Journal of Arcadius

Reconnaissance

After some discussion of plans, we decided to conduct preliminary scouting of the Aboleth city, and attempt to gather what useful intelligence we could about its layout and defenses. Bael'thas agreed to be our advance scout, as his talents, ostensibly, lie in that direction. He was instructed not to advance too close to the city or to engage in combat, and he was to report back by a specified time.

Alas, he did not heed this wisdom.

The time passed, and he did not return. We knew it could it could only be trouble, and immediately set forth to investigate. Keniroh's wizardry again was of great help, and we traveled invisibly, on magical underwater steeds at immense speed. We quickly located our errant scout, trapped in a force cage and surrounded by both guards and a vast army.

The Aboleth had not been idle, and had raised what appeared to be more than a hundred thousand troops to their defense. The bulk were aquatic elves and the foul race of Saguahin, but folk of all kinds were represented along with sea creatures of various sorts. Leaving aside all temptation to deviate from our task, we went straight to where Bael'thas was imprisoned and blasted his cage apart with magic. I seized Bael'thas forcefully - this was no time for debate on his part - and dragged him with us. He was surprised, to say the least. We then sped away again at the same tremendous speed, leaving hordes of pursuing troops behind us.

Once safely away from the city's magical defenses, we teleported back to our base of operations, and then to the camp of Hrogar.

Praise Lord Pelor for the success of our mission, and my comrades for their focus and concentration at a time when delay would have been fatal!

Still, I wonder about Bael'thas and the workings of his mind. He seems... incautious. In a curious way, it reminds me of Dantroe, or before him Fflam. Who could guess that three beings so different in origins and training could have a thread of commonality? Strange are the ways of the world.

*A*