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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PieAndDragon" data-source="post: 2903374" data-attributes="member: 18108">Evening of the 5thNow we sit in a cave on the Harrowmoor, hiding away from the rest of the world. In the Harrowmoor Rosen walked the spirit world, looking for signs of powerful magical beings and signs of mortal construction. Her main finding was up the river we followed, where buildings and supernatural beings were waiting. As we made our way through the moor, guided by Lukkar, a winged creature of stone caught sight of us. It fled soon after, back towards the buildings we sought. Soon after Ijiru caught sight of a tower of stone in the distance, partially hidden between several hills. We decided to rest out of sight, in a cavern found for us by the tain.Ijiru make a solitary journey to the tower, finding a several structures and tents in a walled enclosure, guarded by several gargoyles. A large four-armed ape made of iron watched the base of the tower, and human guards were seen in the enclosure. He suspects Avivah is in one of the tents, but for now we wait.Airday, 6th of Ninthmonth, 1534 ERThe others have spent most of the day laying plans, but have few good ideas. They would never make warleaders or mercenary captains. The tain left the caves driven to wander a short way by the Doom of her kind. She reported sighting a gargoyle in the sky, watching from afar. Ijiru plans to scout again at night, shielded from prying eyes by his magics.Rosen walked the spirit world, but found nothing of use to us. I would prefer a shaman of Tiger to one of Dog. But one is harder to find than the other. Night of the 6thThere are more sentries than we thought before. Many gargoyles, lead by a larger one and several armoured in chain. A drake of some sort guards at night, and Ijiru caught sight of a second giant iron ape. He did manage to locate Avivah in one of the tents, setting off an alarm at the same time. The gargoyles rushing around did not concern him, but their master did. The giant earth genie tried to find him with spells, and our scout fled. We have now moved a short way to a new cave, and lay plans for the next day7th of the NinthWe are returning to Southwatch for aid. Sakorat contacted Abbon Longstep, wanting scrolls of power to help with our rescue. We are to meet them at Queensmeet tomorrow. They want the bride to be back as soon as we can manage. Sakorat has yet to explain his plan to me.Gargoyles have been sent after us, leading an ape of iron. We lie in wait now, hoping to weaken our foes.Midday of the SeventhThe battle was swift and brutal. None of our foes escaped.The drake joined them, a creature from the Deeps, known as a smoke drake to Ijiru. Rosen merged with the stone before battle began, as she had never agreed to aid our fights. Sakorat granted us the full strengths of his magics as are foes advanced, gargoyles, iron ape and drake. They were not needed in truth. The drake covered us in a boiling mass of smoke, the only casualty being Lukkar's dog and the horses I had tied.The ape charged in first, only to be brought down by Lukkar's arrows, Ijiru's fire and the tain's axe. The drake proved little more of trouble, flying through a wall of blades, then stunned by the wrath of the naiad's patrons and cut down by Zuridah. Other gargoyles fell to Lukkar's arrows and one wrestled briefly with him. When I slew their last leader, a chain-armoured of their race, they attempted to flee. But none escaped our arrows, blades and spells.Our enemies beware, the Company of the Valiant Blade.Evening of the 7thOur day ended at Queensmeet, a small village where they base the Festival of Three Queens at summer and winter solstice. Even now a few people get ready.We heard tales of this coming festival, where three women represent mortals, the forest fey and the night fey. This year they say the most beautiful are gathering. Someone has been spreading the rumours of Avivah. Why the Monkey Cult took her is a mystery.8th of the NinthSakorat sent a message to Avivah this morning, telling her we were on our way. She sent a message back and she is still in the enclosure. We tried to view her in Ijiru's mirror but kept getting the same image. Our wizard suspects some ward is being used to protect her from sight.A group of Southwatch guardsmen came in with our scrolls of power, and wished us the best as we headed back out on are rescue attempt.Waterday, the 9thWe camped on the edge of the Harrowmoor last night, and today reached the tower once more, resting in another cave. I begin to feel like Bat, spending so much of my time in the dark.Now we wait for night-time, to rescue Avivah.Night?, the 9th?Soon after dusk we crept close to the enclosure, watching the torches of our prey. Ijiru and the naiad summoned their magics, and it began. Ijiru flew into the night, cloaked in darkness and silenced by the Immortals. A few minutes later we saw signs of his presence, massive black tentacles breaking out havoc in the tent. Soon he returned with Avivah, managing to find her among the tents. He overcame two pech guards, and there were no wards strong enough to stop him. The naiad unleashed a scroll of power, sundering the ground of our foes, collapsing their buildings and tearing apart the earth. We watched the havoc for a short while, then joined hands and fled to another realm.For now we are somewhere else. I can see dull grey all around and little else. No lights, just a grey miasma. The ground is a dull brown and there is no scent here. This is the Realm of Order, according to Sakorat. He only had enough power to bring us here. To escape we must wait for the Immortals to answer his prayers. Let them answer it soon, for I like not this place. The woman, still not awake, appears to be the one we were after. The radiance has faded slightly from her features. The others are sure she had many thralls connected to her, and some were lost in the quake Sakorat summoned upon the enemy.?, a few hours since my last entryWe need to leave here soon. Giant ant-creatures approached us, and were almost the end to us. We could not understand them, and they attempted to take control of us.Zuridah was the first to fall under their sway, and I soon after. Avivah fell to one of the warriors, Ijiru masked himself with spells and Sakorat was soon surrounded. Desperate prayers to the Immortals entombed several of the ant-men and Zuridah in stone, while Ijiru and Lukkar located the one which possessed us. It fell to fire and arrows soon after, freeing us from their servitude. The ant-creatures fled our righteous wrath, and the field of battle was ours once more. Not a safe place to be. Avivah was only stunned and prayers to the Immortals have set her to rights again.Otherday, 10th of the NinthOur fortunes have improved, but only barely. With Sakarat's magic we returned to the Realm of Mortals. But such links are unstable and we were thrown from our intended place of Southwatch. Now we our in forest, with trees as far as we can see. Zuridah and Lukkar recognise this as the Forest of the Apes, where they have spent much time in the past. For now we head north, with Avivah telling us constantly that she needs to be at the Festival of Three Queens. Our first task is to stay alive. Our second is to find Southwatch. Our third is to return her to our employers. Anything else falls outside the bounds of our contract. Such is the life of the mercenary and the adventuring company.12th of the NinthLukkar has sighted hills to the west from the treetops. He is fairly sure of where we are, east of the Redcap Hills. North is still our destination. Night fey have sighted us, but they are wary of an enchanted helmet worn by the naiad. The unseelie fear it and Lukkar tells me they have used it for nearly two years to gain access to the Forest of the Apes unmolested.Sakorat contacted the Southwatch family to tell of our successful rescue. They want her returned as soon as possible. She wants to get to the festival. I want to leave the forest.17th of NinthmonthAs the solstice grows nearer, we are still in the forest of the night fey. A cycuri shapeshifer accosted us today. He belonged to the Cult of the Monkey God, and wanted us to wait for him so we could hand over Avivah. Sakorats silver tongue fooled him into believing we would hand her over. He flew off in eagle form and we pretended to stay for a short while, before heading north once more.Waterday, 19th of NinthmonthOur journey draws nearer to an end. Now we are in the Blackstone Hills, west of Highkeep and Whistlesprings. They will meet us at Nightjewel Mansion. In the next few days we will cross what remains of Highkeep, avoiding the bandits and other creatures who haunt that cursed place.Waterday, 24th of NinthmonthDespite one unsuccessful escape attempt by Avivah, desperate to get to the Festival, we have reached Whistlesprings and handed over our unearthly companion. Marchelleus met us himself, handing over the deeds to our new house and lands. One sure thing is that Avivah will not represent mortals at the Festival of Three Queens.We have been granted rights to keep criminals and Mark them as thralls in the name of the SouthWatch Family. I dislike the idea of thralls. They would tie me to a place too much for my liking.10th of TenthmonthWe have heard news from the Festival of Three Queens. The Cult of the Monkey God lost much face, as Niabi, the queen for the unseelie, refused to be crowned when she heard Avivah did not represent the mortals. The Monkey God turned up, looking for the lady of the night fey.It turns out they are ancient foes, and Peregrina had planned to break the curse Niabi had set on the Monkey God long ago. But the Monkey God's foe had fled before he turned up, with no Avivah to vie for the mortals. The festival turned ugly from there, with the Monkey God spreading his wrath among those gathered. It was abandoned among apes and baboons, with many turned to stone by Peregrina's mad gaze.The SouthWatch Family have outlawed the Cult of the Monkey God, and placed a bounty on their leader's head. The Monkey Beastclan talk of returning home to the Northlands, and the Monkey God's followers are in disarray. One of their number, Tabor, has met with the Company of the Valiant Blade, keen to come to some truce with Southwatch.We rest, train, enjoy our time of peace once more. No-one knows for sure what waits across the next horizon.End of Session Twenty-Six</blockquote>

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