Eccles
Ragged idiot in a trilby.
Miles Journal part 22
Tarsakh 17th - Rested till late in the morning before getting up and making my way across town from the Inn to Lord Morn's manor to make my report to Respen. He was pleased for once, we have after all wiped out the Kiaransalee cultists that had been raiding Daggerdale, and though he dislikes us having made an alliance with that drow archmage, it will serve to prevent any future raids. He handed over a sack of money for us having completed our assignment. I handed over the letter we found, and his face turned grave again. I have suggested that he bring the letter to the attention of the Dales Council if he can fit it into their agenda for this gathering, he said he'd try but what with the drow raids from Cormanthyr, the Shades, Zhents and recent happenings in Cormyr to discuss he wasn't very optimistic.
With that in mind, I bid him a good day, assuring him that the group intended to stay in town for a good few days to rest and re-equip. I made my way over to Halbrinn's house where he and Adamo are staying, and our summoner was already at work identifying the stuff we had gained recently. From the pile of items, I managed to do very well indeed, securing a better cloak than the one I had, Vorynn's old bracers which boosted her force of personality (not that he needed them he was boorish enough company already), and a suit of elven chainmail. We sold the items we had no use for at the enclave, and most of us paid for something or other to be made or improved upon. I have had the magics in my new chainmail enhanced.
Tarsakh 18th to 22nd - Stayed at the Old Mans Drum whilst my chainmail was being upgraded. After the debacle last time, I decided not to go hunting for anyone wishing any of us harm in the city this time. They want us dead, they have to come into sight eventually.
Tarsakh 23rd - Got a reply from Respen today. The Dales Council have decided that whatever this "Mother" from the letter is planning, it is none of their concern. He also let us know, that a wood on the Mistledale/Battledale border has started to disrupt magic in some manner, he wasn't too clear on the details. From comparing our map of the underdark to the surface map we believe that this wood lies roughly atop or very close to Maerimydra, where this Great Revenance is to take place, or may have already begun. We all agreed that this was no coincidence, and have decided to investigate the matter.
Tarsakh 24th to 26th - Remain in Dagger Falls and the Thayans finally finish my armour upgrade, as well as our wizards complete scribing new spells into their spellbooks. I extended my stay in the Old Mans Drum, mostly keeping to myself. I find I am getting very good at nursing a pint of ale so that it takes me several hours to drink it, certainly saves me money, and there is something to be said in my line of work for being more sober than everyone else around you!
Tarsakh 27th - Finally ready, we headed out of Dagger Falls early this morning, intent on scouting out this Maerimydra place, whatever it is. We quickly made our way back to Szith Morcane and passed through the vast cavern without incident reaching the gateway we found on our last visit here. Opening the gate, we proceeded down the tunnel beyond it towards who knows what, as the map we have is very scarce on details, all we know is that the tunnel leads to the shore of a large underground lake and leads off from another shore of that lake, towards Maerimydra. I'm not entirely sure how we plan to cross the lake, but I guess we will figure that out when we get there. We encountered nothing during the course of our travels today and eventually made camp. I think we have made good progress.
Tarsakh 28th - Our night's rest was uninterrupted, and we have continued our descent today as this tunnel is surely sloping downwards. The days travel was uneventful and we made camp. Whilst on second watch we were attacked by a half dozen troglodytes backed up two troglodyte berserkers and a shaman. It did take us a while to defeat these raiders, as the half dozen regular trogs went down easily enough; it took an incredible amount of punishment dealt out to drop one of the berserkers, the shaman then plane shifting away with the other. We found many magical items on the berserker that I slew and hopefully some might prove useful. If nothing else they will provide coin.
Tarsakh 29th - On our travel downward today we have encountered a stream of pure acid. Luckily it was but a foot across and we all easily jumped it. Just a little further on we heard loud guttural noises coming from a cavern up ahead. We approached cautiously only for Aeron to enlarge himself and run into the cave in full armour, narrowly dodging a thrown boulder from a stone giant. We rushed forwards to engage this giant in combat, and his companions too, as another three of the lumbering brutes joined the fray, one after another. No sooner did we knock one down than another seemed to arrive. We handily defeated them though not without myself and Yvgeny suffering heavy wounds (Aeron did also but quickly healed himself up). We then saw that this cavern was the one on our map, at the edge of the lake.
Halbrinn returned then from a quick scout of nearby caves to report that another four giants and two massive bears were close by and apparently ready to defend themselves, or launch another attack against us. As he was off doing this, the rest of us noticed a series of cave paintings relating to the giants relations with fishmen (probably koa-toa) who dwell on an island in the lake in a crude building. The giants it turns out had a pair of large rafts, and after thoroughly sabotaging them, we used Halbrinns feather token to create a large swan boat and we boarded it. Trust the gnome to think of everything!
No sooner had we set sail however, than we passed a cave on the shoreline used as a dump by the giants as it was filled with bones, shells and a monstrous creature with lobster claws and thick chitinous armour. The thing leapt onto the aft of our boat and promptly grabbed Adamo, the tentacles hanging from its mouth paralysing him. The rest of us moved to his defense, knowing that if the monster now retreated, our mage would undoubtedly be lost. It was then as I placed a blade between a couple plates that it grabbed me. Mask! The pain as this things pincer crushed me was incredible. Still, I struggled but to no avail until Stedd delivered a blow that stunned the creature; and its grip relaxed enough for me to escape. It dropped Adamo and Yvgeny pulled him to safety, seeing to his wounds, as the creature leapt from the boat the moment it came to its senses, bleeding from several wounds. Adamo when he came around, launched several lightning bolts into our boats wake in anger, but I do not think he got the creature.
Continuing onwards across the inky lake, we were alerted by Stedd to the presence in the water nearby of a large fast moving creature. I think all of us at that point remembered another of the giants cave paintings, one depicting a vast tentacled creature in the lake. I had little desire to encounter a giant squid, as my last encounter with one of these beats did not go well. We lost two of the Crusaders to the squid that attacked us in the jungle realm.
The creature showed itself a couple times as we continued on and from these sightings it was obvious that this creature was massive, far larger than the squid myself and Stedd remember from that savage land. At a rough guess I put the creature at about 100 to 130 feet in length from the tips of its longest tentacles to where I could see of the back end of its body.
Then, as it approached menacingly, Adamo enlarged our boat to give us more maneuverability should it actually attack. Tentacles wrapped around the boat and it made an attempt to take Yvgeny. Adamo and I tried negotiating with it and when it did not release him, Adamo summoned a whale of all things to attack it while we sailed away.
The Kraken (for surely that must be what it is)tore the whale apart and came after us, as we readied ourselves for an onslaught with the spellcasters enchanting everyone with fly spells (well apart from Yvgeny who jumped overboard when the whale attacked. Halbrinn surprised us all by summoning up a Sperm Whale (he later said that it was an illusion, but I swear it was as real as I am). We continued onwards as fast as we could and for a while the monster left us alone.
It could not leave us alone forever though, and again approached us, only this time to demand tribute. Grudgingly we paid in fine quality weapons and armour which we had been intending to sell the next time we returned to Dagger Falls, as well as a few potions from my belt. It then left us alone, thoroughly irritated with our tactics. We finally reached the other shore and were joined a few hours later by Yvgeny who had climbed upside down along the cave lakes walls and ceiling for about ten miles! Truly the priest of Ilmater doesn't just preach about suffering, he endures it too. We camped some distance from the lakes edge, and burnt the boat to provide a fire (as it was going to vanish anyway, this way we got a ride and it warmed/dried us as well, leaving no trace of a fire as the debris vanished into thin air).
Tarsakh 17th - Rested till late in the morning before getting up and making my way across town from the Inn to Lord Morn's manor to make my report to Respen. He was pleased for once, we have after all wiped out the Kiaransalee cultists that had been raiding Daggerdale, and though he dislikes us having made an alliance with that drow archmage, it will serve to prevent any future raids. He handed over a sack of money for us having completed our assignment. I handed over the letter we found, and his face turned grave again. I have suggested that he bring the letter to the attention of the Dales Council if he can fit it into their agenda for this gathering, he said he'd try but what with the drow raids from Cormanthyr, the Shades, Zhents and recent happenings in Cormyr to discuss he wasn't very optimistic.
With that in mind, I bid him a good day, assuring him that the group intended to stay in town for a good few days to rest and re-equip. I made my way over to Halbrinn's house where he and Adamo are staying, and our summoner was already at work identifying the stuff we had gained recently. From the pile of items, I managed to do very well indeed, securing a better cloak than the one I had, Vorynn's old bracers which boosted her force of personality (not that he needed them he was boorish enough company already), and a suit of elven chainmail. We sold the items we had no use for at the enclave, and most of us paid for something or other to be made or improved upon. I have had the magics in my new chainmail enhanced.
Tarsakh 18th to 22nd - Stayed at the Old Mans Drum whilst my chainmail was being upgraded. After the debacle last time, I decided not to go hunting for anyone wishing any of us harm in the city this time. They want us dead, they have to come into sight eventually.
Tarsakh 23rd - Got a reply from Respen today. The Dales Council have decided that whatever this "Mother" from the letter is planning, it is none of their concern. He also let us know, that a wood on the Mistledale/Battledale border has started to disrupt magic in some manner, he wasn't too clear on the details. From comparing our map of the underdark to the surface map we believe that this wood lies roughly atop or very close to Maerimydra, where this Great Revenance is to take place, or may have already begun. We all agreed that this was no coincidence, and have decided to investigate the matter.
Tarsakh 24th to 26th - Remain in Dagger Falls and the Thayans finally finish my armour upgrade, as well as our wizards complete scribing new spells into their spellbooks. I extended my stay in the Old Mans Drum, mostly keeping to myself. I find I am getting very good at nursing a pint of ale so that it takes me several hours to drink it, certainly saves me money, and there is something to be said in my line of work for being more sober than everyone else around you!
Tarsakh 27th - Finally ready, we headed out of Dagger Falls early this morning, intent on scouting out this Maerimydra place, whatever it is. We quickly made our way back to Szith Morcane and passed through the vast cavern without incident reaching the gateway we found on our last visit here. Opening the gate, we proceeded down the tunnel beyond it towards who knows what, as the map we have is very scarce on details, all we know is that the tunnel leads to the shore of a large underground lake and leads off from another shore of that lake, towards Maerimydra. I'm not entirely sure how we plan to cross the lake, but I guess we will figure that out when we get there. We encountered nothing during the course of our travels today and eventually made camp. I think we have made good progress.
Tarsakh 28th - Our night's rest was uninterrupted, and we have continued our descent today as this tunnel is surely sloping downwards. The days travel was uneventful and we made camp. Whilst on second watch we were attacked by a half dozen troglodytes backed up two troglodyte berserkers and a shaman. It did take us a while to defeat these raiders, as the half dozen regular trogs went down easily enough; it took an incredible amount of punishment dealt out to drop one of the berserkers, the shaman then plane shifting away with the other. We found many magical items on the berserker that I slew and hopefully some might prove useful. If nothing else they will provide coin.
Tarsakh 29th - On our travel downward today we have encountered a stream of pure acid. Luckily it was but a foot across and we all easily jumped it. Just a little further on we heard loud guttural noises coming from a cavern up ahead. We approached cautiously only for Aeron to enlarge himself and run into the cave in full armour, narrowly dodging a thrown boulder from a stone giant. We rushed forwards to engage this giant in combat, and his companions too, as another three of the lumbering brutes joined the fray, one after another. No sooner did we knock one down than another seemed to arrive. We handily defeated them though not without myself and Yvgeny suffering heavy wounds (Aeron did also but quickly healed himself up). We then saw that this cavern was the one on our map, at the edge of the lake.
Halbrinn returned then from a quick scout of nearby caves to report that another four giants and two massive bears were close by and apparently ready to defend themselves, or launch another attack against us. As he was off doing this, the rest of us noticed a series of cave paintings relating to the giants relations with fishmen (probably koa-toa) who dwell on an island in the lake in a crude building. The giants it turns out had a pair of large rafts, and after thoroughly sabotaging them, we used Halbrinns feather token to create a large swan boat and we boarded it. Trust the gnome to think of everything!
No sooner had we set sail however, than we passed a cave on the shoreline used as a dump by the giants as it was filled with bones, shells and a monstrous creature with lobster claws and thick chitinous armour. The thing leapt onto the aft of our boat and promptly grabbed Adamo, the tentacles hanging from its mouth paralysing him. The rest of us moved to his defense, knowing that if the monster now retreated, our mage would undoubtedly be lost. It was then as I placed a blade between a couple plates that it grabbed me. Mask! The pain as this things pincer crushed me was incredible. Still, I struggled but to no avail until Stedd delivered a blow that stunned the creature; and its grip relaxed enough for me to escape. It dropped Adamo and Yvgeny pulled him to safety, seeing to his wounds, as the creature leapt from the boat the moment it came to its senses, bleeding from several wounds. Adamo when he came around, launched several lightning bolts into our boats wake in anger, but I do not think he got the creature.
Continuing onwards across the inky lake, we were alerted by Stedd to the presence in the water nearby of a large fast moving creature. I think all of us at that point remembered another of the giants cave paintings, one depicting a vast tentacled creature in the lake. I had little desire to encounter a giant squid, as my last encounter with one of these beats did not go well. We lost two of the Crusaders to the squid that attacked us in the jungle realm.
The creature showed itself a couple times as we continued on and from these sightings it was obvious that this creature was massive, far larger than the squid myself and Stedd remember from that savage land. At a rough guess I put the creature at about 100 to 130 feet in length from the tips of its longest tentacles to where I could see of the back end of its body.
Then, as it approached menacingly, Adamo enlarged our boat to give us more maneuverability should it actually attack. Tentacles wrapped around the boat and it made an attempt to take Yvgeny. Adamo and I tried negotiating with it and when it did not release him, Adamo summoned a whale of all things to attack it while we sailed away.
The Kraken (for surely that must be what it is)tore the whale apart and came after us, as we readied ourselves for an onslaught with the spellcasters enchanting everyone with fly spells (well apart from Yvgeny who jumped overboard when the whale attacked. Halbrinn surprised us all by summoning up a Sperm Whale (he later said that it was an illusion, but I swear it was as real as I am). We continued onwards as fast as we could and for a while the monster left us alone.
It could not leave us alone forever though, and again approached us, only this time to demand tribute. Grudgingly we paid in fine quality weapons and armour which we had been intending to sell the next time we returned to Dagger Falls, as well as a few potions from my belt. It then left us alone, thoroughly irritated with our tactics. We finally reached the other shore and were joined a few hours later by Yvgeny who had climbed upside down along the cave lakes walls and ceiling for about ten miles! Truly the priest of Ilmater doesn't just preach about suffering, he endures it too. We camped some distance from the lakes edge, and burnt the boat to provide a fire (as it was going to vanish anyway, this way we got a ride and it warmed/dried us as well, leaving no trace of a fire as the debris vanished into thin air).
Liking the retelling. I especially like Miles's colored retelling, though it is not quite as fun and spiteful as Jared's. 
It's interesting trying to piece together what happened from the two different points of view.
