The Journal

[Rem-13]

"I've read all the good ones!" Muy whined, "There's nuffin here." The elderly wizard looked down at his young apprentice with a faint smile.

"How about... this one, Muy?" The wizard loosened a book out of its resting place form the very bottom of the shelves. "Its simply called the Journal. An actual account of..."

"Whatever just give it here." The impatient mageling took the thickly bound book and slammed it on the table. His young hands gripped the end of the leather cover and opened to the first page.


___

Third tenday of Mirtil, Second-day,

Tantras, The Vast


I watched with some degree of trepidation as my subjects where each locked up in their cells. Such an odd thing that tonight of all nights they would be incarcerated at the same time. But perhaps it was luck more than anythign else. War has been boiling for a while now in the Vast. This Alkaios; this self-made god, finally put the fanaticism of his followers to use and struck a city. It seems like a likely spot as any to pick Tantras. In the time of troubles, when gods walked the earth as mortals, this is where Torm rested.

Perhaps that was the draw for Alkaios to strike here tonight, or perhaps it was the fact that Tantras is a large power in the region. Either way he assaulted and in a show of divine might toppled the once great city-state in a matter of hours. My subjects where unaware (and I as I said this is a bit of luck for that meant they could survive) with a good ten feat of stone around them. They had no clue that when their barred doors opened by themselves it was directed by a man above, killing every guard in the place. Several moved swiftly to subdue the armed guards, and only Daverick sustained any substantial wounds. Still I was not over my fears for them yet, because they still needed to go above and confront a god.

My fears were unsubstantiated. Alkaios merely talked them into setting out for Tsurlangol, to obtain a "Flask" under care of a group of heretics. Only the gods know what that is, or whats in it. I first questioned his wisdom in choosing prisoners of all the things he had to fetch it. Now I realize his men have just fought a battle, that the city is still in chaos, and that he needs to maintain a presence himself to keep riots to a minimum. His list of options are thin.

They will depart tomorrow.

[Rem-13]

Third tenday of Mirtil, Third-day,

Acre, The Vast

Their ride was thankfully uneventful reaching here. The town, unfortunately, could not give them a warm greeting. They came close after antagonizing the Half-Orcish bartender to the point he nearly burnt the place down on top of them all, so if that counts then, yes, I guess their greeting was warm. He was the first living soul they saw, though, until they hit the center of the towns disturbance: The house of a hermit mage. Inside, though no one knew it, the mage was already dead at the hand of his own magic.

From what I could gather he had been creating a clay Golem for several weeks now and becuase of the extreme dedication it took, his mephits and Kobold apprentice below were growing worried. Most of the Mephits cared little for their master, being brought into this world through a contract with strict terms of service, though one or two were extremely loyal as my subjects later found out. The Kobold however, decided to aid his master. Being an adept he was not as knowledgeable as his Master in the areas of magical creation and the like. Still that did not stop him from casting a spell on the half done Golem and interrupting the ritual process. It and the old mage dualed breifly while Kata, the Kobold ran down stairs. The mage's screams awoke the town as the Magic Resistant construct pounded him into a red mush.

This was how the subjects found the house. Inside they looted the house, killed a mephit or two who resisted and befriended the Kobold. At last Daverick stood at the door to the Mage's Bedroom. I remember the fear in my chest as I watched him slowly open it. The Golem took no notice thank the gods. He was stupidly running through the last commands his malfunctioning brain invented for itself. Oskar in the clay room had found the things head, quite detached. Apparently he began poking and prodding the thing, and as that was where most of the Earth Elemental's Spirit was attached the Golem's body began swinging around madly to fend off the agitator. When Oskar crushed the head the Golem's body went effectively insane. It hurtled itself out the building and onto the street below. Whompt leaped out with his axe drawn in true crazed barbarian style. A pity he struck the ground. The others followed, either inspired by his jump or actually running outside the normal way. I admit, there was a moment of despair for me, when the beat felled a member of the guard with a single blow. They were injured, how could they hope to weather such heavy attacks? But they carved chunks out of the beast with conviction. Kata put his sorcery to work on the head and destroyed the core of the beasts spirit. Finally, Oskar delivered the last strike that fully released the tormented spirit of the Golem.

Tomorrow the party will set out again. Will they heed the god Alkaios and make for Tsurlangol? If they do will it be the path over the earthspur mountains or will they make for Raven's Bluff and get a ship directly to the city? Questions, questions.

[Rem-13]

Third tenday of Mirtil, fourth-day,

Good Oak, The Vast

So raven's bluff it is. A good choice. It is the fastest and arguably safest route. But they still have to get there, and the road is long, with its own dangers. Not the least of which is themselves. I don't think I can properly relate the sinking feeling I saw as yet another argument broke out among my subjects, and watched it spiral out of control. Twice. The first was in the tavern, and thank the gods it was halted from escalating through an appearance by Alkaios. It was only a temporary truce. On the road they continued sqaubbling, then fist fighting, until Thamunal the dwarvish rouge drew his blade. Oh how I wished for Alkaios to return to stop them. But he did not. Whompt slew Thamunal with a single mighty swing. Perhaps this was a bit of wisdom on the mighty being's part, not to intervene. It would show them he would not always be there one, and two it would let the problems work themselves out. But one of my subjects was dead and I despaired nonetheless. Until his body disappeared.

Hours later and much road behind the group Thamunal returned and seemed less... confrontational in the process. It was good they were finally showing some union. They were soon to come face to face with a orc-fashioned toll. Four of the beasts stood there proclaimed the road under Alkaios's jurisdiction, and demanded gold to pass. The party saw through the thinly veiled ruse and clashed. My hopes for a unified party was shaken when they once again bickered over the spoils.

They are in Good Oak now, a handful of huts and houses. Lets hope they can keep it together.

[Rem-13]

Third tenday of Mirtil, fifth-day,

Griff's End, The Vast

I have grown lax in my notes but I hope to make it up in this entry. Whompt separated from the group after an ambush on the way into town, and once they lied their way through he gates they split further, one to the tavern, the other to the Eldritch Emporium, a magic shop owned by an elf mage named Siver.

Siver agreed to aid in their mission to free the town from its overlord under one condition: they prove their capability. I admit I am a bit excited to see what they do to earn his esteem.

Conversely Whompt used his heritage to infiltrate the monstrous ranks of Griff's End, and was held high in the Bugbear commanders eyes for killing Pound, a huge lizardfolk barbarian, in their gladiator pit.

All in all this is what the party has gathered for information as to thier enemies and the situation in town.

• The Timberwolf Hoard began the construction of wooden walls around the place and started up patrols of one hobgoblin and four orcs a squad to constantly keep order. Goblin archers stand on raised platforms above the walls, exposed but with a good view of the surrounding area.
  
  
• The wall is close to being completed through the forced labor (i.e. slaves) of the townspeople and goblins. The same slave labor built a Town Center and a new prison complex for dissenters.
  
  
• Orin, the grey dwarf leader of the invasion, has not been seen since his arrival. He is extremely secretive, and so they hear, very paranoid. Few can get passed the clerk to see him.
  
  
• The only traffic in and out is the few ranchers and farmers allowed to keep their trade to feed the town. Very little of course trickles down to the humans. The humans have to pay tribute in silver under penalty of death.
  
  
• The hatred for the occupiers runs deep and word has fast spread of the new arrivals, even within the first minutes, and how they are mercenaries in their employ. This cover is a doubled edged sword, protecting them from the TW Clansmen, but alienating them from the townsfolk.
  
  
• Wesley, leader of the plainswalkers a group of ranger charged with the protection of the town, is going to launch an attack on the walls when they send his vole back to him.
  
  

Their plan is still half formed at this point but with an assault form outside the focus of defense I think they plan to enter and assault Orin and remove them by killing their leadership. If this is to work there needs to be a stronger presence than the rangers themselves. Perhaps Sivers famous illusions will aid in distracting? Or what if they bend the townsfolk's anger and use it to spark a revolt? Can Whompt's new status as a TW warrior give them the upper hand or will his duties just get in the way? So many possibilities, and so much chance for failure. Excitement and terror for my subjects seem to be wrestling for control.