made to carry their bodies back to the farm and dig proper graves for them. It was quite sad, even though I didn't know them personally. As Taklinn said a few words over their graves, I couldn't help but feel a sleight responsibility to these innocent farmers.
We toyed briefly with the idea of staying at the farm, hoping that whoever had hired these curs would come to visit, especially after Taklinn discovered a cage full of ravens, each with a tiny scroll tube tied to it's leg and a couple of pre-written scrolls obviously meant to be used as confirmation of the success or failer of the thugs mission. Taklinn set free the ravens, one of them with a note stating that the mission was accomplished, hoping to throw our enemy off the trail. In the end we decided to hurry on to Ravens Hollow, the quicker to reunite the two girls with their families and meet with Yigil.
We rounded up our gear, as well as the livestock from the farm, and headed out. As we entered the small town, the populace began to pour from the houses and shops as word spread of the girls rescue, and it was not long before their mothers arrived, crying and wailing with relief and thanks. It was the best I have felt for a very long time. Truly, such moments are the real reward for a life of adventure.
Soon after we met Adri Lawson, the sheriff in Ravens Hollow. Adri Lawson is an untrusting sort, and though he was grateful to us for bringing the girls back safely, he appeared guarded, especially after we told him we wanted to meet with Yigil. Yigil, it seems, is, like most wizards, looked upon with great suspicion and mistrust. Still, Lawson's hospitality was first rate, and we spent the night in Ravens Hollow as the towns honored guests, dining and dwelling for free.
Early the next morning we met again with Adri, and he gave us directions to Yigil’s tower. It was a days travel through rough woods, he said, and urged us to be careful, or better yet, to simply not go. But there was to be no turning back, and after a fine farmers breakfast and a visit to the armoror for some business for Taklinn and Griffin, we plunged into the forest.
The ride was pleasant, if a bit rough. Don Kay was sure footed and I was able to get in a bit of reading from his back before harsh reality interrupted my study once again.
We had ridden for roughly seven hours, when we began to spot movement in the woods. It was a warning, but not enough to keep us from another ambush, as suddenly the air was thick with javelins! The slender spears rained from the sky, one of them piercing my shoulder. It did little damage, but the pain was fierce. Casting about, it seemed that the woods had suddenly exploded with goblins! These smaller cousins of hobgoblins may be half the size of their brethren, but they are no less fierce, and their jibbering war whoops chilled my spine as I realized how many of them there must be. A quick scan showed at nearly two dozen lining the road, all of them well armed with wicked morning stars.
Our mounts panicked, and I quickly slid from Don Kays back, casting a spell even as I dropped to the ground. Centering it in the midst of a tightly packed group of goblins, I let fly with a Sleep spell, and it was a wonder! Half a dozen goblins fell to the ground, deep in slumber! It was a good hit and thinned their numbers, but they quickly fell upon us and chaos reined. Taklinn and Griffin found themselves surrounded by goblins while Happy, Caribdis and myself faced off with another six or seven of the little beasts. I tried to Grease the area beneath the goblins feet, but was hit for my efforts, and my spell fizzled. Wounded and dazed, I could do little but try and distance myself from the melee. Caribdis fired arrows from point blank range into a goblin while Happy throw daggers on the move, plunking one into the back of a goblin that threatened Taklinn. I believe she was hit, but she is made of stern stuff, and kept her feet. Griffin and Taklinn swung their weapons, keeping their enemies at bay and connecting a couple of times, but they were quickly being overwhelmed.
Finding myself clear of enemies for a brief second, I fired off a Color Spray at a tri of nearby goblins in an effort to help Caribdis, who is no melee fighter. Unfortunately only one of them was affected, but it helped a bit, and Caribdis was able to get off another bow shot. A goblin seemed to pick me out and ran at me, swinging his morningstar. The threat was immediate and deadly, but from the corner of my eye I could see that Griffin and Taklinn needed relief, so I took a chance. Reading a scroll while dodging the weapon of a crazed goblin is a very tough proposition, but I was able to get the spell off, and with it centered just so, the Sleep spell knocked out another three of the goblins that surrounded Taklinn and Griffin. This brought their numbers down to reasonable levels, and it was the work of a few seconds for Griff, Taklinn and Happy to dispatch the remaining few. Caribdis took care of the goblin that was attacking me with a well placed arrow. When I was at last able to look around without fear of being brained, the ground was littered with dead or unconscious goblins. All of us were wounded, but there was no time to rest. Despite reservations, we had to dispense some roadside justice to the surviving goblins. I'd have preferred taking them to the local law, but it simply wasn't an option. In the end, it was Taklinn who, with typical dwarven aplomb, "took care" of our prisoners. It left a bad taste in our mouths, but we had little choice. Caribdis especially, seemed affected by the harsh reality of what had to be done. Still, I would rather sleep uneasily than sleep forever.
We moved on. Taklinn and even Caribdis had used most of their healing, and yet most of us were still wounded, which made the next encounter even more deadly.
It was an hour later and the woods grew thick around us. We felt that Yigil’s tower must now be very near, but getting there without further conflict would not be an option. We rounded a corner in the trail, and still more goblins blocked our path. Only two this time, but mounted on worgs, huge wolves, bristling with teeth and a malevolent intelligence that shown from their red eyes. Sensing our weakened state, they charged us, not bothering to listen to Happy's demands that they let us pass (very fortunate that she speaks the language). One of them barreled into Griffin while the second pair skirted us to attack our flank. It was a short and bloody fight, and Griffin and Caribdis took the worst of it. I was out of spells, and thus fell back to my new crossbow, putting it to good use. The worgs were some of the toughest creatures we've yet faced. Happy hit one of them with dagger after dagger, and it just wouldn't go down until the very end. I must say, that girl plays hell with those knives of hers. I've watched her study an opponent, look for his weak spot, and hurl her dagger with deft ease that does its damage via placement, not force.
When the dust had cleared, two goblins and two worgs lay dead. Griffin and Caribdis lay near death, bleeding and unconscious. Taklinn was able to staunch their wounds, but he was as bereft of magic as I, and in the end all we could do was put them on their mounts and hope that we'd soon find the tower.
The last half hour was the worst. Behind every shrub or tree stump we seemed to see goblins lurking. Our imaginations played nasty tricks with the wind and the shadows, and we knew only too well that we were in no shape to take on much more. But at last, the forest broke into a clearing, and there it sat, Yigil's squat tower, beckoning to us with mystery, and hopefully, refuge.
A smart rap on the door (or two), and a shouted explanation to the servants as to who we were and what business we had here, and finally the master of the tower dinged to greet us. Yigil is a musty old bugger, but one can expect little else of a wizard of any repute, and I get the definite feeling that Yigil is not one to be trifled with. He was curious about my relationship with the Old Man In The Pointy Hat, and I get the distinct impression that he doesn't care for him. I will let that be between them, however, as I have business to attend to. Once we'd given Yigil our letter of introduction, he mellowed a little (very little) and gave us some small aid in the form of potions to heal our felled comrades. It was a relief to see Griffin and Caribdis come around. Yigil offered us his limited hospitality (a bit of the floor on the first floor of his tower), and that is where we are even now. He tells us that we will know more in the morning, and that is good enough for me. I am bone tired, and my yawns are threatening to overwhelm me. The others are all well asleep. It is unlike me to burn so much midnight oil, but our adventures need to be recorded. Now that they have, I must bed down.
More will be written when there is more to tell...
This story, a diary of my characters adventures thus far, is already posted at another board which will remain nameless, least I violate any CoC rules. Theres not a lot of traffic over there, and I'm hopeing for constructive comments and critisisim from the gentle readers from this board.
It should be noted that my writing is pretty sparse near the beginning of this diary. When I started it I had no idea that it would be read by anyone other than my own group, nor that it would reach it's current proportions. As i began posting it on a public forum, I also made an attempt to expand on my writing style a little in an attempt to give more depth.
Thanks for taking the time, if you do read this.***
The Diary of Doorag Marzipan: Book I
Ptchwl 6
Have recently arrived in Toulouse, a town I have not visited for quite some time. I believe the last time the Old Man and I came here for supplies and news it was my seven-tenth summer. Not much has changed in four years. I don't plan on staying long. Perhaps a day or two to pad my supplies and get my bearings before heading to Havilah.
Ptchwl 7
My journey to Havilah has been postponed. Baran, the captain of the guard here in Toulouse, has asked me to accompany a small band of scouts to check on the condition of a monastery a days walk from here. According to him the monks that reside there visit the town every year around this time. Thus far they have not come, and Baran is worried for them. He has asked myself and four others to make sure they are well, and has even added the incentive of a twenty-five gold payment. I would do it without the coin, but I can't say it won't come in handy in the days to come.
We leave tomorrow. Five of us in all. I have only met my new companions briefly, but already I have a good feeling about them. There is Griffon, a human warrior; Coribdis, another human, young, but he carries a bow. I hope he knows how to use it. There is Taklinn, a dwarven priest of Clangeden; obviously devout and zealous. Mayhap a bit OVER zealous, but one must admire faith. And last, besides myself, is another small folk. Her name is Happy, and she’s a Greenie. She packs a lot of blades, I'll say that for her!
Ptchwl 8
The day has been a harsh journey to the east, into the forested mountains and a winter storm that seems awfully harsh. The end of the day found us at the monastery where no life appears to exist. It is bitterly cold, so cold that the door was iced over. We found a dead monk in the frozen pond in the front, but that was to be the least of the horrors we'd face.
Upon entering the monastery Griffon was attacked by a Delver (?). The ensuing fight was short, dark, and ultimately we proved victorious, but not without some damage being done to Griffon.
Pressing on, we found the kitchen, and beyond it a dining room that showed signs of struggle. Two skeletons dressed in the rags of monks robes suddenly animated and attacked! My companions fought valiantly! Happy risked her life to help Taklinn deal with one of the undead, and with supreme team work we were able to dispatch them.
Stairs lead up to sleeping quarters, empty and cold. More stairs led down to a basement and an odd furnace, and in that room were we nearly brought down! From a pile of coal an undead hand slapped at me, nearly knocking me senseless! I could do little but make my escape as my stalwart comrades stepped in to deal with the atrocity. It was then that Taklinn was hit hard enough to be brought down. The rest of the party fell upon the monkish zombie with vengeance in mind, and it soon fell dead.
Which finds us here, back in the kitchen, warmed by fire and furnace, keeping careful watch over the unconscious Taklinn. He breaths and sleeps peacefully, which is a good sign. It has been an exhausting day and I must sleep. With all the undead that seem to be in this place I think it would be a good idea to memorize Disrupt Undead. Also, if I have time, I am going to try my hand at scroll scribing.
Ptchwl 10
Another days rest and we believe Taklinn is out of the woods. He is on the mend, and we think that we'll be able to move on tomorrow or the next day. My scroll work is coming along nicely, but I don't want to over do it. I am doing a bit of healing myself.
I have had little time to talk about my companions, and certainly more will be said later, but for now I must write a few small accolades.
I feel very lucky to have fallen in with this lot. Though Griffon seems fatalistic and concerned only with finding the monks wine supply, he is a ferocious warrior! Taklinn is a rock, and his healing spells have already come in handy. His axe is a thing to behold, and with it he makes short work of undead skulls. I am quickly seeing where Happy's expertise lies. She is always eager to scout silently ahead and check for traps. Yes, a roguish lass she is, but she seems more about the fun of the caper than the actual loot. One can't fault a small folk for natural curiosity. She is also quite brave. And speaking of brave, Caribdis has the courage to recite poetry in the heat of battle! Such bravery have I rarely seen! He is also quite a shot with his bow, and though he's quite young, I feel we're fortunate to have him.
Unfortunately, for my part I seem able to do little more than lug a torch. Still, it's been only a couple of days. I'm sure a spell or two will come in handy when the time comes.
Ptchwl 11
We head back out tomorrow. Taklinn is back on his feet, but needs a day to recover his spells. Caribdis and Griffon scouted up the stairs briefly and reported a hall full of foreboding doors. In the morning we will set out to get to the bottom of this mystery and root out the evil that infests this once beautiful monastery.
My scroll looks good. I believe all has gone well and I now have Unseen Servant on paper.
Ptchwl 12
Whew! What a day it has been! Full of combat, mishaps and flaming zombies.
We ascended the stairs this morning and the first door we opened found us face to face with a pair of the undead that infest this place. I was able to apply a little flaming oil to one of them while Griffon mopped up the second. All would have gone like clock work had Happy and I not tried to help. We both hurled daggers at the creature, but we both missed and ended up hitting Griffon! He was not badly injured, and seemed to forgive us, but I wouldn't blame him if he holds a bit of resentment against us. Our clumsiness in battle did nothing to alleviate the reputation we small folk have as troublemakers.
At any rate, soon after this fight, Caribdis suddenly became terrified and obsessed with fleeing the monastery. He claimed to have seen a ghost or a vision of a woman watching him. He swears that we are in terrible danger, more than we understand. It may be a ghost, but I'm not so sure. The way he made it sound it could well have been someone scrying us. I've seen the Old Man scry plenty of times. It could easily have been Caribdis sensing himself being magically watched. Whatever the case, the mystery deepens, and we will do well to be on our guard.
Back to the events of the day, we moved on, checking out the rooms on the upper floor, discovering still undead! One room in particular, the library, seemed positively bursting at the seams with them. Courage, determination and fighting prowess won the day, and I was even able to make use of all the Disrupt Undead spells I'd memorized. Unfortunately, I would prove far less effective in our next fight.
After clearing out the second floor we discovered a stair case leading up to the third floor. The first thing we saw upon climbing them was a room with t
wo doors and as many statues. We were leery of the statues, but not leery enough! Taklinn touched one of the doors and the two stone monks sprang to life! We have fought battles, but nothing like this! The two statues moved faster than they should have, and struck with powerful stone fists. Worse yet, the only one of us who seemed capable of hurting them was Griffon, and even he was only just able to dent them. My spells proved useless, and Taklinn, our only other strong fighter, was at a loss. His axe simply lacked the power to breech their stone skin! I tried to aid Griffon and perhaps redeem myself from the dagger throwing incident by helping him to flank one of the statues and hopefully distracting it while Griffon concentrated his attacks. I don't really know if it worked, but in the end Griffons sword was the end for the statue. Good thing, to, for one hit from the statue would surely have been the end of me.
Badly wounded, Griffon turned to deal with the second statue, which Taklinn and Caribdis had been managing to stave off, but the magic that gave the stone life must have been finite, for at that point the second statue ceased to move and became harmless granite once again. We took no chances, however, and smashed it to pieces.
We were all quite the worse for wear after such a fight, and have decided to bed down for a couple of days to regain our strength before breeching the doors. My Unseen Servant came in quite handy for opening suspect doors. I believe I'll make another such scroll. I feel that my skills have benefited greatly from even this small amount of real world work.
Ptchwl 16
Today we head back to Toulouse, for victory is ours and the murderous evil that made puppets out of monks has been driven from the monastery. I can only hope that more of their order will eventually come and repopulate the place and bring life back to it.
I write this while we rest on the trail back to Toulouse. I haven’t much time, but, extraordinarily enough, there is little to tell. Still, what there is to relate is gripping enough!
We rested for two days, honing our blades and reciting our spells, all the while glancing nervously upwards, knowing that we would soon face whatever dwelt behind those last doors. Finally, with our loins properly girded, we fit the correct key into one of the key holes and let the door swing open.
The creature within greeted us with the hiss of hatred that only the undead can muster. This had obviously once been a high ranking monk, and he was the last stand of evil in this place. He crouched low amongst the ruined room, eager to pounce upon the first to come close enough. But it was not to be.
I know that clerics can have power over the undead, and I've seen Taklinn try his hand at rebuking several of the zombies that we've crossed paths with already, all with dismal results. He claims that manipulation of the undead is not his particular forte, and until today he had done nothing to disprove that. But this morning, in the face of the purest evil I have yet to see, Taklinn stepped forward, roaring the name of Clangiden, calling upon the dwarven god to smite this abomination before him.
And Clangiden did!
The zombie monk suddenly whimpered and cried out in fear and frustration, and fled before the glow that radiated from Taklinn's holy symbol. The pitiful creature sought a way to escape, but there was none. Taklinn backed it into a corner, and held it at bay while it cowered before him. Grif and Caribdis wasted no time in filling it full of bolts and arrows until it lay still.
Grif says it is time to move if we want to make it to Toulouse by sundown. I will write more when there is more to tell.
Ptchwl 18
It's been far too long since my last entry. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat would not be pleased. He always said that the keeping of a journal is an exercise in discipline, and discipline is at the heart of successful wizardry. I shall try to better stay abreast of events in this log.
Our arrival back in Toulouse roused a sleeping Baron, it being well past dusk. He gratefully received our report though, as well as the letter we had found addressed to him. He read it with some concern and then sifted our story for details. It was clear that he was much troubled, and I daresay it was no help that Caribdis decided that it was an appropriate time to pump him for more money, reminding him incessantly of our deeds and the fact that the job had turned out to be far more difficult than the mere delivering of a letter. I was quite appalled, but he is young, and Baran took it in stride. I do hope that our impetuous bard will one day soon learn the fine art of subtlety.
Baron sent us to The Happy Merchant to enjoy an evening of refreshment and a clean bed, courtesy of Toulouse, promising to meet us there in the morning with our payment and more information.
Weather it was Caribdis' hinting, or Baron’s own sense of fairness I don't know, but the following day he brought to each of us a pouch heavy with 40 gold! Fifteen more than promised. We were all well pleased, and it certainly made us receptive to his offer of further aiding him. Sitting down to dine with us, he told us what he knew.
The abbot of the monastery, it seems, was a gruff piece of work by the name of Alluzin who had split away from some monks order or another because it wasn't strict enough for him. It seems that he had, before starting his own order, raised a sister whom Baron feels might have cause to resent him. She is a possible suspect as the culprit behind the monastery murders, especially considering Caribdis' tale of seeing visions of a woman. The motive may be a bit tenuous, but it is still there, so Baron felt it wise to at least tell us of her, and ask us to undertake a second mission on his behalf.
He wants us to travel to Ravens Hollow to see Yigil Sakeri, a wizard of some renown. I recall the name from The Old Man in the Pointy Hat, though not very many details. Baron assures me that my having apprenticed under The Old Man in the Pointy Hat will lend weight to our meeting, but I don't know. It's always been my experience that wizards consider apprentices to be slightly beneath privy cleaners on the importance scale. We shall see.
We have accepted the mission, though it pains me a bit. On the one hand, I desire travel the opportunity to see new things and face new challenges. But I worry that I may become too involved in the affairs of this kingdom and lose the freedom to follow my whims. Still, it's for a good cause, and I must admit to a certain curiosity as the mystery deepens. The culprit must be brought to justice, and to a certain extent, I think it only right that we be the ones to do so.
On a side note, I've finally finished research on those new spells. At last, I have Mage Armor and Sleep. While I find it difficult to make room for defensive spells, I feel sure that the time will soon come when they will come in handy. Already I can cast more spells than I could only a week ago. My learning has accelerated dramatically. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat was right! There is no class room like the real world! I find that I have very little time for study, but the research I am able to get in seems to correlate far more clearly with real world examples than they do in the lab. It's as if the danger has forced my mind to respond to it by swiftly grasping the nuances of my craft. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat said it would be so, and it is.
And while Shield and Mage Armor may go unused for a bit longer, I'm very excited at the prospect of Sleep. The Old Man in the Pointy Hat swears by this spell, still preferring to have one about him even at his power. I'm eager to try it out, my one reservation being its area of effect. I would hate to accidentally knock out one of my fellow party members due to poor calculations of distance. I shall try to be careful.
Note to self: See about buying some scrolls in Ravens Hollow. Now that I have some money it's time to supplement my own research with purchased spells, though I daresay I hardly have the funds to copy them into my book. That may soon change, however, as one of the spoils of our recent adventure turned out to be an amazing book that promises to reveal to me the secretes of scribing at half the page space and even less the cost! I have been pursuing it ravenously. This book could save me many thousands of gold in the long run, though it is a slow and painful read.
Ptchwl 23
We are on the road to Ravens Hollow, a week away from Toulouse. Not all of us were so eager to lend our strength to Baron, but he hints that our solidarity may be our best source of income, an already formed and cohesive party being quite valuable. It remains to be seen, but in the meantime we have a weeks worth of travel to gel even more. It's a perfect opportunity to get to know one another better, though I'm afraid I may be losing out on this time due to my studies. I have so much to learn and read that it takes up most of my spare time. I hope my companions do not think me anti-social. My research really is necessary.
Happy has bought a donkey, which she has named, Don Kay, and her (the donkeys) back is broad enough for the both of us to ride. She wanted to purchase a small horse with my financial help, but I convinced her to save some gold and go with a pack animal. I'm a terrible rider, so it would be pointless for me to claim part ownership in a horse. I am far more comfortable astride the slow but sure Don Kay, where I am able to read and study along the road.
The rest of the party has also bought mounts, but none are worried that we're slowing them down. We are under no pressure, and were even able to spend a couple of days in Toulouse in preparation before hitting the trail. I was able to scribe a couple more scrolls (Sleep and Mage Armor), which is always helpful.
Ptchwl 26
Once again I have felt the sting of an enemy’s weapon! This life of adventure is rife with reward, but the downside of its danger can be only too apparent sometimes.
It was an ambush. Riding through a dense forest, we rounded a bend and for some reason I looked up from my book. To my surprise I was able to spot several creatures hidden in the overgrowth that lined the road. Hobgoblins! Nasty beasts with foul tempers and wicked blades. As nonchalantly as I could, I slipped my book into my pack and muttered to the rest what I had seen. Taklinn had also spotted them, and he stiffened his axe at the ready. Caribdis twirled an arrow from its quiver and all hell broke loose.
The order of events is murky to me, but suffice to say, I was able to try out my new Sleep spell. Zeroing in on a hobgoblin, I uttered the incantation, and to my near surprise and great pleasure, he dropped into a deep slumber, effectively taking him out of the fight!
And then I got shot with a crossbow!
I leapt from Don Kay's back and scurried into the cover of the woods while Taklinn and Griffin charged forward to meet the threat head on. Taklinn seemed to take particular glee in the fight, and in no time at all he had split the skull of a hobgoblin. Griffin took on another, and traded blows back and forth with the beast, when all of the sudden Happy appeared behind the hapless hobgoblin and drove her dagger into his blind side. She left a grievous wound, and Griffin was easily able to finish him off. Caribdis continued to show his bow skills and dropped another hobgoblin with a volley of arrows. With four of them taken down so swiftly, the last two quickly fled into the forest.
We are now left with a prisoner, the hobgoblin that I put to sleep. We found sets of manacles on each of the hobgoblins, and first we thought they were slavers, but our prisoner scoffs at the idea. We now believe they were trying to specifically capture us. It appears that we have made an enemy!
We plan to turn the hobgoblin over to the local authorities in Ravens Hollow. I need to rest now. Taklinn was able to heal me fully, but I can still feel the ghost of the bolt in my shoulder, and it's been quite difficult to study this evening. I look forward to getting back on the road tomorrow.
Ptchwl 28
At last, a spot of peace and quiet. It seems that these moments are coming few and far between lately.
I write this from the relative comfort and safety of the first floor of Yigil's tower. He has allowed us to stay the night, with promise of more information, and perhaps a job, in the morning. After the day we've had I'm sure we'll all be able to use the rest. Even Griffin seems more attracted to his bed than his bottle tonight, and Ambrose is already curled up asleep. I would join him, but the adventures of the day still run through my mind, and I'd best get them on paper while they are still fresh.
But to do that I must back up a bit. I have been unable to update my journal since our first run in with the hobgoblins on the road to Ravens Hollow, and much has happened since. I would be remiss if I didn't take up my tale where it left off.
After defeating the ambushing hobgoblins, we took our prisoner and set out again, wanting to put as much distance between ourselves and the ambush site as possible. But we were unable to outrun the surviving hobgoblins, for that night, as we lay asleep, the two that had ran away embarked on a daring rescue mission that ended in disaster when they alerted Taklinn, who was on watch. And fortunate that he was, for he is the only one among us who can see in the dark! He was able to spot the marauders and set to work with his axe. His bellows roused us, but we could do little but stumble around in the night while Taklinn settled accounts with the hobgoblins by himself.
The failure of the rescue attempt seemed to be the last blow to the moral of our prisoner, for the next day when I questioned him; he seemed far more willing to deal.
It turned out that his ambushing group was about half of a band of scallywags hired specifically to capture us. After some coaxing, he decided to trade his comrade’s life for his own, and agreed to take us to his bands campsite in return for his freedom and a sword. He also said that whoever had hired them in the first place was a spell caster, but he did not know exactly where or who they were. We would have to settle with taking out the remaining hobgoblins and their two bugbear leaders.
We followed the road to Ravens Hollow until we were mere miles from the town, then the hobgoblin led us into the forest to a small farmhouse not far away. There showed no signs of movement, but he assured us that they were there, and after some quick reconacense, he proved true. A hobgoblin was busy chasing chickens in the back yard. We led him several hundred yards into the forest, and freed him, and that’s the last we've seen of the traitorous fellow. I'd say it was a good trade though, for we were able to mount an assault that laid many more of his kind low that day.
Quickly formulating a plan, we crept around to the back of the farmhouse and drew back our missile weapons, hoping to take out the chicken chasing hobgoblin in a single, silent, volley of arrows, daggers and bolts. Griffin recently came across a crossbow that suited him, and he gave me his old one. I decided that this would be the perfect time to try it out. It was a shot of beauty! Most of us hit the hapless bad guy, but my bolt took him right through the eye. At the time I felt quite enamored of the weapon, and it would prove still more potent in the coming days.
The hobgoblin went down without a single grunt of alarm, and we crept forward, toward the rear of the house. I crept around the side of the house, hoping to get a peek in the window and get an idea of what we faced before going in, but Taklinn had other ideas. With a great dwarven war bellow, he kicked open the rear door and waded into the fray. Nearly half a dozen hobgoblins sprang to meet his challenge, grabbing up their weapons and quickly surrounding him. By this time I was peering through the window, so I did what I was able to and cast a Sleep spell. Unfortunately it was rather ineffective, and only one of the thugs went down. Still, it took a bit of pressure off of Taklinn, and by that time Griffin had followed him in and the two warriors set to work with sword and axe, cleaving a bloody swath through the room.
I had little time to appreciate the skill with which my two friends fight, however, for at that moment, around the front corner, came a massive hobgoblin, charging right for me! What could I do but flee? He chased me back to the rear of the house, into the goat pen. Fortunately Happy was back there as well, and she commenced to harrie the brute with well placed daggers. Still, she didn't drop him, and I ran out of the pen and back toward the house where Caribdis stood, firing arrows into the fray inside. And it was Caribdis who downed my hobgoblin pursuer when he chased me a bit too close to Caribdis for his liking. The young bard and Happy filled the bugger with enough steel to drop him, after which we turned our eyes to the inside combat.
Taklinn and Griffin had mopped up the hobgoblins downstairs, but the gang’s leaders had joined the battle now, charging down the stairs. One final hobgoblin and two bugbears. I have heard of bugbears, but in the flesh, they seem impossibly huge and strong. They swung their massive morningstars as if they were made of rotten wood, and a single hit from one would surely do me in. Taklinn and Griffin stood their ground, but it was a desperate fight. Things looked grim, but the turning point came when it seemed that Griffin had met his end. Overstepping through one of his sword thrusts, he was caught off balance, and the bugbear was able to grab him by the hair while the last hobgoblin flanked him from the opposite side. The hobgoblin tried to grab Griffin, as if to pin his arms, but our warrior was too slippery, and, with his hair still clenched in the bugbears fist, he whirled and struck, downing the hobgoblin, and then following through for a mighty backswing into the bugbear that took the beast to its knees! With a heavy thud, the bugbear slumped to the floor.
Caribdis was able to fire his arrows, but Happy and I could do little as we watched Taklinn and Griffin square off against the final bugbear. I toyed with the idea of trying another Sleep spell, but was stymied by it's area of effect. Happy would not throw for fear of hitting one of our comrades. The lessons learned in the zombie fight have stayed with us.
As it turned out, our warriors were more than able to handle themselves, and with a mighty double team, the two struck high and low, axe and sword cleaving through muscle and bone. The bugbear went down with a defeated grunt, and the house was still.
Wounded, hurting and weary, we still had to secure the house. Griffin went upstairs, and to our horror, he discovered two young human girls, tied to the beds and obviously mistreated and ravaged. They were physically sound, but the hell they had gone through showed on their faces. Griffin wrapped them in blankets and Happy soothed them while Taklinn tended to their wounds. The girls were able to tell us that the farm had belonged to an elderly couple called the McDonalds. Hoping against hope that they might still be alive, we manacled the sleeping hobgoblin (and a still alive but unconscious bugbear) and forced him to tell take us to the McDonalds. We found them in a gully in the forest, heads bashed in and tossed aside like so much garbage. Our hobgoblin prisoner was made to carry their bodies back to the farm and dig proper graves for them. It was quite sad, even though I didn't know them personally. As Taklinn said a few words over their graves, I couldn't help but feel a sleight responsibility to these innocent farmers.
We toyed briefly with the idea of staying at the farm, hoping that whoever had hired these curs would come to visit, especially after Taklinn discovered a cage full of ravens, each with a tiny scroll tube tied to it's leg and a couple of pre-written scrolls obviously meant to be used as confirmation of the success or failer of the thugs mission. Taklinn set free the ravens, one of them with a note stating that the mission was accomplished, hoping to throw our enemy off the trail. In the end we decided to hurry on to Ravens Hollow, the quicker to reunite the two girls with their families and meet with Yigil.
We rounded up our gear, as well as the livestock from the farm, and headed out. As we entered the small town, the populace began to pour from the houses and shops as word spread of the girls rescue, and it was not long before their mothers arrived, crying and wailing with relief and thanks. It was the best I have felt for a very long time. Truly, such moments are the real reward for a life of adventure.
Soon after we met Adri Lawson, the sheriff in Ravens Hollow. Adri Lawson is an untrusting sort, and though he was grateful to us for bringing the girls back safely, he appeared guarded, especially after we told him we wanted to meet with Yigil. Yigil, it seems, is, like most wizards, looked upon with great suspicion and mistrust. Still, Lawson's hospitality was first rate, and we spent the night in Ravens Hollow as the towns honored guests, dining and dwelling for free.
Early the next morning we met again with Adri, and he gave us directions to Yigil’s tower. It was a days travel through rough woods, he said, and urged us to be careful, or better yet, to simply not go. But there was to be no turning back, and after a fine farmers breakfast and a visit to the armoror for some business for Taklinn and Griffin, we plunged into the forest.
The ride was pleasant, if a bit rough. Don Kay was sure footed and I was able to get in a bit of reading from his back before harsh reality interrupted my study once again.
We had ridden for roughly seven hours, when we began to spot movement in the woods. It was a warning, but not enough to keep us from another ambush, as suddenly the air was thick with javelins! The slender spears rained from the sky, one of them piercing my shoulder. It did little damage, but the pain was fierce. Casting about, it seemed that the woods had suddenly exploded with goblins! These smaller cousins of hobgoblins may be half the size of their brethren, but they are no less fierce, and their jibbering war whoops chilled my spine as I realized how many of them there must be. A quick scan showed at nearly two dozen lining the road, all of them well armed with wicked morning stars.
Our mounts panicked, and I quickly slid from Don Kays back, casting a spell even as I dropped to the ground. Centering it in the midst of a tightly packed group of goblins, I let fly with a Sleep spell, and it was a wonder! Half a dozen goblins fell to the ground, deep in slumber! It was a good hit and thinned their numbers, but they quickly fell upon us and chaos reined. Taklinn and Griffin found themselves surrounded by goblins while Happy, Caribdis and myself faced off with another six or seven of the little beasts. I tried to Grease the area beneath the goblins feet, but was hit for my efforts, and my spell fizzled. Wounded and dazed, I could do little but try and distance myself from the melee. Caribdis fired arrows from point blank range into a goblin while Happy throw daggers on the move, plunking one into the back of a goblin that threatened Taklinn. I believe she was hit, but she is made of stern stuff, and kept her feet. Griffin and Taklinn swung their weapons, keeping their enemies at bay and connecting a couple of times, but they were quickly being overwhelmed.
Finding myself clear of enemies for a brief second, I fired off a Color Spray at a tri of nearby goblins in an effort to help Caribdis, who is no melee fighter. Unfortunately only one of them was affected, but it helped a bit, and Caribdis was able to get off another bow shot. A goblin seemed to pick me out and ran at me, swinging his morningstar. The threat was immediate and deadly, but from the corner of my eye I could see that Griffin and Taklinn needed relief, so I took a chance. Reading a scroll while dodging the weapon of a crazed goblin is a very tough proposition, but I was able to get the spell off, and with it centered just so, the Sleep spell knocked out another three of the goblins that surrounded Taklinn and Griffin. This brought their numbers down to reasonable levels, and it was the work of a few seconds for Griff, Taklinn and Happy to dispatch the remaining few. Caribdis took care of the goblin that was attacking me with a well placed arrow. When I was at last able to look around without fear of being brained, the ground was littered with dead or unconscious goblins. All of us were wounded, but there was no time to rest. Despite reservations, we had to dispense some roadside justice to the surviving goblins. I'd have preferred taking them to the local law, but it simply wasn't an option. In the end, it was Taklinn who, with typical dwarven aplomb, "took care" of our prisoners. It left a bad taste in our mouths, but we had little choice. Caribdis especially, seemed affected by the harsh reality of what had to be done. Still, I would rather sleep uneasily than sleep forever.
We moved on. Taklinn and even Caribdis had used most of their healing, and yet most of us were still wounded, which made the next encounter even more deadly.
It was an hour later and the woods grew thick around us. We felt that Yigil’s tower must now be very near, but getting there without further conflict would not be an option. We rounded a corner in the trail, and still more goblins blocked our path. Only two this time, but mounted on worgs, huge wolves, bristling with teeth and a malevolent intelligence that shown from their red eyes. Sensing our weakened state, they charged us, not bothering to listen to Happy's demands that they let us pass (very fortunate that she speaks the language). One of them barreled into Griffin while the second pair skirted us to attack our flank. It was a short and bloody fight, and Griffin and Caribdis took the worst of it. I was out of spells, and thus fell back to my new crossbow, putting it to good use. The worgs were some of the toughest creatures we've yet faced. Happy hit one of them with dagger after dagger, and it just wouldn't go down until the very end. I must say, that girl plays hell with those knives of hers. I've watched her study an opponent, look for his weak spot, and hurl her dagger with deft ease that does its damage via placement, not force.
When the dust had cleared, two goblins and two worgs lay dead. Griffin and Caribdis lay near death, bleeding and unconscious. Taklinn was able to staunch their wounds, but he was as bereft of magic as I, and in the end all we could do was put them on their mounts and hope that we'd soon find the tower.
The last half hour was the worst. Behind every shrub or tree stump we seemed to see goblins lurking. Our imaginations played nasty tricks with the wind and the shadows, and we knew only too well that we were in no shape to take on much more. But at last, the forest broke into a clearing, and there it sat, Yigil's squat tower, beckoning to us with mystery, and hopefully, refuge.
A smart rap on the door (or two), and a shouted explanation to the servants as to who we were and what business we had here, and finally the master of the tower dinged to greet us. Yigil is a musty old bugger, but one can expect little else of a wizard of any repute, and I get the definite feeling that Yigil is not one to be trifled with. He was curious about my relationship with the Old Man In The Pointy Hat, and I get the distinct impression that he doesn't care for him. I will let that be between them, however, as I have business to attend to. Once we'd given Yigil our letter of introduction, he mellowed a little (very little) and gave us some small aid in the form of potions to heal our felled comrades. It was a relief to see Griffin and Caribdis come around. Yigil offered us his limited hospitality (a bit of the floor on the first floor of his tower), and that is where we are even now. He tells us that we will know more in the morning, and that is good enough for me. I am bone tired, and my yawns are threatening to overwhelm me. The others are all well asleep. It is unlike me to burn so much midnight oil, but our adventures need to be recorded. Now that they have, I must bed down.
More will be written when there is more to tell...
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