Musings of Mistera - Get Kraken!

(Two posts in one)

I pondered through the night, thinking of what spells would best attack the Kraken in its lair. Water breathing spells, a Quench for the ship in case of fires, snare abilities, poisons and contagions... anything that could slow the Kraken and deal consistent damage over time. I only hoped that my other comrades were being as thorough as I am.

--

Hrefna is very valuable to our party - she's located where the sea witch and the kraken are, which are two different places. I'm more prepared to fight a kraken than a sea witch, but it makes more sense to go after the sea witch, and we head out.

I keep asking Artemis what I am doing on this mission, since we have sucessfully freed the soul of Alcander. The staff is still split asunder, so perhaps that is why I am still here. My closest companion has since gone, and at least two others have split from the party as well. There are many paladins in this group, and then Tupper.

Alas, Tupper wasn't able to join us on this voyage to the kraken, but as I look up the mast and see Kalidas as lookout, I have a feeling that Tupper is safest on dry land as it is.

I feel safe and protected as the stoic Kalidas watches over us all, bow always in hand.

---

It was a trap.

Swimming down to the sea witch's lair turned unfruitful, and swimming up to the surface was already tiring enough before a strong electical charge surged its way through my body, painfully spasming my muscles.

The sea witch is above.

---

I call out to Kalidas and Hrefna, scanning the skies for the terrible one. I see large shadows of dragons, sihlouettes of sharks, and can't grasp how outnumbered we really are.

"They're not real!" Hrefna cries out through the storm, the wind almost stealing her words. I look to the sky, and Hrefna has cast Faerie Fire in the clouds. Beyond the cursing blind Kalidas, I see her form at last.

Solace of suns
Friends of fire
Burn my foes
With heart's desire!

A column of fire from the Gods strikes her. I hear her screech of terror, then Kalidas turns his head swiftly to the sound, loosing his volley. I call upon the gods once more, watching their wrath char her skin and burn her hair. She becomes nothing more than a flaming mass descending from the heavens.

---

I should have warned the paladins of the magic contained within the necklace.

It was stupid of me to let them break such a powerful artifact so close to sentient life.

Flam's been cursed by the taint of the Sea Witch.

Artemis, please let there be another way to cleanse his soul.

---

I'm extremely glad to have made such an... interesting friend in this port. He really knows his stuff, and I only hope that I can learn more from him at some point. He knows about the delicate balance of nature, and how to use nature's bounty to both help and harm.

He described a way in which we could help rid Flam of this possession, a way that mimics death so that he can be saved without having his entire body completely dead. Hrogar also seemed pleased at the smaller cost of such an approach.

All we need now is to get him away from souls while this happens, which means a ship - the port guards will not let us into the city proper, not even to leave. Time to talk to A. Hab.

---

Curse A. Hab. I can't help but hope that her lack of survival insight and unwillingness to prepare will cost her dearly someday.

Time to arrange other transport.

---

The plan worked, Flam is safe. I really must thank my new friend for all of his support.

Perhaps this is why I'm still with this group - most are Paladins, honor-bound to protect the weak, never mislead or trick, and other such extremes in the name of good.

I hold no such illusions. Sometimes the ends justify the means. Sometimes the means a Paladin could never justify. I'm here to do whatever the means are to protect nature and preserve the balance.