Journal of Arcadius - Day 129

An unlikely escape

Strange adventures we have had. After finally making our leave of the lady, we were followed by the pseudonatural Dire Tiger. However, for all its alien appearance it still seemed to have something of the nature of cats about it. The mute in particular seemed to have befriended it. Strange, but welcome.

We decided that our most likely way out was through one of the teleportation circles in the Drow complex. However, these require the use of a special dust. After some discussion it was agreed to go visit the lady again and, however unlikely it may seem, to ask her for some.

As it turned out, she had none, but said dust was an ingredient in her brain seasoning. She agreed to give us another vial of the stuff (and certain persons were restrained from the temptation to drink it), and we again bid her goodbye.

The potion, as a source of dust, did not work perfectly.

We were teleported to a far cold northern land, and specifically to a ruined castle there. A village down below was full of pale but dark-haired folk who looked distinctly like those who had captured Stonekeep. Jacob decided to investigate, and took an excessively long time to do so, stopping for drinks and whatnot, but upon his return verified that it was in fact a town of the same folk.

Using our ring from the lady Alis Gozen, we returned to her city.

Taking some stock of our raid, we had killed one high-ranking member of their house, several lesser folk, uncovered a traitor in their midst, discovered useful information, and captured a spellbook, a teleportation key, and a considerable amount of equipment. Not success, but on the whole not a disaster either.

Except for Alcander, may the gods commend his soul.

At our return, we were promptly invited into the presence of the lady Gozen. We presented our report and turned over to her the spellbook, key, other notable items, and much Drow gear. We kept certain magic items useful to us. Despite our failure to annihilate the corrupted Drow house, she was clearly pleased and invited us to return later to complete the job. Someday we shall. For my part, because my word has been given, and, because it is a piece of a great cause.

From there, we were teleported by the Drow to Umea to retrieve our horses and the cart, except for Miranda, who was sent straight to Izmir. Traveling south from Umea we found that more villages had been burned and that it was indeed the work of a dragon. In the first village not yet destroyed, though half-abandoned due to the well-founded fear of the people, we encountered a self-proclaimed Dragon Slayer. Though there were things that seemed odd about him, he seemed to know of what he spoke and we agreed to go with him to seek the dragon.

We shall see how this goes. I have some misgivings, yet nothing I can point to directly. Time will tell. May Pelor guide us and the gods keep us.

*A*