PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Evening of the 6th
Since I last wrote has been my most trying time with the Company of the Valiant Blade. This place seems to change their very natures.
The wyverns were overcome in a few short moments, by the strength of Zuridah and Sydnius, the arrows of Lukkar and by fire summoned by Kapix. There was nothing else of interest in the uppermost level, so we cleared a path to see more of the green beacon that shines far into the sky.
Sakorat was brought to his knees by the power of beacon when he called on his patrons to let him feel its magic. Some tests with broken bits of wood and metal showed that it greatly sped the ravages of time, rusting iron in minutes. The tain dragged the body of one of the still breathing wyverns to the light to see what would happen. It aged rapidly and within a few minutes had died. The corpse continued to shrivel and decay within the beacon.
Several minutes later we heard a roar from the swamp and a strange sight met our eyes. A white scaled wingless dragon thrashed about among the waters, over twice the size of one of the wyverns. Kapix knew of it as a tundra-wyrm, native to the Northlands I know as home and surely never seen in the Deepswamp. After we watched for a few minutes, the creature slunk away into the waters.
Thinking it was something to do with the beacon the other living wyvern was dragged to the light and we waited. Sure enough, when this one had decayed and a few minutes had passed, a dragon with burnished radiant gold scales appeared, not much larger than myself. This one appeared to be a sun dragon, also not native to these lands. It flew away after circling the beacon.
The beacon is connected in some way to the spirit world, stealing their soul from one body and creating it within another. I want nothing more to do with this, as mortals should not meddle in these matters.
After these unusual events, we decided to explore the ways beneath the keep, following a tunnel down from the larder. We found several uninhabited rooms and another trapdoor, which we have yet to explore. Beyond were several barred cells of what was once a prison, haunted by a restless spirit, which Kapix bound to his will with arcane power.
The spirit was once a cultist of the Black Flame, but has lost most of its mind. The old man could get little sense from it, and left it to guard the place it haunts. Among the cells we found some minor magical trinkets and a hidden tunnel, leading to caves beyond. We heard the sounds of cave giants beyond, and made ready to do battle.
Zuridah charged out first, hacking down one only to find many more of the brutes beyond. She fled back to the arrows of Lukkar on his hound and Sydnius, bereft of his beasts. Sakorat used his prayers to strengthen us and bewilder several of the giants. Ijiru aided with bolts of fire, burning at least two to the ground. The old man collapsed some way back down the tunnel, playing no part in the battle.
They were lead by a trio of larger giants with putrid orange skin. Lukkar, Sydnius, Zuridah and Sakorat battled their kind at the Battle of Southquarry, allies of the siv known as swamp giants. Under their direction, most of the cave giants retreated to the back of the cave, pelting us with rocks.
It did them little good, as bolts of flame, the goblin's arrows, Sakorat's prayers, the tain's axe and the staff of Sydnius fell them one by one. One cave giant turned on its leaders during the fighting for no reason, slain by the swamp giants but giving us the time to secure victory. Two of the swamp giants tried to flee to the surface, but one was cut down by the tain, resulting in just one who got away.
Kapix claims he took part in the battle, using dark magic to possess the body of one of the giants. I doubt his word. The old man is just lazy and a coward, trying to avoid strong foes. Lukkar had his doubts though, as he felt some force battling his mind during the battle. Just goblin fears, most likely.
In several sacks we found a large amount of coin, although Ijiru was disappointed with the find. There was a siv in one of the caves, a captive of the giants. It was from the tribe of King Yiss, and we refused to let it go. There were other plans for the giants who still lived, as well as the siv.
Returning to the beacon, we dragged up the bodies of those giants who still lived, feeding them to the light. In the space of an hour all were reborn, several into bodies of spike covered, hulking lizard-giants known as braxat and native to Bukon. There was also a two-head giant, a giant of the sandy desert and two water giants, both standing over three times the height of a man.
Several of the giants came to the edge of the keep, disappearing down the pit which lead to the caverns of the cave giants. The others seemed slightly concerned by this, as these new bodies are stronger forms than before and pose a greater threat.
The siv was given as sacrifice, as was an owlbear. Then, overcome by madness, Synius threw himself into the light. We watched as his visage aged, but no years of wisdom came to his eyes. When his body breathed its last, our eyes turned out into the dismal marsh, awaiting his rebirth.
The new form chosen by the spirit world is no creature I would want to be. He returned to us as a goblin woman, bereft of all pride and all possessions. I disown what he has become, the creature who was once Sydnius is no scion of the Pack, no warrior of the Northlands. It is a warped being, ripped from the worlds beyond with no place here. She has called herself Sydnia, but never will the Horse welcome her as their own.
The hydra knew this too, returning to it's marshy home, guided by the Pack from the false-goblin. The beastmaster has lost its pack.
Tonight we rest in the rooms again. I will sleep lightly, if at all. The sooner we leave this accursed place the better.
Fireday, 7th day of Thirdmonth
It has been decided to investigate the runes of the magical dais on the third floor. With the magic of Kapix we deciphered them, marking them as runes for Island, Mountain, Shrine, Dungeon and Swamp. The three ivory keys we found fit a slot in the middle of the dais. They found some way to make the a keys direct to a rune, with one doing nothing. But when Sakorat and the reborn-goblin tried another, they were taken away to a far place.
After many minutes they returned, having gone to an jungle island, standing on a tower among old ruins. They fled at the signs of some large draconic creature. I kept one of the keys as all of the others tried another of the runes. I await their return now.
Morning of the 7th
The last rune took them to the prison below the keep and they had to return on foot. They gathered for one other rune and I have not seen them since. But there have been signs of other creatures beyond the keep. I have seen several siv and suspect they might be gathering in numbers. The giants have been around the keep, although they have yet to enter.
Midday of the 7th
The Company of the Valiant Blade has yet to return. At the end of the causeway I can see many siv, some of which speak to one of the water giants. They approach now, and among them I can make out a human magi, most likely the one who fled from us two days ago. Now he returns with allies.
Having no other choice, I must bend the runes to my will and leave this place. May Tiger grant me strength and Hawk grant me courage.
End of Session Twenty-Three
Since I last wrote has been my most trying time with the Company of the Valiant Blade. This place seems to change their very natures.
The wyverns were overcome in a few short moments, by the strength of Zuridah and Sydnius, the arrows of Lukkar and by fire summoned by Kapix. There was nothing else of interest in the uppermost level, so we cleared a path to see more of the green beacon that shines far into the sky.
Sakorat was brought to his knees by the power of beacon when he called on his patrons to let him feel its magic. Some tests with broken bits of wood and metal showed that it greatly sped the ravages of time, rusting iron in minutes. The tain dragged the body of one of the still breathing wyverns to the light to see what would happen. It aged rapidly and within a few minutes had died. The corpse continued to shrivel and decay within the beacon.
Several minutes later we heard a roar from the swamp and a strange sight met our eyes. A white scaled wingless dragon thrashed about among the waters, over twice the size of one of the wyverns. Kapix knew of it as a tundra-wyrm, native to the Northlands I know as home and surely never seen in the Deepswamp. After we watched for a few minutes, the creature slunk away into the waters.
Thinking it was something to do with the beacon the other living wyvern was dragged to the light and we waited. Sure enough, when this one had decayed and a few minutes had passed, a dragon with burnished radiant gold scales appeared, not much larger than myself. This one appeared to be a sun dragon, also not native to these lands. It flew away after circling the beacon.
The beacon is connected in some way to the spirit world, stealing their soul from one body and creating it within another. I want nothing more to do with this, as mortals should not meddle in these matters.
After these unusual events, we decided to explore the ways beneath the keep, following a tunnel down from the larder. We found several uninhabited rooms and another trapdoor, which we have yet to explore. Beyond were several barred cells of what was once a prison, haunted by a restless spirit, which Kapix bound to his will with arcane power.
The spirit was once a cultist of the Black Flame, but has lost most of its mind. The old man could get little sense from it, and left it to guard the place it haunts. Among the cells we found some minor magical trinkets and a hidden tunnel, leading to caves beyond. We heard the sounds of cave giants beyond, and made ready to do battle.
Zuridah charged out first, hacking down one only to find many more of the brutes beyond. She fled back to the arrows of Lukkar on his hound and Sydnius, bereft of his beasts. Sakorat used his prayers to strengthen us and bewilder several of the giants. Ijiru aided with bolts of fire, burning at least two to the ground. The old man collapsed some way back down the tunnel, playing no part in the battle.
They were lead by a trio of larger giants with putrid orange skin. Lukkar, Sydnius, Zuridah and Sakorat battled their kind at the Battle of Southquarry, allies of the siv known as swamp giants. Under their direction, most of the cave giants retreated to the back of the cave, pelting us with rocks.
It did them little good, as bolts of flame, the goblin's arrows, Sakorat's prayers, the tain's axe and the staff of Sydnius fell them one by one. One cave giant turned on its leaders during the fighting for no reason, slain by the swamp giants but giving us the time to secure victory. Two of the swamp giants tried to flee to the surface, but one was cut down by the tain, resulting in just one who got away.
Kapix claims he took part in the battle, using dark magic to possess the body of one of the giants. I doubt his word. The old man is just lazy and a coward, trying to avoid strong foes. Lukkar had his doubts though, as he felt some force battling his mind during the battle. Just goblin fears, most likely.
In several sacks we found a large amount of coin, although Ijiru was disappointed with the find. There was a siv in one of the caves, a captive of the giants. It was from the tribe of King Yiss, and we refused to let it go. There were other plans for the giants who still lived, as well as the siv.
Returning to the beacon, we dragged up the bodies of those giants who still lived, feeding them to the light. In the space of an hour all were reborn, several into bodies of spike covered, hulking lizard-giants known as braxat and native to Bukon. There was also a two-head giant, a giant of the sandy desert and two water giants, both standing over three times the height of a man.
Several of the giants came to the edge of the keep, disappearing down the pit which lead to the caverns of the cave giants. The others seemed slightly concerned by this, as these new bodies are stronger forms than before and pose a greater threat.
The siv was given as sacrifice, as was an owlbear. Then, overcome by madness, Synius threw himself into the light. We watched as his visage aged, but no years of wisdom came to his eyes. When his body breathed its last, our eyes turned out into the dismal marsh, awaiting his rebirth.
The new form chosen by the spirit world is no creature I would want to be. He returned to us as a goblin woman, bereft of all pride and all possessions. I disown what he has become, the creature who was once Sydnius is no scion of the Pack, no warrior of the Northlands. It is a warped being, ripped from the worlds beyond with no place here. She has called herself Sydnia, but never will the Horse welcome her as their own.
The hydra knew this too, returning to it's marshy home, guided by the Pack from the false-goblin. The beastmaster has lost its pack.
Tonight we rest in the rooms again. I will sleep lightly, if at all. The sooner we leave this accursed place the better.
Fireday, 7th day of Thirdmonth
It has been decided to investigate the runes of the magical dais on the third floor. With the magic of Kapix we deciphered them, marking them as runes for Island, Mountain, Shrine, Dungeon and Swamp. The three ivory keys we found fit a slot in the middle of the dais. They found some way to make the a keys direct to a rune, with one doing nothing. But when Sakorat and the reborn-goblin tried another, they were taken away to a far place.
After many minutes they returned, having gone to an jungle island, standing on a tower among old ruins. They fled at the signs of some large draconic creature. I kept one of the keys as all of the others tried another of the runes. I await their return now.
Morning of the 7th
The last rune took them to the prison below the keep and they had to return on foot. They gathered for one other rune and I have not seen them since. But there have been signs of other creatures beyond the keep. I have seen several siv and suspect they might be gathering in numbers. The giants have been around the keep, although they have yet to enter.
Midday of the 7th
The Company of the Valiant Blade has yet to return. At the end of the causeway I can see many siv, some of which speak to one of the water giants. They approach now, and among them I can make out a human magi, most likely the one who fled from us two days ago. Now he returns with allies.
Having no other choice, I must bend the runes to my will and leave this place. May Tiger grant me strength and Hawk grant me courage.
End of Session Twenty-Three
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