Journal of Arcadius - Day 108

The Gathering Storm

On the momentous day 100, we entered the valley of evil with our allies, four heroes of faraway lands - Ogen, Chauncey, Kai, and Tanja. We passed through the jungle with minimal incident, but at the temple, we encountered fresh and powerful enchantments. When Jacob used his powers of perpetual flight (Warlocks are a strange breed) to investigate over the wall, he was set upon by a Roc - much like the one that guided a giant tiger to us last time. It tired to knock him out of the sky, and apparently addled by that and his counterattack, flew straight into the field of the enchantment. It appeared to have been some larger-scale form of a Symbol of Death - fell and mighty magic indeed! The Roc, being a mighty creature itself, survived this... but it had inadvertently set off the trap prepared for us!

Truly, the gods smile on our cause.

We ascended the temple steps, and found the evil wizard and a Wall of Force waiting for us. The wizards Kai and Tanja aided us greatly here. It was possible to magically send us through, two by two, past the force wall. The first two would be in grave peril as they would bear the brunt of the wizard's spells while the rest of us gained through. Alcander and Oda bravely volunteered to do so. They were sent through and had a hideous battle on their hands. I told the wizards I would attempt to destroy the wizard's soul gem once I was across, else surely our friends would perish. Kai cast a spell on me, though I knew not what it did, he explained it would help "when the gem exploded".

For my part, I had this morning prayed to Lord Pelor for something to aid us in our dire need, and was granted a little known spell, one allowing me to sacrifice some of my own life force and channel it into a do-or-die attack. This spell I now cast. It was my intent to use this, aided by the powers of smiting granted me as a Paladin, to charge and smash the gem. The only way to do so was to leap atop the altar directly under the gem. I thought no doubt the altar had evil magics upon it, but it must be risked. It was next my turn and that of Shaft to be sent past the wall.

I commended my soul to Lord Pelor's care, and put my fate in his hands.

Once we were across, I charged the gem. The wizard seems not to have expected this, and failed to hinder me. I leaped atop the altar, still running, and cleaved my sword through the gem. The wizard shrieked. The gem ripped apart, seemingly slowly for a moment, then exploded as I leaped off the altar and landed. I was then struck by the fireball that engulfed the room. Praise be to Pelor! I now found that Kai's spell was of resistance to fire. However, I still felt the wounds upon my body from my own spell.

Then I saw my friends.

Oda was near death, Alcander not much better. The evil wizard teleported away to some far land, but thankfully with him gone his magic dropped and the others ran into the room. Fortunately for the fallen, we have much healing magic among us! Both of these heroes survived, wounded, but unbowed. Grateful am I to be in their company.

After searching the place and finding it largely cleaned out - for no doubt the evil mage had been preparing for us - it was agreed that there were more important matters than hunting through the jungle for the mage's pygmy servitors. Each of the others went their own way, while we returned to our lands for the coming battle.

We traveled for several days on the northern road - and there encountered a soldier, or at least someone garbed as and claiming to be a soldier, fleeing an attack by dozens of raiders further north. We prepared for battle on the way, but were not harassed. However, fell and awful deeds were still done - a town lay in smoking ruin with no sign of a struggle on the ground. It may have been a dragon or some other evil thing with the powers of flight.

Slaughter behind us, evil foes swarming through this land in numbers, and a great battle ahead at Stonekeep. Truly, fate hangs visibly before our eyes.

*A*