Got magicked up and went to take on nasties in dungeon, along with new friend/acquisition of Ideh's, big, not-too-bright human called Wind. Didn't seem to believe us about Shadows and the like so gave firm instructions not to touch anything, stay close to Ideh, etc.Back in dungeon, no sign of Shadow but the wannabe-skeleton was in same spot, put himself back together, came out through bars again. Barg had done some hoodoo on his axe - I guess it really packed on the power because Barg just knocked that thing to pieces. It sort of faded back into the wall so we opened the door off the back of the dungeon and found a flayed body chained up on the far wall - about three weeks from the look. And smell. Pool of jet-black at feet with sort of shards round the edge. And as Barg stepped in, Shadow swung at him from behind door (he said it chilled him a bit, but the amulet seemed to be taking the brunt of it). Barg just sliced the Shadow, which sort of dissolved (they tell me... was on guard in corridor watching backs), then splashed the other thing all over and it vanished too. Not done yet, the wannabe-thing had emerged from the wall behind me (Barg had magicked up some rocks for me; spacked one off the wall but got it with the second pretty good) so Barg charged down there and vanished it too. Was like having the old Barg back.
Meanwhile Wind, wanting to help, jumped onto pile of bones in other cell and squished a rat. Not bad for first adventure.
Took bones, body up to courtyard; plan to bury on way out, for putting-to-rest, housecleaning purposes. Didn't want to touch nasty-looking magic dagger but will probably take when leaving so as not to leave for someone else. Explored first floor; found old ledger, Garhad seal-signet thing; saw a small room for a moment as from past, maybe at moment of massacre (heard rumbling/roaring in distance from behind - Mr. Big, I assume) complete with alarmed guy sticking head out. Vanished quickly - if happens again, everyone is to try to poke to see if we can touch it (and it us).
Got all the way around first floor and started in on second. Freaked out to see one of those porcelain dolls in pile of rotting toys at back of room. Approached very cautiously (to momentary bewilderment of Ideh and Wind) and sure enough it opened its eyes and had cryptic conversation. Tried to screw with tenses back at it and think I did confuse it for a moment - hah! Had to have words with Ideh over offer to use room - apparently humans think invitations give some sort of power to inviTEE? Go figure. They/it did seem to think that made it less fun. Also warned us to "watch out for courtyard at night".
And then found the Black Flame Storage Closet o' Unadulterated Evil, Or At Least Rather Obnoxious Attempt At Such. Ideh magicked the lock and went to open door - cross-bands of door slapped back and pinned him (hurting him in process, but he fixed himself up). Like to think I would have dodged that, although was damn fast. Pried him out of there, then Wind pitched wood through door, triggering sheet of cold blue flame to sweep through. Tried again, nothing; went in and looked around. Notable among items were a bunch of black robes with teardrop shape embroidered black-on-black on front (teardrop shape like Black Flame as done by people who can't draw, we assume), some scroll cases, and an empty trunk with false bottom in which found chalice, knife, and magicky-box (simple pin closure, but looked magicky to magic-vision, or so they tell me). We know they're into binding demons so I'm not real inclined to open box.
So, keep in current use by Killgarn & co, raising several questions: how often do they check in? how much of spirit activity is their doing and not residual from Garhad massacre? does mayor know about Black Flame site usage? *Assume* mayor not real fond of demon-summoners... drives down property values... but don't really know him, or them, all that well.
At this point, feel satisfied of grounds to move against, kill Killgarn and other Black Flame members. Necromancy the Old Wrongness; cannot be ignored. Must not let them be driven away only to continue work elsewhere. Perhaps... tidiest... if can take care of without having to explain to mayor about killing modern-day tax-paying cultists instead of old ghosts. Though may need backup, and will probably need more info from sage. Ugh; first undead and now a nest of evil wizards. And haven't even gotten through second floor, let alone third. And of course, Mr. Big possibly still around and active. Whatever he is.
Would like to finish exploring keep (except basement on other side of Akuren hole, which might put off), gather up stuff, bury bodies, come back to check out at night when at full strength and everyone's up on spells again. Do think by "stuff" we should take *everything* of Black Flame's... torture tools, robes, all magic stuff. Inclined to break or bury torture tools and perhaps shred and burn robes. Hold onto box, knife, chalice for further investigation. May have magic ways to track their stuff, but don't see choice - they must be closed down. Need to look into safe place to put box or safe way to open (probably best in long-term) - in magic circle? Suspect only locals with expertise to send contents home are Black Flame - may need way to coerce them to do so (look into).
Also, shinies in water under well-tentacle guy. Suspect coinage. Taking out well-beast moved several slots up priority list.
Telperest - Entry 216 - Hasha Ide <written in Rokanoi>I'm not quite sure why I invited our new friend along, but at least he has stayed out of the way. I met him in a bar in the lower city when I was collecting rumors (and not having a very good time of it). He's charming in an innocent sort of way. I think it was his name that intrigued me the most. You don't find too many people named Wind. Mostly I had a vague feeling he was special in some way.
Feelings and emotions aside, he was definitely strong and would be helpful with the "Cleanup" at the castle,. That proved true right away as he, Cor, and Barg managed to lift the portcullis enough that we could get through that way. Our first task was to eliminate the known threats dwelling under the castle.
We proceeded to the dungeon cells with Barg leading the way. Our bone spirit had set his bones back in place, but woke up as we entered. Bard had prepared some of his Gaijin magic to enchant his axe. He also gave the dwarf a few enchanted stones. The magic worked as we chased it off. Barg and I turned to explore the next room, where we quickly ran into the shadow-kami. Horribly twisted creature. It's very nature a frightening reminder of my scar. Thankfully, it was dispatched quickly as was a odd inky black apparition that also inhabited the next room.
The room was a horrible sight. Implements I have not seen since I began my journey. It did not bring back fond memories. The worse part was a corpse that was only a few weeks old. It did not bode well as apparently we are not the only people currently interested in the castle. Necromancer for sure as we found one of their dagger. A vicious little thing no doubt inhabited by twisted kami.
I left quickly as the place was unclean with the death. I left the gaijin to pick up the mess as I went to cleanse myself.
We began to explore the first level. It was fairly unremarkable except for a single room. As we entered, we were brought back to a brief memory of the terrible night long ago. We saw the vision of a young man coming out of the room and the vision quickly faded. Barg and Cor said they heard an explosion behind them, yet myself and Wind did not. The room was the castle's apothecary, though we did not find anything of value.
We continued our search on the second floor. We entered a child's room and Barg and Cor immediately went reacted to something. They started approaching a pile of children's dolls as if it would attack them. I gave Wind a funny look, but soon learned my gaijin companions had reasons for their actions. A small ornate doll suddenly moved and began talking. It reminded me of something from Rokanoi history, but I could not place it. I'll need to consult the Sage when I get back to the lower city.
Cor made the foolish offer inviting the thing to stay. It thankfully declined and left, but said it would be back. Cor and I had quick words. Apparently it's her clan's custom to invite anybody to stay. Foolish custom.
We then came to another clue as to our competitors for the castle. We found a closed and locked door. The door was trapped which I quickly found out to my own detriment. It pinned me sharply against the wall. The next trap was cleverly disarmed by our new friend Wind. He threw some wood into the next room which was quickly frozen by a spell. We then went through what was apparently a vault for the Necromancers. Amongst other things was a strange box which was locked with a single pin. We were unsure as whether to open it or not...
<to be continued next week>
Dear Mister YimenIt is with great saddness that I am resigning as your stable hand. The thing is... I'm rich! After running a job for the local magistrate, I stumbled on enough money to keep me going for more than a decade! That's 15 gold pieces! Can you believe that? As a hired hand I was lucky to get a up to a gold piece a year.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that the band of adventurers I did this job with seem like a competent lot, though they talk kind of funny. They say things like "Through the magic stone at it!" or "maybe I should get a displacer beast as a familiar". I have no idea what that means, but I do know that they are very powerful.
For instance, Ide appears to be a holy man of some sort: he wiggled his fingers and muttered and my outer-tunic began to glow with a holy fire. I think he might be one of those... what do you call those thingies? Oh yes - conceptual spiritualists, perhaps he draws his magic from the concept of mischief...
Barg is a really fierce warrior that kills stuff fast. I think that Barg could sneeze and kill things by accident - I'll have to duck if that happens. He killed a bunch of bones, a shadow, and some water! Ok... so that doesn't really sound too impressive after all. But Barg's a really fiece warrior.
Cor is pretty intimidating too, but in a more pensive way. You can see when Cor is thinking. He... she? (not sure) spends a bunch of time saying things like "Yeah Barg, you rock dude!" or "Dude, hands off the armor".
I'm learning things too! Did you know that when things die, they don't always really die? They kind of undie... or unlive? Crap, I can't remember now. Anyway, if you jump on a rat and kill it, make sure you burn it up again otherwise it might undie again or live but not live and die instead... ? Ok, so I might not have that quite figured out yet. Just watch out for rats, ok?
Anyway, thanks for employeeing me for the last two years.
Cheers, Wind