Location: Bar Khadan
Direction: Unknown
The past week has been unexpectedly riddled with doubt, fear,
and caution.
When we returned to watch Matsuko Matsushita after the battle
with the large vegetative creature, we were surprised to find her
in the same location. There seemed to have been no significant
change in her own status or those of her recently adopted
comrades. Matsushita was continuing to interact closely with the
elven mage, Alakceleb, and was maintaining a pointed distance from
the others. As they proceeded to move on into the next cavern of
the tunnel system, we noticed at the far end of the room six
figures that Joran swears to have been guardians. If this is true,
Matsushita has, in fact, found her way into the dragon.
Joran was unable to determine her precise location based on the
chamber or the appearance of the guardians. What is more
significant is that the minute we had watched the party enter the
chamber and catch sight of these guardians, we were violently torn
from the scry. As none of us had ever experienced such an abrupt
removal, even when encountering various magical shields and
defensive spells, there was a few hours' panic and fear.
We were eventually able to settle down ourselves and calm
Likat, who seemed convinced that we had been the targets of some
offensive spell of unknown origin. No one had suffered any injury
and it can only be assumed that these guardians possess a powerful
magic that can prevent unwanted spies from watching that which
they guard.
Since we cannot be entirely certain that the guardians were the
source of this event, we have been forced to proceed with
particular caution.
We were, however, able to attempt several extremely brief
scries before locating Matsushita again ascending a large
underground staircase with the same party as before. As the scry
was very brief out of necessity, we saw nothing of interest and
the viewing served only to confirm that Matsushita and her
companions travelled via the gateway and perhaps proceeded to the
surface.
I send my apologies to Corienne and the others who were
concerned for our safety during our long silence. We had to be
certain that communication was once again safe.
We have now resumed our regular watching schedule, though each
viewing has been shortened out of caution.
Our most recent scry found Matsushita in the Merchant's Quarter
of the underground city of Bar Khadan near the Copper Clan
stronghold of the People of the Hammer. She was rather
inexplicably shaping stone with the Great Oak Astarkin. We saw
none of her companions and Faile was conspicuously missing, but
Olc Aiche was by her side. We can conceive of no reason why she
would be working with Astarkin, though it is not unusual that the
two would have found each other. I believe we can assume that her
time with Astarkin will not be long, as I can think of no way that
she would be able to uphold her oath to Eogabul while undertaking
such activities. There is also the possibility that Astarkin is
holding her under duress, but I will leave it to Atimile to
attempt to contact Astarkin directly if she so desires.
Still accounted for: Olc Aiche, the Eagle scimitar, and the
full set of Eogabul's gifts.
We eagerly await more information from those of you gathering.
More importantly, we await further instructions regarding the
continuation or interruption of scries and the possibility for
contacting Matsushita.
Next scry scheduled in 06h00m.
Emrin
Were on guard for abominations. Heard rushing water -
seemed to be coming closer although we had stopped. So started to
brace for cave flood.
[Click on image for larger version.
It's worth it.]
|
Then realized sound was overhead, coming through cracks, and saw
first beetle. First, of course, of many. Size of a fist,
jewel-faceted body with a sort of globular abdomen, pretty thing.
Druid tried to shape the cracks closed but they dissolved away the
rock - maybe a sevendozen. My art not built to fight swarms of
bugs, so just took off running with wagon, hoped others would
follow. Druid's bird, however, saw yummy bugs and pounced. Was
promptly encased in sort of glassy cocoon by bugs. Wolf and
Matsuko then went in to try to pull out bird, Grettir standing by
to pull out druid, meanwhile second swarm came down onto Koren,
who was throwing magic through the swarms, taking out a fair
number of the bugs. (Parna also did well with druid light-zap
thingy.) Dizyk and I eventually got Koren out, who was pretty
etched up (offered to help fix him up later but couldn't make
heads or tails of his workings).
But the bugs got the falcon. Faieel. Matsuko went all
vengeful-fury, called up the roly-poly fire thing and started
toasting bugs. Don't blame her, that's a hell of a way to lose a
companion. Dunno if the druids do memorial stuff or anything,
would like to do something.
Meanwhile, shopping. Have made it to Bar-khenon... *lovely*
city, amazing archwork and inlay. Trying to bring self to part
with some of the sparklies for a magicked-up flying axe.
Especially as have an Outsider enemy who's apparently been in
town. Great. Have yet to hear of any kin being around; may send
another message home. Have been getting some odd looks and was
asked to write down my name and stuff at entrance to Dwarven part
of city. Did not go into too much detail as paper very weird place
to boast of deeds, and also do not spell so good. Most questions
so far come from innkeeper, who was chewing on a tab of aluminum -
not sure whether to take that as an insult or what. Copper-dwarves
very polite so far, but how long can that last.