Journal of Arcadius - Day 59

Strange Doings

Following our explorations of the druid grove, the caves beyond the gate, and the other curious events that followed, we should have been poised to accomplish new things, but instead we found ourselves wondering how next to proceed.

I had a strange vision the night after, and wrote what I remembered of it. May Pelor give light to its meaning, for the thoughts, so significant to me at the time, quickly fade!

We debated our course of action, and in the end spent a day searching for more information around Izmir. Walter Tupper (and may I be forgiven for misstating his name, in my prior post, as the insulting word in my language) had an excellent idea to visit the Seneschal, since he is not a Paladin and was not yet widely known as our associate. Perhaps, he said and we agreed, he could learn something useful and even alert the authorities to what was happening at the heart of their city.

Instead, I am still unclear how, things went very, very wrong.

Somehow, he inadvertently convinced the Seneschal that was a madman and was committed to the local madhouse. We retrieved him at the cost of 10 gold coins, for which he reimbursed us. For the remainder of the day, and I would say the one after, he acted strangely - saying nonsensical and sometimes ill things - for example insulting the god Thor in front of his very clergy! What happened to this man? Was he poisoned, drugged, cursed with some unknown magic? It makes no sense. Then again, something similar happened to Marion. Perhaps it is the shadows of evil that stalk these lands in this time. Regardless, I hope that Tupper is now cured.

Shell Ray the Ranger and Revna the Mage remain mysterious figures to me. It is clear that Revna (is that how it is spellled?) is from the far North and is a follower of gods such as Thor. She seems to be of a people akin to our friend the Priest of Thor, who has it seems gone missing. Both Shell Ray and Revna are people of the woods and wild. So strange to me an my land! Oda, on the other hand, is clearly a man of great honor and dignity, and his land the same. Should I ever have the chance, I would like to visit there, for it seems like a land where people behave with proper dignity, and each knows their place. Not identical, but yet much like home!

Shell Ray, in turn, visited the Seneschal. Perhaps because of his earlier agitation, he reacted in exactly the opposite of how we might wish - closing off the grove to all and guarding it with soldiers! Thus, we have undone our own intentions.

Lacking any clear plan or better ideas, we decided to return to the mines. I'm not sure it was the right course, but we shall see. We found the main way shut - bricked and mortared such that we could spend days trying to get through. Instead we paid a large bribe to the accursed dogs of the Caravanserai to let us through. Truly, I struggle with this, for at times I think justice would be served by slaughtering them like the villains they are, yet I fear this would not be in accord with the will and mercy of Pelor, so I refrain. I think that Oda at least feels as I do, and for good reason... but would it be right?

In the mines we found much repair and cleaning had been done. After some exploration, greatly aided by the divination and scrying powers of Revna, we came to battle with horrors of the underdark - creatures known as "Driders" that are associated with the Drow. They were fell and powerful foes. Oda, for his part, seems to surpass us all in skill with the sword. His many years of disciplined training shone forth in this battle... it was a sight to behold! However, the rest of us are now capable of feats we thought beyond us, not but two months ago. We have advanced greatly in our skills and powers in a very short time.

Perhaps, despite our errors and failings, the gods favor us after all. Truly I believe I am growing stronger in the light of Lord Pelor, honor be upon him. As I drew apart from the others for a time to write this journal, a strange thing happened. It is dark here, but I have spells of light from Pelor. In order to have enough light to write, I thought of casting one. Without actually doing so, in fact, with nothing more than the thought, light appeared in my hand! Good and great is Lord Pelor, may he bring justice and mercy to the world. Wondrous is that which he works through his servants!

May such light illuminate our way.

*A*