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<blockquote data-quote="Aust Meliamne" data-source="post: 977" data-attributes="member: 95"><p>Vallia’s Journal #6 (continued)</p><p>16th day of The Rotting, 1372DR</p><p></p><p>The interlude with Misha was all too short, and he rose soon thereafter, dressing quickly. I sighed, and rose as well, donning my fighter’s attire, as he asked of my plan. To tell the truth, I had no plan other than refusing to marry Thamior, but I knew we could not run as he suggested. As we finished dressing, I heard shouting outside, and left to investigate, Misha following.</p><p></p><p>My attendants were trying to prevent an elf from entering my house, and he was shouting that he must see me. I bade them to let him enter, and to my surprise, Gruush, Kay and Kara followed him in. The elf brought news, saying that he had found tracks of one of the scouts who had disappeared the day before. I told him to take us to the tracks, and one of the attendants timidly questioned “What about the wedding?” I replied it would have to wait, for the good of our people. </p><p></p><p>At that point, I noticed an arrow in his shoulder, and decided that he was in no condition to accompany us. I queried him for directions to the site, and turned him over to the healers. I was leaving as Thamior came in, almost knocking me down demanding to know what foolishness I was up to. He agreed to postpone the wedding until the following eve, which I could accept, thinking I may not even be alive by then. </p><p></p><p>I saw Thamior glare at Misha before leaving, something that troubled me more than a little, but I did not have time to consider it. I left, leading the others into the forest. I managed to humiliate myself by tripping on a root, making a lot of noise, for which Misha chose to taunt me. I was about to retort when I noticed broken branches at the side of the trail, as though someone had fled the trail at that point.</p><p></p><p>I stepped off the trail, as I heard someone crashing through the brush not far ahead. I emerged in a clearing, and spotted a kobold across the way, and shouted for it to stop. I held it at sword point as I waited for the others, who took an unusually long time catching up to me. Apparently they had taken me at my word, and stopped when I yelled. I would have laughed had the situation not been so serious. A kobold alone in the woods bothered me. It is well known that drow have moved into these woods, and kobolds are their slaves. I could not believe that one had wandered off alone, and that meant……</p><p></p><p>About that time I heard a voice from the bushes in front of me say “well, well” in elvish, and with a sinking feeling, I knew I was right. Kay headed into the woods to investigate, damn her, despite my orders to stop. She disappeared into the woods, reappearing shortly thereafter, her body flying out of the woods, to land at our feet. She was dead. Misha was yelling for people to get to cover, even as I was telling them to freeze, knowing that the drow would have the advantage in the dark woods. We had walked into an ambush, and standing our ground was our only option.</p><p></p><p>There was a rustling in the bushes, and my blood ran cold as 5 kobolds ringed the clearing, in addition to the one cowering in front of me, and two drow stepped from the forest directly in front of me. Misha was initially not impressed with the drow, but he quickly changed his mind over the course of the fight. In his over zealousness, he swung too hard, and his sword flew from his hand. I was worried for him then, but I could do nothing to help.</p><p></p><p>I quickly killed the drow I faced, as the kobolds rushed in. Three harried Gruush, who could not seem to hit them, as the remaining drow retreated into the woods. Gruush finally manages to kill one kobold, as Misha hurls daggers after the drow. His skill must not be what I thought, because he almost got me instead! Kara took out a kobold on Gruush, as Misha finally made himself useful, and killed one of the ones attacking me. I disemboweled the final kobold and turned to Gruush, intending to help him. </p><p></p><p>The drow reappeared, and I was surprised until I saw what followed….a drider! Misha engaged the drow, and was soon asking for help. Gruush was unable to kill his kobold, however, finally the kobold miscalculated, and impaled itself on its own spear. I told Misha mentally to grab the dead drow’s sword, which he did with surprising agility. Having no luck with the drow, Misha decided to come to my aid with the drider, and we made short work of it. Kara and Gruush were having no luck against the drow, however, seeing the drider fall, he retreated into the woods.</p><p></p><p>Misha took a moment to tell me we made a great team, which filled me with a warm fuzzy feeling, before drawing his bow and shooting after the fleeing drow. There was a cry, and then silence. Misha headed down the trail after it. I took the time while he was gone to search the dead drow, finding many items of interest. Only then did I notice that I was covered in blood. </p><p></p><p>Misha reappeared, carrying the dead drow over his shoulder. He never fails to amaze me. He dropped the drow to the ground, suddenly remembering Kay. He searched frantically for her, and I spotted her half buried under a kobold, and pushed it aside quickly. I knelt beside her, but it was too late. I stood back, letting Misha hold her, feeling his grief. I searched the other drow quickly, knowing we needed to be gone.</p><p></p><p>Misha wrapped Kay in a blanket, as I handed Gruush a ring, which Kara identified as a Ring of Protection. Misha wanted to leave immediately, but I convinced him to allow us to wait, to equip, to heal. I moved quickly from person to person, leaving myself for last, healing them as best I could. I handed out the things I had taken from the drow to the people I thought could use them….giving elven chain and a longsword to both Misha and Kara. Misha also received a Ring of Protection like Gruush’s. Misha and I each took a masterwork buckler, and I pocketed a few other items of interest as well.</p><p></p><p>I was exhausted from the healing, and was grateful to Kara when he helped me to my feet. I have to say he looked quite ridiculous in his armor, but amusement seemed out of place. We began our long trek back to the village, quiet and somber. We took with us the head of the drider, and the head of the drow, as proof of our deeds. I moved quietly, but the others sounded like a cacophony to my keen ears. We made our way down the trail slowly, and I froze as I heard chanting off to both sides of the trail. I saw Gruush and Kara fall, and I heard a voice in my mind, commanding that I sleep, and as I fell, I saw Misha hit the ground as well. </p><p></p><p>I awoke feeling rather uncomfortable, and groaned as what had happened returned to me, and I opened my eyes. We were surrounded, that much I could tell, at first glance I saw 5 spell casters, about 20 bugbears, some worgs, a carnivorous ape, and about 40 goblins. I have to admit, I wondered how in the seven hells we would get ourselves out of this. </p><p></p><p>As I tried to move, I realized that my hands were tied behind my back, and my leg shackled to both Gruush and Misha. Even worse, I had no equipment or weapons, not even my rings. They said little to us as they forced us to our feet and marched us to the northwest. However, to my horror, I saw five goblins loading our possessions on a wagon, and moving away from the others, going in the opposite direction. Misha resisted the march, for which he was beaten, but kept alive. At least we know they want us for something.</p><p></p><p>We marched for over an hour, and I was feeling pretty hopeless, when an arrow flew by, killing a goblin next to me. Our captors had apparently been betrayed, and I was pulled to the ground as the others dove. I was furious….the fools never know when to run. I shouted at them, struggling back to my feet, and we staggered away, still bound. We ran quickly, seeking whatever cover we could find so we would have a moment to remove our ropes, but we came upon a gully, which we would have to jump.</p><p></p><p>Most of us leaped it with ease, but Kara scrabbled at the edge, and fell back. Misha went over too, and I was sliding towards the opening, when Gruush locked his legs and held his position long enough for them to climb out. Thank Corellon for the half-orc. We ran on, but the others seemed to be intent on freeing us, and less intent on running, and our captors gained ground behind us. </p><p></p><p>The others finally stopped, despite my protests, and Gruush and Misha are able to free their hands. Looking up, we could see a bugbear about 100 feet away, followed by 2 goblins. Misha asked Kara to use his magic, forgetting his hands were tied. Gruush was able to free his ankle, and moved to engage the monsters, as we continued to struggle. </p><p></p><p>Misha frees Kara’s hands, and he looks towards the battle, ready to aid Gruush, as Misha turns his attention to me. He freed my hands, and I was quickly able to pull the chain from my leg….sometimes my strength surprises even me. Misha escaped his chains as well, as I tugged futilely at Kara’s. Giving up, I scrounged a tree branch club, and moved to help Misha, who had found a similar weapon. </p><p></p><p>We killed the monsters quickly, and after much pulling, managed to free Kara. We set off in pursuit of the goblins with our things. Kara used his magic to strengthen us, as we found the goblins trail. We wandered for two hours, as night fell, until we found the camp of the five goblins. Kara used magic to put them to sleep, and after we had recovered our belongings, Misha killed all but one, which I did not like at all. </p><p></p><p>Misha ordered Kara to bind the one remaining goblin, which Kara did. Misha mishandled the goblin, despite my protests, and it took a battle of wills to get him to leave the goblin to me. He seems to have misplaced his anger over Kay’s death onto this pitiful creature. I cast a zone of truth, and told the goblin I would release it if it told me what I wished to know. We conversed for a short time, and Gruush listened. Kara surprisingly moved to comfort Misha, and I asked him to keep him away from the goblin. I let him know mentally how unhappy I was with his actions. He was angry and defensive, and I decided to leave him alone. He hasn’t been the same since Kay died. And losing her body in the ambush…</p><p></p><p>We discovered that the goblins were slavers, seeking workers for a mine in the mountains, which they believed held great treasure. What that treasure was, the goblin did not know. He described the location of the mine as best he could. Realizing he had told me all he could, I nodded to Gruush, and we pulled the goblin into the woods. Misha tried to follow, but Kara restrained him. Gruush and I released the goblin, and as we turned to return to the camp, Gruush said that he did not like killing in cold blood either. Sometimes I think that half-orc is more human than most I know. </p><p></p><p>We returned to the camp, and took the goblins horses, riding hard for the village. During the ride, Misha and I had a discussion of his actions, and I think I wounded him deeply, although he was able to hurt me as well. He thinks that I do not understand mortality, and that I talk to him like a child. Maybe I don’t…and maybe I do. He acts so rashly, and I fear the impetuousness that got Kay killed will one day be his undoing, and I said as much. He asked why I fell in love with him, then, and I replied that that was a conversation for another time. If only I had known then…</p><p></p><p>We were stopped on our way into the village by the same tracker who had brought us the news of the trail. He led us to my mother, although Karanaj and Misha seemed to be eager to flaunt our success, despite my obvious reticence. I obtained the elf’s promise of silence, and continued into my mother’s room with the others. I commanded Misha to close the door, and brought forth the drow’s head. I have to admit, a part of me wanted to shock my mother, but she took it calmly.</p><p></p><p>I told her of the information we had gleaned, and ventured my opinion on one other matter. I think there is a traitor among the elves. The others were taken too easily, and the others concur. My mother accepted this information as well, and promised to send out a party to rescue the elves at the mine. During our discussion, I saw Misha slip out the door, and asked mentally where he was going. He replied shortly “To pray.” and I chose to let him go. He needed to be alone, I thought.</p><p></p><p>We left, and exchanged some pleasantries with the tracker, whose name is Nym. I was only half listening, thinking of Misha and the day’s events…and wondering about my wedding on the morrow. Gruush asked after Misha, and I tried to contact him again. Angrily, he replied, “I’m busy.” Kara tried at my behest, and began to run. He shouted back at us “We need to find him. He says ‘He dies tonight’”. We knew he could only be referring to Thamior. We finally spotted them on the rooftops, and as we climbed the ladder I heard Misha call my name mentally, very weakly. I screamed his name, and landed on the roof to see Thamior standing over his smoking body.</p><p></p><p>I flew into a rage. Thamior tried to reason with me, but I was beyond reason. Tears streaming down my face, I slashed at him, drawing blood. Karanaj and Gruush attacked as well, but were unable to harm him. I shouted for them to leave him….he was mine to kill…but they did not listen. Again, I drew blood, savoring the sight. He struck back at me then, but missed. With one last swipe, I took his head from his shoulders.</p><p></p><p>Karanaj grabbed me, but I could not stand to be touched. My sword fell from my nerveless fingers, and I felt as though I had died. I shoved Karanaj away, and shrieked at them to leave me. I could not stand it. I fell to my knees by Misha as they left, tears falling unheeded. I felt as though my heart had been ripped out, my throat was constricted painfully, I could not breathe. I gathered him into my arms, and I could not hold the pain inside any longer. I threw my head back and screamed long and loud, a scream without substance, the scream of an animal in pain. </p><p></p><p>I do not know how long I was there, cradling his body last night. I remember crying out to Corellon, asking why. There would be no wedding, for Thamior was dead by my own hand. But there was no Misha either, and I found that I did not wish to live without him. Had I poison close at hand then, I have no doubt they would have found me the next morning, still holding him. But I did not, and all I could do was weep.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aust Meliamne, post: 977, member: 95"] Vallia’s Journal #6 (continued) 16th day of The Rotting, 1372DR The interlude with Misha was all too short, and he rose soon thereafter, dressing quickly. I sighed, and rose as well, donning my fighter’s attire, as he asked of my plan. To tell the truth, I had no plan other than refusing to marry Thamior, but I knew we could not run as he suggested. As we finished dressing, I heard shouting outside, and left to investigate, Misha following. My attendants were trying to prevent an elf from entering my house, and he was shouting that he must see me. I bade them to let him enter, and to my surprise, Gruush, Kay and Kara followed him in. The elf brought news, saying that he had found tracks of one of the scouts who had disappeared the day before. I told him to take us to the tracks, and one of the attendants timidly questioned “What about the wedding?” I replied it would have to wait, for the good of our people. At that point, I noticed an arrow in his shoulder, and decided that he was in no condition to accompany us. I queried him for directions to the site, and turned him over to the healers. I was leaving as Thamior came in, almost knocking me down demanding to know what foolishness I was up to. He agreed to postpone the wedding until the following eve, which I could accept, thinking I may not even be alive by then. I saw Thamior glare at Misha before leaving, something that troubled me more than a little, but I did not have time to consider it. I left, leading the others into the forest. I managed to humiliate myself by tripping on a root, making a lot of noise, for which Misha chose to taunt me. I was about to retort when I noticed broken branches at the side of the trail, as though someone had fled the trail at that point. I stepped off the trail, as I heard someone crashing through the brush not far ahead. I emerged in a clearing, and spotted a kobold across the way, and shouted for it to stop. I held it at sword point as I waited for the others, who took an unusually long time catching up to me. Apparently they had taken me at my word, and stopped when I yelled. I would have laughed had the situation not been so serious. A kobold alone in the woods bothered me. It is well known that drow have moved into these woods, and kobolds are their slaves. I could not believe that one had wandered off alone, and that meant…… About that time I heard a voice from the bushes in front of me say “well, well” in elvish, and with a sinking feeling, I knew I was right. Kay headed into the woods to investigate, damn her, despite my orders to stop. She disappeared into the woods, reappearing shortly thereafter, her body flying out of the woods, to land at our feet. She was dead. Misha was yelling for people to get to cover, even as I was telling them to freeze, knowing that the drow would have the advantage in the dark woods. We had walked into an ambush, and standing our ground was our only option. There was a rustling in the bushes, and my blood ran cold as 5 kobolds ringed the clearing, in addition to the one cowering in front of me, and two drow stepped from the forest directly in front of me. Misha was initially not impressed with the drow, but he quickly changed his mind over the course of the fight. In his over zealousness, he swung too hard, and his sword flew from his hand. I was worried for him then, but I could do nothing to help. I quickly killed the drow I faced, as the kobolds rushed in. Three harried Gruush, who could not seem to hit them, as the remaining drow retreated into the woods. Gruush finally manages to kill one kobold, as Misha hurls daggers after the drow. His skill must not be what I thought, because he almost got me instead! Kara took out a kobold on Gruush, as Misha finally made himself useful, and killed one of the ones attacking me. I disemboweled the final kobold and turned to Gruush, intending to help him. The drow reappeared, and I was surprised until I saw what followed….a drider! Misha engaged the drow, and was soon asking for help. Gruush was unable to kill his kobold, however, finally the kobold miscalculated, and impaled itself on its own spear. I told Misha mentally to grab the dead drow’s sword, which he did with surprising agility. Having no luck with the drow, Misha decided to come to my aid with the drider, and we made short work of it. Kara and Gruush were having no luck against the drow, however, seeing the drider fall, he retreated into the woods. Misha took a moment to tell me we made a great team, which filled me with a warm fuzzy feeling, before drawing his bow and shooting after the fleeing drow. There was a cry, and then silence. Misha headed down the trail after it. I took the time while he was gone to search the dead drow, finding many items of interest. Only then did I notice that I was covered in blood. Misha reappeared, carrying the dead drow over his shoulder. He never fails to amaze me. He dropped the drow to the ground, suddenly remembering Kay. He searched frantically for her, and I spotted her half buried under a kobold, and pushed it aside quickly. I knelt beside her, but it was too late. I stood back, letting Misha hold her, feeling his grief. I searched the other drow quickly, knowing we needed to be gone. Misha wrapped Kay in a blanket, as I handed Gruush a ring, which Kara identified as a Ring of Protection. Misha wanted to leave immediately, but I convinced him to allow us to wait, to equip, to heal. I moved quickly from person to person, leaving myself for last, healing them as best I could. I handed out the things I had taken from the drow to the people I thought could use them….giving elven chain and a longsword to both Misha and Kara. Misha also received a Ring of Protection like Gruush’s. Misha and I each took a masterwork buckler, and I pocketed a few other items of interest as well. I was exhausted from the healing, and was grateful to Kara when he helped me to my feet. I have to say he looked quite ridiculous in his armor, but amusement seemed out of place. We began our long trek back to the village, quiet and somber. We took with us the head of the drider, and the head of the drow, as proof of our deeds. I moved quietly, but the others sounded like a cacophony to my keen ears. We made our way down the trail slowly, and I froze as I heard chanting off to both sides of the trail. I saw Gruush and Kara fall, and I heard a voice in my mind, commanding that I sleep, and as I fell, I saw Misha hit the ground as well. I awoke feeling rather uncomfortable, and groaned as what had happened returned to me, and I opened my eyes. We were surrounded, that much I could tell, at first glance I saw 5 spell casters, about 20 bugbears, some worgs, a carnivorous ape, and about 40 goblins. I have to admit, I wondered how in the seven hells we would get ourselves out of this. As I tried to move, I realized that my hands were tied behind my back, and my leg shackled to both Gruush and Misha. Even worse, I had no equipment or weapons, not even my rings. They said little to us as they forced us to our feet and marched us to the northwest. However, to my horror, I saw five goblins loading our possessions on a wagon, and moving away from the others, going in the opposite direction. Misha resisted the march, for which he was beaten, but kept alive. At least we know they want us for something. We marched for over an hour, and I was feeling pretty hopeless, when an arrow flew by, killing a goblin next to me. Our captors had apparently been betrayed, and I was pulled to the ground as the others dove. I was furious….the fools never know when to run. I shouted at them, struggling back to my feet, and we staggered away, still bound. We ran quickly, seeking whatever cover we could find so we would have a moment to remove our ropes, but we came upon a gully, which we would have to jump. Most of us leaped it with ease, but Kara scrabbled at the edge, and fell back. Misha went over too, and I was sliding towards the opening, when Gruush locked his legs and held his position long enough for them to climb out. Thank Corellon for the half-orc. We ran on, but the others seemed to be intent on freeing us, and less intent on running, and our captors gained ground behind us. The others finally stopped, despite my protests, and Gruush and Misha are able to free their hands. Looking up, we could see a bugbear about 100 feet away, followed by 2 goblins. Misha asked Kara to use his magic, forgetting his hands were tied. Gruush was able to free his ankle, and moved to engage the monsters, as we continued to struggle. Misha frees Kara’s hands, and he looks towards the battle, ready to aid Gruush, as Misha turns his attention to me. He freed my hands, and I was quickly able to pull the chain from my leg….sometimes my strength surprises even me. Misha escaped his chains as well, as I tugged futilely at Kara’s. Giving up, I scrounged a tree branch club, and moved to help Misha, who had found a similar weapon. We killed the monsters quickly, and after much pulling, managed to free Kara. We set off in pursuit of the goblins with our things. Kara used his magic to strengthen us, as we found the goblins trail. We wandered for two hours, as night fell, until we found the camp of the five goblins. Kara used magic to put them to sleep, and after we had recovered our belongings, Misha killed all but one, which I did not like at all. Misha ordered Kara to bind the one remaining goblin, which Kara did. Misha mishandled the goblin, despite my protests, and it took a battle of wills to get him to leave the goblin to me. He seems to have misplaced his anger over Kay’s death onto this pitiful creature. I cast a zone of truth, and told the goblin I would release it if it told me what I wished to know. We conversed for a short time, and Gruush listened. Kara surprisingly moved to comfort Misha, and I asked him to keep him away from the goblin. I let him know mentally how unhappy I was with his actions. He was angry and defensive, and I decided to leave him alone. He hasn’t been the same since Kay died. And losing her body in the ambush… We discovered that the goblins were slavers, seeking workers for a mine in the mountains, which they believed held great treasure. What that treasure was, the goblin did not know. He described the location of the mine as best he could. Realizing he had told me all he could, I nodded to Gruush, and we pulled the goblin into the woods. Misha tried to follow, but Kara restrained him. Gruush and I released the goblin, and as we turned to return to the camp, Gruush said that he did not like killing in cold blood either. Sometimes I think that half-orc is more human than most I know. We returned to the camp, and took the goblins horses, riding hard for the village. During the ride, Misha and I had a discussion of his actions, and I think I wounded him deeply, although he was able to hurt me as well. He thinks that I do not understand mortality, and that I talk to him like a child. Maybe I don’t…and maybe I do. He acts so rashly, and I fear the impetuousness that got Kay killed will one day be his undoing, and I said as much. He asked why I fell in love with him, then, and I replied that that was a conversation for another time. If only I had known then… We were stopped on our way into the village by the same tracker who had brought us the news of the trail. He led us to my mother, although Karanaj and Misha seemed to be eager to flaunt our success, despite my obvious reticence. I obtained the elf’s promise of silence, and continued into my mother’s room with the others. I commanded Misha to close the door, and brought forth the drow’s head. I have to admit, a part of me wanted to shock my mother, but she took it calmly. I told her of the information we had gleaned, and ventured my opinion on one other matter. I think there is a traitor among the elves. The others were taken too easily, and the others concur. My mother accepted this information as well, and promised to send out a party to rescue the elves at the mine. During our discussion, I saw Misha slip out the door, and asked mentally where he was going. He replied shortly “To pray.” and I chose to let him go. He needed to be alone, I thought. We left, and exchanged some pleasantries with the tracker, whose name is Nym. I was only half listening, thinking of Misha and the day’s events…and wondering about my wedding on the morrow. Gruush asked after Misha, and I tried to contact him again. Angrily, he replied, “I’m busy.” Kara tried at my behest, and began to run. He shouted back at us “We need to find him. He says ‘He dies tonight’”. We knew he could only be referring to Thamior. We finally spotted them on the rooftops, and as we climbed the ladder I heard Misha call my name mentally, very weakly. I screamed his name, and landed on the roof to see Thamior standing over his smoking body. I flew into a rage. Thamior tried to reason with me, but I was beyond reason. Tears streaming down my face, I slashed at him, drawing blood. Karanaj and Gruush attacked as well, but were unable to harm him. I shouted for them to leave him….he was mine to kill…but they did not listen. Again, I drew blood, savoring the sight. He struck back at me then, but missed. With one last swipe, I took his head from his shoulders. Karanaj grabbed me, but I could not stand to be touched. My sword fell from my nerveless fingers, and I felt as though I had died. I shoved Karanaj away, and shrieked at them to leave me. I could not stand it. I fell to my knees by Misha as they left, tears falling unheeded. I felt as though my heart had been ripped out, my throat was constricted painfully, I could not breathe. I gathered him into my arms, and I could not hold the pain inside any longer. I threw my head back and screamed long and loud, a scream without substance, the scream of an animal in pain. I do not know how long I was there, cradling his body last night. I remember crying out to Corellon, asking why. There would be no wedding, for Thamior was dead by my own hand. But there was no Misha either, and I found that I did not wish to live without him. Had I poison close at hand then, I have no doubt they would have found me the next morning, still holding him. But I did not, and all I could do was weep. [/QUOTE]
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Journals of the Five: A Forgotten Realms Tale
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