Beginning on 5th of Riag 1508

The night was filled with wonder and beauty.  We had ended
the day with great reflection on the place we had created.
Caryss had grown two large trees over the little meadow, and
had formed them over the top to add a secure and peacful 
place to rest.  I finished gathering flowers from the area
to re-plant in our place.  The seremony last night was full
of wonder and delight.  The place surely had become 'Odahn's
Rest'.  The spiders which had been created seemed to have
gone from the area, which was alright with me.  After a couple 
of hours of hammer and chisle, I had carved some symbols
for Zan that would indicate this place was a secure, clean
place to rest and meditate.  
We headed south from the meadow through a twisted trail which
led finally into a larger trail south to Krattus.  We camped
for the rest of the day so that I could mark the
trail to 'Odahn's Rest' with a small sign.  Odahn returned
early afternoon from going back to the meadow for some reason.
We headed into Krattus late into the afternoon and night, and
spent the night at a very respectable place.  We were given the
best rooms, and baths...some of us could really use the bath.

6th of Riag 1508

Me and Caryss headed to the Old Palace which had been the final
resting place of Har Garal.  Along the way, Angaren joined us.
What we found was astonishing and beautiful.  I thought of
Astendar at that moment when I looked upon the forest before me.
If you remember from some time back, Caryss had planted the
last of the seeds that were given to her by Jaspree, about 10 
months ago.  What we saw, was a giant forest of the most
beaultiful trees imaginable.  They were white with almost
a golden shine.  Deep inside the forest, I found only a 
small brook where I could have sworn the palace center must
have been.  Also, I found (or was found by) a Questor of 
Jaspree, who was also an Archer (I think).  I told him where
Caryss could be found...He seemed over-joyed as he disapeared
into the trees, and I continued my meditation for a few minutes
more.  Then I headed back in no particular direction.
I found Caryss and Angahren at one point next to the brook,
the other Questor must have already come and gone.  We decided
that it was getting late and headed back to gather Wynton and 
Isamu.  Wynton had a performance that night, and it was getting 
to be that time.  Isamu was screaming something about a fire
in one of the quarters of the city.  He had climbed to the
top of one of the trees to look for something.  The fire looked 
big he said.
The 5 of us rushed toward that end of town.  I sent Cila to
the Inn to lead the others.  By this time, all our thoughts
were on the fire, and that led to all the Knights knowing
about the fire through the creatures.
When we arrived at the area of town, we found that indeed quite
a few houses were on fire.  The cause of the fire however was
not all that apparent.  Or maybe it was, I couldn't be sure at
the time.  What looked like half the city had come here to
brawl (of course the other half was at the Inn where we were
staying because I learned later that Cyrix was feeding all
of them one of his greatest meals-and making the Innkeep very
happy I would think).  There were followers of Garlthig
and followers of the Jagged Thorn all over the place, and
mixed in were just common folk along with Broker's Brood. 
Some were fighting, and
some were throwing torches and lit bottles of oil all over the 
place.  The main palace of one of the wealthy of Krattus was 
being attacked.  I helped one follower of 'The Eye' by
'Sleeping' all the opponents around him so I could find
out just what was going on.  He seemed dazed and confused,
clearly the work of a very powerful spell.  
At this time, the others of the group appeared.  Cyrix 
Immediatly created a large ice patch where none of the 
fighters could actually fight, and then began making deep 
puddles for the group they had aquired to start putting 
out the fires.  
Caryss was running into the burning buildings trying to
find anyone still inside.  I watched Odahn and Angahren
take it to the fighting in the middle.  It was then that
the owner of the palace came out.  His two body guards
came out first, and then the Elementalist showed himself.
I remember thinking to myself, 'what a beautiful robe he 
has on - I wonder what secrets it holds'.  The elementalist
pulled out a wand or sceptar of some type and chanted a few
words.  These words brought forth a maelstrom of fire and
wind that quickly took its orders and headed for the raging
fires around the area to put them out.  Then, when all seemed
like it was to go right, a shadowy figure immerged from the
darkness and immediatly assassinated the elementalist.
The fire elemental stopped moving and waited for its
next orders.  The elementalist and one of the guards
fell silent.  The nights rushed inside the palace
after the assassin, and Odahn was assaulted by a couple
throwing weapons that he dodged.
The nights quickly made cursory Astral views to locate the
assassin, and fled after him down some stairs.  I saw
a group of people leaving the basement very quickly, and 
another group of people huddled in a corner.  I watched 
Astrally as the assassin killed two more people on his way to
the basement.
We rushed downstairs, Zan went after Cyrix.  Zan found a trap,
and quickly jumped aside before its razor sharp blade sliced
his tendons.  Now sprung, the trap was usless, and the nights
continued downstairs past the two dead on the steps.
In the basement, Caryss found the assassin's tracks and they led 
to a far door.  At the other end of the hall, there were seven
doors.  Upon examination, the doors contained rooms where I 
found the greatest samples of true elements I have ever seen.
The seventh door was locked, and the sixth door contained
an element that I never knew existed (If it can even be called
an element).  The element was of spirit, or soul-but it
was dark and forboding.
Zan was taken the most by this new element.  I heard the
other knights call me to help them with a door they wanted
opened.  Before I could get to the door to help, Aliceann had
already set off the poison trap and was dying right there in
front of us.  Odahn quickly covered her with the veil and
began a devotion to Garlan.  Alicann came around, but
still needed some potions.
We decided not to pursue the assassin, and to see what 
was up with the house.
WE found some of the house attendants, and found the other
body guard.  He now was going to take over the palace and
send forth for the elementalists successor.  
We went to see Garlthig, and he told us what we could and
couldn't do. We spent that night back at the Inn.

7th of Riag 
We decided to 'move in' to the palace as guards, and spent
the day roaming the halls of the palace looking for signs
that would lead us in some direction or another.  We then
spent the night in rooms there.  I had a wonderful room which 
opened up on the garden.  The spirit that I had created earlier
watched as I slept.

8th of Riag
I woke the next morning and heard voices.  Eras Imbri (my 
spirit friend) went to listen in on the conversation.
Eras returned and told me what was said.
One of the voices was from the body guard who now ran the
palace.  The other turned out to be one of the 
people who were down stairs during the murder and who 
ran.  It seems they had something, and were taking it
with them.  They were attacked by members of Brokers Brood,
and the something that they had was lost.  One other of the
group had survived.  At this time, I believed this person
to have double crossed the rest of the group, and helped
the Brokers Brood get the item.  The rest of the knights
didn't think so.  
My friend also told me that the person whom the body guard
was talking to left and went to rest in the stables.
When we all joined together that morning, I told them 
what had happend.  Caryss happened to be with me when my
friend relayed the conversation, so she helped my 
recollection.  Caryss went to where
the conversation took place, and tracked the person to
the stables.  Cyrix found a trap door in the floor of
the stables.  Meanwhile, I went downstairs in the palace
to take another look at the spirit element.  The body of the 
elementalist was supposed to have been placed in that room.
I found the door magiced in some way, and from what happend to
Aliceann, I wasn't about to open it.  I went into
the room next door (True Earth) and used Viewpoint on the
wall.  I saw the body, but the spirit was gone.  
The head of the body of the elementalist was now sitting 
on top of the plate which held the spirit element.
Presumably, the spirit element was inside the elementalists
head.
The rooms downstairs look like this, I havn't had the
opportunity to try the end door.  It is locked.





I went to the stables to join the knights.
They had found the guy in the basement of the stables,
and were busy interrogating him...


The new owner of the household was gone for the day,
we all gathered around until we got enough of the
guy's information.


We went to the wherehouse where the 'item' was supposed 
to be delivered when it was finished.  We found it 
guarded by 8.  Two were in the closest tower, two at
the front door, two on the side door, and two more in
the far tower.  Aliceann and Caryss left for the back
tower.  We waited for a while.  When we finally saw 
them enter the tower, and take out the two guards,
Angaren, Zan, and his apprentice went for the two
at the side door, and I put the other four to sleep.
Odahn lept up to kill the two in the tower closest,
so they wouldn't wake up.  Angahren came back around.
Zan and his Apprentice stayed at the side door in case
someone tried to get out from there.


We went into the room and were assaulted.  
At the far end of the room, what looked like a small
ritual was taking place.  A body had been layed out on
a table and was sprawled open.  Several figures, including
two Trolls surrounded the body.  Others in the room were
hired hands and were busy moving casks of something.
Odahn quickly took himself to the first Troll, as did
Angahren.  I sprang from my place and landed not so
lightly on top of the table with the body on it.  
The table of course broke, but my intentions were real
enough.  After being missed by an arrow from somewhere
up on the catwalk, I cast Fog of Fear at a spot just 
in front of me, making sure to include the body.


What seemed like the leader in the group quickly
ran to the far wall, screaming something.  Others did
the same.  One such person tried to climb up the 
tapestry hanging on the wall, he was awarded with 
a flaming arrow in his back.  Three of the others
made it to the side door, and ran out..I know not
what happend to them.  When it seemed we had all under 
control, Cyrix screamed.  'There he is!'..As I looked
into the Astral Place, I saw the Shadow.  Cyrix yell
caused the thing to lurch, and it jumped through the air
and entered the floor, it touched the body on the table
momentarily before doing so.

As things calmed down, I dropped the Fog of Fear.
We found out that the leader of the room was
the leader of the Brood, and the guy whom Flint
had charcoaled, was the one apprentice elementalist
who had betrayed the others.  It also seemed
that the item turned out to be the body.  Odahn
spoke for a while with the leader, and subsequently
was given all that the leader owned.  Including,
but not limited to the Brood itself.  Of course this
would probably take some doing, but hey, we have
homes in all the other major cities, why not this one.


We took the leader to the wood for questioning, and
sent for his family.  We understood that he had been 'forced'
(his words) to work with the Cult of the Great Hunter and
capture the Denairastes.  His family was subsequently
watched, and forever within the ability of the cult to harm.
We sent for the rest of the family, and the 
household of the leader and brought them to the knoll.



9th of Riag
We went to the palace to confront the now assumed to
be alive elementalist, and he was infuriating.  Not
only did he calm down our current anger at him,
but he actually offered his help on a couple of
matters.  It was decided that he would be allowed
to live, for now at least.


10th of Riag
The next morning, Flint sent up a direction arrow,
and we headed out towards where it pointed.  Cyrix
summoned an Air Elemental to try to find the 
creature's hiding place.  When the Air Elemental came
back, it had found a place, but could not find the 
creature in question.  The group headed toward an
outcropping of stone that was surrounded by a small
(forest) of shrub.  The thing must have known we were 
coming, because it had already corrupted a tiger of some
sort.  The 'tiger' attacked the group.  Caryss had been
following it.  I ignored the creature, and continued
to follow the Arrow which Flint had set on a tracking
course to the horror.  I followed Cyrix as quickly as I could.
Up the side of a small hill, the tracking arrow came
to an archway in the rock that led down into the
hill.  Cyrix darted inside, and I followed, grabbing a 
light crystal from my backpack as I did so.
At one bend in the corridor, we came to a stairway.
A helpless and half dead lizard creature lay there.
I finished Cyrix's work.  Down the rest of the corridor,
Cyrix thought he saw something flash, and then the tracking 
arrow dissolved.  The rest of the group caught up with
Cyrix and myself, and we found that the creature had
gone through a portal of some type.  We went through.
On the other side, we found an area like we found on the
5th of Riag.  The area had been corrupted, and gave the
feeling of being watched.  I took a look into Astral
Space and saw a boulder that looked like it was looking
back at me.  In addition, the boulder had some markings
that I recognized from one of our maps.  We pulled
out the map, and figured out that we were
now somewhere north of where we were, and just south
and west of Lake Vors.

Odahn decided to do some work to clean the area
of the taint.  He started with the boulder.  He
walked over to the boulder and drew the viel of
Garlan over it.  Then he drew his sword and
plunged it into the rock.  A scream was heard from
all around, and then the birds began to sing again.
Odahn's Sword was stuck fast, and wouldn't budge.
I cast giant size on myself and attempted to pull
the sword out.  I broke off a little piece off the 
end of the sword.  I felt very bad about what I had
done, but Odahn put the sword back into the rock and
used the veil on it (trying to heal the sword) since
it was made of living crystal.  The sword seemed to hold
fast again, and Odahn decided to leave it there in
hopes of someday returning to reclaim the sword
as rightfully his.

We continued on today and found a small village
which was not on our maps.  There was a small
'temple' up on the side of the hills that surrounded
the tiny village.  We went to the temple and found
out that it was a burial place for several of 
Zan's discipline, but only a small amount of them
were from his clan.   We also found a great library,
that had to have been locked up too.  Some of the
books were written in Ophidian, and some were written
in another language.  I studied the new language,
and we found some interresting material.  One such
area of interest was the reference of an Ophidian who
was trapped near the area of Lake Hors which we are close
to right now.  It disturbed me then to know that
we were that close.  What disturbed me even more
though was the thought that the shadow horror might
be on a mission to free the Ophidian and let it loose
upon Barsaive.  To what end I do not know.
We spent the night in the village, ready to
go on to the next village which contained the
shadow, and the Ophidian...

15th of Riag

After many days waiting for the group to get the
nerve, we are going to the next village to see about
the shadow.

The shadow is definitly inside the mountain.  the only
problem is that there is no way inside.  And we are
unsure if there is a way out.  If the shadow is inside,
he will attempt to lure us inside to wake the beast.
On the other hand, we do not know if the shadow can
leave the mountain either, but we cannot wait for him to 
succeed.

Wrote a message to Mountainshadow explaining the situation.
Gave the message to Angahren to have sent.  Waiting...

16th of Riag  

Help from Mountainshadow has arrived.  (maybe).  An obviously
powerful adept has appeared in the village and says
he will assist us in getting in and out of the
mountain.  Do not know whether to trust him or not.
We have decided to enter the mountain in the morning.

Contemplating sending Mountainshadow another message 
thanking him for sending help with the express 
reason of making sure the first message wasn't
intercepted.


More later.
 


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