9 Charassa 15/1

Well, it has been a very confusing few days for me. I awoke to someone picking me up and carrying me, only I couldn’t move, see, hear, or smell. I could feel a breeze, and the warmth of the sun. All I could tell was that it was not an obsidiman or windling that carried me, I hoped it was some other namegiver. I decided to count paces so I could estimate how far we travelled, but I got confused somewhere around 438, and gave up. After about 20 minutes, the odor of woodsmoke hit me, and I could suddenly smell again. A sniff in my bearer’s direction revealed he was either human or ork. Several minutes later, my ears perked at the fiddling of a door latch, and then I was jostled, and the door closed behind us. I was set down on some hay, and I could hear him humming as he moved around the room. I guessed it to be a small room or hut, since he was never very far away. Soon taste returned, and the worst case of morning breath I have ever had. He came over and gave me wine, and I found I could talk. He asked who I was, and in alarm I realized I had NO IDEA. I knew I was a windscout, and an elementalist, but I couldn’t remember a darn thing before being picked up. He told me his name was Ladem, a simple peasant, and that he found me near death. We are on the shores of Lake Ban, and I have all my equipment, clutching the pendant in one hand. He fed me some stew, as I tried in vain to remember what happened.

Still unable to see, and tired from what I now know was a very trying ordeal, I decided to sleep and see (if I COULD see) if anything new came back to me. While I slept, I had the strangest dreams, but could not remember them when I awoke, which was caused by a sharp pain to my hands. Clutching them together, to rub away the pain, I was startled to find the palms to be very rough and hard. Not able to see yet, I went back to sleep.

When I next awoke, I could see but my vision was blurry. Realizing I was seeing only through my targeting eye, I activated it so I could see clearly, not sure what was wrong with my other eye. Glancing around the small hut, I could see an old ork, who I correctly guessed was Ladem, in the corner, cutting some bread and cheese. Looking at my palms, I saw that they had some kind of quartz-like stuff growing on them. I tried to rub it off, but to no avail. All of my equipment was at the foot of the bed. I managed to struggle weakly to my feet, and, with his help and some bread and cheese in my system, I managed to wobbly approach my things. Opening the pouch, I was startled to draw a full-sized shortsword from it! Its name, and meaning, came to me in a flash--it was Voracious, of course, and I was startled to realize I was the ruler of an ork nation!

I allowed Ladem to look at it, and he pointed out my name inscribed on it. Things started to return to me then, even more as I drew other things out of the pouch- the puppets of some heroes that I initially thought I had just heard stories about, but later realized were my travelling companions. The bone dagger of the black changelings that had destroied my village, and that led to Raleem and my family residing now in Throal.

Now that I was feeling better, Ladem told me the circumstance of his finding me. He was tending his herds, and they wandered near the Triumph. One sheep close to the call of Truimph, near a crack in the wall, seemed to take an interest in some non-grassy object, so he investigated. Ladem managed to get to me before the sheep ate ALL of my armor, and he took me to his hut, a 2 day walk away. I asked why he was foraging so far away from home, and he started saying how the Therans were using up all the resources. At the mention of Therans, suddenly the Triumph made sense, and I could remember blowing up Theran ships, and the person represented by my elf puppet being VERY good friends with one, and how they threatened my ork nation.

Ladem then told me that 2 days before he had found me, the Therans were at war with each other! There was a huge battle above the Triumph, which was just fine with him cause it meant they would bother the natives less if they were fighting among themselves. After the battle, a large number of airships left the Triumph, and at least one full legion as well. The battle seemed to be won by one side or the other, but it is unclear what is causing the split. Could it be the same in other Theran strongholds? Would it be possible now to remove the Triumph?

We have decided to wait one more day for me to recover my strength, and then Ladem offered to travel with me to Throal. He was thinking of making the trip anyway, to sell some of his herd, and the pickings are getting slim around here. I can find my family there, and I feel as if there is something important there that I have to do. Sorting through the rest of my belongings, I came across Rigban’s voice spirals, and mostly everything has come back to me now. I know that the puppets are my companions, but I have no idea where they are. I can only hope that they go to Throal as well. All this writing is causing my already sore muscles to cramp up, so I will rest up for tomorrow’s journey.

15/2 Charassa 12

We set out for Throal today, and it was mostly uneventful, except that we have encountered Throalish patrols much further out than they usually travel. If we press on, we should reach Bartertown by tomorrow.

15/3 Charassa 13

Well, traveling with a herd of livestock slows you down considerably, so we will not be in Bartertown until tomorrow afternoon. We still ran into the occasional patrol, but they ignored us for the most part.

15/4 Charassa 14

We arrived in Bartertown, and it was much more subdued there than usual. Eager to see my family, we headed for Throal, and could see only one of the great gates open, andthe guards carefully examining all who entered. Before we got there, I remembered the important thing I had to do--see Omasu! I told Ladem about him, and agreed to meet with him at an inn in 2 hours.

The ork at the gate to Omasu’s home let me in right away, and I was led to Omasu’s office. As I thought of him, I could remember more of what happened before. Picking up where I last left off when we entered the Triumph, and I went in search of the liferock 8 days ago....

We opened the door to our room, and I set out with the bottle in my pouch. One end of the hallway was the way we came in, and there were 2 guards there, and it led to a courtyard full of people. Flying to the other end of the hallway, past doors lining the halls that I figured were rooms like ours, I came to a door and peeked underneath. I could hear muffled sounds, and could see 2 pairs of feet standing on the other side-guards.

Opening the door immediately to the side just to check, I found a room with a window, but the window led to the courtyard and lots of people, so I went back to our room and got Maxwell to come out, open the door and trip to cause a distraction so that I could fly by the guards. That part worked perfectly, but I didn’t count on the disturbance to cause all the people in the room to look as well.... I just flew casually, as if I belonged there, and went on my way. After a few turns, I found a flight of stairs down, but it was at the opposite side of a barracks. The soldiers were engrossed in a game of bones, so I thought I could sneak through. One of them saw me, but he just waved, so I once again pretended I belonged there. It is strange that one can hide in plain sight!

I went down the steps, and tried to sense any elementals in the area, hoping to ask directions. There were none, but I could sense a concentration of true element so strong that I knew it had to be the way. Heading down the corridor, I was startled to see two windlings flying towards me, but I just kept going. They said something to me in Theran, and I realized maybe I should have spent the time on the riverboat learning it from Sanjuro and Briana, but it was too late then. I just waved and kept going.

I came to a room where slaves were working, with 6 windling overseers with wicked looking barbed whips. No one noticed me, so I hid myself by blending in with the stone, and waited. The slaves were mining some strange material that protruded from the wall of the room, which I assumed was the liferock. Two windlings left, and still I waited. Then several orks came in, and dragged in a table. Hoping they would all leave soon, since I didn’t feel like staying there all day but was prepared to do so, I was relieved when I finally saw my chance: lunch break. All the slaves stopped working to get their ration of some slop from a pot that was brought in, and all of the guards were busy talking, so I crept my way around the perimeter of the room. I found the perfect hiding place right next to the liferock, and took out the bottle. It practically hummed in my hand, and I barely touched it to the liferock when the wall seemed to engulf me.

I found myself in a 5’ cube room, with crystals growing from the wall. I was startled to see 4 faces looking at me from one wall, and nearly jumped when they spoke. They started to ask me questions, and then decided that it would take too long, even for them, to learn everything that way, and that I would enter "The Dreaming", where I would learn from them, and they would learn from me. Afterwards, they knew of a weakness in the spells trapping them there, too small for an ordinary namegiver, but big enough for a windling to get through.

The walls seemed to reach out and pull me in, and I found myself encased in stone. I could feel it forming around my wings, and I froze in terror of them being damaged. Once fully encased, I felt like I had been there for years, and hoped that wasn’t the case. It was completely dark. I had a feeling of movement, but couldn’t control it. There was no need to breathe, and I seemed to stop moving. I could feel flickers of something in my subconscious, as if trying to remember something. When I tried to focus on them they would go away. Trying to ignore them, they seemed to linger longer, and affect more of my mind. There was the hint of an image or something, but I couldn’t grab it. It is very difficult to catch something you are trying to ignore. After a long time, it stops, and I could tell a foreign presence was there. There was a sharp pain in my hands, and then all went black. The dreams I had in Ladem’s hut were of a similar nature to this, but less intense.

I related this story to Omasu when I saw him, fighting off strange feelings of claustrophobia in his presence. I showed him my palms, and asked him what I needed to do. He beckoned me over, and as I stood on his desk he clasped my hands in his, palm to palm. The now-familiar tickling sensation in my mind returned, but was quickly followed by a sharp pain that ran from the back of my head down my arms and out my palms. I awoke sprawled on the desk, Omasu looking in wonder at his hands and then at me, from his position against the wall several feet away. He explained that it was the fastest dreaming he had ever experienced. Looking at my hands, I was relieved to see they were normal again. Relieved to not have rocks growing in my hands, I was about to leave when Omasu mentioned payment. He then removed a familiar talisman from his desk, the Talisman of the Ages, and offered it to me. I took it gratefully, and asked how he had gotten it, a sinking feeling in my gut at the thought that Miranda was the last to have it.

He vaguely said that he "acquired" it, and that she is now working for the Council of Seven, in Travar. He then went on to explain that I am now irrevocable linked to the liferock, and while he rolled his eyes at the suggestion I was an honorary obsidiman, he did not dispute it. He took out a second pendant, this one of true earth, and said that any obsidimen from the liferock would know me on sight, and those that are not all I need do is show them the pendant and they would know the deed I had done. In either case, any obsidiman would be willing to help me in any way possible, but would expect me to help them in the same way if the positions were reversed. Every blessing is a two-edged sword, but it is good to have such a large group of friends, or rather such a group of large friends.

I took my leave of Omasu, hoping that what I brought was helpful to him, and he made me promise not to tell anyone but obsidimen about the dreaming. So if you are not an obsidiman and you read that last part, just forget the last 3 pages or so. Anyway, when I finally got outside, the sun was much lower than it should have been. It turns out that we were in the dreaming for over an hour, but seemed like mere moments. I hurried on my way to the inn, and Ladem was already there. I told him everything was taken care of, and that I was going into Throal today. To thank him for his help, I gave him a water piece before parting, but oddly enough he didn’t seem very impressed with it. He does seem smarter than the average peasant, but other than that he seems normal. There may be more to him than I first thought. His name backwards is "MEDAL", maybe that is what he wanted. If he was hungry, he may have wanted MEAL D, some specific item at some tavern, but surely he can afford that with a water piece, so he should have been happy. Or maybe its just that knowing I am the leader of an ork nation, and a hero to boot, he expected me to have more money, and was expecting more. I really should have a word with all these troubadours that are spreading the false rumor that heroes are rich. WE certainly aren’t.

We took our leave of each other, and headed for Throal. They let him in without too much hassle, and I get through with as little hassle, claiming I am "visiting", which is true. The Grand Bazaar seemed oddly quiet, and Ladem said if I needed him, I could find him in the "Bearded Obsidiman Tavern" in the Hall of Taverns.

My first stop was my old room, to see if my family was still there. About 1/2 of the windlings I had originally brought there were in, and all were excited at my return. My cousin Sam told me that Raleem came by a few weeks ago, seeming distracted, and said she had to find me, and wandered off. I immediately went to the Questors of Garlen that I had entrusted to care for her, and they told me that Raleem was getting worse and worse until 2 weeks ago, and there was nothing they could do for her. She was having horrible nightmares, and 2 weeks ago she suddenly got up out of bed and said she had to find me, and flew away. They haven’t seen her since, and the healer that tended her was in bed for the night. I have to return in the morning to speak with him.

15/5 Charassa 15 4/8/98

I went to see the healer this morning, and he merely confirmed what the others had told me. He did say that he could make a poultice for my arm, but he had to gather the ingredients, and I could pick it up in a week. I gave him an air piece donation to pay for Raleem’s care, and for the poultice, and bid him good day. That taken care of, I trained myself in dive attack, so that I could go back to my old teacher and learn more.

17/1 Charassa 21

I have taken a short break in my training today to record some joyous news. I met Sanjuro in the woods today! My mentor and I were in the woods around Bartertown for the last few days, and heard Sanjuro walking in the woods! I didn’t have time to leave my studies for long, but he said he’d be at the Guilded rose, so I will meet him there in a few days.

17/3 Charassa 23

I completed my training, and returned to the healer today. He had my poultice for me, and I must apply it every day for a month to get my arm back to normal. I’m going to take today to rest and ponder the new knowledge I have gained, and then go meet the others tomorrow at the Guilded Rose.

17/4 Charassa 24

Well, it was not the happy reunion I had hoped for. I met with Sanjuro and Alarian for dinner in the crowded common room of the Guilded Rose, and while we awaited the rest of the party we spoke of the keys, the one in the Blood Wood and one in the Tower of Nine Diamonds. After a little while, everyone turned at once to look at the stairwell. My first joy at seeing Blue again was washed away when I realized he was weaving threads! I tried to fight a sinking feeling in my gut, until Sanjuro’s cry of pain and anger cut the silence. We headed for Blue in fear and surprise, Sanjuro staggering from his lack of balance, which in t’skrang is called a tail. Blue had withered it! And he was casting again....

The next minute is a blur. Foul vapors arose, and the patrons of the inn started dying. Alarian was forced to flee as well, or she would have perished. Sanjuro and I managed to knock Blue unconscious, but not before Sanjuro fell, and everyone in the inn, and, as it turns out, many people outside, were dead, except for this one dwarf in the corner who was barely alive. I quickly gave Sanjuro a last chance salve, and was relieved when he began to breathe shallowly, which was a vast improvement on his earlier condition. Luckily, the vapors disipated with Blue’s fall.

Alarian came back in, and we quickly took away Blue’s skull helmet and grimoires. I managed to cast 2 porters to carry Sanjuro and Blue, and Alarian gave a potion to the other survivor, and helped him to walk out. We were discussing possible plans for leaving, as we feared Neden’s wrath and thought it would be better dealt with from afar, but as we walked out the front door the Royal Guards were already arriving.

4/15

We were taken to a nearby pub, the Spider’s Web, while they tried to sort out what happened. A while later, Dolgar of the Royal Guard and Captain Wolhart, the local Magistrate, came to interrogate us. I told them everything truthfully, and gave them the skull. They took us into custody, and took the skull. The magistrate has to prepare a case, and report it to the king. We can also request a hearing with the king himself, but that would be as good as admitting guilt, for that is what he would find us I’m sure. We were brought to the Halls of Justice, and Alarian and I werelocked in a room. I don’t know where they took the others. I am still sorely hurt by the battle, and will try to rest and heal before our trial.

17/5 Charassa 25

This morning, Wishten and two other dwarfs entered our room. They reported to us that Sanjuro had awakened but Blue had not. The king himself has taken a personal interest in this case, and the hearing will be held tonight. Blue is most certainly going to be executed, thanks in some part to my giving them evidence that he is horror tainted, the skull! I should have kept that to myself, but there was no other way to explain what happened! It cannot be undone now, I just hope Neden is in a benevolent mood tonight.

Wishten’s cousin Allinia will be our advocate for the trial, in that he has shown is willingness to help us at least. As for Blue, there is only one advocate even willing to take his case, Zhomof the Unlucky, last known to defend the Durvigius clan. We are to be questioned as witnesses by the magistrate in Blue’s case, and then the advocate will meet with us for our case.

4/22

Sanjuro was moved into our room while Wishten was still there, and as usual put his foot in his mouth. Here is Wishten, going out of his way to help us, and Sanjuro starts insulting him. Wishten left soon after Sanjuro was brought in, and the two of us decided to re-weave the party pattern so that it would not dissolve completely. We also swore an oath to allow Briana and Blue to re-weave when possible, affirming our goodwill towards them, in the hope it will maybe preserve their place in the pattern? I don’t know, Sanjuro came up with the idea, and it didn’t make much sense to me when he presented it, but it seemed important to him, and it seems like something we will be doing anyway, so I didn’t see the harm in it. We then discussed plans to get Blue out of the courtroom. Our plans never work, so I will only write the end result, I hope, if we manage to accomplish our task. The trial is in a few hours, and we still have to prepare.

18/1 Charassa 26

Well, things never go as planned. We are now in Urupa, and surely a bounty is on our heads after this one! We went to the throneroom for the trial. The guard Dolgar, Wolhart the magistrate, Wishten, Adjimar, the dwarf witness (Daris the widower), and another dwarf were all present to the left of the throne, along with Maxwell! and we were led to the right where Blue was and would remain slumped and unconscious for most of the trial. Neden arrived from the doorway to his chambers, wearing both a scabbard with a sword, and the crushed one we returned to him. We all sat after he did, and then the trials began.

The first trial was over quickly, even Neden recognizing the service we did for the city in stopping Blue when we did. Then they moved on to Blue’s case, and the magistrate presented the story pretty much as I told him it. Neden asked if we agreed with the story, and I reluctantly say that I mostly do, except to point out that it was not of his own free will that he did this heinous act. Seeing me struggle to relay my thoughts, Sanjuro chose this moment to jump in with a long monologue, until Maxwell is called forth as a character witness. Poor Blue....

After Maxwell spoke his piece, Neden passes judgement that Blue is to be executed. Sanjuro jumped up at this point and asked to be the one to do it, and with a glance at the scabbard that became a pattern item when he executed the Dirvigius clan, Neden granted his request. As Sanjuro walked up to accept the axe, Maxwell in a flash of inspiration, pleaded that we try to free Blue from the influence first. With some wizardly mumbo jumbo, which may very well be correct, he convinced Neden that destroying the skull would free Blue. Sanjuro then proposed that only Limac using the Sword of Elost could destroy the skull of the creature originally slain by Elost. Neden took up the axe anyway, and in a few blows, reduced the skull to dust.

Maxwell reported that he saw the pattern disperse when the skull crumbled, and Adjimar agreed. In the excitement, Sanjuro slipped me the Trade Brooch, in the hope that I could detect the portal. I could see it immediately, and I mention this because it was part of the plan that we ended up putting into action. Someone gave Blue a healing potion, while keeping a dagger to his throat in case he was still possessed, and when he awoke, Sanjuro looked into his eyes and could still see the horror present. Maxwell and Adjimar tried to dispell it, and it seemed to work for a moment, and then the horror took over again.

At this point, Sanjuro, deciding that they would just kill Blue, decided to disarm the person with the dagger and grab Blue in a desperate dash for the portal. I was stunned: here was Neden and Adjimar, trying to help us free our friend, and Sanjuro ruins the whole thing! They could SEE that it had worked, and that they would only have to try again, and Sanjuro betrays them. Not able to let them be killed, I flew for the portal as well, since the person bearing the key must enter first. Neden screamed, "Kill the lizard," a comment that will NOT endear him to t’skrang I’m sure, and Maxwell did his best to slow him up by screaming "Protect the king!". Somehow the portal closed, and then darkness fell. I yelled for Sanjuro to open the portal again, and we were through.

4/29

We were joined in Shish Rital by Alarian, who was supposed to stay behind. In the fight, something came over Adjimar and he attacked Neden. Alarian tried to use her whip to restrain him, but killed him instead. Knowing that in his rage at losing Blue Neden would probably execute her instead, she fled into the gateway after us. Seeing a dark doorway ahead of us, we left the gateway.

Imagine our surprise when we emerged to find Akasha sitting on the rocks where we emerged! She was awake, and seemed well, and more than a little confused. We were on the spit of rock that juts into the ocean to the east of Urupa. The exit of the gate was a pillar of flame, something to keep in mind the next time we use it. Akasha told us that she had awoken here, in the care of a healer, and doesn’t have any idea how she got here. We went into the city of Urupa, got a room at Malvari’s Rest, and here we will stay a few days while we figure out what to do. I’m going into town to get some healing potions and other supplies.

I asked the innkeeper where the market was, and if there was an outpost of the Overland Trading Corp, Omasu’s company. The office is on the outskirts of Naem, half an hour away, and the marketplace was in the middle of the city. Passing through the square in the middle of the city, I noted that there were a Throalic, Theran, Vistrimon, and some other group’s embassies, one on each side of the square. I quickly went about my business, knowing that the word of what we did couldn’t be out yet, but still a bit jumpy. I bought some healing potions and went back to the rooms.

Word around town is that Malvari is a powerful adept, master of all 4 types of magic, and possibly a horror. He owns a magic school in town, Malvari’s School of Adepts, which has been around for 3 years, and of course the inn we are staying at. I may go to him later to learn dispel magic to try to help Blue, but first we are going to try to contact Omasu.

I sent a letter to Omasu telling him where we are, and to get in touch with Briana and Maxwell if at all possible. Naem turns out to be a breached kaer, and according to Sanjuro it is where Ristul lives. Not a place I want to go into just yet, if ever.

I then went to the School to learn the spell, and they can teach me in 2 days. It will be expensive, but I am desperate, and it is better to learn it myself than have to have someone ELSE learn of Blue’s condition. We are going to try to take Blue to the temple of Garlen and see if they can help him.

Well, that was a waste of time. We were surprised when we got to the temple to find Alarian already there, apparently she has decided to take the teachings of Garlen to heart. We explained the problem to the healer, and they took Blue outside to this beautiful blue rosebush. As he was brought closer, the roses began to glow eerily. He informed us that this is a way of detecting horror taint. I just hope the party stays away from the thing... The healer brought us all into a private room, and explained that there was nothing he could do, and it was only a vow of confidentiality that kept him from reporting Blue to the authorities, since the life of one tainted by a horror is forfeit. We returned to the inn, disappointed and tired. Maybe tomorrow will offer some new solutions.

18/2 Charassa 27

We spent the day healing and resting, but apparently Blue was doing the same, because late in the afternoon, he began making crackling noises. Luckily I was on watch, and recognized one of his favorite spells. With a yell, I attacked him, and then Akasha managed to knock him unconscious. We removed the amulet that I had forgotten about and allowed him to heal faster, and resolved to rest today and try to dispel his mark tomorrow, after I learned it from the School of Adepts.

18/3 Charassa 28

I went to learn the spell today, and it was not that difficult. Casting it WELL, on the other hand, IS. We woke Blue up in the afternoon, and I failed to cast it well enough to dispel the possession. Well, Blue retaliated with showing me visions of my death, him disecting me alive. Luckily Sanjuro was near enough to knock him unconscious again. I think he may have hit him too hard though, Blue seems to be in bad shape. Sanjuro decided to go talk to the wizards and see if they had any advice on an idea he had. While he was gone, the innkeeper came and knocked on the door, and said that there were rumors that Blue was possessed, and the neighbors have been complaining about the noise. I must admit, I never thought about that, and we should have been outside of the city for this. When Sanjuro returned, that is where we went. We have set up a camp 4 hours out of the city, in the woods. We will go to Omasu’s to check for messages, or for our companions.

18/4 Charassa 29

I had the most unusual dream last night. I was looking at a tree made of orichalcum and living crystal, with leaves of fernweave, fed by blood. Obviously a reference to the keys. But then Akasha stepped out from behind the tree, and blocked my view of it. I’m not sure what it means, I must ask her what she makes of it.

Sanjuro has been in a trance all day, I have no idea what he is doing but I am loathe to disturb him in case it may harm him to do so. Alarian went off to check for messages. Blue is not improving at all, and it is now evening and Sanjuro is still in his trance. I will wait for morning before I try to wake him.

18/5 Charassa 30

It is a dark day for the Bearers. One of our founding members is dead. I awoke this morning to find Blue dead, with a dagger in him. Akasha was nowhere to be seen. Tracking her proved easy, and I found her weeping in a glade. I didn’t want to disturb her grief, so I left her, certain that she would return and not flee. If she did disappear, I am sure I could track her.

I returned to the glade, and broke Sanjuro out of his trance. He wept as well at the sight of Blue, and it was left to me to examine the body. It seems that he might have been already dead when the dagger struck. It is somewhat of a relief, if I can be so bold to claim it, that it is finally over. I was becoming more and more disturbed with Blue’s behavior of late as it was, and I feared a confrontation was building. His obsessions over the last few weeks can be attributed to the helm I hope, I am just glad he is no longer suffering, and that Akasha had the strength to do what I could not.

I have lain him out and will meditate while I wait for Sanjuro to come around, or for Akasha to return.

5/6

After a long wait, I went to look after Akasha. It would seem that her grief has caused a relapse of the sleeping sickness. I used my elemental friends to porter her back to camp, and made her comfortable. Sanjuro finally woke up, and it took a quick reassurance on my part to keep him from falling into mourning again, when he saw the comatose body of Akasha. Together we built a pyre for Blue, and burned him with most of his equipment. I gave him the piece of the Vesawa I had been carrying around, the first riverboat I blew up during that battle that Blue and I fought side by side in while on the way to Kratas. We kept his grimoires with us, as a means of preserving his legacy.

With the pyre burning, Sanjuro turned to me and expressed his desire to go build a monument to the original group, of which Blue was the last, (aside from Akasha), near Kaer Bryhn, and to settle the issue with Limac once and for all. After handing me Vitriol and the Trade Brooch, he turned to leave, and as if he had been called by speaking his name, Limac entered the clearing, with Alarian and a few other t’skrang. Sanjuro expressed his desire to settle the issue, and Limac instead offered him a chance to join him on a quest- to the Tower of Nine Diamonds to retrieve the Shield of Elost. Since we had to go there for one of the keys, Sanjuro readily agreed.

The t’skrang with Limac are sailors, and they had a riverboat waiting nearby. While I stayed to make sure the fire finished its business, Sanjuro went to check for messages while the boat was made ready. There were 2, one from Briana that she would be in the Servoss Jungle, the other from Maxwell telling us to meet him in Bartertown at the Rusty Tankard Inn. We have decided to sail upriver to Bartertown and get Maxwell, and then stop in the Servoss to get Briana before heading to the Tower of Nine Diamonds. It seems our party will be united once again. Perhaps I speak too soon...

19/1 Rua 1

We are sailing up the river today, we should arrive tomorrow night. I am going to use this time to train, something I rarely feel up to lately.

19/2 Rua 2

We arrived in Bartertown today, and went to the Rusty Tankard. Maxwell was not there of course, so we sat at a table to eat and decide what to do next. A dwarf then approached us, leading an obsidiman. The obsidiman’s name is Tassadar, and he met Maxwell 4 days ago, and was there to tell us that Maxwell should be back tomorrow. Tassadar has also been in touch with Omasu, about the keys of Shis’r’tal, which Tassadar has studied for years. He recognized me from Gort’s funeral, and is from the same liferock. He asked about Blue and Akasha, and we had to share the sad news with him. Deciding our conversation is probably not the thing for a common room, we went to a private room to talk.

When in private, we showed him the 4 keys we have managed to acquire, and I must say it was probably the first time I have seen an obsidiman so excited. We discussed what he knew of the keys and how they worked, and then went to bed.

19/3 Rua 3

Well, we waited all day for Maxwell. Most of us did, anyway. Sanjuro decided to go to the Servoss himself and track Briana down. I spent the day training. Maybe Maxwell will show up tomorrow.

19/4 Rua 4

Maxwell finally arrived this afternoon, and Sanjuro and Briana arrived shortly after. Max brought us news of the king’s decision. The Bearers of Akasha are banned from Throal, and have a death sentence on them. We have decided to reswear the oath, on the ruins of Briana’s house. Maxwell and Briana swore into the party, so that makes us 4. Afterwards, I gave Maxwell Blue’s grimoires. I know Blue would have turned over in his grave if we had buried him, but as it was his ashed probably stirred restlessly at this act. Maxwell is the most capable person I trust to deal with the dangerous knowledge in the books, so it seemed best. We all boarded the riverboat, and we are towing "The Airship" behind us, with Briana and Maxwell steering it.

19/5 Rua 5

We arrived at the Reed City this evening, and had time to train before resting. We all got together and discussed the upcoming raid on house Kerinchi. The boat and crew were chosen so they could blend in with K’tension. The Sigil of Strife is the key we are looking for. We will walk in and ask for it, and see what happens.

20/1 Rua 6

We set out for the House of Nine Diamonds this morning, should get there tomorrow.

20/2 Rua 7

By afternoon we could see the spires of the towers, and arrived a few hours later. We sailed up to the tower we wanted, and Limac, Sanjuro, Alarian and I went in, Alarian staying a bit behind us. It was a cargo area, and Sanjuro accosted one of the workers and asked where we could find Pammenig, the guy that had the shield and key. He didn’t TELL the worker we were looking for the shield and the key, just asked where we could find Pammenig. (Just clarifying for those of you familiar with the Kratas Cult of Elost debacle. "Avast, ye follower of Elost!") He told us he was up in the top of the tower, so we started up the stairs. Partway up, we came to a door marked "Collections Room", which was inconveniently locked. Now this was the logical place for the items to be, but just in case it was the tax collector’s quarters or something other than a museum, we went on up to see Pammenig. We’d find out later that Alarian had other things in mind, for what thief can resist a locked door? But the rest of us continued up, hoping that Pammenig will see our need of the items and that we could come to an agreement without stealing them.

A bit further on, we passed a blue t’skrang with green splotches, and it took us a few minutes to place him as the sky raider that was part of the Elite Therans that we met in Kratas when we saved the Ingrate, King Neden, then crown prince. He pretended not to recognize us, but then jumped into the shaft running up the middle of the tower, no doubt to raise the alarm. Increasing our pace, we continued upwards.

At the top of the tower, we came across the door we wanted. We entered, and were met by a large windling secretary, who asked our names. He announced us to Pammenig with the names we gave him, "Elost, Rigban, and Me", and we were granted admittance. I don’t know why we bothered to lie, since the moment we were in the room, Sanjuro proclaimed our identities to the fat t’skrang behind the desk. We asked him for the shield and key, explaining how we were on a mission and needed them, and asked him to join us, and promised if he helped he would be remembered in the legends, but he refused. At that point a familiar looking sphere started sounding an alarm, and knowing the reason for it, we attacked. Sanjuro knocked Pammenig down, and I tried to knock out the secretary, and then we fled.

On the way down, we passed the collections room, and our suspicions were confirmed. The door was now open, and glancing down the shaft I could see Alarian at the bottom, and with a distinctive "I got what we came for get your butts down here" wave, she disappeared out the entrance.

With a leap, Limac jumped onto one of the many ropes hanging into the shaft, and climbed nimbly down. I flew down, but Sanjuro insisted on taking the ramp. When he met resistance one level up from the ground floor, he swung out with his whip in classic style, and landed next to us. We fled to the riverboat, which was ready to go, and fled, dodging fire cannons all the way.

5/15

The pursuit caught up to us, and we threw everything we had at them, including Briana. I tried to flamestrike the boat, but they had a wizard aboard who blocked it. At a time when Maxwell would actually be useful, he was cowering belowdecks. Seeing I couldn’t affect the ship itself, I tried to affect its environment, first using Blizzard spheres in their path to make them turn and avoid them, and then casting a sky lattice crossing the river, or as much of it as would reach, just above deck level. They didn’t see it until a few sailors were knocked overboard, I was hoping it would knock off their smokestack and damage the ship too, but they recovered in time. It was about this time I realized Briana was in the water, Tassidar hauling her out with some rope. She apparently attempted to jump to the enemy boat to engage them and take out their archers, but tripped on the railing. Sanjuro sat in the crow’s nest, hurling insults, which in the end did more damage to him than to them, since it made him their prime target. He wasn’t too badly damaged though, and it never came to melee combat since we rounded a turn in the river and managed to hide.

Our boat was damaged, and would need to be repaired before trying to dodge patrols and search parties. So we hunkered down, or helped out where possible, and healed what wounds were inflicted, either to our body or ego... Boats just weren’t designed for running leaps.

Rua 8

We have decided that our best course of action would be to go to Travar and use the gate to go to Urupa and meet up with Akasha again. The K’tension would be fools to follow us into the Badlands, so we should be safe from them at least. Without us on the boat, the captain and his crew should be able to go back to the City of Reeds in relative safety. Luckily, we don’t have to pass the House of Nine Diamonds to get dropped off, or it might be more difficult.

Rua 9

We might have been better off dealing with K’tension. We made it to the Badlands last night, and since it would be hazardous to travel at night in such uneven terrain, we set up camp 200 yards from shore. I was scheduled to go on second watch, but we didn’t even get that far before we were attacked. I woke up in something’s mouth, surrounded by lots of teeth. I fell out of its mouth during its death thrashes, to see Alarian there. With a quick word of thanks, we separated to fight our foes, and that would be the last I saw her alive. There were a dozen or so of these large beasties that were all mouth and teeth. When they were all disbatched, two of our number had fallen.

Tassidar had stopped breathing, but he only had a few severe wounds. Alarian was barely recognizable. Limac had the only last chance salve in the party, which we decided to split between the two in the hopes that they would each gain some benefit from it. We could see there was little hope for Alarian, but she had been a good companion and we had to try. After applying it, Tassidar began to draw ragged breaths, but was still unconscious. Alarian was gone. We carried her body to the river, and gave her as proper a T’skrang burial as possible under the circumstances. We are just waiting today for Tassidar to recover enough to travel. He did awaken briefly today, but we probably need another full day of rest before he can walk on his own, and there is no way for us to carry him.

Rua 10

An uneventful night last night, except for Limac awakening the party with his screams from a bad dream. We traveled throughout the hot day, and found a place to camp for the night. Watches have been set, so I will get what sleep I can in this accursed place.

Rua 11

We spent the day travelling, and found a cave to rest in. Maybe all the creatures of the Badlands stay near the perimeter of the place, since nothing should be dumb enough to travel through it. Except for us.

Rua 12

Towards the end of the day’s travel, we came upon a kaer. We were able to determine that it was not Hardis, one of the gates for the keys that is supposed to be lost in the Badlands somewhere. The entrance is a long narrow passageway that was lined with broken traps, and ended in a solid oaken door. Runes still glimmered on the door, showing it was still sealed! Kaer Dowlon was written above the door. Maxwell was in some strange sort of stupor since entering the Badlands, so I had to use my read magic ability to decipher the runes.

Following the instructions to carve an image of the Gates of Throal on the wall, we managed to get the door to open, revealing another hallway. Feeling reckless, I flew straight down the middle towards the door at the other end, just barely getting past 3 traps. Inspired by my actions, Briana then sprinted down the hallway, but she was not as lucky. Only mildly injured by what could have crippled her, I flew back to point out the rest of the traps since it was evident that the rest of the party would not wait for me to open the kaer.

The door at the end turns out to be a false door, with the real entrance concealed in the wall to the left. Opening this room, we entered a defensive area with many heavy weapons pointed in our direction, which we walked by. This area led to a door that opened to a huge cavern, with cottages built to house about 80 people, if there were any to live there. We entered to explore.

We found gravesites in side passages, and the body of a lone adolescent neear the fountain in the middle of town. He wore the badge of mayor, and must have been the last one left, long ago. The fountain was a magic level meter, with true earth and water like most. I decided to take the elements for future use, since they would do these people no good. We could find no evidence of what killed these people, the last recorded date being 120 years ago. The last dozen or so to survive were male, so maybe they didn’t have enough females with them, or were unable to have children? We searched for the answer to no avail, and with nothing else to be found, we decided to stay here till morning and then set out again.

Rua 13 6/3

Well, Maxwell awoke from his daze this morning, and helpfully marked the location of the kaer by using something called a sextant. He then became startled when we informed him that we are in the Badlands. Shaking our heads at him once again, we set out for Travar. During our travel we came across some bleached bones, apparently stacked there by some creature. Not wanting to meet something that would do such a thing, we hurried on.

Rua 16

We finally arrived at Travar today. Coming over a rise, the first green besides Sanjuro greeted our weary eyes, in the form of a large hill. As the sun set beyond the white walls, we could see the gates already closed for the night. Knocking gained us an audience with the troll captain, who allowed us to stay in a secure courtyard for the night, under watch by several archers above us. Compared to the fear and insecurity of the last few days, I will restfully sleep under the watchful gaze of the guards, even if they ARE there to kill us if we turn out to be horrors....

Rua 17

We were allowed to enter the city at dawn this morning, and Maxwell immediately set out to find a nethermancer so he could learn how to unwither Sanjuro’s tail. Sanjuro went to the temple to see if the Questors could help him. Their temple is actaully the large hill we saw on arriving. I decided to accompany Maxwell to the marketplace, to buy supplies. We are to meet Sanjuro and Tassidar in the inn across from the local Overland Trading Co. office.

After meeting them at the tavern , we were approached by an illusionist/thief named Rillan who had a vision of us saving Barsaive. Wars followed wherever we went. Tassidar told Rillan our story. In an effort to find the gate, I went to OTC. They suggested the bookstore or magistrate, so I went back to the inn to wait since Tassidar went to the bookstore himself. Meeting Sanjuro there, I gave him some spending money and he went off to bed.

I decided to wait in the commonroom for our companions, and a human came in announcing that Rillan was having his last performance at midnight. By the response of the patrons, apparently Rillan is a popular street performer.

By late afternoon, Tassidar returned. He found a map with the location of the gate, but it will cost 120 silver. Since I had the party treasure, I went back with him and bought that map, which was an old one of Travar, and a more current one that we could use to find the gate. I spent the evening training, and I’m now off to Rillan’s show.

6/8

Well, the show didn’t go as smoothly as Rillan had hoped I would guess, but the crowd was entertained. From what I saw he is a competent illusionist, but Tassidar and Maxwell’s antics certainly livened up the act. Maxwell flew into the square just in time to knock Tassidar over during some amazing acrobatics, babbling something about being chased by nethermancers. I don’t know what he managed to do to tick them off, but it involved Jada’s spellbook somehow, since he gave it to me for safekeeping. We set out to meet Sanjuro at the temple of Garlen, while the others would have to do their best to catch up.

We found Sanjuro in some special bath that was supposed to restore his tail. I would rather trust in a nethermancer than endure such a stench, but then again I am not t’skrang, they may LIKE bad smells. We met up again in the courtyard, and Tassidar told us that the robed people that entered the square as we left were not nethermancers, and didn’t even have matrices. Sanjuro had another 2 hours to spend in the bath, so I studied my new map, planning the route we would take to the gate. It is within the sewers, so Sanjuro’s bath may actually be APPEALING in comparison, I am not looking forward to it.

We found an entrance into the sewers in an alleyway, but it was too small for Tassidar to pass through. Rillan cast some spell that allowed him to go in, and we all followed. After a while, Maxwell detected namegivers ahead of us waiting in ambush. I went ahead to scout them out, and found them waiting in ambush. Hoping to take advantage of their lost surprise, I went back and the others decided to go forward while I flanked around the rear to a third person who was hiding beyond the others, possibly a spellcaster.

We ended up setting off the ambush, and there were more than we expected. It was a large room with a pit in the middle and a narrow walkway around the perimeter, with several tunnels leading into it. We for once managed to talk our way out of it, and entered the gate that was on the opposite side of the room. One of the thieves, Parsellin, followed us into the gate. He had been disarmed by Sanjuro and had to "regain his honor". We gave him Maxwell’s little knife as a trophy to bring back with him, and I slipped him a rather large aquamarine. Since this is one of the gates that my key goes to, I would rather be on friendly terms with the people that control the area around it.

From Shish r’tal, we could see into Throal and Urupa. We took the path to Urupa, and came out of the flame again. There was a large boat in the water from across the sea. We set up camp near the city to wait for morning.

Rua 18

At dawn, Sanjuro and Maxwell went to Malvarri’s, both looking for nethermancers again. I showed Tassidar and Rillan the way to the temple of Garlen, so we could check on Akasha. She was still sleeping, but we learned that she was in possession of the Amulet of Growth! We had all 6 keys we needed! I asked them if I could have the key, since it is important to the party etc., and they let me take it for safekeeping. We then went to Malvarri’s Rest to wait for the others. On my suggestion, Sanjuro has gone to the Guild Hall to offer his services as a trainer to make some spending money so he doesn’t have to keep asking me for coin. Imagine, a fully grown namegiver that continues to mooch off of his friends! Tomorrow I will look for a mentor to learn a few new spells, and begin training in the time we have, to prepare for the entry to Shish r’tal and freeing the passions.

Rua 19

I found a mentor today, a troll named Shattuck Goodman. He showed me some new spells, and said that he’d be willing to train me for next circle when I was ready. I spent the rest of the day resting and meditating. I also went to the Overland Trading Company and asked them to look for Raleem, in the hopes that one of their offices would come across her.

Rua 20

Even though we were but a day away after the assault on the House of Nine Diamonds, Sanjuro decided not to go there. Now that we are a few days away, he has decided that his quest simply cannot wait, and intends to travel to Elost’s last kaer. Maxwell and Limac will go with him, and I decided to as well. I can train on a riverboat, and it will be more exciting than sitting around here all day. I also don’t want the only unbiased observer to be Maxwell! We will leave tomorrow by riverboat for the City of Reeds, and then take "The Airship" the rest of the way. I’ll train for today, and then get ready for the journey.

Rua 21

We set out today by riverboat for the City of Reeds.

Rua 22

We arrived at the City of Reeds, and noted that the "Dark Ripple", belonging to a wealthy spice merchant, was setting out for Urupa, against an unfavorable tide, with a contingent of soldiers on board. I wonder what the trouble is.... According to the dockmaster, they had no cargo, and belong to house Vistrimon, and one Hakrin Firetail. Sanjuro and Maxwell hired two sailors, a dwarf named Skarg Darkheart, and a human named Valin, to sail with us on "The Airship". We leave tomorrow.

Rua 23

We set out today in the morning, and by evening we passed the House of Nine Diamonds, without incident.

Rua 24

In the afternoon, we found a safe harbor to disembark. There were lots of airships flying in the sky, apparently Theran. We paid Valin and Skarg enough for them to wait for us for 7 days, and will rest the afternoon and night before setting out tomorrow morning.

Rua 25

We set out this morning, following Limac and Sanjuro. I hope they know where they are going...

Rua 26

At midday, we arrived at a place that appeared the same as any other to Maxwell and myself, with no sign of civilization, but Sanjuro and Limac agreed that it was THE place. As they approached, the ground collapsed and formed a stairway down. It led to a 10’ wide flagstone road, to a 10x10 foot door. The pattern was intact but there was no energy in it, which Maxwell said meant it was deactivated but not breached. This door also swung open when Sanjuro and Limac approached.

Beyond was a dark corridor, 50 feet long. At the end we could see a glowing suit of armor. It floated back as we approached, and disappeared in the distance. We could see traps, but no trigger for them, and decided that they were probably set off by a ward that was no longer active. After 200 yards, we reached a room 50 feet found, hemispherical. Beautiful murals were around the perimeter, and the glowing armor was in the center of the room, above a 15’ wide pit leading down. Inside was absolute blackness, with runes carved in the sides.

I cast a sky lattice into the pit so we could descend, and it was almost not long enough to reach the bottom. We climbed or flew down, and found a room at the bottom with a tunnel leading off to the side. The floor seemed to be of orichalcum, and Maxwell was almost dragged to the floor by his cloak. It seemed to be a coating of orichalcum over something else, but I didn’t want to scratch through it to find out what. There was a red glow emanating from the tunnel, and always the adventuresome sort, I flew ahead to see what it was.

I found that the tunnel took a sharp turn straight down at this point, and then curved at the bottom to flatten out again, leading to a huge block of true earth, maybe 20 feet tall, blocking the passage. The others joined me, and we found that bringing magic near it made it rise slowly. Maxwell proposed that it was a large scale magic level indicator, and when it had risen far enough, I was able to squeeze through to see what was beneath, causing the blue and red glow that shone through.

6/29

A tunnel led beneath the block, into a large room. The shaft opened in the top of a curved dome, directly above a large pool of true water. When the others joined me by using another sky lattice, we were able to determine that it was a purification chamber. But what a purification chamber! Maxwell estimated it could support a population half that of Parlainth. We removed the grating from one of the airducts, and went in. We eventually came to a door, and while the others were trying to figure out how to open it (it didn’t respond to Sanjuro and Limac), I used Air Speaking to see if anyone was in range to hear. I got an immediate response, and they soon opened the gate.

We were surprised to see an obsidiman approach, through a series of gates. They are supposed to enter torpor if underground for any length of time, and yet he seemed fully alert. We noticed that they locked the first gate behind him, just to be sure we were normal namegivers. His name is Starflick, and after the introductions, he led us into the kaer.

Theran influence was evident as we looked about, and there was much interest in our arrival. They had been awaiting the arrival of outsiders to come and free the kaer, as it had been foretold. We were invited to dine with the governor, Lord Estergonts, before they will show us the tomb of Elost.

The governor told us of the kaer, that they were all Therans and highly trained in kaerbuilding. They spent 19 years helping others build kaers, and then headed back to Thera before the Scourge. They realized they would not make it, and chose this spot to build a kaer of their own. This explains why there was no record of a kaer so large, it was built so late that no one else knew about it. His history was interrupted by a man running in, with cries of sabotage. Apparently the purification room was tampered with. The true water was supposed to run out of the pool, but someone blocked up the channels, causing the water to fill, which forced the true earth plug upwards. Without too much concern, the governor went on to tell us that they have discovered a ritual to unlock the secrets of the elements, turning 1 kernel of earth into 1 ton of loam, and similar uses with other elements. I was interested in this but held my tongue since our purpose was elsewhere. I will have to see if they will teach me this trick.

We were led to the tomb of Elost, and waited behind as Sanjuro and Limac entered. The items they wore began to glow, and were torn from their bodies. Elost walked out of the tomb, fully equipped, and the entire kaer fell in behind him as he led the way out. By the time the first of us got out of the kaer after getting up the shafts that gave Elost no trouble, he was gone. I was able to pick up his trail, and then Maxwell flew up and got a visual of him, heading Northeast, which, according to one of the wizards, was where the last kaer he was defending had been. Maxwell used a spell to quicken the pace of Sanjuro and Limac, and we set out in pursuit.

In the evening, we reached the kaer, to find the items of Elost piled in front of the open door to the kaer, within a cave, as if Elost had just vanished from within them. A young boy was there looking at them. After a few moments thought, Sanjuro turned to Limac and told him that he was relinquishing his claim to the items, he would rather preside as lord of Viln than continue the destruction that would accompany taking up Elost’s legacy. Limac then surprised me by saying that he also did not want the items, he has found a new calling in leading the people freed from the kaer. They both had the same quest, to save people they know little about, and neither is suited to the items of Elost. Sanjuro then proposed that maybe Briana was suited to the role, and I almost laughed out loud but held my tongue. They went off to talk together, and said they would meet us here in the morning. Maxwell and I set up camp and will rest till they return.

Rua 27

This morning, Sanjuro and Limac returned, without the items of Elost. They decided that the world needs many heroes, not just one, and in both of their cases the finding of an item of Elost sparked that heroic spark within them. Therefore, it would be better to spread the items across Barsaive, and perhaps foster such a change within others. Limac has returned to the kaer to lead the refugees, while we have set out for the cove and our boat to sail to Urupa and finish our task. On the way, we ran into Briana, who tracked us down with her bond to Sanjuro.

Rua 28

We arrived at the boat this morning, and set out in the early afternoon. Everyone is in a somber mood, but whether it is from the completion of a task so long in coming, or in preparation for the conflict to come, I don’t know. We should be in Urupa in 2 days.

Rua 29

Without Limac and Akasha to bear the keys, Sanjuro and I have decided to weave to a second one. I wove to the Amulet of Growth after Sanjuro failed to, and then Sanjuro succeeded in weaving to the one Limac had. We are ready for the final deed for the keys, and only need to get to the gate.

Rua 30

We arrived in Urupa today, and after some brief preparations, we will enter the gate. I only hope that I will be able to add further entries to this journal.

7/6

Well, under normal circumstances, it would seem odd that I am writing this next entry, less than a day later, from my room in the tower in Viln. It is amazing we made it out as well as we did, without losing any of our party members. Here is what happened:

We entered the gate, and walked to the middle of the area that was ringed by gates. There was a miniature pattern of Barsaive there, with pulsing threads leading from the pattern, to the keys, and then to the bearer of the key, lending him strength in the struggle to come. We decided to open the gates as quickly as possible, hoping there was nothing waiting for us on the other side, especially in Parlainth. Upon opening Glenwood Deep, I could swear that I heard a voice offering me power and glory if I destroy "them", but I am not sure.

As the gates opened, a breeze cleared a tunnel through the mist to the gate, and energy from the gate came back to the key, and then to the center. Then the mist writhed up again, and all sight was blocked. Upon opening Travar, I thought I saw the sewer where the gate is, decorated with the bodies of the thieves, hanging from the walls. It was gone quickly, so I cannot be sure.

As the 6th gate was opened, one from each key, the mist began to boil, the light grew brighter, and the other 6 opened on their own. There was a flash from Glenwood Deep to Briana, and then the smoke was cleared and we found ourselves in a marble room, with a trail of dirt from Briana to the curtains on the walls. In the middle of us all was a new key, a strip of orichalcum twisted upon itself, with a drop of blood running on its surface. We guessed it was the final key.

The light that touched Briana was, as she told us, the passion Jaspree coming to warn her, that the passions and horrors were behind the gate, and that the last key belonged to Death himself, and only remained here because no one could lift it.

Looking around, we could see a representation of the pattern of Barsaive, and Cara Fahd’s thread reattaching itself. The entire room was ringed with curtains on the walls, except for one end where a stairway led down to a door. Tassidar picked up the new key, and we all realized that no one else had a key anymore. A glow from beneath the curtain to the south attracted our attention, and we went to investigate. Behind the curtain was a room with a raised dais on the far side. Briana reached out and touched the key, and a shimmering curtain opened to show the gate. We all cautiously went through.

The gate led somehow BACK into the same room, and yet it was different. The hallway continued on as far as the eye could see, with rooms repeated in a pattern. While watching, we saw rapid movement down one of them, and it came closer in short bursts, until it jumped out unexpectedly and attacked. There were three of them, and they took the forms of the mad passions.

After a few exchanges of blows, we realized they were illusions concealing some black tentacles, and after two of the fell, the third grabbed Briana and fled faster than any could follow. With his bond to her leading him, Sanjuro went after her and told me to try to open the gate to get out. Certain that she was dead, I tried to.

A short while later, the tentacle came back, larger than I thought it was before, and leapt through the curtain of energy. He seemed to be stuck on the dais though, unable to enter Barsaive. I flew through with the key, and he was suddenly free. Three passions appeared to stop him, but it knocked them down and kept going. We chased it through the first room, down the steps, and through the door, and it finally succummed to our blows in a large room with a dais flanked by 6 pedistals. Behind most sat 2 people, 9 in all. Counting the 3 in the other room, that made 12 passions.

We went back to the other room for the other 3, and Akasha had fallen yet again. The passions were stirring, and soon we all joined in the other room. We were congratulated on our success in freeing the passions, and granted a boon. I withheld mine to see what would happen. In asking them questions, it became apparent that most of the events that happend to us were guided by them, including the torching of Briana’s house! She was outraged, and almost refused when they asked us to complete another task for them. They told us the pattern of Barsaive was safe now, and magic levels would return to their normal state.

They told us about events on Barsaive: Orcs fighting Therans, factions fighting in Parlainth, bloodelves fighting Iopus, Throal trying to assault Triumph, trolls raiding in the twilight peaks, and skirmishes all along the Serpent River. It is enough to awaken Death, they said, and only the blood of the 12 passions would keep him there, strengthen the ward in the Death Sea where Death has been imprisoned. We reluctantly agree to the task.

Placing the 7th key on a pedistal, beams of light hit it and a door opens. We all went through, with the passions taking their corresponding keys. As the gate closed behind us, Erendus took his key and threw it back in, to lock it away forever. There were now only 2 ways into Shish’r’tal, which I won’t name here so no one will try it. (either the last key, or killing 1101 namegivers). Death’s key was then entrusted to Tassidar for safe keeping.

We found ourselves in a mist-filled valley in the mountains, and after advice that we not bleed in the place (something I didn’t plan on doing anyway), they transported us to an island surrounded by a sea of flame. Our guide was a t’skrang made of fire, named Phelar. After a few hours walking, the ground became cooler rock, and there was a ring of wards, according to Maxwell sealing wards that had been weakened. If we were to spill blood, it would awaken Death.

We opened the ward, in search for the pool of water that we were to deposit the blood in. An ork of flame awaited us, warning that none could enter Death’s realm without dying first. He then exploded into flames. The single corridor led to a large chamber, with a pool of water at the far end, guarded by a large flaming form. As we moved into the room, more guardians sprang up from the ground. We managed to defeat them all, and pour the blood into the pool.

Instead of strengthening the ward, our action destroyed it. The water started flowing out of the pool, faster than any of us could flee. Our guide vanished in a hiss of steam as the water touched him, and we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a vast ocean of water. Using spells and talents, we managed to signal a true-fire mining airship who’s livelihood just went up in steam, and they picked us up. Just as we were trying to explain what happened, another form floated to the surface of the ocean.

Even though small in stature, it could not be mistaken that this was Death. Suddenly he was surrounded by the passions, 40 feet tall. They thanked us for correcting a mistake they made eons past, in trapping Death. War stalks the land again, and Death is needed to teach the people the consequences of their actions. They used us for their purposed again, and we followed blindly.

We were suddenly back in the misty valley, faced with 13 chairs, saved from having to explain ourselves to the airship captain, but forced to deal with the passions once again. Death sat in the middle chair, and Minbruje next to him. Death told us that the passions have decided to return to their former mortal status, and Death would remain. Barsiave is now free to serve its own needs, without passions or horrors or dragons to influence it. Our rewards are supposedly not forgotten, but I want nothing from those that used us so readily. Briana’s vengeful streak continued though, as she requested the identity and location of the one responsible for burning her house. I have a feeling we will be visiting Travar soon, where the arsonist is supposed to be residing.

We were returned to whereever we wanted to go. Tassidar returned to his monestary with Death’s key, and all the knowledges with it. Briana had been given them by Jaspree when he visited her in the place between. Rillan decided to see more of Barsaive and how it has changed before going home. The rest of us returned to Viln. As we emerged on the cliffs, the sounds of hammering greeted us, along with the sight of the tower, half finished. Campfires dotted the plains to the south, evidence of the war still going on. Cara Fahd needs leaders now, and who better than the legendary swordmaster, Sanjuro of House Syrtis, to lead them. I will do my part, but a windling is hardly noticable in the midst of war. We have much to do...

FIN

Garnel's Introduction

Garnel's Adventuring Journal Part I

Garnel's Adventuring Journal Part II

Garnel's Adventuring Journal Part III