Journal of Arcadius - Day ???

Accursed Gnome

I was in communion with Lord Pelor - my task is laid before me.

While I was such, we were attacked by a Gnome illusionist. WHY never became clear. However, he gave the rest of the party much trouble. Even once subdued, he kept trying to escape rather than talk to us in any way. One night, he turned invisible and seemed to have disappeared. I only found him by poking randomly with my sword in the area of the cart where he was likely to be.

THEN, in Izmir, when we turned him over to the authorities, he somehow convinced them that we were at fault, and we were arrested as highway robbers and only able to buy our way out with fines of 100 gold each.

Pelor give me the patience for mercy.

Then again, something else, something deeper and fouler, is at work.

The staff, the very piece of the staff of the gods, if legends be true, has disappeared!

When we were arrested, it vanished in the hands of the police. Some person or persons among them is in league with the evil powers from beyond. Curse them, betrayers of the world itself! This makes clear certain other strange things. For, why did the Kingdom of Izmir not react when its port of Umea was blocked by obvious magic? Why did it not react when a dragon was burning its towns, or raiders from the sea were roaming free, and more recently destroyed a city? A city we witnessed burning! And yet, there was no outcry, no army marched out, not even an alarm seems to have been raised!

Strange indeed.

In the meantime, Grungar is leaving us, and after some guidance from we who follow Lord Pelor, has chosen the most honorable path of the Paladin. He leaves shortly for Point of Origin, and I at least shall write him a letter of recommendation!

As for the rest of us, it seems our path leads far away again - this time to the South and East, beyond even my country. I have heard distant tell of the land we may travel to, and at least it is not supposed to be in the grip of vile demon-worshipers like our near neighbors.

Glory to the gods.
Honor to Lord Pelor.
Life for the world.
Defeat for its enemies.

*A*