Musings of Mistera - Golem get 'em!

It seems the paladins are actually useful for something.

After some delightfully intriguing yet petty bickering amongst the group regarding Tupper's effectiveness at anything martial, we descended upon an island completely shrouded in mist. Flying around the island proved to be useless, as the fog overwhelmed my senses and prevented any scouting.

As history repeats itself, we watched Tupper set off a trap (arguably purposefully) that separated him from the group via a dropped portcullis, knocked cleanly out, and then dragged off to gods knows where. Then it's off to the races, trying to catch back up to him... right into the hands of an invisible stalker and a golem.

The stalker wasn't much - Nigori made him painfully easy to see to the rest of the party, and he fled while the golem started knocking its great fists into anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. I step back, reaching into my pouches, in one hand a mass of clay and some drops of water in the other, and try to recall the words...

...where did the words go...

I curse to myself quietly, putting the reagents away. I had replaced the lines of the transmute spell I usually memorized with the more vulgar ones of a Flame Strike.

I drew my quarterstaff, keeping the words of Shillelagh upon my tongue, watching for a moment when I could summon creatures to attack the golem, but all possible flanking spots were taken by the oh-so-virtuous, sword-swinging Paladins. Within short order the golem was in fact destroyed, but not without me hanging in the back of the party, gripping my quarterstaff, feeling as damned useless as Tupper.

Musings of Mistera - That Lich.

Cypress was happy to see me, which makes it all the more hard to go back to the waves and the ocean. He seems pretty fit and fed, with a small trace of blood left on his maw from a recent kill. I held him close, telling him that I had to depart again, and that I would come back to retrieve him as soon as the sea battles were over.

---

I come back to amusing tales of bad fishies and the proper use of the royalty's seapony steeds. Nigori seems like a well enough companion though, as long as you know how to talk to her - a nuance that seems lost among the rest of the party, except perhaps Azzam.

Once again we dive into the depths, this time to an unexplored room. Sarcophagi fill the room, and in the back is a throne with a sword. I pick up the sword, which seems normal at first, and then Nigori takes her magesty's spot and sits in the throne.

The sword grows cold, chilling me to the bone. I hand the sword to Nigori just as a figure coalesces - a shadowy figure at first, who demands to know what we were doing on his throne. Nigori, being a proper princess, hands the sword back to its rightful owner and tries to daintily leave, if not for the horrific hippogryph blocking the only exit.

At this point, it becomes clear that we'll need to fight out of this - my hands glow with the power of the sun. It's time for him to burn.

--

It was a hard fought battle, and in the end we only had one of our brethren fall, who ended up being the leader of this rag-tag group of Paladins.

It was some weeks ago that he had mentioned a curse, where anyone who took up leadership in this band of holy heroes would quickly perish.

Mayhap he was right.

Artemis, remind me not to lead.

Musings of Mistera - The Atrocities!

(Two in one)

I'm sad to leave Cypress behind.

He's been with me for most of my journey, but the water is not a suitable place for one such as he. I've been visiting him as much as I can between our voyages out to sea, but I don't know how long we will be out on the water this time, in search of the temples that house unspeakable evils, yet house the means to salvation.

I hold him close, rubbing up against his fur and planting a gentle kiss upon his head.

"I will return for you, I swear it."

He doesn't even have to nod - he knows.

---

I must be careful how I present found treasure to the paladins.

It turns out that part of the deal that was struck with the Gnomes for safe passage was that a percentage of the treasure found would go to them. During one of our forays into the depths, I stumbled across a beautiful gem. I carefully picked it up with a piece of cloth, and then later showed it to Hrefna. She identified it as a Gem of True Seeing. She then told the paladins of the find, who quickly appraised it at some gods-high value.

Dear gods, either we need to give them the gem or give them ample compensation for the find.

That is, if it doesn't go missing.

---

We've encountered a very interesting sea elf on our journey - fashions herself a princess. I'm not sure what lineage she actually is, although she is delusional enough to be royalty.

I wonder if she rides a sea pony.

---

May her soul be damned.

We found her beyond the obsidian mirror, a true sight to behold. What evils there are beyond the dark reflection, enough for Princess Precious to almost throw herself off the cliff.

And worse! There I beheld a true atrocity against nature! It was a otter, but not - pustules covered its body, dark sores lay underneath its matted fur, open wounds oozing. It was horrible to behold! And so I had to do it, Artemis, I had to try and release its soul! Burn its soul away from the wretched flesh! Let it return to the cycle of life anew, to be reborn!

But damn the necromancer! She raised it from its ashes! To regain its same form, but now with wretched burn marks! Looking into its eyes was heartbreaking, so I did it again! It must be released!

Why does it keep coming back!

Artemis, save this poor creature!

Musings of Mistera - Get Kraken!

(Two posts in one)

I pondered through the night, thinking of what spells would best attack the Kraken in its lair. Water breathing spells, a Quench for the ship in case of fires, snare abilities, poisons and contagions... anything that could slow the Kraken and deal consistent damage over time. I only hoped that my other comrades were being as thorough as I am.

--

Hrefna is very valuable to our party - she's located where the sea witch and the kraken are, which are two different places. I'm more prepared to fight a kraken than a sea witch, but it makes more sense to go after the sea witch, and we head out.

I keep asking Artemis what I am doing on this mission, since we have sucessfully freed the soul of Alcander. The staff is still split asunder, so perhaps that is why I am still here. My closest companion has since gone, and at least two others have split from the party as well. There are many paladins in this group, and then Tupper.

Alas, Tupper wasn't able to join us on this voyage to the kraken, but as I look up the mast and see Kalidas as lookout, I have a feeling that Tupper is safest on dry land as it is.

I feel safe and protected as the stoic Kalidas watches over us all, bow always in hand.

---

It was a trap.

Swimming down to the sea witch's lair turned unfruitful, and swimming up to the surface was already tiring enough before a strong electical charge surged its way through my body, painfully spasming my muscles.

The sea witch is above.

---

I call out to Kalidas and Hrefna, scanning the skies for the terrible one. I see large shadows of dragons, sihlouettes of sharks, and can't grasp how outnumbered we really are.

"They're not real!" Hrefna cries out through the storm, the wind almost stealing her words. I look to the sky, and Hrefna has cast Faerie Fire in the clouds. Beyond the cursing blind Kalidas, I see her form at last.

Solace of suns
Friends of fire
Burn my foes
With heart's desire!

A column of fire from the Gods strikes her. I hear her screech of terror, then Kalidas turns his head swiftly to the sound, loosing his volley. I call upon the gods once more, watching their wrath char her skin and burn her hair. She becomes nothing more than a flaming mass descending from the heavens.

---

I should have warned the paladins of the magic contained within the necklace.

It was stupid of me to let them break such a powerful artifact so close to sentient life.

Flam's been cursed by the taint of the Sea Witch.

Artemis, please let there be another way to cleanse his soul.

---

I'm extremely glad to have made such an... interesting friend in this port. He really knows his stuff, and I only hope that I can learn more from him at some point. He knows about the delicate balance of nature, and how to use nature's bounty to both help and harm.

He described a way in which we could help rid Flam of this possession, a way that mimics death so that he can be saved without having his entire body completely dead. Hrogar also seemed pleased at the smaller cost of such an approach.

All we need now is to get him away from souls while this happens, which means a ship - the port guards will not let us into the city proper, not even to leave. Time to talk to A. Hab.

---

Curse A. Hab. I can't help but hope that her lack of survival insight and unwillingness to prepare will cost her dearly someday.

Time to arrange other transport.

---

The plan worked, Flam is safe. I really must thank my new friend for all of his support.

Perhaps this is why I'm still with this group - most are Paladins, honor-bound to protect the weak, never mislead or trick, and other such extremes in the name of good.

I hold no such illusions. Sometimes the ends justify the means. Sometimes the means a Paladin could never justify. I'm here to do whatever the means are to protect nature and preserve the balance.

Musings of Mistera - The Casting Kraken

I was curious when I first heard the rumors of a casting Kraken, until I saw the ruse on the ship.

Kraken nowhere to be seen, and then tentacles sprout from nowhere. One successfully grapples me, but I twist out of it, shifting into a rat and squeaking away. I look around, still no Kraken, as a lightning bolt misses me by inches.

"But, that's a druid spell," I squeak out, scurrying across the deck and up the mast.

Arrows fly off into the clouds, followed by a woman's screeching. One of our new additions has found the spellcaster, who has since retreated through the stormy skies.

Casting Kraken... I knew I shouldn't have trusted paladins with spellcasting.

Musings of Mistera - Such a Strange Little Girl...

I haven't paid too much attention to Leaf until Ragnarr told us about his vision while he was knocked unconscious from the crystal.

Leaf is a peculiar girl, very agreeable to follow instructions, although one must be very careful with one's wording. This had lead to some interesting results, such as an entire desk disappearing, leaving only its inner contents behind. She possesses immense power, so much that I am in awe and worry.

There are those out there that would take Leaf's power and use it for ill gains, and my new companions are adamant about keeping her and the staff safe. Two of them went with her to another plane to keep her safe, while the rest of us are here with a piece of the staff, with a second piece with some monks somewhere.

I'm waiting to see what my exact role in this scenario will be. I'm with a group consisting of two paladins, a quiet ranger and a clumsy rogue, all whom seem inclined to "The Power Of Good And Happy," which isn't realistic. There must be balance in all things.

Who knows, maybe it would be better if both Leaf and the Staff were destroyed.

Musings of Mistera - Woes of the Weak

I do not know what to do with Tupper.

I've heard from some of his comrades that he's a good lad, but I'm not convinced. He's evasive, cowardly and clumsy.

I had some doubt in my first impressions until the middle of a Drow battle, where a Dire Wolf was summoned in the middle of our party. Tupper was knocked over by the wolf, and I came to his aid, swinging my quarterstaff overhead to crack the wolf's skull. The wolf deftly evaded, then swept his powerful paws, claws raking into my flesh and knocking me clean to the ground next to Tupper.

I continued to swing. Tupper ducked and hid, shifting the wolf's attention to me.

Coward.

If he does it again, I swear, I'm cracking his skull clean in twain.

Musings of Mistera - Following the Fearful Bear

I shift out of my small form, restoring my human self to the intruders.

"Greetings, I am Mistera, and I am here to help you on your quest."

To help a follower of Diana, it seems. Artemis' call now makes more sense, they must be on a very important quest for my deity to ask for my assistance. They are here to find the soul of one of their brethren, a follow of Heracles. I've agreed to assist them, and we start investigating the fortress.

There are many cells here, all of which I place my ear up to in order to listen for any signs of life. The rest of the group seems rather perplexed at my actions. I'm not certain any of them have lived for any substantial time in the wilderness or any other situation where one must be keenly aware of one's surroundings.

I continue scouting ahead, listening and gesturing safe passages to my new companions. A couple of times I've heard grunts of frustration and yelps of pain from the group, and I can only imagine that Drow ingenuity has outsmarted the conventional lockpick, as is usually the course. I'd rather lose my God-given abilities before touching a Drow door.

A large metal door gives me pause, as I hear voices on the other side that are decidedly not speaking Common. Knowing better, I wait until one of the hardy and sturdy Paladins opens the door - only but a crack while being shocked by lightning which would rival the bolts of Zeus. I feel some of the bolt, having it arc to me - my muscles stiffen painfully and I taste blood in my mouth. Remind me not to stand next to such conductive creatures as Paladins.

We're greeted by darkness after darkness - we dispel one only to meet another. Frustrated, I close my eyes and call upon the great spirits of Ursa for a companion. A gigantic bear materialized, who runs into the darkness. I hear screams and ripping flesh before I hear another sound - a great roar of terror. I brace the wall as the bear tramples out of the door and down the other side of the corridor. He disappears from sight.

The Drow are very cunning and sneaky. By the time we get past the darkness again, we're in a large cell room with a grate and a very painful rune on the wall. I know the Drow have gone down the grate, but to follow them would be unwise - there are surely more traps for us to fall into on the other side, and I don't want to be distracted from our quest. I continue the scouting mission again.

We follow the bear's carnage through the corridor, up a set of stairs (which the bear thankfully set off the trap for), and through a series of rooms. We encounter more Drow, more darkness, and stop short of entering places where we could have been ambushed. I'm growing frustrated that we can't finish the kills before they get to their defensible positions, and getting out of this fortress is going to be difficult for this group. I could sneak out, but I'm not sure about the rest of them.

With any luck, Artemis, I'll be able to keep this group from getting themselves killed.

Musings of Mistera - In the Maw of the Drow Fortress

Many days pass before reaching landmarks from my vision. I stretch my limbs and look to Cypress at my side. I snarl and growl to him, and he nods in understanding. He gobbles the rest of the rabbit carcass before settling in some foliage.

I growl and grimace as my body changes - bones crunch and joints grind as the forest becomes much larger and the smells stronger. I wriggle my nose, scratch my head and then scamper up to the keep.

Drow.

What kind of danger has one of my own kind gotten into, for me to be led into a Drow keep to offer my aid? I scamper in the shadows, wriggle through small holes and follow patrols, getting my bearings.

An alarm goes off - bells in the distance - and the patrol I'm following speeds up. I strain to keep up with my stubby furry legs, and only just manage to not lose them in the maze of cells. They draw their swords in preparation for battle, and my eyes scan the dim light, searching for the intruders.

One of them is her.

I sneak into a dark corner of the room before surveying the battle. The woman and her companions are already fighting a handful of Drow, and the casters look fatigued and weary. I wriggle my whiskers, recalling my spells from memory. I call forth wolverines to keep the fighters busy as I cast spells to penetrate the spellcaster's Anti-Life shell. The battle is joined by more Drow, one of which erects a very large and impenetrable wall of stone between his brethren and the intruders. I summon more wolverines to finish him off, and bite the last Drow in the ankle, passing a poison to him in the process, before he runs screaming into the corridor.

Squeaking in success and thanking the spirits of the wolverines for their sacrifice, I approach the stone wall. I place a tiny paw upon it, recall the words of stone shifting, and make a portal for the party to continue their escape.

Their surprise was amusing.

Musings of Mistera - Prologue

Cypress is getting restless with the daily monotony. I can tell in his wary eyes and the way he grudgingly lays on the cobblestones as I talk to yet another villager about the wonders of garlic. Any other day he would be by himself in the forest, waiting for me while I peddle what small quantity of tinctures I have before going back to him. Sometimes he would even have a small leftover of a kill waiting for me, something to roast over the fire.

Today is different, and Cypress won't leave my side. Instead, the stubborn wolverine sniffs and growls at every person who approaches me. Five villagers back off before I snap at him.

"Cypress, knock it off. Why don't you go off and hunt in the forest? I'm sure you can find a nice rabbit or two."

Cypress looks up and snarls.

"Seriously, what is up with you today? We've only just arrived here and you--"

Flashes of light and echoes of sound bombard my senses.

A female - wielding a bow - animal by her side - calling for help. A fortress - guarded by the black haired ones.

I shake my head, wondering if I've truly gone mad.

No, go to her, Mistera. Answer the call.

I sit down momentarily, catching my breath. Cypress licks my hand and then scampers to the road, looking back to see if I will follow.

It seems he got the same call as I. When the wilds call, I am there to answer.