Capellan
Explorer
Kull's 10th Report - Part 4
I am a strong man. I have met few indeed who are stronger. But that is the strength of mortals, which will ever pale against the might of Hextor. I invoked His name again - rarely have I done so, so often – and felt his power suffuse me.
Charging forward, I drove the enemy back into the room, all but knocking him from his feet. He struck at me as I came, but his blow faltered against my divine strength. Dismissing the zone of silence, I granted Ulfgar one of the lesser healings, doing just enough to prevent his immediate death.
Already off-balance, my opponent fell as the wolf I had summoned bit into his ankle and dragged him to the ground. Despite this, and the other injuries he had already suffered, he staggered to his feet and attacked again. It was a courageous action – but a foolish one. He would have been better to attempt to flee, for alive he could have sought revenge. Alone against myself, Dargrim and the wolf, he could not hope to triumph.
Once I had landed the final blow, and all my enemies lay slain, I revived Ulfgar. However, his injuries were still severe, and I had used every ounce of magic I could command in the battle, so we rested and I went through the belongings of the dead, in search of the missing sceptre. This I duly found, as well as another of the mysterious orbs that seem to be responsible for the expansion of the marsh.
I could at this point have left the complex, but I had little wish to leave a job half-done. The 'Sceptre of Truth' had been recovered, but some areas of the stronghold were as yet unexplored, and I had found no sign of Raven, the builder and owner.
Opening the opposite door in the drawing room revealed a bedchamber. Strangely, two goblins lay just inside the doorway, fast asleep, while a man lay snoring on the bed. There seemed little chance that this slumber could be anything other than magical. However, most magic can be resisted, by those of strong will. Realising this, I ordered Dargrim to end the lives of the sleeping goblins, which he duly accomplished with his longspear, while I determined who should enter the room and attempt to resist the magical effect.
In the end, I chose Ulfgar. I would have preferred to enter for myself, but dwarves have a natural resistance to magic, and as the strongest amongst us, I was best suited to dragging him out, should he succumb. And succumb he did, not even reaching the bed before collapsing to the floor.
The way forward seemed to be thwarted: the magical slumber was too strong to resist. Yet, as I looked across the room, I could see another door in the left hand wall. Obviously, there were rooms beyond: the only question was whether this was the only way to reach them. There was one room we had not yet examined, and I led the way back to this. It proved to be a store room of some kind, filled with dusty old boxes and barrels.
Neither the boxes nor the barrels were of much interest to me, but in searching through the detritus, I noticed a section of wall which seemed slightly recessed. I called Dargrim over to examine it, and his keen eye for stonework soon located a hidden switch that caused this entire section to pivot, opening into another room: a study of some kind.
Entering the study, I made a quick examination of the volumes on the shelf, discovering another map of the old coastline. However, unlike the last we had found, this one made mention of a structure or settlement known as 'The Beacon'. Possibly this is another of the ancient forts I have learned of. Once my task in the Windholm Peninsula is at an end, I will make my way to this site to investigate it.
Other than the secret door by which we had entered, there was only one exit from the study: a door that led back into the bedchamber. However, from this angle I could get a much better view of the room, and I invoked Hextor's power to show me any sources of magic in the room. Immediately, I perceived a glow around a painting on the wall. This showed a peaceful pastoral scene, with a man asleep beneath a tree.
Taking aim with my crossbow, I knocked the painting from the wall, and the man in the bed awoke. After a short conversation, I learned that this was Raven, who had built the fortress many years before. He remembered nothing since falling asleep after hanging the painting on his wall, some several years ago, and for some time refused to believe the true date. Eventually he came to accept this, though with ill grace: he did not ever demonstrate the proper gratitude for one who has been saved from a curse.
Returning to the mainland on the boat the next morning, I found that Gnorric and Jav had arrived while we were on the island. I presented the sceptre back to Councillor Baur, who insisted on a feast in our honour. Although it means the loss of a half-day's travel, I have agreed: it may be well to foster a friendship between this town and Saltmarsh. Additionally, I have been able to use the time until the feast to pen this message to yourself.
I will write again once the Quoitine has been recovered.
In Hextor's Name,
Kull Redfist
I am a strong man. I have met few indeed who are stronger. But that is the strength of mortals, which will ever pale against the might of Hextor. I invoked His name again - rarely have I done so, so often – and felt his power suffuse me.
Charging forward, I drove the enemy back into the room, all but knocking him from his feet. He struck at me as I came, but his blow faltered against my divine strength. Dismissing the zone of silence, I granted Ulfgar one of the lesser healings, doing just enough to prevent his immediate death.
Already off-balance, my opponent fell as the wolf I had summoned bit into his ankle and dragged him to the ground. Despite this, and the other injuries he had already suffered, he staggered to his feet and attacked again. It was a courageous action – but a foolish one. He would have been better to attempt to flee, for alive he could have sought revenge. Alone against myself, Dargrim and the wolf, he could not hope to triumph.
Once I had landed the final blow, and all my enemies lay slain, I revived Ulfgar. However, his injuries were still severe, and I had used every ounce of magic I could command in the battle, so we rested and I went through the belongings of the dead, in search of the missing sceptre. This I duly found, as well as another of the mysterious orbs that seem to be responsible for the expansion of the marsh.
I could at this point have left the complex, but I had little wish to leave a job half-done. The 'Sceptre of Truth' had been recovered, but some areas of the stronghold were as yet unexplored, and I had found no sign of Raven, the builder and owner.
Opening the opposite door in the drawing room revealed a bedchamber. Strangely, two goblins lay just inside the doorway, fast asleep, while a man lay snoring on the bed. There seemed little chance that this slumber could be anything other than magical. However, most magic can be resisted, by those of strong will. Realising this, I ordered Dargrim to end the lives of the sleeping goblins, which he duly accomplished with his longspear, while I determined who should enter the room and attempt to resist the magical effect.
In the end, I chose Ulfgar. I would have preferred to enter for myself, but dwarves have a natural resistance to magic, and as the strongest amongst us, I was best suited to dragging him out, should he succumb. And succumb he did, not even reaching the bed before collapsing to the floor.
The way forward seemed to be thwarted: the magical slumber was too strong to resist. Yet, as I looked across the room, I could see another door in the left hand wall. Obviously, there were rooms beyond: the only question was whether this was the only way to reach them. There was one room we had not yet examined, and I led the way back to this. It proved to be a store room of some kind, filled with dusty old boxes and barrels.
Neither the boxes nor the barrels were of much interest to me, but in searching through the detritus, I noticed a section of wall which seemed slightly recessed. I called Dargrim over to examine it, and his keen eye for stonework soon located a hidden switch that caused this entire section to pivot, opening into another room: a study of some kind.
Entering the study, I made a quick examination of the volumes on the shelf, discovering another map of the old coastline. However, unlike the last we had found, this one made mention of a structure or settlement known as 'The Beacon'. Possibly this is another of the ancient forts I have learned of. Once my task in the Windholm Peninsula is at an end, I will make my way to this site to investigate it.
Other than the secret door by which we had entered, there was only one exit from the study: a door that led back into the bedchamber. However, from this angle I could get a much better view of the room, and I invoked Hextor's power to show me any sources of magic in the room. Immediately, I perceived a glow around a painting on the wall. This showed a peaceful pastoral scene, with a man asleep beneath a tree.
Taking aim with my crossbow, I knocked the painting from the wall, and the man in the bed awoke. After a short conversation, I learned that this was Raven, who had built the fortress many years before. He remembered nothing since falling asleep after hanging the painting on his wall, some several years ago, and for some time refused to believe the true date. Eventually he came to accept this, though with ill grace: he did not ever demonstrate the proper gratitude for one who has been saved from a curse.
Returning to the mainland on the boat the next morning, I found that Gnorric and Jav had arrived while we were on the island. I presented the sceptre back to Councillor Baur, who insisted on a feast in our honour. Although it means the loss of a half-day's travel, I have agreed: it may be well to foster a friendship between this town and Saltmarsh. Additionally, I have been able to use the time until the feast to pen this message to yourself.
I will write again once the Quoitine has been recovered.
In Hextor's Name,
Kull Redfist
