Heracles give me patience.
Transporting the body of a fallen comrade is a noble duty. I can only hope that he is laid to his proper rest, but he ought to be laid to his proper rest with his family, where he belongs.
Kenneth volunteered, but he couldn't be trusted with it. From what I've seen, if some carrion beast came to devour the body he'd just wait and see what happened. Never mind that what was happening was that his comrade's corpse was being devoured. Hell, he'd probably sit by and watch the damn body rise up as some kind of god forsake undead beast, if something spooked him, first.
And Marion. Why, in the name of the gods, do I have to transport the invalids? Someone obviously thinks the clerics can heal her. They won't be able to. I've seen this before. Her spirit will just be trapped in her body, chained there by well meaning imbeciles, when what she needs is to be released from her mortal form, to allow her spirit to heal in the only place it can.
But no, I had to swear to deliver her, physically at least, alive. So that she could be dropped on her husband. Her husband, the noble paladin, who will be unable to help her. But of course he'll be so blinded that he'll feel that he has to stay beside her, to help her "heal" instead of performing the valorous deeds that should be his lifeblood. Until there's nothing left of him, either, and we have three bastards who might as well be corpses instead of two.
At least there might be hope for Kenneth, however slim.
A corpse, a coward, and a crazy woman. Is this what my noble tasks have become?
Gods, I wish I was home. At least there it is clear who I can slay in glorious battle and who I can't. Here, I am forced to deal with imbeciles who call cowardice "wisdom" and wouldn't know how to behave in a noble, valiant fashion if they had a Hera-damned manual. I'll wager those barely-civilized bastards don't even truly know how to read.
I would wager that we won't even be attacked on this trek. It would be too much to ask. Instead I'll just have to deal with Kenneth prattling on endlessly.
At least the corpse is silent.
Heracles, help me keep my oath. I promised they would all reach Point of Origin as alive as they began. It would be dishonorable of me to send them all on their way to godhood.
Perhaps it would not be ignoble of me to send myself.
I shall have to ponder this carefully.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Alcander: Day 43
The gods, it seems, have a strange sense of humor.
Of course, no mortal may explain their ways, but this past two days, I have seen more strangeness that I would ever have imagined.
First, the gods seem to have seen fit to give me a lantern. I'm not certain why. When I have need of one, I have always found one close at hand. On it's base was written, in Greek, "Looking for an honest man." I think it was left there for me.
That is, of course, foolish ego, but I am far from the lands where many know my language, and far from where my people ever conquered (though I wonder if Arcadius's people were among those that Alexander once conquered). When I picked up the lamp to examine it, I was fine. But when Hrogar tried, it did him harm.
No surprise there, I suppose. If the lamp is looking for an honest man, it would certainly be wise for it to look somewhere other than Hrogar. But it harmed the others of my party as well. I suppose I should not be surprised. Other gods hold their paladins to lesser standards than the great Heracles, and my companions have been known to be irritable at my high standards. They would even have me withhold rightful greeting from a man, simply because he was my enemy. That would be quite dishonorable.
Then there was the caravanserai underground. I don't know why you would build such a thing, much less one connected to a warren of undead beasts. I suspected that the owners of such a place must be up to no good. I roused one, against the insults of my more timid companions, and we questioned him. But we found no evil, so we apologized for breaking his slumber and left.
But evil there was, for he held a captive by the name of Oda. He seems a nice enough fellow, though his flowerly stench leaves me wondering what manner of man he might be. He seems to fight well, though, so there is that.
And we found a portal to an ancient, sunken city. It has the feel of a thing that man was not meant to know. So we smashed the portal, though it cost my weapon.
The gods, though, in their strange humor, gave me another. It is the bone of some ancient, mighty animal. I admit that it would be a superior weapon had I killed the thing myself, but the gods have granted me this weapon, and it will do.
What might the gods mean by all this? I don't know. I only know that now we are muddled in the affairs of the Dark Elves, and that cannot lead to good. Or so I would have believed. Perhaps this is the message of the gods: their work can be found in the strangest of places. Even in a prison where Beholders lie in wait.
It seems I am living in interesting times indeed.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Oda Day 42
Day 42
Well I am working with a group of people. They are the ones that released me from my prison. I will repay them for helping by assisting them in clear out what ever danger is in this dungeon or sorts.
The group call themselves paladins. It is an interesting warrior class. They seem to have the ability to use magic and heal. They claim it is a gift from their gods. This is an ability that would be very useful to have to be able to cure ones self would go a long way on the battle field. However, I am concern that this ability has made them a bit reckless. They seem to run into to battle with little to no plan. Especially the one named Alcander. He seems a bit barbaric in his tactic pasterns and hygiene choices. I am guess it has been a long time since he has bathed. The god he follows must be a barbarian of sorts, because I can not imagine any god that would want followers to not clean themselves. But for as strong and foul odor he produces he does prove his worth on the battle field, and for that I would be honored for fight along side him. Well maybe not right along side him but with him. I am just amazed, even after I have been in prison for what I can only assume is 7 days, I still do not even come close to his lack of hygiene, but enough on that.
I now sit here on watch allowing the paladins to rest. Supposedly with a nights rest they gain back their ability to heal. It is puzzling that they would only be able to heal themselves so much during a day. I feel I have much to learn about these warriors and their ways, but back to why I am sitting here on watch. We came across a creature, which can be best described as a man who has been under water and become bloated. The only reason why we did not right then charge in and attack it, although Alcander’s wanted to, was we had already taking several wounds from a group of what I thought where elves but apparently they go by the name of drow and the party suggest we rest since the creature did not seem to be able to leave the room. So now we rest and well deal with this creature in the morning.
I must admit I understand why we are sent out into the world to learn about it. There are so many interesting things that I have experienced on this trip already and I am guessing I this is just the start. Well anyways my watch is up time to get some rest.
Well I am working with a group of people. They are the ones that released me from my prison. I will repay them for helping by assisting them in clear out what ever danger is in this dungeon or sorts.
The group call themselves paladins. It is an interesting warrior class. They seem to have the ability to use magic and heal. They claim it is a gift from their gods. This is an ability that would be very useful to have to be able to cure ones self would go a long way on the battle field. However, I am concern that this ability has made them a bit reckless. They seem to run into to battle with little to no plan. Especially the one named Alcander. He seems a bit barbaric in his tactic pasterns and hygiene choices. I am guess it has been a long time since he has bathed. The god he follows must be a barbarian of sorts, because I can not imagine any god that would want followers to not clean themselves. But for as strong and foul odor he produces he does prove his worth on the battle field, and for that I would be honored for fight along side him. Well maybe not right along side him but with him. I am just amazed, even after I have been in prison for what I can only assume is 7 days, I still do not even come close to his lack of hygiene, but enough on that.
I now sit here on watch allowing the paladins to rest. Supposedly with a nights rest they gain back their ability to heal. It is puzzling that they would only be able to heal themselves so much during a day. I feel I have much to learn about these warriors and their ways, but back to why I am sitting here on watch. We came across a creature, which can be best described as a man who has been under water and become bloated. The only reason why we did not right then charge in and attack it, although Alcander’s wanted to, was we had already taking several wounds from a group of what I thought where elves but apparently they go by the name of drow and the party suggest we rest since the creature did not seem to be able to leave the room. So now we rest and well deal with this creature in the morning.
I must admit I understand why we are sent out into the world to learn about it. There are so many interesting things that I have experienced on this trip already and I am guessing I this is just the start. Well anyways my watch is up time to get some rest.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Journal of Arcadius - Day 42
Wonders and horrors underground!
After rest and preparation, we assaulted the foul undead in the form of a bloated and waterlogged corpse. Within its room we had the sense of suffocating, much like being underwater and drowning, yet it was not truly so. At first the battle went well as we were many against one. Alcander seems to have perfected his ferocious, incautious style of fighting, as he charged the thing and dealt it blows such as I have never seen him, and rarely anyone else ever, do. However, in an instant most of us dropped in suffocation, and crawled back toward the door. In the end it was only Oda and I, and then I dropped as well. Fortunately, Oda proved to have masterful skill with his strangely-designed sword, and dispatched the thing.
We discovered a magical basin of visions or scrying. Alcander without hesitation or forethought cut his arm and bled into it, assuming a blood sacrifice was needed, and so it was. He asked many questions and saw many things - most of them unhelpful. Perhaps little is to be gained by asking of the devices used by evil-doers. Pelor give us guidance!
After some further adventures, we came upon a prison hallway full of a fantastical array of creatures - some of them horrific as tales from nightmare. There were things of the underdark with tentacles for mouths, a Beholder - one of the dreaded Eye Tyrants of legend, the very floating naked-brained horror we had all seen in our dreams, and other creatures of evil. It seems they were captured by the Dark Elven former masters of this complex - or more likely THEIR masters, as they seemed not powerful enough to have captured some of the mighty beings trapped here.
Among the prisoners were nobles of a different realm of Dark Elves, these more honorable and reasonable than the ones we had just fought. One of them was a princess, astonishingly beautiful and astonishingly dignified despite the squalid conditions of her imprisonment. Another was her mother, Alis Gozen, who is either a queen or great ruling lady of her city of Alakh. She dealt with us gravely and with honor. These folk almost reminded me of my homeland, though I know the differences under the surface of their ways must be great. Still, for at least this family, the old tales do them injustice.
Seeking retribution upon her treacherous enemies, she offered us common cause. This must be considered by all the party. I myself must weigh what we would be fighting for and why. She is not evil and seems honorable, and her foes were evil in both aura and deed. These facts are worthy of weight. In the ways of my homeland it would be clear, but I see differently now. May Pelor guide me!
In the meantime, she presented us with a token, a magical device, to announce our choice once made.
I should mention that Marion remains lost in madness. We must do something and soon - take her back to Point of Origin, or at least Izmir.
*A*
After rest and preparation, we assaulted the foul undead in the form of a bloated and waterlogged corpse. Within its room we had the sense of suffocating, much like being underwater and drowning, yet it was not truly so. At first the battle went well as we were many against one. Alcander seems to have perfected his ferocious, incautious style of fighting, as he charged the thing and dealt it blows such as I have never seen him, and rarely anyone else ever, do. However, in an instant most of us dropped in suffocation, and crawled back toward the door. In the end it was only Oda and I, and then I dropped as well. Fortunately, Oda proved to have masterful skill with his strangely-designed sword, and dispatched the thing.
We discovered a magical basin of visions or scrying. Alcander without hesitation or forethought cut his arm and bled into it, assuming a blood sacrifice was needed, and so it was. He asked many questions and saw many things - most of them unhelpful. Perhaps little is to be gained by asking of the devices used by evil-doers. Pelor give us guidance!
After some further adventures, we came upon a prison hallway full of a fantastical array of creatures - some of them horrific as tales from nightmare. There were things of the underdark with tentacles for mouths, a Beholder - one of the dreaded Eye Tyrants of legend, the very floating naked-brained horror we had all seen in our dreams, and other creatures of evil. It seems they were captured by the Dark Elven former masters of this complex - or more likely THEIR masters, as they seemed not powerful enough to have captured some of the mighty beings trapped here.
Among the prisoners were nobles of a different realm of Dark Elves, these more honorable and reasonable than the ones we had just fought. One of them was a princess, astonishingly beautiful and astonishingly dignified despite the squalid conditions of her imprisonment. Another was her mother, Alis Gozen, who is either a queen or great ruling lady of her city of Alakh. She dealt with us gravely and with honor. These folk almost reminded me of my homeland, though I know the differences under the surface of their ways must be great. Still, for at least this family, the old tales do them injustice.
Seeking retribution upon her treacherous enemies, she offered us common cause. This must be considered by all the party. I myself must weigh what we would be fighting for and why. She is not evil and seems honorable, and her foes were evil in both aura and deed. These facts are worthy of weight. In the ways of my homeland it would be clear, but I see differently now. May Pelor guide me!
In the meantime, she presented us with a token, a magical device, to announce our choice once made.
I should mention that Marion remains lost in madness. We must do something and soon - take her back to Point of Origin, or at least Izmir.
*A*
Monday, March 9, 2009
Journal of Arcadius - Day 41 cont'd
We still mourn Ryan's passing. Marion appears to have gone mad with grief, I pray to Lord Pelor that she may regain peace and her sanity.
More exploration in the accursed dark of this place.. a strange discovery: an underground camp or base, connected to yet another surface entrance, of persons claiming their hold to be a caravanserai. Well, one of them anyway, we didn't speak to the others. He wasn't evil, but we found later he was lying, or at least revealing less than the full truth. For we found a prisoner, a man from a very far country and by all appearances a noble and honorable warrior from some tradition resembling that of the Paladin, though by no means identical. That they captured and held such a man speaks very ill of their true character. We released him, found his gear and he joined us without fear or hesitation in our explorations underground. As to the keepers of the "caravanserai"... we shall have to deal with them later.
We later discovered Dark Elves, beings of fell legend from the underdark. I had never seen them before. They cast spells of darkness to hide their attack on us, but I found the light of Pelor welling in my soul, and knew that I could be the vessel of that light, casting the darkness away. And so it was. After a hard fight, we defeated the evil folk. They were well encamped in this place, and were at least part of what is happening here. No longer. After further explorations we came to a room where we were attacked by the foul shade again, but this time we slew it, or at least so I deem.
From there was a throne room with a portal to another place, perhaps another world... a dead and cold place, grim and cheerless. Something has come here to make this land as is that one. We smashed the portal. There were also items of magic, and much gold. That at least is helpful, though perhaps not at this moment. I think we must at last approach the center of this place, rooms full of the screams and threats of spirits. No doubt something worse is at the heart of this. We must do our duty so that the innocent may be safe. May we bring light to this darkness. Pelor guide me. May the gods grant us strength. Now we go to do what must be done.
Should we not live, and in some day or age hence this note be found, let this be recorded:
[in both common and a foreign script]
Rightly we have done, rightly we do, and rightly may we do in the times to come. O' reader do no less when your time comes and you are called. For that is the way.
*A*
More exploration in the accursed dark of this place.. a strange discovery: an underground camp or base, connected to yet another surface entrance, of persons claiming their hold to be a caravanserai. Well, one of them anyway, we didn't speak to the others. He wasn't evil, but we found later he was lying, or at least revealing less than the full truth. For we found a prisoner, a man from a very far country and by all appearances a noble and honorable warrior from some tradition resembling that of the Paladin, though by no means identical. That they captured and held such a man speaks very ill of their true character. We released him, found his gear and he joined us without fear or hesitation in our explorations underground. As to the keepers of the "caravanserai"... we shall have to deal with them later.
We later discovered Dark Elves, beings of fell legend from the underdark. I had never seen them before. They cast spells of darkness to hide their attack on us, but I found the light of Pelor welling in my soul, and knew that I could be the vessel of that light, casting the darkness away. And so it was. After a hard fight, we defeated the evil folk. They were well encamped in this place, and were at least part of what is happening here. No longer. After further explorations we came to a room where we were attacked by the foul shade again, but this time we slew it, or at least so I deem.
From there was a throne room with a portal to another place, perhaps another world... a dead and cold place, grim and cheerless. Something has come here to make this land as is that one. We smashed the portal. There were also items of magic, and much gold. That at least is helpful, though perhaps not at this moment. I think we must at last approach the center of this place, rooms full of the screams and threats of spirits. No doubt something worse is at the heart of this. We must do our duty so that the innocent may be safe. May we bring light to this darkness. Pelor guide me. May the gods grant us strength. Now we go to do what must be done.
Should we not live, and in some day or age hence this note be found, let this be recorded:
[in both common and a foreign script]
Rightly we have done, rightly we do, and rightly may we do in the times to come. O' reader do no less when your time comes and you are called. For that is the way.
*A*
Excerpts from the Journal of Hrogar
I’m…still in a state of shock, I suppose. I haven’t fully come to terms with the death of Ryan. One second, we were all fighting, and the next, both our adversary and our leader were dead.
I’ve been distracting myself with thoughts of being able to resurrect him, although such issues tend to be sensitive, having much to do with the subjects personal beliefs on the afterlife. Still, if he doesn’t want to be resurrected, the spell will simply fail.
Nonetheless, I suspect that for the remainder of our time in this labyrinth, I will continue to distract myself from the pain by focusing on the mission. There will be time for mourning and contemplation later.
For now, I simply want whatever has been conjuring these monsters to pay for what it has done.
I’ve been distracting myself with thoughts of being able to resurrect him, although such issues tend to be sensitive, having much to do with the subjects personal beliefs on the afterlife. Still, if he doesn’t want to be resurrected, the spell will simply fail.
Nonetheless, I suspect that for the remainder of our time in this labyrinth, I will continue to distract myself from the pain by focusing on the mission. There will be time for mourning and contemplation later.
For now, I simply want whatever has been conjuring these monsters to pay for what it has done.
Oda Journal (Ian)
Day 41
At least I think it is. I have been trapped now for what I presume is 7 days. The only means for keeping time is the food they slide under the door. This food is so plain; I would prefer trail rations over this food. Not to mention I am a little reluctant in eating too much. Not sure if they have done anything to it.
I hear a lot of commotion outside my cell. They seem to mostly be active at night. It sounds like they are turning in now. I really need to find a way out of here.
Well looked around not much in this cell that can be used to try and escape. I have a feeling I am going to have to wait until they try and move me. O wait, I hear some noise outside. There are voices I have not heard before, and at a time when the bandits usually are asleep. Perhaps they would be will to help me escape this prison.
At least I think it is. I have been trapped now for what I presume is 7 days. The only means for keeping time is the food they slide under the door. This food is so plain; I would prefer trail rations over this food. Not to mention I am a little reluctant in eating too much. Not sure if they have done anything to it.
I hear a lot of commotion outside my cell. They seem to mostly be active at night. It sounds like they are turning in now. I really need to find a way out of here.
Well looked around not much in this cell that can be used to try and escape. I have a feeling I am going to have to wait until they try and move me. O wait, I hear some noise outside. There are voices I have not heard before, and at a time when the bandits usually are asleep. Perhaps they would be will to help me escape this prison.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)