Journal of Arcadius - Day 119

Turns of Fate

Events are moving faster than we anticipated. Truly, we must hasten, for it seems we were too late, and now time is against us! We tarried some days in Umea, negotiating to take a message ship up to Stonekeep. News arrived that Stonekeep had fallen! Strangely, the news also said that the place was not destroyed but was in fact merely under new rulership. This was, if anything, worse.

We took passage on our ship, free in return for our labor. We arrived without serious incident, and found that indeed, the city had been taken without major damage. The enemy fleet had already, save for a few ships, departed, and the port bustled with business. Considering that it was a town just recently captured in what was supposed to have been a war, the scene was eerie.

We found the place only indirectly, or so it seemed at least, under the thumb of its new rulers. They were invaders from some island far out on the northern sea. It was taken with hardly an arrow fired, through some mysterious negotiations. The invaders, dark-haired for northern folk, seemed to keep to themselves on their ships. The old officials still plied the harbor, but now tariffs were even lower and traffic busier than normal. We entered the town, finding the common people much upset at mysterious fires and other strange doings. They at least seemed sure that something was wrong. The officials in the keep itself seemed weirdly unconcerned, and convinced that in fact nothing had changed. However, three key facts presented themselves:

*The Lord of Stonekeep had not been seen since the conquest

*Several officials wore quartz necklaces, bearing a certain resemblance to other quartz items we've found in proximity to evil doings.

*The various powerful personages who had come to the city to fight packed up their gear and went into the keep, never to return, a few hours before the attack. They were not seen in the brief desultory battle, and have in fact not been seen since.

It was pointed out to me at this time, alas too late, that the so-called soldier, whom I'd not trusted, on our way up north to Umea, had carried a sword with such a crystal in its pommel. Perhaps they are some means of geas or mind control? Or a form of communication? Either way, it seems clear to me they are a mark of those in service to the growing evil. At this point, Walter-Tupper made a very astute observation:

With the port of Umea magically frozen, and tariffs lower at Stonekeep, much new trade is routing through this place. Meanwhile, the people who govern this place are under the control of the evil. What a perfect way then, for them to spread, by whatever means, its malign influence! Truly, we must stop this! There is some disagreement as to how. Our options are, it seems, to gather information and then leave, or to stay and somehow fight. The latter course sounds like it would lead to a futile death, as I do not believe we are yet strong enough to overcome the evil
now ruling this place. In time perhaps. We have, by the grace of the gods, gained mightily in prowess in a remarkably short span of time. However, I do not think we are ready yet. It is my impression that most of us are in favor of leaving, but we shall see.

Alcander has been acting even stranger than normal, and has been little seen for the past day. He is very brave, but I do not understand his ways, and am concerned he may do something rash.

*A*