SESSION 5
May 20th
After visiting a horse merchant, we found that Vlad had sold the horses and departed with someone named Maril, apparently willingly. We guessed that something must have come up, and trusted Vlad's judgement and ability to take care of himself. A sturdy dwarven pony caught our eyes; in need of a pack animal, we purchased it.
Setting out for Kraty's Freehold, we began a day of uneventful travel. By afternoon we had reached the town of O'Mara, arranged around a large stone church of O'Mara. Apparently, they were having some kind of spring festival--a sort of warm-up for the fair at Duma Faifni, perhaps. There was dancing and joyous singing; a smile was on every face. Merchants and people of all kinds were there, and I was surprised when one spoke to me in fairly good Ionian! Apparently, Ionian merchants, like my father, are not uncommon here. We chatted for a while. The festivities seemed to be centered on something happening in the church, but I did not enter because entrance required paying a fee--and I did not want to have our church's money supporting other misguided religions.
We went on our way, leaving town. By dusk we came upon a roadside Inn. The room rates were outrageous, so we sleep outside tonight.
May 21st
Our morning travels were uneventful, except for an encounter with some cheerful merchants, who sold Finis some boots. My sandals are dirty and worn, but I do not think I could easily become accustomed to boots. The sandals will do.
In the afternoon we passed some very heavily armored men on horseback. Their hearty (and polite) greeting warmed my heart--I recalled the snobbish behavior displayed many days ago by the other riders we met on the road. It is good to meet friendly folk.
At dusk we camped by a large statue, very similar to the one we encountered when we first began our traveling together. This one depicted the same woman and dragon, but the woman rode on the dragon's back. Together they fought a giant and a three headed reptile. Torin decided that the statues were the work of dwarves, and were probably enchanted (the dragon's wings seemed impossibly huge; normal stone would have cracked and fallen apart long ago under the stress). Many other groups have camped here, judging by the garbage and other signs they left. I anticipate a restful sleep.
May 22nd
The wind picked up today, blowing from the west. When the road split, we took the western path. The landscape has become more desolate; trees are sparse. The land is hilly, with the same kinds of boulders strewn about, but otherwise incredibly featureless. We have seen no one all day long. Even animals are seen less frequently. We have stopped by the long, winding road to camp. I now wake up Finis for his watch.
May 23rd
The land is depressing in its bleakness. The day was totally uneventful. We are running out of travelling stories to tell each other, and the silences sometimes become awkward. We are nonetheless making good time, although Torin's small bladder continues to slow our pace. He reminds me of an animal marking its territory.
In the evening we stopped by a stream to camp. A most curious encounter then occured; a smaller-than-average dwarf was passing near our camp, carrying a huge block of stone on his back. It easily weighed a ton, possibly even two. We offered to let him camp with us, but he declined; he simply wanted a drink. Taelsyn grudgingly offered him some of the fine liquor he had discovered beneath the Linden Tuatha keep. The dwarf gruffly said his thanks (crushing my drinking cup before handing it back to me), and went on his way. What an odd fellow.
May 24th
The only event of note today was the crossing of a rickety bridge. We all made it across without incident, although I was quite worried that the weight of the pony would cause it to collapse. We did not make a fire tonight, for fear of attracting whatever creature might see the light. We would certainly be the only source of light for miles around.
May 25th
Days like today make me wonder why I ever left the temple.
Today the winds stopped blowing from the West and started blowing from the North. As the morning went on, the wind became stronger and stronger until, by lunch-time, it was strong enough to slow our forward motion. Twigs and small stones blowing in the wind batter us as we march persistently forward. Oddly, most of them seem to strike Torin.
In the early afternoon, we were attacked by a most unusual creature. It had the head of man, but a lion's body, bat wings, and a long tail with spikes on the tip. It roared at us, then jumped into the air, taking advantage of the gale-force winds, and almost instantly it was in our midst. It was a terrible fight, but the Dwarves gave it quite a beating. I tried out one of the spells I only recently acquired the ability to cast--a flame blade. It is quite effective.
The wind had died down somewhat by the time we made camp. While setting up the camp, a loud roaring noise echoed through the area, filling Taelsyn, Finis, and myself with a supernatural fear. I do not remember exactly what happened, but I have managed to piece together the night's events from the stories of the others. Taelsyn, Finis, and I ran off from the camp, Finis and I in one direction, and Taelsyn in another. The dwarves and the pony were left behind. When the fear wore off, Finis and I found our way back with the aid of a light spell. We returned to the camp to find the dwarves and the pony gone. I started a fire to aid Taelsyn's return to camp, while Finis tried to follow the tracks of the dwarves with the light spell. I soon heard him call for me, and we found Torin and Blades chasing some orcs. The orcs had shot several arrows into Torin, but the dwarves had exacted some revenge. Blades went down, but Torin and Finis managed to finish them off before I even got there.
I returned to the camp, and checked up on the pony. While stoking the fire, I was surprised by a voice behind me. It sounded like Taelsyn, but at the same time, it was different. I turned around, and it was indeed Taelsyn, but something was wrong. He did not know me; he had never even heard of Ionia. I quickly surmised that Taelsyn was possessed by a ghost, albeit a polite one. He said that he was Palimor Raven of the Fitzgerald Tuatha. I explained who we were, and where we were going. He was extremely upset when I told him that we had a druid in the party. He said that he was killed by a druid over 200 years ago, in this area. I tried to tell him that Finis was not so bad, although he remained skeptical. He does seem to trust me. In any case, we have again altered our path. I am glad that Palimor explained his situation to me before the rest of the group returned; I think the others would not have acted so peaceably towards him. They seemed to be willing to follow my advice.
In any case, we have again altered our path. Palimor says that his love, Esmerelda, awaits him in the keep of the Fitzgerald Tuatha, which is called Morningstar. He did not seem concerned that over 200 years had passed since he had last seen her. We are now headed northeast, I think. It is becoming difficult to keep track of where we are on Vlad's map.
It is very late now, and we must rest for the night, no matter how much Palimor wants to press on. I think he has a good heart, but, by the heavenly flame, he is stubborn!
May 26th
This uneventful day was spent in conversation with Palimor. Poor Finis hangs toward the back of the party, to stay out of Palimor's way. I'm acting as something of a messenger between the two. Finis tells me what he wants to know, and I try to work his questions into conversation with Palimor.
I've found out a great deal about the history of Ailech. It is sometimes difficult to understand Palimor because of the archaic form of Cimbrian he uses, but I have found that he was an elven soldier in the employ of what eventually became Midhe. At the time it was merely the nothern part of Great Kingdom. Palimor battled the forces of Maleconia in the late 600's and early 700's, along with other elves, humans, and Wolfen. However, the Letgur Empire attacked the Maleconian Empire in 735. The emperor of the Maleconian Empire, Ivantosk the Boldhammer, sued for peace. Maleconia gave up is claim to the areas now called Jyvaskyla, Hibernia, and Verdheim. Palimor believes that these conflicts, and the division of territories, helped bring about the end of the Great Kingdom.
That is enough history for today. It is difficult to converse with Palimor; he is very distracted. Reaching Morningstar is the only thing he thinks about clearly.
May 27th
The amazing pace that we are keeping is taking a toll on all of us, except Palimor. We have traveled straight and quickly. We came upon a wide stream in the afternoon. While attempting to find a way across, Torin was attacked by a gigantic frog. Torin killed it, but not before it managed to get the tip of its sticky tongue stuck to Torin's chest. We barely managed to keep him from floating off downstream with the frog carcass. Eventually, we bridged the stream by laying fallen trees across it.
While encamped, we spotted a giant walking through the trees in the distance. He didn't see us, and we weren't about to point ourselves out to him (despite Blade's protests).
I managed to get more information from Palimor today. Apparently, the peace agreement caused even more problems. After the orcish Klegoth Imperium was destroyed, there was no one left to fight (fighting the Eternal Kingdom of the Elves of Valestri would be folly). The people of the Great Kingdom were trying to absorb the new land and people. This caused conflict between tuathas. Their obsession with tribal honor, the tendency toward violence that the wars had bred into them, turned disagreements over land rights into small wars. Only the Druids of Condatis and some other priesthoods stayed out of the fighting.
Palimor is intimately familiar with all of these conflicts, and he must have recounted every last one of them. My head is swimming with names and places, victors and winners, gains and losses. It is a sad tale.
May 28th
More dull, straight, featureless, tiring travel. Only Palimor's tales lighten the boredom.
Despite the petty conflicts between the tuathas, the Great Kingdom might have survived, if it were not for the cataclysmic events of 786.
Myshara was a beautiful half-elven queen, and wife of the noble Uth-Dragus MacCuil. She betrayed his trust and slept with his younger brother, Lorthwren the Brave. I do not understand why people do such cruel things to each other! Their affair was aided by Prince Trell'dem, a young lord and advisor of Uth-Dragus.
A knight, Opcord Magnus, revealed the affair to the King. In a rage, he sought out his brother, who dallied with his wife in the Forests of Alba. Uth-Dragus found and fought his brother, and would have killed him, if not for the intervention of a druid. The druid saved both Lorthwren and Myshara. Returning his castle, Uth Dragus demanded the death of his brother, but for reasons unknown, the council of Condatis refused to cooperate. Uth-Dragus sent a group of elite guards to retrieve his wife and brother, and they were killed, apparently by the druids. Palimor, however, seems to think someone else may have been responsible, but he will not elaborate.
May 29th
About an hour after waking up and continuing our journey this morning, a faint droning noise began. Finis went ahead to check it out. He reported that it was a seven foot tall green humanoid, with holes in it (through which the wind was whistling) and sunlight glinting off the dew on its surface. We gave it a wide berth, avoiding it altogether.
We crossed a major road this afternoon. I suspect that we are somewhere between Findabair and Tea Mur (which tells us little). If we become totally lost, we can at least head due south until we hit a road, then follow the road to a city.
May 30th
The sky became overcast today, but no rain fell. The weather seems uncertain whether to enter the warmth of spring, or remain in the wet cool of winter; it has chosen to remain a cautiously moderate temperature. This is excellent traveling weather. Unfortunately, I find little comfort in the weather.
Palimor continued his story today. It seems that the King sent his army into the forests, under the leadership of Trell'dem. Apparently, the King had not learned of Trell'dem's duplicity. A bloody battle in the forest broke out. All of this blood was spilt over one woman's infidelity! The King soon received word that Myshara had been killed in the fighting, and Lorthwren, who had formerly sought to appease his brother, swore eternal hatred for him. With no hope of negotiating a peaceful solution, each side began collecting allies. By the end of the year, almost all the tuathas had either sided with Uth-Dragus or Lorthwren. The War of Dissolution had begun.
May 31st
Torin spotted some orcs today while scouting ahead. He gave chase, but they filled him with arrows and then ran away (easily outpacing the dwarves). I was hoping that our avoidance of many creatures had taught them that discretion is the better part of valor; apparently, dwarves must have that lesson literally beaten into their head (or at least, these dwarves must).
The sad end of Palimor's story came today. With the war begun, and all the tuathas on one side or the other, Midhe became the domain of Lorthwren. With the backing of the druids, he fought to defend Midhe, and both sides suffered horrendous losses. Connaught was allied with the King; they had many powerful artifacts and "animas" that wreaked havoc on Midhe and Ailech. Trell'dem, with the support of priests, the Wild Dwarves, and the nation of Midhe, broke away from Connaught in 794. Connaught, led by Uth-Dragus, could not spare the forces necessary to reclaim the rebelling province.
The war continued, and whole tuathas were wiped out. The newly acquired lands were left to fend for themselves, and chaos seemed certain to spread throughout the entire region. Palimor says that he was killed in 795, as he traveled to Ailech to lead his people to a safer place. He had left the forces of Midhe for this purpose, as it was feared that many groups, from priests to Wolfen, were trying to take control of Ailech to form their own state. Palimor's own unit was ordered to the border of Ailech; the only possible reason for this was an attack on Ailech. Not wishing to attack an ally and possibly his kin, Palimor and many others left the Midhe army. They had been moving south through the desolation known as Izmalkor, when a Cimbrian with a dark beard and mustache rode a flaming chariot down at him. He hurled flame at the elves, striking Palimor down. It was May 5th. Palimor has haunted these hills ever since.
I asked him several questions about the druids, and their possible motives for attacking elves. He said that Druids were powerful before all the conflict started, but became even more so when Midhe formed. Prior to the War of Dissolution, the Druids had split the power with the King and lairds, acting as advisors, but not ruling the people. In Midhe, the druids held almost complete political power, although they claimed to act in the name of King Lorthwren.
One faction of Druids, the Hal Seinn, discouraged cooperation between druids and other races--especially elves, wolfen, and halflings. It is conceivable that these druids saw those races as a threat to their political power, as they know much of the lore of the druids. I wondered whether the druids might be trying to promote the balance by striking down good creatures. Palimor suggested that there was plenty of evil about, as is always the case during war--which is itself an act of evil. He has an excellent point; killing good elves would certainly not help to restore the balance.
Out of curiosity, I asked Palimor how well the various races got along in his day. He seemed confused by the question. Eventually, he said that the races got along well enough, although they tended to live in their own neighborhoods. They worked and lived together. His own tuatha was small, but friendly with several human villages. Some humans and half-elves even lived in Morningstar.
I hope that the tale of our adventure in this wilderness has a happier ending than Palimor's.
June 1st
As I write this, I wonder if this will be the last thing I ever write. I plan to ask the others to get these pages to you, if I should fall.
It is the first day of the festival at Duma Faifni, and I am stuck out here, in the middle of nowhere. It seemed that we would never get anywhere, when suddenly, just before lunch time, the tip of a white tower became visible above some hills. We crested the hills, to see a both inspiring and terrible sight. The valley was incredibly beautiful; a stream ran through it, healthy trees grew green and tall, and the white tower stood majestically upon a hill in the middle of it all.
But a second look brought a sense of crushing defeat. The tower was in shambles. Trees grew up around it, some of them with branches punched straight through the walls of the tower (and I do mean punched--the trees were obviously made to attack the tower somehow). The remains of an elven village, or some other kind of complex, lay in ruins around the tower. A single, lonely wind chime sounded its sombre tone. Palimor was crushed, but I tried to comfort him, and encourage him to find out what happened. He became determined to solve this mystery.
While investigating the ruins, I asked Finis if druidic magic was responsible for the trees' attack on the tower. Finis said he had no doubt of it. I relayed this information to Palimor, asking him not to overreact. He didn't seem to hear the last part; he immediately turned on Finis. I thought he was sure to attack the druid, but I asserted myself (much to my own surprise) and said "I told you not to overreact!" He actually listened to me, and apologized to Finis! I am glad no other opportunities for conflict came up; I doubt that I could restrain him a second time.
In one of the ruined buildings we were attacked by the undead remains of two humanoids. Hoping that my improved abilities would allow me to channel enough power to order them away, I tried to turn them. I failed. I am beginning to see the pattern of surprise success and failure as possibly a sign of Prometheus' wisdom. He surprises me with successes to let me know that I am capable of doing well. He surprises me with failures to keep me humble.
Fortunately, Blades and Torin dispatched the undead with ease. Unfortunately, they got right back up again. A supernatural fear--a terror of seeing the invincible dead--struck many of us, including myself, and we ran away. When we came to our senses, we returned to the area near the undead. We debated various plans to get rid of them,and eventually decided on using Torin's magical warhammer, although he is not very skilled with it. Many undead and supernatural creatures that cannot be affected by ordinary weapons can be affected by enchanted weapons, as you probably know.
Torin struck down one creature, but was in turn struck down by the other. Blades ran in to finish the job. I must say, they haven't been accidentally hitting each other and breaking their weapons quite so often, as of late.
After finding a ring under a stone, and determining that it was probably enchanted, we renewed our search. I tried the ring on, but nothing seemed to happen. Perhaps it will become useful later.
While searching, a large tree attacked us! Roots shot up through the ground, entangling us. It seemed particularly interested in Finis, pulling him toward what seemed to be a face, with a huge mouth. I summoned a handful of the Holy Fire, to fling at the tree in desperation, but Palimor began to shout at the tree in Elvish. We ceased our attacks, and simply tried to free ourselves. The tree eventually let us go, explaining that it was set here by the elves to guard the area. It said that its name was Grayleth Greenwarder.
After a while, a picture of what happened here emerged. Apparently, a druid flying on a flaming chariot swooped out of the sky (as he did at Palimor), and ordered the trees to attack the Elves. The Elves were slaughtered, and those that were not (or perhaps the spirits of those killed) were imprisoned under the tower. The tree said the druid's name was Bartok Oaklore.
To free the elves, we had to locate three animals, each with a white blaze on their heads: a bear, a fish, and a hawk. Each held within it a key to open the passageway to the elves. We merely had to get them all into the tower at the same time. Of course, we had no idea how we were to do this. The tree didn't have any ideas, either.
We first went for the hawk. It nested atop a steep hill, near the tower. I tried to climb, but having no experience, couldn't even get higher than ten feet. Torin gave it a try, and successfully reached the top. He apparently befriended the animal (he has "a way" with animals), as it hopped right onto his arm. He began his climb down, and the hawk hopped onto his shoulder. About one-fourth of the way down, Torin slipped and fell in a terrible jumble of arms and legs. He survived the fall, but barely so. We did what we could for him, and the hawk glided gracefully down to land by his side. We helped Torin into the tower, and left him there while we went to get the bear.
The bear was hiding in a cave nearby. Prometheus granted me the knowledge of its language, but it was not going to budge. I gave the knowledge to Palimor, but he could not persuade it to help either. I eventually bribed it with some rations. We led it to the tower, where Torin and I fed it from the supplies on the pony.
The others went to find the fish. I soon heard screams and shouts, and rushed to see if I was needed. I arrived just in time to see a badly wounded blades deliver an incredible blow to a giant crustacean. I swear, he fairly cleaved the thing in half with one swing! Palimor caught the fish with a makeshift fishing pole, and I ran back to the tower with it.
As soon as I lay the fish on the tower floor, all three animals died. They had been imprisoned here, immortal, far too long. A door immediately opened in the floor, and Palimor jumped down before any of us could react. Following him down, we saw an elvish woman materialize in the dark stone room. She seemed not to be fully present--translucent is the only way I can think of to describe her. She and Palimor touched foreheads. Palimor turned and gave us his sincere thanks, and told us that a reward was located under some stones to the left. Before we could ask him where we were (or how to get to the nearest town), Palimor was gone, and Taelsyn collapsed.
We made sure Taelsyn was all right, then inspected the treasure. A fine long sword lay under an elven cloak with a moonstone clasp. Also present was a suit of elven chain mail--that famous lightweight armor--as well as a magic ring, and some elvish arrows. We distributed the items, and I found that the ring bestowed upon the wearer the ability to make incredible leaps. I gave Taelsyn the first ring we found (which we suspect provides a small measure of protection to the wearer).
After climbing out of the secret room, we returned to tell Grayleth Greenwarder what had happened. He listened intently, and seemed happy that all had ended well. He then gave us the cryptic message "Orcs are coming". He could tell us nothing more; he only knew that orcs, possibly in large numbers, were approaching.
We are wounded, and almost without rations (thanks to the bear). This position is not very defensible. We are neither fit for defending from an attack, nor a siege. Even fleeing is a risky proposition, because of our short supplies. I am unsure what we can do. I still have a few cards left to play--a cure serious wounds scroll, for example. But the situation does not look good. If this turns out to be my last writing, and if it should reach you somehow, I ask you to tell my parents what happened, and tell them I love them. I hope that I have served Prometheus well. Perhaps I am being melodramatic, but I sense we are in great danger. If we should all fall, I plan to send the pony off, with these pages attached. I hope that someone finds him. Praise to the Light-Bringer!
