Journal of Arcadius

Confidence and Doubt

We have returned to the plane of the Aboleth with the aid of Ragnarr's friend Dogwater, the powerful and indeed strangely dog-like water elemental. This being is guiding us through the plane as we seek out portals to destroy.

Shortly after arrival, we met Ix the lizard again. He was much as before, and with as hearty an appetite. It may be that among the many powers upon him is some kind of scrying, however one feels safe from it nowhere on this plane.

We were then set upon by a female human wizard, who seemed to be besting Keniroh in some kind of duel of magic, though she fled as the warriors approached. It may be that Keniroh is not so oriented towards thwarting other mages as was Steinbjorn, but he is very mighty in many other ways, and thank the gods he is with us.

After that, we had easy travel until we arrived at the place where the first gate was to be, but it was beyond a trap door and protected by a Mirror of Opposition. We first tried blocking it with a wall of stone, but this seemed merely to seal the trapdoor shut.

Crunch nobly and honorably offered to test himself first against the mirror, and we considered this, when Ragnarr without warning tossed poor Ix high into the air and in range of the exposed remnant of the mirror. With a flash of magic an anti-Ix appeared and the two hissed and fought. The true Ix appeared to win and was promptly made ethereal and transported down through the sealed trap door. We also discovered that we cannot by any means interfere with the fight once in progress.

I am shocked at Ragnarr's offhand treachery in this matter! Surely, whatever he might be, Ix trusted us, and was poorly rewarded. I will pray for guidance and forgiveness for Rangarr.

Greater doubts were to come, but not in Ragnarr.

Seeing how matters stood, Crunch again offered to risk himself and be the first through the gate. In the meantime, Kenrioh told us he felt new insights of power, and might be able to study additional spells - spells we had felt the lack of thus far. Readily we agreed, and destroyed part of the wall blocking the mirror.

It was a strange scene, as Crunch battled against anti-Crunch in moves so slow and mechanical they seemed almost choreographed. In the end, our Crunch was defeated, but nonetheless was transported down as Ix had been.

Then however, trouble came to us, for the Aboleth knew we were not idle, and meant to disturb Keniroh in his studies. A horde of scarab beetles attacked us and was destroyed. Then, a lich, verily a lich, appeared, green light glowing in its dead eyes! Rarely does one who follows Pelor feel such purity of purpose, such confidence in victory, as when faced with the undead. Praise be to Lord Pelor that we may fight such things!

Ragnarr called upon Lord Pelor and rooted the thing in such a way as to prevent teleportation away, then sent forth healing magic, which is most destructive to the dead which walk, but found it hurled back upon him - no harm to us, but alas also none to it! Meanwhile, the thing cast the spell Grease upon the corridor between us and it. I watched Azan take some paces back and then charge forward, no doubt to take advantage of the very slipperiness of the grease and hurtle forward at the lich!

Alas, at that moment I was cast by the thing into a magic maze, and spent some moments trying to escape. When at last I did, Azan was triumphantly on the other side battling the lich, Ragnarr was continuing to cast spells, and Bael'thas was trapped in a force cage, and apparently engaged in trying to convince Ragnarr to interrupt Keniroh in his studies... the very thing the Aboleth wanted!

I never trusted him fully, for his story seems to be missing much, but now I trust him not at all!

However, there was not time to deal with him. I set myself for a charge such as Azan had done, and slid across the grease like a curling stone. For reasons I cannot recall, at that moment I had a bizarre vision - some shadowy figure, with a red beard and a faint resemblance to Jacob, guiding me with the power of raw hatred. May Pelor help divine the meaning of this strange sight!

In any case, whatever guidance I might have had abruptly vanished, and I came crashing next to the lich, on my back and with my feet propped against the wall. The lich made full use of my disadvantage and cast a horrible spell upon me that drained the very blood from my body in agony. Surely only the protection of Lord Pelor preserved me at all!

As soon as I could, I stood up and called forth the healing touch of Lord Pelor, which was but pure destruction for the lich, and pursued the thing while Azan attacked in his turn. It seemed to waver.

In the meantime, Bael'thas seemed to have stepped casually out of his cage prison, or been released, while if the glimpse from the corner of my eye served, he never once hit the lich with an arrow. We must watch him closely.

Regardless of where Bael'thas stands, and whether treachery or carelessness guide his deeds, the lich knew its doom was approaching, and used a simple Passwall to escape us.

Curse thee, ye dead who yet walk, the light of Lord Pelor shall wither thee! May the gods grant us strength and speed, and to you, final death!

*A*

Praise be to Pelor, I think Keniroh is ready at last! Let us set forth!

*A*