Journal of Arcadius

Tasks Completed and Yet to be Done

At the temple of Lord Pelor, I have confessed my failure to the high priest Ma'leth, who has grown much older since I last saw him, but still retains that peaceful reflectivity and humor which so endeared him to the folk of the district when I was a boy. He assigned me tasks as atonement, but was not harsh.

My father was less pleased, but he understands the gravity of matters in the broader world and the urgency faced by my companions and I. He therefore commanded me to make a report in detail of the dangers we face, and what import they have for the Land of the Five Rivers, written in the correct old form, for study by those who have need to know. I prepared such, and thereby had little sleep that night.

Somewhat later, we found time to enforce a test of the archery skills of the newcomer Bael'thas. My father's archery master, old Sakhmet, arranged matters and watched with a discerning eye. Bael'thas does upon observation seem to be a competent if not outstanding bowman.

His story is also a strange one. He said he was a villager attacked by strange and evil beings, some form of Aberration, called Neogi, who descended from the sky in a ship of magic, raiding for slaves and plunder. He, Bael'thas fought them in raids of his own from the woods, which is certainly brave. Still, there is little in his prior experience or such skill as we have seen to explain why he would be called to join us in tasks as difficult and dangerous as those we face, or indeed how such as he could expect to survive them.

Unless there is something he has not told us.

Time shall tell and the gods shall judge.

In the meantime, sleep... for tomorrow we return to the plane of the Aboleth.

Pelor, guide and guard us, that we may defeat these foes of our world!

*A*