((OOC: Fiddle and Vlad was not there for this weeks session. Oz "Sully" was there for a little bit.))
From the diary of Sir Richter Belmont, House Belmont
The ghast was dead and the wounds from its magic missiles had hurt me. If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn they were cast to do maximum effect. But I know not the ways of the arcane. That is best left to Oz and Alya.
We decided to head back up since night was falling quickly. Being an expert with the undead, I didnt want to get trapped in the barrows without anything magical to fend ourselves.
In the middle of the night, we were set upon by a pack of wolves and a large wolf with a white pelt. Erin was a good fellow to chase them off. The morning came and Brother Dawngaurd had memorized a spell to allow him to read the ancient text on the headstone.
We had decided to see if their was anything else around of interest and stumbled upon a group of men in black, mercenaries, that wanted us gone. I recognized them instantly, being from Cormyr. Zhentim. We left them to their own devices and headed back to the headstone with the text. Darian cast the spell and said it was a puzzle and something called the Mask of Races. Darian had a sudden insight as if he was good with these puzzles all along. He whispered to me the answer and I bravely faced the statue and revealed it. A stone door to the barrow behind us was revealed.
We entered and cautiously looked around the tomb. It had 6 stone reliefs. Two on the left wall, two on the central wall and two on the right wall. Each one corrosponded with a nationality in the puzzle and the sixth one was a dwarf. The puzzle mentioned a dwarf visited all the houses. We opened the relief of the dwarf and found nothing. It was destroyed however and that upset me. Destroying the dead's posessions was not on my list of things i needed to do. We next opened up the tomb of the Damaran (as that was the answer to get into the tomb).
Erin, Darian and myself suffered from a blast of acid. My armor and sharp reflexes made it so i was injured a little. The monk was deft and managed to not get hurt at all. Inside was revealed a oddly shaped bag of an odd color. I tried it on and i felt as if my skin was mallable. I tried focusing on me 'polymorphing' into an elf and low and behold, my intentions were true and before the group, i stood as an elf.
I gave the mask to Alya since she would be able to make better use out of it. I only hope she uses it for pureness, not for greed. We left and continued on and then we found a barrow with a relief of a flaming sword. Darian claimed that this was where the flaming sword Brother Valgrim told him about was.
We opened the tomb and began to descend inside. After exploring around and being overly cautious, Erin the monk leaped the gate and unlocked it from the inside. He proceeded into the tomb further and i tried to follow as quietly as i could. Too bad i was not a footpad because i attracted some undue attention.
They appeared to be very well preserved zombies at first in splintmail and carrying halberds. Darian invoked the light and love of Lethander and they were held at bay whilet he rest of us pummeled them. Dread Warriors. I had never seen one but the stories and books my family kept of the undead they fought should have keyed me into it. Maybe i should make a book of my undead battles.
We explored some more and found a couple of doors. As erin opened the door that was closed, he dodged and i was caught in a spray of fire. It hurt but it was magical and not alchemist's fire. Thank Kelemvore or my armor may have been damaged.
Inside was a crypt and a mosiac around the room depicting a young, brave warrior holding a sword of flames and being betrayed by a darker force. We all stood back as Erin opened the tomb lid and dust came out and he seemed to be visably sick. He claimed he was fine. He opened it all the way and out rose a ghastly creature. Its insane babbling and the cold hand of fear paralyze me. I watched it attack my friends as i stood helpless.
Darian, wanting this so badly, called upon Lethander for his grace. The room filled with a bright light, as warm as the sun and i could not turn away. The foul undead beast screamed horribly and was gone in a stream of small light motes, finding the True Death. Darian relies too much on his god and not enough on himself. He and i make a good pairing, he the light of day and i the dark of night. My feelings for him cannot get in the way of my mission.
Inside the tomb Darian found the sword, although, it was odd. It appeared to be a bastard sword of copper sheathed in flames that produced no heat. We decided to head back to Tilverton to return it to Brother Valgrum. We left the tomb and outside we were greeted by the Zhentim. This time i noticed a man with the cloth of Bane. My God's enemy.
The party tried witty reparte as the Zhentim wanted the sword. We wouldnt let them have it. The battle was quick and they saw the error of their ways. We stripped them and took them back to camp as the group interrogated them. Alya screwed one for information. She hasn't betrayed me yet but sleeping with someone associated with Bane, almost as evil as worshiping the Dark Lord himself. I must keep a watchful eye on her. Sleeping with associated of Bane and has a mask to look like someone else, this could spell trouble.
Erin tried to talk to another but my dagger happy self caused him to be not forthcoming. I should apologize to Erin for my behavior. Its just that Bane gets me so angry. His destructive force along with Valshroun and Jergal ... that is another story.
Alya got them to spill their information and Erin gave them our word they wouldnt die by our hand. The man came back looking goofy and she looked flushed. I cant bear to think of what she did to that lowlife. I shudder to think and wish i could take his life, but I have to honor the monks words but those damned sayings ... Oh well, i guess its no different then Darians and my talking of our Beloved. We set out immediatly to the Zhentim camp with Fiddle watching the prisoners. Erin explained that they need to stay alive. That they were worth more alive than dead. The prospect of money caused the little fella's eyes light up.
We found one Zhentim and let him leave. The monk is very good at negotiations but im not sure what his motives are though now. Keeping two Zhents alive and letting one go. Who exactly are Erins ancient masters? Well, he hasnt betrayed me yet so I guess i still trust him ...
We took the horses and loaded their belongings up and made a descion to go to the Peldan's Helm in the morning to deliver the Zhents. I believe their leader Sabine was attacked by the Zhents. They would have use for them, not us. Alya started going through a book and her eyes widened as did Oz's. It was a spellbook from one of the Zhents. They planned on letting Elliar in Peldan's Helm look through it and the Sage Woman in Tilverton look through it as well.
My watch is nearly complete and it is time for Darian's watch. The night was uneventful thanks to Kelemvore but the Dawn rises and Darian needs to bring the sun in. Ive stayed up to watch him although he has never seen me. Before traveling with him, i wonder how the sun rose every morning without Darian greeting it and brining it in. I suppose he was doing this in Suzail where i was. Hard to believe he and i come from the same place, both from noble families.
For now,
Richter Belmont
))
