--- Day 38 ---
The day started out as uncertain as I'd expected, but at least now a path is clear for us to follow.
I had much concern over Hrogar and his actions, now that I had finally heard all sides of the tale. Although his actions weren't horrifying, I'm not certain they upheld the Paladin Code. They were not driven by malice or cowardice, but instead by a curiosity to observe and record. I'm sure if the gods stripped him of his powers, it would be due to inactivity instead of anything other.
This proved to be the case.
I'd already told Hrogar that I would go with his on his journey last night, and I reassured him of this fact this morning when I brought him some breakfast. Some of the paladins in our group, Alcander the most vocal of them, insist that this is only his task to do, and that no one else should interfere. I'm of the opinion that this may be a way for the gods to be testing us all, to see how we would help one of our own. It's my philosophy that we should help out how we can unless the gods tell us otherwise, instead of asking permission whenever we want to lend our assistance. The gods gave us thought and reasoning for this, we are their beacons and advocates, not their automatons.
I couldn't do much but sigh and cry at Arcadius' proclamation either, especially when he kept repeating that it wasn't my way and that I wouldn't understand. Questions went nowhere with him. What if I did want to understand?
I was making the last cinches in my pack when Hrogar comes to me with a vision. He says that it's becoming clearer, in focus... to somewhere we've already been before - the mines.
Oh, how I dread that place. It seemed that our group had been plagued ever since we first investigated that hillside. We've lost Paladins to other callings, we've had nightmares through our slumbers, paladins fighting out paladins... and perhaps it all leads back to this place. Hrogar went to tell the others, and they leaped at the chance to go back to the mines.
This has me a little bit suspicious, to be honest. Hrogar's first atonement would have probably taken us to another den of evil, perhaps even worse than this one, and they shunned the idea of accompanying him. Hrogar mentions the mines, however, and everyone is on board. I wonder if there's something else going on, or if their gods finally gave them insight. I'll still be on the lookout, however - I still can't forget the nightmares of the evenings.
--- Day 39 ---
It'll still take a while for the feeling of having a group leader to finally sink in.
I thought a bit about it while traveling to the mines yesterday and today, and I think Ryan's a fine choice to lead our group across the countryside. Originally when I came back with Hrogar to the group, Alcander was set to lead. I wasn't quite certain about this, and cast my vote for Ryan instead.
Admittedly, I believe Alcander is probably one of the strongest and toughest Paladins of his training level I've seen. With but a lion skin, a club and a bow to his name, his courage and skill on the battlefield are unparalleled. There's no one else that I'd want to protect me in the heat of battle, but I'm not so certain on the finer aspects of leadership, especially when he makes our presence known to all evil opposition in longbow range. I understand that there's a Paladin Code to uphold here, but they can't uphold it if they're dead.
Ryan's proved to be the most well-balanced of all the paladins here. He knows when to fight and when to parlay. He knows when we should use the diplomatic talents of Hrogar, the courageous acts of Alcander, the virtuous outlooks of Arcadius. Ryan looks at the world and seeks to understand how best we can fight the evil in the world, for how can we best fight that which we do not know the weaknesses of?
I cringe in fear as head back down into the mines. I know that I have the light of Kaladis upon me, and that he'll see me through, but it's hard to see his shining light from the dark depths of these caves.
We're not far into the caves when undead are upon us. I see most of my comrades awkwardly swinging at the foes, their swords ineffectively swinging through their targets. I muster up my courage through my Seal of Kaladis, trying to turn away as many of them as I can. In the next room, we've more undead to come and thwart us, but only after a bone-chilling voice comes from the walls themselves - it challenges us to try and cleanse it from the mines.
We're almost to the end of our rope - my memorized spells start to dwindle as I feel fatigued from turning - when a bright flash of light assaults my vision. I cringe and turn away from it, and I hear a cry echo through the cavern. The light dims down, and when I regain my vision, Arcadius is shimmering with a light afterglow over where one of the undead forms used to be.
We've still one left, though, and the paladins can't quite fight it off. My summoned creature has come and gone, the paladins have used all their healing powers to attack the undead. The will of this creature to survive is strong, I can feel its oppressive weight upon me as I raise my seal to it once more. I breathe in the light of Kaladis, and direct my seal to it again.
"In the name of Kaladis, the god of Vows and the sanctity of Marriage, I command you to leave this place!"
My will and the will of Kaladis pour through the seal, and I can imagine a beam of light striking out towards the massive undead. The willpower is formidable, but with one last push with th remainder of my faith, my god and I push through his defenses and strike his wicked core. He shrieks in terror and attempts to flee from the group, only to meet the unrelenting blows from Alcander and Arcadius.
My will spent, I sit down on the cold stone ground and close my eyes.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Ryan: Day 32-39
Day 36:
Well a lot has happened since I last had time to write in my journal, ah look that was day 32. Let’s see here we tried to burn down the tree and a ranger came out of no ware and started attacking us. At first we where thinking of negotiating with her, but it was soon discovered, by Alcander she was evil. At that point we had no other choice but to take maters in our own hand.
What followed was a bit of a blur. We first charged after the ranger. I must say I have a increase respect for using your terrain to you advantage. It took what seem to be hours to the base of the tree, which the ranger was up in. Everyone took a lot of damage as we approached and a few of us did not quite make it to the tree standing. Thankfully our cleric was able to keep get us back on our feet. With the advantage of the terrain no longer in favor of the ranger she decided her best bet was to flee. We tried to chase after here but unfortunately she got a way. I have a feeling this well not be the last we see of her.
Well after trying to chase her down we made our way back to the fire. The tree at that point had almost escaped, fortunately we where able to get the wall back into shape. My greats concern at that point was how where we going to be able to keep it contained. Already we tired and running on adrenalin. I think if were to have kept trying to keep the wall going we would have lost due to fatigue. This was when I came up with the idea of getting help from half way town. Some of our group went to the town, I not sure who I was to busy keeping the fire going.
With the extra hands we where finally able to make some progress. This is when people started discussing if we should continue on our plan of destroying the tree. Arguments broke out, which was to be understandable. We were all stressed and tired at this point. After listening to the debate for a while I remembered the ranger saying she could talk and control the tree. I thought why not use this to our advantage and get a ranger that we could trust to take the tree to a place where it could live and not harm people. The name Denvechen came to mind, he seem to be a good ranger that we met back in Ismer. This idea at first was just another log on the fire of the debate. It was not until the tree threw one of the logs like it was a twig that getting the ranger seemed like a very good idea.
So then Alcander and I were off to find Denvechen. We found him and convinced him to help us, I do not even remember what Alcander said to convince him I was so tired at that point. I would not be surprised if I was not talking straight. I do remember on the way back the ranger telling us some information on the ranger that we had meet. I will have to talk to him again to better recall what he told us. But any way what I remember is arriving and the ranger talking to the tree and the tree taking off. I also vaguely remember something about Hrogar being up in a tree. I am sure that will be one of the prime conversation pieces this morning.
Well I have already slept most of today time to go talk to my comrades.
Day 37:
Well talked to the Ranger today. Found out the name of the ranger trying to control the tree is Meric. He feels we will see her again. He told us a bit of were she tends to live and that our best bet of facing her is to make the raconteur on our terms. If she is able to setup the fight it will be a very diffluent one, which we have experienced.
I was disturbed to find out that I was not imagining the other day that I heard that Hrogar at one point was up in a tree. This is causing a lot of turmoil in our group, which is understandable. I am not sure I would fully trust him to watch my back. However, as much as I am concern now I am willing to allow him to prove himself again. Tomorrow should be an interesting day. It is time to sit down and figure out what needs to be done.
Day 38:
Well after a lot of heated debates we decided to help Hrogar. His path to proving himself has him going back to the mines. At first I was concern that he did not know what he needed to do. I was going to suggest that we keep writing to him and help him when he discovered what he needed to do. I am happy to see that his path lies on one that I knew we needed to deal with. If his path did not lead this way I think the group might have split. This would have been a shame.
O there another interesting thing came out of our meeting. The group has appointed me the leader in times of battles. One thing we learned, from our encounter with the ranger Meric, is during the heat of battle debating amongst each other only leads to indecision and injuries. Perhaps if we did not sit there and debate we could caught Meric and not have to worry about her attacking us down the road. Also it might have saved us from almost dividing the group. Thankfully it seems like we should be able to get past this.
Well getting back to being a leader of the group. I am very honored that my comrades feel that I am worthy of leading them. Having put their trust in me, with know really so little of me. This is a big responsibility for me and I will have to work hard to prove my worth. Well off to bed, we head out to the mine tomorrow.
Day 39:
Well we are just outside the mine. The bodies that we forgot to burn are missing. We need to remember to follow throw on things we had planned. I am sitting here on watch with Hrogar. He seems a bit distant. Hmm o crap …….
Well sorry about that a bunch of rats just came out of the mine. Well now that everyone is up it is time to go into the mine. I think over the next few days after taking care of the mine issue I need to talk and learn as much as I can about my comrades. For if I do not know them how can I think of leading them.
Well a lot has happened since I last had time to write in my journal, ah look that was day 32. Let’s see here we tried to burn down the tree and a ranger came out of no ware and started attacking us. At first we where thinking of negotiating with her, but it was soon discovered, by Alcander she was evil. At that point we had no other choice but to take maters in our own hand.
What followed was a bit of a blur. We first charged after the ranger. I must say I have a increase respect for using your terrain to you advantage. It took what seem to be hours to the base of the tree, which the ranger was up in. Everyone took a lot of damage as we approached and a few of us did not quite make it to the tree standing. Thankfully our cleric was able to keep get us back on our feet. With the advantage of the terrain no longer in favor of the ranger she decided her best bet was to flee. We tried to chase after here but unfortunately she got a way. I have a feeling this well not be the last we see of her.
Well after trying to chase her down we made our way back to the fire. The tree at that point had almost escaped, fortunately we where able to get the wall back into shape. My greats concern at that point was how where we going to be able to keep it contained. Already we tired and running on adrenalin. I think if were to have kept trying to keep the wall going we would have lost due to fatigue. This was when I came up with the idea of getting help from half way town. Some of our group went to the town, I not sure who I was to busy keeping the fire going.
With the extra hands we where finally able to make some progress. This is when people started discussing if we should continue on our plan of destroying the tree. Arguments broke out, which was to be understandable. We were all stressed and tired at this point. After listening to the debate for a while I remembered the ranger saying she could talk and control the tree. I thought why not use this to our advantage and get a ranger that we could trust to take the tree to a place where it could live and not harm people. The name Denvechen came to mind, he seem to be a good ranger that we met back in Ismer. This idea at first was just another log on the fire of the debate. It was not until the tree threw one of the logs like it was a twig that getting the ranger seemed like a very good idea.
So then Alcander and I were off to find Denvechen. We found him and convinced him to help us, I do not even remember what Alcander said to convince him I was so tired at that point. I would not be surprised if I was not talking straight. I do remember on the way back the ranger telling us some information on the ranger that we had meet. I will have to talk to him again to better recall what he told us. But any way what I remember is arriving and the ranger talking to the tree and the tree taking off. I also vaguely remember something about Hrogar being up in a tree. I am sure that will be one of the prime conversation pieces this morning.
Well I have already slept most of today time to go talk to my comrades.
Day 37:
Well talked to the Ranger today. Found out the name of the ranger trying to control the tree is Meric. He feels we will see her again. He told us a bit of were she tends to live and that our best bet of facing her is to make the raconteur on our terms. If she is able to setup the fight it will be a very diffluent one, which we have experienced.
I was disturbed to find out that I was not imagining the other day that I heard that Hrogar at one point was up in a tree. This is causing a lot of turmoil in our group, which is understandable. I am not sure I would fully trust him to watch my back. However, as much as I am concern now I am willing to allow him to prove himself again. Tomorrow should be an interesting day. It is time to sit down and figure out what needs to be done.
Day 38:
Well after a lot of heated debates we decided to help Hrogar. His path to proving himself has him going back to the mines. At first I was concern that he did not know what he needed to do. I was going to suggest that we keep writing to him and help him when he discovered what he needed to do. I am happy to see that his path lies on one that I knew we needed to deal with. If his path did not lead this way I think the group might have split. This would have been a shame.
O there another interesting thing came out of our meeting. The group has appointed me the leader in times of battles. One thing we learned, from our encounter with the ranger Meric, is during the heat of battle debating amongst each other only leads to indecision and injuries. Perhaps if we did not sit there and debate we could caught Meric and not have to worry about her attacking us down the road. Also it might have saved us from almost dividing the group. Thankfully it seems like we should be able to get past this.
Well getting back to being a leader of the group. I am very honored that my comrades feel that I am worthy of leading them. Having put their trust in me, with know really so little of me. This is a big responsibility for me and I will have to work hard to prove my worth. Well off to bed, we head out to the mine tomorrow.
Day 39:
Well we are just outside the mine. The bodies that we forgot to burn are missing. We need to remember to follow throw on things we had planned. I am sitting here on watch with Hrogar. He seems a bit distant. Hmm o crap …….
Well sorry about that a bunch of rats just came out of the mine. Well now that everyone is up it is time to go into the mine. I think over the next few days after taking care of the mine issue I need to talk and learn as much as I can about my comrades. For if I do not know them how can I think of leading them.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Journal of Arcadius - Day 40
(hastily scrawled note)
Much dispute, things to be discussed, we agreed to go with Hrogar on his penance. Ryan now our leader, which is good. To the mine we went. The minions of death were there. Lord Pelor granted his strength and guidance. I was at once both there in the mine and yet far away, standing before the brilliance of the sun. It seems I rose in the air. It was like a dream, yet more awake than I have ever been. Pelor's light shown through me. Death and darkness swept away. I dropped and slept, yet in light not darkness. All is clear now, and calm. There is much to say but now is not the time. Pride and wrath no more. I am calm. Pelor guides me.
*A*
Much dispute, things to be discussed, we agreed to go with Hrogar on his penance. Ryan now our leader, which is good. To the mine we went. The minions of death were there. Lord Pelor granted his strength and guidance. I was at once both there in the mine and yet far away, standing before the brilliance of the sun. It seems I rose in the air. It was like a dream, yet more awake than I have ever been. Pelor's light shown through me. Death and darkness swept away. I dropped and slept, yet in light not darkness. All is clear now, and calm. There is much to say but now is not the time. Pride and wrath no more. I am calm. Pelor guides me.
*A*
Alcander: Day 39
Tonight, we camp outside the mine. Tomorrow we go in and face whatever evil lies beneath the chains.
I fear it, still. That thing that drives men mad... it is a fate far worse than death, I think, to lose one's mind. It is not a warrior's death.
Still, I am glad of it. If there is one thing to be learned from the tales of Heracles, it is that we are at our greatest when we have a task to set forth to, something to strive for. When the path is clear, so are men's minds, and this path is a clear one.
Yesterday, the path was not. Our party was on the verge of split. Hrogar's treachery led his gods to demand penance from him, as is right and proper. He thought it would lead him to Point of Origin. A fine quest for him, I am certain, and I felt he should go. It is only by seeking one's forgiveness from the gods that one can find the light of their sight again.
But for some bizarre reason, there were those among us that felt they must go with him, and profrane his quest by their presence. It is a strange thing, to me, to try to rob a man of his penance, but they insisted. Our cleric would have gone with them.
The gods light shined upon us, and the way was made clear. Hrogar's god asked him to descend into the mines and face the evil there. While a simple journey is one man's quest alone, this quest is surely great enough that the glory might be shared, and his absolution might still be found. It may kill him, but at least he shall die safe in the arms of his gods, and not dead in their sight.
As for the rest of us, we shall see what evil lies in this place, and we shall test our valor.
It will be a mighty battle.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Journal of Arcadius - Day 35
At last I have time to write again, and I am dismayed at what I must record.
***
It is a tale of confusion and good intentions gone awry, and of worse, as we shall see. We explored the ruined town near Izmir, fearing it to be connected with the evil, unnatural trees and other recent dark happenings. The town indeed had a large tree of some sort at its very center, surrounded by a vast network of thorny vines.
The vines were quickly revealed to be evil, mobile and blood-drinking. After some discussion, we decided to set fire to them in a dual attempt to uncover what secrets might be found in the town itself, while ridding the world of their vileness. However, they proved to burn very slowly. We camped in the mountains, leaving the fire to burn overnight.
However, our time there was not a peaceful one. Among our adventures were an encounter with a young, and, praise the gods, reasonable Silver Dragon, and an attack by thorn-covered plant servitors of, we surmised, the tree. The Dragon revealed to us that the tree was carnivorous and mobile like the vines, but was more like a beast, driven by hunger rather than the will to evil, and strangely that it was not the master of the vines but rather their prisoner. Truly, we are tested in many ways.
When we returned to the town, however, we discovered to our dismay that the tree was gone - yes gone, and our fire had somehow burned in a path straight to where it had been. There was much discussion of this, and worthy consideration of our own possible guilt in bringing it about. We had no doubt put things in motion, but someone or something had bent that motion in their own direction. As it is said in my country, a plan left half finished ceases to be one's own.
We went into action with admirable alacrity, fanning out to warn the local towns while hoping to find where the tree had gone. The tree made itself known soon enough, attacking the waypoint village with its thorn servitors. The townspeople had, with an industriousness and purpose reminiscent of the folk of the Five Rivers, built a palisade and mounted a defense. Our arrival, as trained, heavily armed warriors, improved the situation immensely. Still, some had died, and we must reflect upon whether this blood is partially on our hands. For, as we shall see, while not directly our doing, we unlocked a door that was opened by another.
It is my belief that we should atone for this.
On the following day we went hunting for the tree, based on guidance from the villagers, and found it without great difficulty. Our initial plan was a wise one; to build a ring of fire around the tree and then gradually close it inward. The tree, being mobile but still a thing of wood, was greatly vulnerable to fire. We spent a day collecting firewood, including large logs, and built a suitable ring. Certain of our companions strayed too close to the tree and became entangled in its tentacle-like roots, but we were able to extricate them.
Then our troubles truly began.
***
We lit the fires, and as night fell, the tree began to stir. It unleashed its servitor creatures in an attempt to clear a path through the burning ring. We in turn countered, pushing logs back into place. They, being plants like their master, suffered greatly from the flames. Still, they strove with all their ability, and kept us in stalemate. For some time it went on like this, until Shaft was struck by an arrow!
And not just struck, but shot in the back, from a high and hidden place, in the most cowardly and unworthy way. At first I fancied it was a reappearance of the mysterious and seemingly magical arrow traps we encountered in the ruined mine, but then the fog was lifted from my mind and I realized we had a foe lodged in the trees nearby.
Soon thereafter, she announced herself, a ranger and self-styled protector of the wilds (Certain views here in the North continue to amaze me. Who of good conscience "protects" the savagery of the wilderness, which is ever a threat in fang and claw, to the detriment of good and humble folk who wish merely to till the soil, or bring forth its buried riches, and to live? - but I digress). She demanded we leave this place. Being of good and stout heart (except for one, as we shall see) we refused, for innocents would suffer if we abandoned our task.
Hrogar and I then questioned her as to who she was and why she was here. She told us she had released the tree - using, as we surmised, our fire as the opportunity - because it was a thing of nature. It apparently would listen to her requests, and we asked if she could prevent it from eating those with minds and souls. She mockingly asked why she should care. Still, I foolishly continued in the hope that she might be reasoned with, as did Hrogar. Useless attempts at negotiation went on for some time.
It was then that Alcander appeared, returning from his mission of warning. Praise be to the gods, he arrived near her position, and was able to locate where she was. He also used our gift of sight to reveal that she was truly evil, and not merely callous. Still, I vainly thought we might convince her to leave, with the tree. The ranger refused to guarantee any sort of protection for the innocent, and at most she had said she would guide the tree to some other region, where it might prey on the folk living there. That we do not know those people does not obviate our guilt at their deaths under such an arrangement. Thus, there was no reason to bargain with her other than protect our own lives - a most unworthy goal indeed for Paladins! A darkness seemed to creep into my mind and across my eyes.
Then, praise be to Lord Pelor, whose light clears all, I saw that my subtlety and calculations were but the path the wickedness, for we could not in good conscience let this thing go while under this ranger's power. I fell to my knees in prayer, seeking Pelor's guidance. As I did this, some of our party were already, piecemeal, charging forward toward where we now knew her to be, ready to lay down their lives to protect the lives in the towns below. I rose and followed.
One in our party, however, had other plans.
***
Hrogar, even as battle was being joined, continued to try to negotiate - and without any bond given from her, gave the ranger his word that he would not harm her or her allies. What madness! Of that much I was aware as I charged forth, other things I would discover later.
The battle was fierce, for our foe, may the gods curse her wickedness and cowardice, was in a lofty perch in a tree, and from there rained arrows down upon us. As the winged serpents of A'zimish they were, striking with great effect while for some time we could do little. Alcander with great and worthy bravery, climbed the tree under a storm of arrows. He lunged forward intending to bring her back to earth along with himself. Alas, she dodged and he fell gravely hurt, with her still on high. Others of our party shot arrows at her, but we clearly lacked her deadly skill with the bow. I arrived, threw a spear to no effect, and then climbed the tree. When I reached the top, she, again showing herself to be a coward as well as a villain, lept off and fled through the forest. We gave chase, but eventually lost her in the darkness and underbrush.
We regrouped ourselves, nearly all gravely wounded, to find that Hrogar had neither joined the battle nor done much to tend the fires. In fact, the plant servitors were beginning to break free, but Fflam, who had been the first back, was slowing their advance. Working together we were able to restore a kind of stalemate.
What Hrogar HAD been doing, he did not say, and we had no time to spare for questions or argument.
Alcander proved the greatness of his spirit once more by racing back to the waypoint town. His purpose was to tell the folk there our situation and beg for their aid in burning the tree. In the meantime, we had a very uneasy night.
***
The next day a very tired, but unbowed, Alcander arrived with the townsfolk. We had a great deal of work, but thankfully a larger number of people.
Lack of organization had been our near-undoing in the preceding events, and I resolved to provide some. It was strange, once I began giving orders, how naturally it came. Though it has been years since I was in my homeland, the training of my youth as a Guardian came to the fore. I long ago gave up trying to explain the differences between our class of Guardians, may they be ever be rightly guided, and the capricious "nobles" of these lands, with their private armies and their vainglorious squabbles over power. Still, it is best to be mindful of such things, for in wielding power pride would be my undoing. May the hard-won wisdom of those who went before serve as lessons. May the guiding light of Lord Pelor, who leads without vanity or craving for glory, show me the path so that I be not tempted to light the way with the fiercer flames of my own spirit.
I now see Lord Pelor in my mind's sight even while about and working. It drives back the darkness that also grows, and this is good. Something is happening.
During the hard work of keeping the fires going, and contracting the circle, I had a strange and worrisome exchange with Marion, the cleric of Kaladis. She came to me arguing, it seemed, that we should abandon our efforts to destroy the tree, because it was not evil, and instead pursue the ranger. At some point later Fflam the dwarf had similar things to say. The discussion quickly went ill.
I see two sides to this.
On the one, I did not and do not see any wisdom in their suggestions. The whereabouts of the ranger are completely unknown, and we lack the skill, I deem, to find her. As for the tree, though it is not evil, it was still a grave threat, and had to be dealt with then and there. For truly, though the soldiers who invade one's land may not be evil, do they not seek to kill, steal, and destroy? The beast of prey is not evil either, yet allow it to live and it will devour one's livestock and perhaps one's family. Though a destroyer be not evil, those it seeks to destroy still deserve protection - and if not that, for what do we Paladins even exist?
On the other hand, perhaps my replies were harsh and tinged with pride or arrogance. The dwarf seemed unmoved, as one would imagine from his stern folk, though I found it strange that he would even broach the question. Marion, however, reacted in a way that I do not understand. She can be quite fierce when she is of an opinion, yet she seems a gentle soul underneath, and does not sustain that ferocity. I may have hurt her feelings, and it may be best if I speak to her. Alas for the wisdom of reflection, ever after and never before! I am reminded of the Parable of the Moonlit Well of Ramekht.
In the end, the debate was for naught, for once the flames got too close, the tree, with titanic strength, effortlessly picked up an entire flaming trunk and threw it many, many feet out into the forest. We put out the resulting uncontrolled fire and realized we needed a new plan.
Fortunately, a way was found. There is another ranger, who is sometimes in Izmir, and is of a better reputation. We dispatched a party to ask for his help, and some days later they returned. THIS ranger was by all accounts someone to be trusted, and he agreed to to take the tree deep into the wilderness to a place he knew of where there was much game and no people.
Let the wilderness deal with its own, and stay far away from the humble and innocent!
And so it was done.
***
Now I must come to that which I truly regret to write.
The reason for Hrogar's silence was revealed. When we finally had time to spare for
discussion, Fflam asked him, simply and without accusation, why he had been climbing down out of a tree while the rest of us were returning from the fight.
We stopped, stunned. Hrogar promptly launched into a long and venomous speech accusing the rest of us of all manner of transgressions while attempting to justify his own actions. The speech had a whiff of practice about it, like something prepared, in secret, during the preceding days.
In the short but furious discussion that followed it became clear that Hrogar had:
*Given his word foolishly to an evil being without any concern for the consequences to others, including his own comrades even then under attack.
*Failed to do anything at all to help us, even that which would have been outside of his oath (which granted, once given was his bond).
*When the situation started to look bad, climbed into A TREE to save his own unworthy skin, leaving us and the innocents in the towns nearby to their fates.
*Lied, through omission, about the matter, keeping silent until Fflam, thanks be, forced him to speak.
*When his attempt at deceit was revealed, behaved in a most malicious manner, unbecoming of a Paladin, or a friend.
It was immediately apparent to me what must be done. Then and there I rejected him as a comrade, for he has proven that he is unworthy of trust or honor. Alcander reacted quite strongly to his self-justifying insults, and I feared the two might come to blows. Some of the others remained silent, while one or two were perhaps forgiving. I regret, however, that I do not agree with them. It would be best if Hrogar left our group, and Paladinhood, and followed some path where the cost of his ill choices were not lives.
***
For my part regarding the matter, let this be recorded, using the old formal style of my country:
Hrogar of Point of Origin, claimed a Paladin -
Once an ally, you have betrayed.
Through your deeds you have proven unworthy of trust.
Once a friend, you have insulted.
Through your malice, you have proven unworthy of trust.
Once a comrade, you have lied.
Through your deceit, you have proven unworthy of trust.
Henceforth, you are no more to me than a stranger in the street.
As duty requires, you shall have of me what they shall of me, but nothing more.
As I have spoken, so I have written, and so it is sealed.
-Ar-Khadesh of the rightly-guided lineage of Dehret, called Arcadius in these lands, Paladin of Pelor.
***
Finally, it must be said that our lack of organization and leadership is causing us
difficulties. I would step forth, but two things concern me:
*Leadership or command as I learned it is very different from what is expected here. In my homeland those who hold command expect to be obeyed without hesitation, and if there are questions as to their fitness to lead, or the concordance of their decisions with the law, they are handled afterward, when there are no risks to inaction. These people of the North often expect to be led via persuasion or flattery, which while having another kind of merit, does not come naturally to me.
My years of apprenticeship as a Paladin were years of obedience, not leadership, and recent experiences have shown that the habits of my early upbringing could easily come to the fore. This I think would create strife with the others.
*I fear for my own inclinations toward pride, which could take me down paths at variance with my duties as a Paladin, and particularly one of Lord Pelor, praise be to him, who eschews even vainglory allowed by some of the other deities. Such pride could easily be nurtured by the role of leader. Let me not be wrongly guided!
Of the others, I think Alcander would happily take leadership. Though he is truly courageous and honorable, I distrust his impulsive and wrathful disposition. I seem to recall that his lord Herakles had those very weaknesses as a mortal. He is also, as I have mentioned in the past, woefully impractical. Hrogar, may he leave with good grace, was in certain ways inclining toward becoming our leader, but he has proven unworthy. As for the others, I have not seen such inclination, though perhaps Ryan's calm demeanor and steadfast courage would translate into the qualities of a good leader.
Alas, I must rest.
Pelor, honor to you, give me guidance.
*A*
***
It is a tale of confusion and good intentions gone awry, and of worse, as we shall see. We explored the ruined town near Izmir, fearing it to be connected with the evil, unnatural trees and other recent dark happenings. The town indeed had a large tree of some sort at its very center, surrounded by a vast network of thorny vines.
The vines were quickly revealed to be evil, mobile and blood-drinking. After some discussion, we decided to set fire to them in a dual attempt to uncover what secrets might be found in the town itself, while ridding the world of their vileness. However, they proved to burn very slowly. We camped in the mountains, leaving the fire to burn overnight.
However, our time there was not a peaceful one. Among our adventures were an encounter with a young, and, praise the gods, reasonable Silver Dragon, and an attack by thorn-covered plant servitors of, we surmised, the tree. The Dragon revealed to us that the tree was carnivorous and mobile like the vines, but was more like a beast, driven by hunger rather than the will to evil, and strangely that it was not the master of the vines but rather their prisoner. Truly, we are tested in many ways.
When we returned to the town, however, we discovered to our dismay that the tree was gone - yes gone, and our fire had somehow burned in a path straight to where it had been. There was much discussion of this, and worthy consideration of our own possible guilt in bringing it about. We had no doubt put things in motion, but someone or something had bent that motion in their own direction. As it is said in my country, a plan left half finished ceases to be one's own.
We went into action with admirable alacrity, fanning out to warn the local towns while hoping to find where the tree had gone. The tree made itself known soon enough, attacking the waypoint village with its thorn servitors. The townspeople had, with an industriousness and purpose reminiscent of the folk of the Five Rivers, built a palisade and mounted a defense. Our arrival, as trained, heavily armed warriors, improved the situation immensely. Still, some had died, and we must reflect upon whether this blood is partially on our hands. For, as we shall see, while not directly our doing, we unlocked a door that was opened by another.
It is my belief that we should atone for this.
On the following day we went hunting for the tree, based on guidance from the villagers, and found it without great difficulty. Our initial plan was a wise one; to build a ring of fire around the tree and then gradually close it inward. The tree, being mobile but still a thing of wood, was greatly vulnerable to fire. We spent a day collecting firewood, including large logs, and built a suitable ring. Certain of our companions strayed too close to the tree and became entangled in its tentacle-like roots, but we were able to extricate them.
Then our troubles truly began.
***
We lit the fires, and as night fell, the tree began to stir. It unleashed its servitor creatures in an attempt to clear a path through the burning ring. We in turn countered, pushing logs back into place. They, being plants like their master, suffered greatly from the flames. Still, they strove with all their ability, and kept us in stalemate. For some time it went on like this, until Shaft was struck by an arrow!
And not just struck, but shot in the back, from a high and hidden place, in the most cowardly and unworthy way. At first I fancied it was a reappearance of the mysterious and seemingly magical arrow traps we encountered in the ruined mine, but then the fog was lifted from my mind and I realized we had a foe lodged in the trees nearby.
Soon thereafter, she announced herself, a ranger and self-styled protector of the wilds (Certain views here in the North continue to amaze me. Who of good conscience "protects" the savagery of the wilderness, which is ever a threat in fang and claw, to the detriment of good and humble folk who wish merely to till the soil, or bring forth its buried riches, and to live? - but I digress). She demanded we leave this place. Being of good and stout heart (except for one, as we shall see) we refused, for innocents would suffer if we abandoned our task.
Hrogar and I then questioned her as to who she was and why she was here. She told us she had released the tree - using, as we surmised, our fire as the opportunity - because it was a thing of nature. It apparently would listen to her requests, and we asked if she could prevent it from eating those with minds and souls. She mockingly asked why she should care. Still, I foolishly continued in the hope that she might be reasoned with, as did Hrogar. Useless attempts at negotiation went on for some time.
It was then that Alcander appeared, returning from his mission of warning. Praise be to the gods, he arrived near her position, and was able to locate where she was. He also used our gift of sight to reveal that she was truly evil, and not merely callous. Still, I vainly thought we might convince her to leave, with the tree. The ranger refused to guarantee any sort of protection for the innocent, and at most she had said she would guide the tree to some other region, where it might prey on the folk living there. That we do not know those people does not obviate our guilt at their deaths under such an arrangement. Thus, there was no reason to bargain with her other than protect our own lives - a most unworthy goal indeed for Paladins! A darkness seemed to creep into my mind and across my eyes.
Then, praise be to Lord Pelor, whose light clears all, I saw that my subtlety and calculations were but the path the wickedness, for we could not in good conscience let this thing go while under this ranger's power. I fell to my knees in prayer, seeking Pelor's guidance. As I did this, some of our party were already, piecemeal, charging forward toward where we now knew her to be, ready to lay down their lives to protect the lives in the towns below. I rose and followed.
One in our party, however, had other plans.
***
Hrogar, even as battle was being joined, continued to try to negotiate - and without any bond given from her, gave the ranger his word that he would not harm her or her allies. What madness! Of that much I was aware as I charged forth, other things I would discover later.
The battle was fierce, for our foe, may the gods curse her wickedness and cowardice, was in a lofty perch in a tree, and from there rained arrows down upon us. As the winged serpents of A'zimish they were, striking with great effect while for some time we could do little. Alcander with great and worthy bravery, climbed the tree under a storm of arrows. He lunged forward intending to bring her back to earth along with himself. Alas, she dodged and he fell gravely hurt, with her still on high. Others of our party shot arrows at her, but we clearly lacked her deadly skill with the bow. I arrived, threw a spear to no effect, and then climbed the tree. When I reached the top, she, again showing herself to be a coward as well as a villain, lept off and fled through the forest. We gave chase, but eventually lost her in the darkness and underbrush.
We regrouped ourselves, nearly all gravely wounded, to find that Hrogar had neither joined the battle nor done much to tend the fires. In fact, the plant servitors were beginning to break free, but Fflam, who had been the first back, was slowing their advance. Working together we were able to restore a kind of stalemate.
What Hrogar HAD been doing, he did not say, and we had no time to spare for questions or argument.
Alcander proved the greatness of his spirit once more by racing back to the waypoint town. His purpose was to tell the folk there our situation and beg for their aid in burning the tree. In the meantime, we had a very uneasy night.
***
The next day a very tired, but unbowed, Alcander arrived with the townsfolk. We had a great deal of work, but thankfully a larger number of people.
Lack of organization had been our near-undoing in the preceding events, and I resolved to provide some. It was strange, once I began giving orders, how naturally it came. Though it has been years since I was in my homeland, the training of my youth as a Guardian came to the fore. I long ago gave up trying to explain the differences between our class of Guardians, may they be ever be rightly guided, and the capricious "nobles" of these lands, with their private armies and their vainglorious squabbles over power. Still, it is best to be mindful of such things, for in wielding power pride would be my undoing. May the hard-won wisdom of those who went before serve as lessons. May the guiding light of Lord Pelor, who leads without vanity or craving for glory, show me the path so that I be not tempted to light the way with the fiercer flames of my own spirit.
I now see Lord Pelor in my mind's sight even while about and working. It drives back the darkness that also grows, and this is good. Something is happening.
During the hard work of keeping the fires going, and contracting the circle, I had a strange and worrisome exchange with Marion, the cleric of Kaladis. She came to me arguing, it seemed, that we should abandon our efforts to destroy the tree, because it was not evil, and instead pursue the ranger. At some point later Fflam the dwarf had similar things to say. The discussion quickly went ill.
I see two sides to this.
On the one, I did not and do not see any wisdom in their suggestions. The whereabouts of the ranger are completely unknown, and we lack the skill, I deem, to find her. As for the tree, though it is not evil, it was still a grave threat, and had to be dealt with then and there. For truly, though the soldiers who invade one's land may not be evil, do they not seek to kill, steal, and destroy? The beast of prey is not evil either, yet allow it to live and it will devour one's livestock and perhaps one's family. Though a destroyer be not evil, those it seeks to destroy still deserve protection - and if not that, for what do we Paladins even exist?
On the other hand, perhaps my replies were harsh and tinged with pride or arrogance. The dwarf seemed unmoved, as one would imagine from his stern folk, though I found it strange that he would even broach the question. Marion, however, reacted in a way that I do not understand. She can be quite fierce when she is of an opinion, yet she seems a gentle soul underneath, and does not sustain that ferocity. I may have hurt her feelings, and it may be best if I speak to her. Alas for the wisdom of reflection, ever after and never before! I am reminded of the Parable of the Moonlit Well of Ramekht.
In the end, the debate was for naught, for once the flames got too close, the tree, with titanic strength, effortlessly picked up an entire flaming trunk and threw it many, many feet out into the forest. We put out the resulting uncontrolled fire and realized we needed a new plan.
Fortunately, a way was found. There is another ranger, who is sometimes in Izmir, and is of a better reputation. We dispatched a party to ask for his help, and some days later they returned. THIS ranger was by all accounts someone to be trusted, and he agreed to to take the tree deep into the wilderness to a place he knew of where there was much game and no people.
Let the wilderness deal with its own, and stay far away from the humble and innocent!
And so it was done.
***
Now I must come to that which I truly regret to write.
The reason for Hrogar's silence was revealed. When we finally had time to spare for
discussion, Fflam asked him, simply and without accusation, why he had been climbing down out of a tree while the rest of us were returning from the fight.
We stopped, stunned. Hrogar promptly launched into a long and venomous speech accusing the rest of us of all manner of transgressions while attempting to justify his own actions. The speech had a whiff of practice about it, like something prepared, in secret, during the preceding days.
In the short but furious discussion that followed it became clear that Hrogar had:
*Given his word foolishly to an evil being without any concern for the consequences to others, including his own comrades even then under attack.
*Failed to do anything at all to help us, even that which would have been outside of his oath (which granted, once given was his bond).
*When the situation started to look bad, climbed into A TREE to save his own unworthy skin, leaving us and the innocents in the towns nearby to their fates.
*Lied, through omission, about the matter, keeping silent until Fflam, thanks be, forced him to speak.
*When his attempt at deceit was revealed, behaved in a most malicious manner, unbecoming of a Paladin, or a friend.
It was immediately apparent to me what must be done. Then and there I rejected him as a comrade, for he has proven that he is unworthy of trust or honor. Alcander reacted quite strongly to his self-justifying insults, and I feared the two might come to blows. Some of the others remained silent, while one or two were perhaps forgiving. I regret, however, that I do not agree with them. It would be best if Hrogar left our group, and Paladinhood, and followed some path where the cost of his ill choices were not lives.
***
For my part regarding the matter, let this be recorded, using the old formal style of my country:
Hrogar of Point of Origin, claimed a Paladin -
Once an ally, you have betrayed.
Through your deeds you have proven unworthy of trust.
Once a friend, you have insulted.
Through your malice, you have proven unworthy of trust.
Once a comrade, you have lied.
Through your deceit, you have proven unworthy of trust.
Henceforth, you are no more to me than a stranger in the street.
As duty requires, you shall have of me what they shall of me, but nothing more.
As I have spoken, so I have written, and so it is sealed.
-Ar-Khadesh of the rightly-guided lineage of Dehret, called Arcadius in these lands, Paladin of Pelor.
***
Finally, it must be said that our lack of organization and leadership is causing us
difficulties. I would step forth, but two things concern me:
*Leadership or command as I learned it is very different from what is expected here. In my homeland those who hold command expect to be obeyed without hesitation, and if there are questions as to their fitness to lead, or the concordance of their decisions with the law, they are handled afterward, when there are no risks to inaction. These people of the North often expect to be led via persuasion or flattery, which while having another kind of merit, does not come naturally to me.
My years of apprenticeship as a Paladin were years of obedience, not leadership, and recent experiences have shown that the habits of my early upbringing could easily come to the fore. This I think would create strife with the others.
*I fear for my own inclinations toward pride, which could take me down paths at variance with my duties as a Paladin, and particularly one of Lord Pelor, praise be to him, who eschews even vainglory allowed by some of the other deities. Such pride could easily be nurtured by the role of leader. Let me not be wrongly guided!
Of the others, I think Alcander would happily take leadership. Though he is truly courageous and honorable, I distrust his impulsive and wrathful disposition. I seem to recall that his lord Herakles had those very weaknesses as a mortal. He is also, as I have mentioned in the past, woefully impractical. Hrogar, may he leave with good grace, was in certain ways inclining toward becoming our leader, but he has proven unworthy. As for the others, I have not seen such inclination, though perhaps Ryan's calm demeanor and steadfast courage would translate into the qualities of a good leader.
Alas, I must rest.
Pelor, honor to you, give me guidance.
*A*
Vision in the Night
Your group stands on a mountain together, facing out toward the sea. It is the middle of the day, and sprawling out below you are İzmir and--in the distance--Point of Origin and then the ocean. Birds are singing around you, and there's not a black or carnivorous tree to be seen.
Visions flash before you. A group of Duergar toasting their success in taking over an abandoned mine from a group of kobolds. A giant tree, sitting in the center of a dying town, shrouded in mists. A young silver dragon, its scales gleaming in the sun. A painting of a wolf, running through a field hanging on the wall of a castle. A female ranger, emulating the predatory aspects of nature, stalking her human prey in a most dangerous game. An orc shaman, casting bone lots to read the future. Paladins you don't know sitting around playing dice in a tavern one evening, talking about what other good deeds they may perform after having saved the tanner's daughter.
The visions fade.
Darkness sweeps across the landscape, cloaking the once bright world. No natural darkness, the noonday sun is swept away as the darkness speeds along the ground until all that is left is the faint outline of a ring of fire in the sky. The stars are visible overhead, but their visibility is muted, less than they would be in a natural night.
The smell of salt water washes over everything, and a deep sound can be heard echoing off of the mountains. Similar to a whale but deeper, darker, more sinister. The sound causes the very mountains to shake, stirring the things that live there.
Dark things. Ugly things. Unwholesome things.
Trees--once healthy--twist and turn black and decrepit overnight, their leaves blowing away with even a slight breeze. Shadows and undead come up from the depths of the earth.
The visions return. Flashes of clarity in a sea of confusion.
The last remaining inhabitants of a town being caught as the ground beneath them wells up with thorny, bloodsucking vines--hapless bystanders or, perhaps, sacrifices to keep a tree from interfering with a plan. Their screams can be heard for miles, but there is no one around.
A pack of wolves fleeing.... something. Sounds not unlike those made by a dolphin can be heard in the distance.
A painting of a creature too horrific to exist, with tentacles, a beak, and an exposed brain.
An adult dragon, once silver, now grey in color... the last of its life fading out of its eyes.
A duergar's face as he stabs his compatriot in the stomach, all trace of humanity, of sanity, drained from his eyes. The smell of fear and piss thick in the air. A dark shadow flickers in the background.
The paladins standing up in the middle of the night, a blank look in their face, their souls sucked away. Leaving without bothering to get dressed, without alerting anyone--apparently transparent to the surrounding townspeople.
The shaman, lying by the side of the road, all signs of life faded from his eyes. People shuffling by, without a single spark of humanity in them, not even noticing.
The ranger, running for her life as if all of the demons in the multiverse were chasing her. Her face streaked with blood.
The visions fade again. You wake up around noon, drenched in cold sweat.
Visions flash before you. A group of Duergar toasting their success in taking over an abandoned mine from a group of kobolds. A giant tree, sitting in the center of a dying town, shrouded in mists. A young silver dragon, its scales gleaming in the sun. A painting of a wolf, running through a field hanging on the wall of a castle. A female ranger, emulating the predatory aspects of nature, stalking her human prey in a most dangerous game. An orc shaman, casting bone lots to read the future. Paladins you don't know sitting around playing dice in a tavern one evening, talking about what other good deeds they may perform after having saved the tanner's daughter.
The visions fade.
Darkness sweeps across the landscape, cloaking the once bright world. No natural darkness, the noonday sun is swept away as the darkness speeds along the ground until all that is left is the faint outline of a ring of fire in the sky. The stars are visible overhead, but their visibility is muted, less than they would be in a natural night.
The smell of salt water washes over everything, and a deep sound can be heard echoing off of the mountains. Similar to a whale but deeper, darker, more sinister. The sound causes the very mountains to shake, stirring the things that live there.
Dark things. Ugly things. Unwholesome things.
Trees--once healthy--twist and turn black and decrepit overnight, their leaves blowing away with even a slight breeze. Shadows and undead come up from the depths of the earth.
The visions return. Flashes of clarity in a sea of confusion.
The last remaining inhabitants of a town being caught as the ground beneath them wells up with thorny, bloodsucking vines--hapless bystanders or, perhaps, sacrifices to keep a tree from interfering with a plan. Their screams can be heard for miles, but there is no one around.
A pack of wolves fleeing.... something. Sounds not unlike those made by a dolphin can be heard in the distance.
A painting of a creature too horrific to exist, with tentacles, a beak, and an exposed brain.
An adult dragon, once silver, now grey in color... the last of its life fading out of its eyes.
A duergar's face as he stabs his compatriot in the stomach, all trace of humanity, of sanity, drained from his eyes. The smell of fear and piss thick in the air. A dark shadow flickers in the background.
The paladins standing up in the middle of the night, a blank look in their face, their souls sucked away. Leaving without bothering to get dressed, without alerting anyone--apparently transparent to the surrounding townspeople.
The shaman, lying by the side of the road, all signs of life faded from his eyes. People shuffling by, without a single spark of humanity in them, not even noticing.
The ranger, running for her life as if all of the demons in the multiverse were chasing her. Her face streaked with blood.
The visions fade again. You wake up around noon, drenched in cold sweat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)