Got back to the mountain town without incident. Asking around about the keep from the vision got us the name the place: Stonekeep. Original. It's to the north of here, past Oohmaya. Sent out my report. Going to bed.
Day 94
I will never hear the end of this.
Another vision last night, but this one topped them all. A man that looked like Alcander would after a bath and a haircut. A vast fleet of ships behind him, with a large craft standing out among them with a… thing, on the mast; all of them crewed by Children of Echidna. I don't know how I know that. The man began talking, but I don't remember much of what he said. All I caught was him saying to me "you could learn much from his example" and then I saw Alcander standing nearby. That's when I woke up in a cold sweat.
In the morning, it turns out (surprise!) Alcander had the exact same vision, but no one else. People had similar visions, sure, but all of them with sane
All the same, we're going to spend the next few days in preparation for the assault on the temple. St. Cuthbert, if you can read this, you're a jerk.
Day 98
Hrefna returned from the north today, bearing news of foreboding evil. Not surprised.
There has not been much to write about, besides Alcander's newfound crusade to convert me. I tell him I already worship a god, he calls me a monotheist. I tell him my god promotes common sense, he says it is only sensible for a man to fight against incredible odds for the good of all. I tell him my god does not suffer fools gladly, and he says that is reason enough for me to switch to Heracles. At least the visions stopped, for now. I know that because my dreams don't make any godsdamn sense at all.
Moving out tomorrow for the valley.
Day 100
After camping outside the mineshaft entrance last night, we packed up and began our assault into the interior. Four of the survivors were able to meet with us on the other side, the fifth apparently having doubts about successfully assaulting an ancient temple of unsavory horrors. We march on up to the place and discover a magical instant-death aura around it. Jacob found a… novel way to disarm it, by accidentally baiting a large bird to trigger the spell.
Once inside, we found the crystal where we left it. The lich-wizard-necromancer-thing was there as well, and ready for us to boot. After a brief conflict, Arcadius managed to crack the giant gem clean in half with one strike. No amount of words could accurately portray the awesomeness of that event. The lichazdmancer panicked (and rightfully so) and then teleported away.
The place had been cleared out since we were there last, save for a journal. Seems the necrowizalich had been planning to head north, to Stonekeep. At this point, I think enough hints have been pounded into our heads to investigate the area. Only one of the four survivors are keen to join us on this expedition, and the one that is (a mage named Tanjah) is heading there via the cave that she came through. We're returning to town tomorrow, and from there we strike out for Stonekeep.
Day 102
Woke up in a cold sweat again. Can't remember the dream, but it had… Moana? Why do I keep dreaming of Moana? Do I feel guilty about lying to a ghost that would very likely flay my skin off if I fulfilled my promise? Hells' bells.
Day 106
Last night, the first watch saw a man heading south on the road, a guardsman from Izmir. He said his unit was slain by an attacking force that outnumbered them 20-to-1. He left after sitting awhile at the campfire. Arcadius didn't trust him.
Day 107
Cuthbert protect me from the overzealous,
Keep me reasonable in all things,
Guard me from the fools that promote rash behavior
and the idiots that seek damnation with their vainglorious acts
amen.
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