History for October 21st

Contents:

  1. Cor's Secret Diary
  2. Grettir - A Letter

Cor's Secret Diary


[Click on image for larger version. It's worth it.]
Let's see. Dizyk point-blank refusing to share any useful details of his plural past encounters with gates and guardians, Quicksilver picking fights in a tavern, with *mages*, thanks but the duel arcane not what I want to see over my tankard rim - I am stone. I am tranquility, I am the way, I am not pissed off at these people. Right.

When we entered the Noon Hall the six Guardians - winged mannikins in the pear-shape mask - woke up and started talking to us in our heads. Where are you going and why. Tried to invoke guest-right for the others, free passage and fair dealings, but Guardians not even yielding to clan-right to look upon this work of ours. Told them I was going to walk the length and enter Nothoreadel. They said it was dangerous. Intruders - Emsariel trying to get in to Nothoreadel. I expressed my intent to kill him, they expressed their interest in having him killed, and we - the whole party - made a contract to deal with him in trade for free passage through the Delving gates and possibly some aid like shortcuts. Sent us to Halient in Coumaris where we came out, who gave me a map of the next leg (the "leg" of the "dragon", in fact). Been some changes. Guess Cataclysms will do that.

Quicksilver staying behind for now, some research thing. Perhaps just as well after glue-hexing those mages, in a *tavern commonroom*. Copper-Clan settlements up ahead and clanfolk I know not likely to let someone walk away from a dirty trick like putting magic on them while they're at ale.

Thosophin - Emsariel - is here. Somewhere. That's the fulcrum, the rest is swing. Haven't faced a foe like this since Senet, really. Khielgarn maybe. Will take all of us and each needfully to bring him down - must see the path far ahead enough to be ready. He's a flyer, must take away his flight. He can walk the Shorter Path, must close his doors. Parna needs to reveal himself, can be no hesitation in fighting full force. He was made in fire, does he use fire? Can the Druid protect us? I will not lose this chance to hesitation. And no foe, not even a demon, can stand against true necessity.

Grettir - A Letter

Dear Llevana,

I must be brief as space is scarce. Since last I wrote, my adventures have taken a new and unexpected turn. After entering the town of Cumaris, the destination I spoke of in my last letter, I met up with a strange wanderer named Dizyk. Where he hails from, I know not, but he seems to have...profitable knowledge. At any rate, we traveled underground into a vast system of tunnels, where we were trapped when a stair case fell behind us. We met another party of wanders, a most unusual group. There is Cor, a dwarven martial artist, who seems to lead the party. He has knowledge of this cave system, which was made by his people, and so we banded together in a mutual attempt to escape. With him is Quicksilver, a free spirited elvish magic user who does her own thing and likes to fly. I have only heard stories about the elves, and lets just say they don't do them justice. The third of this party is a young man named Seerak, who is an adventurer of sorts, although he seems to hate being outdoors and cares only for good food and fine clothing. There's something strange about him too, but I can't put my finger on it.

Later that night, after nearly losing Seerak to a strange and terrifying monster, a woman basically just appeared in the night. Matsuko, a Rokanoi druid, claims she was transported via a dream, which would sound like nonsense, had I not seen all the things I've seen. At any rate, she is mysterious and distant, as all druids, though she has proved loyal to the party a number of times. We six then continued on through the caverns. I cannot describe the wonders we encountered there, or the horrors, for lack of space, but let me say that I have seen the sun and the stars shine underground, I have been swallowed alive by a plant and cut my way out, and I have passed through a gateway that connects two distant places. In the process, I have acquired a new quest, one noble and worthy. We will hunt a great evil, and in the process travel through the Bones of the Dragon, to whatever fortune, or ruin, lies at the end. Perhaps in completing this quest, I can earn your father's respect, or perhaps I shall earn another scar. Fate will go as it must.

This all must sound like foolishness to you, sitting in your beautiful garden in quiet Saleth. Perhaps it is. Either way, I shall return for you, and we shall continue where we left off.

With Love,
Grettir