Journal of Arcadius - Day 204

The Staff and the Valley

We must retrieve the staff from bandits, who have a fort in a far land that can be reached through the Valley of many places. It would have been a weeks journey or more from Izmir to tunnel that leads to the valley, but Chris's magic teleported us in stages to the region near there, and as he did so, we advanced further on foot. The first two nights were relatively uneventful.

The third was far from uneventful.

In the foothills, we were attacked by a powerful hydra, one that could regrow heads as the old tales claim, and even regenerate from massive amounts of harm. We overcame it, but took much injury as Ragnarr was the last to be teleported and was not yet with us.

Even Chris's Ice Storm spell did not fully destroy the thing. We left its pieces scattered, but it will return in time.

In the meantime, we have work to do.

Ragnarr joined us, healed us with the power of Lord Pelor, and we set forth. The cave was much as it had been, save the tripwire had been tripped by someone. The valley beyond was similar, even Jacob's foe, the Roc, was there. However, the ziggurat was apparently abandoned and already well overgrown with vines. Astonishing.

Ragnarr, with the aid of Pelor's servant, knew exactly where to go. We crossed the valley, entered a mine tunnel on the other side, and emerged in the land of our destination. It is a chilly windswept place, with dry plains, rocky hills, and a vast range of mountains in the distance.

The bandit's fort is a small edifice with low walls, a few ramshackle towers, and perhaps space for a hundred soldiers. However, it looks deserted. We know it cannot be. Walter-Tupper scouted around the fort and found no secret entrances or tunnels, and also no one on guard. However, aided by Chris's magic, with true sight he saw a strange mist in the center of the place. Aurelia did a wider search of the hills near the fort, looking for trails or signs of foraging. She found none.

It is likely they know we are here.

Lord Pelor, I shall be as a sword in your hand.


*A*