[Dungeons & Dragons 3.5] Shadows of Greatness, part 34-38

34. Death to My Enemies (The Cloven Mountains - the Claws of Winter)

Once we had defeated the first group of orcs and ogres, we determined to move down the slope toward the two campfires we had seen during the night, hoping that perhaps our latest foes had come from one of those locations.  Rock forged ahead to scout a path for us.  At about mid-morning we reached the first campsite and found it empty.  Rock surveyed the site and informed us that it had been abandoned perhaps only an hour before our arrival.  He saw evidence that there had been approximately 5 ogres and 10 orcs resting at that spot.  Their tracks led in the direction of the second camp.

As we followed the tracks, Nikos and myself caught sight of movement among the trees ahead of us.  I glimpsed an orc peering back at me and rode forward to confront it.  From my right I saw Phaele hurl a ball of lightning at an ogre.  My target ran behind a tree and I pursued him to find that another of his kin was nearby.  Two ogres also appeared and I soon found myself surrounded.  I drew both my blades and guided Aratan with my knees as I struggled with them.

With four foes and a tree blocking my view I could not see my friends, but they told me later what took place.  Phaele hung back and aimed her spells at many enemies, while Liadan stood with her so that our doughty flame-haired mage would not be unprotected.  Though she chafed not to join the fray, Liadan was able to send out her summoned spell-mace to attack in her stead.  Nekaya rode forward astride Pekuah to face both an orc and ogre.  My friend Rock also eagerly battled one of each type.  Erim found himself face to face with an orc, but before he could engage it Nikos had brought it down with his arrows.

We heard one of the ogres bellow out something that might have been a war cry, little good though it did him.  My blades found the flesh of my foes again and again, and my brave Aratan even attempted to strike them with his hooves, though with little success.  Soon I had only one ogre left beside me, and Rock ran up to strike it down with a mighty blow of his hammer.  Two orcs struck him as he passed by them but he seemed not to notice their blows. 

As the last ogre fell, it grew quiet in the woods, until we heard the harsh cries of birds overhead.  Liadan called out that these were storm crows, a larger and more dangerous breed than ordinary crows.  We wondered if they might be minions or summoned creatures of the ogre shamans, but there was no way to know.  Phaele considered blasting them from the sky with her magics as they circled overhead, but there were too many and they did not fly close enough to one another. 

Then a great horn blast echoed from the direction of the ruined temple.  Liadan rode to my side and extended Lathander's grace to me for the wounds I had suffered from my enemies, for I had not gone unscathed in my fight.  We heard a crashing in the trees.  Several ogres and a giant emerged into our field of view. 

Rock went at once to face the giant.  Liadan cast a spell upon herself that permitted her to understand their speech.  It seems that they had been seeking us.  We met them eagerly.  Phaele let the giant feel one of her fireballs, and Liadan's magic mace began to pound upon his flesh.  I could see by the tension in Rock's stance that he had slipped into one of the cold rages he often enters during battle. 

Rock struck the giant a blow of such power that I thought the huge creature might fall to one strike, but it remained on its feet.  Liadan and Nekaya were near me, battling an ogre.  Erim ran behind them and called something out to Nikos that I could not quite make out.  He might have endowed us all with increased alacrity, but we stood too far apart for his spell to reach.  I found myself occupied with another ogre, this time facing him on foot as I had chosen not to subject Aratan to further danger.  I decided to forego striking with both my swords and instead leaped quickly away after each slash, thus forcing the ogre to keep moving about in order to swing at me.

A great flare of light came from Phaele's direction and pierced an ogre that had run up to her.  She calls this spell her 'thunder lance', an apt name in my opinion.  Nekaya struck down the ogre she and Liadan faced.  Liadan then called upon Lathander's power to blind the giant, though it seemed that her spell did not entirely succeed.  It wounded him but did not take his sight.  Nikos and Liadan both slew an ogre, and Nikos began to head toward the giant to aid Rock. 

An orc ran up between Rock and the giant, but Rock paid no attention to it and continued to punish the giant with his blows.  Phaele also began to move toward the giant.  Nekaya turned toward me to attack the ogre I faced.  Pakkin the goblin then ran up behind the orc that troubled Rock and stabbed it in the back with such a well-placed strike that the ogre fell almost at once.  Perhaps the goblin is not so useless as I had previously thought.

Then I heard a strange voice call out "Death to my enemies", seeming to come from Rock, but it did not sound like his voice.  The giant fell thunderously to the ground.  Overhead the storm crows screeched.  Liadan's floating mace struck down an orc, and the battle was done. 

It is still only the middle of the morning.  Now we must find a place to rest and recover ourselves before we begin our assault on the remainder of our foes at the ruined temple.

35. Going to Ground (The Cloven Mountains, the Claws of Winter)

All of us were still suffering from wounds we had incurred during our battles with the ogres and orcs, even after Liadan and Nekaya had offered us the healing mercies of Lathander and Horus-Re. We determined to seek a hiding place in which to rest and recover our strength before assaying an assault upon the remaining enemies amid the ruins.

It was suggested that in this rocky, sloping terrain we might seek out a cave large enough to accomodate our party. Rock considered this and offered the thought that the dire wolves we had previously slain might have had a lair in the vicinity. He began to follow the wolves' tracks in search of this lair. The circling storm crows continued to follow us as we traveled.

After a time Rock located the dire wolves' lair in a cave. The cave smelled strongly of wolf, so I remained with the horses to calm them while Rock and Liadan investigated the den. Rock reported that he could hear movement from within the wolf den. He found that it was still inhabited by a she-wolf and three cubs, each as large as a fully grown wolf of the ordinary variety. Nikos made to enter the den as well but Nekaya prevented him, suggesting that surely Rock and Liadan could manage this on their own.

Rock attempted to use his knowledge of wild creatures to calm the she-wolf when she reacted threateningly to his presence, but he failed to allay her fears. I was startled to hear him shout suddenly, "This being nice sh*t isn't working. Back off!" at the wolf. He was quite frustrated in his attempts to persuade the animal not to attack him. When he made to withdraw from the den she leapt at him and he was obliged to strike her with his hammer, though he made all effort to do her no actual injury. He told me later that he would have liked very much to take one of the cubs, for there was one that appeared to be the runt of the litter, but he could not get close enough to lay hands on the animal.

We agreed that this cave would not satisfy our needs, as it was not large enough to hold all of us and our horses, and in any case the horses would be very uncomfortable there amid the odors of wolves. We then set off in search of another location. Erim was most displeased with our choice to seek shelter in a cave; he felt that we might become trapped should the ogres track us to our lair. His fear was not unfounded, I confess, but the rest of us considered it more dangerous to be in the open where we might be surrounded or ambushed.

After some while Rock located a second cave, this one also not large enough to hold the horses, but there seemed no better choice. We made camp there, keeping the cave for ourselves and tethering the horses outside under guard. We had decided to rest until darkness and then move on, hoping that under cover of night we might elude the storm crows that followed us. Nikos had briefly entertained himself with shooting a crow, but to bring them all down would be a difficult task that would occupy us for a long while and risk wasting a good deal of arrows, as well as making our position more obvious to our enemies.

While we rested Nekaya asked Pakkin to search for another campsite we could move to after dark. It is peculiar to me that we have come to trust the goblin with our lives, but Nekaya is confident of his trustworthiness. When he returned he told us he could not find another cave suitable to our needs. We would have to camp in the open for the night.

Once darkness had arrived we began to move. We were able to remain under cover of the trees and thus avoid notice by most of the storm crows. We found a new campsite where we could settle, and Nikos perched in a tree all night to pick off the few storm crows that did pursue us.

Pakkin crept out once again to scout the ogre village, being small and much stealthier than any of the rest of us. Nikos is stealthy, but not skilled in the lore of the wilderness. The goblin reported to us that all of the remaining ogres and their compatriots were in the village amid the temple ruins. He did not see as many orcs or ogres as he had reported previously. We could not determine if this was because some of them had departed, or because Pakkin's skill at counting is barely adequate. He told us that there were 4 ogre shamans, 4 ogre bulls, 7 ordinary ogres, 13 orcs, and a female giant in their encampment.

Having these numbers in hand, we began to plan our attack on the ogre camp. We could not come to any agreement on a strategy that would allow us to avoid a frontal assault; the rough ground surrounding the ruins made this nigh impossible. We might have lingered near the descent from the ruins and ambushed passing ogres, but this would have taken far too much time and left us vulnerable to attack from behind, as there is a second path leading down from the terraces where the ruins lie. At last, over much protest from Phaele, who considers us all very foolhardy, we approached the ogre camp in full force and mounted, riding up the main path.

Erim and Phaele had prepared themselves with protective spells, and Erim now cast a spell upon all of our horses that would permit them to move with greater speed. This is a most effective spell. I rode to the forefront of our group since with the exception of mighty Pekuah, my Aratan is the steed most experienced in battle. Nekaya called upon Horus-Re to bless us with his divine might before the coming battle. Then Phaele hurled a ball of flame into the camp and the battle began.

We heard a great horn blast from the ogre camp and the thunderous footfalls of the giantess. I rode up into the beginnings of the ruins and turned Aratan off the path to my left. Rock dismounted and prepared to meet the giantess, who greeted him with an angry bellow of "Are you the one who killed my husband?" We shall have to call him Rock Giantslayer from now on.

An ogre rushed out and struck me with a javelin. I drew my blades and struck him in return, and as he had already been badly scorched by Phaele's fireball he fell. A second ogre struck Aratan a harsh wound. I sprang from the saddle and prepared to face my opponents on foot. As is always the case, I could see little of what my friends did, for my back was to them much of the time, and my view was blocked by the ruins. But I have persuaded them to tell me what they recall.

Before the rest of my friends could urge their mounts up the path, an ogre leapt off the cliff at Erim, injuring the mage but failing to knock him from his mount. The ogre then landed on the ground on his face and Phaele summoned up her magical lance to pierce him. Erim rode up behind the rest of the group, and when they dismounted he cast his spell of alacrity upon all of us who were within reach. I felt myself able to move with great swiftness, striking more times with my blade than I could under ordinary circumstances.

Nikos was hurling his darts at the ogres with the speed of a whirlwind. His projectiles hit home with deadly accuracy. Rock pounded the giantess with his hammer as though he were beating a spike into stone, and she fell far sooner than had her mate. Nekaya had dismounted, her hakra being an awkward weapon for use while on horseback, and Pakkin now rode Pekuah into battle. Unfortunately the goblin was badly wounded by an ogre.

Rock turned to face several of the ogres, including a shaman, near the pit we had discovered on our previous visit to the ruins. Suddenly the shaman vanished from sight, though Rock could sense that he was still near. Phaele had become quite a warrior for a sorcerer, piercing the ogres with her lance of arcane energy. Meanwhile Erim and Pakkin, both badly injured, were obliged to withdraw from their foes.

Rock slew two more ogres, and managed with his backswing during one blow to slay an orc as well! An ogre threatened dear Phaele, but she had cast a spell on herself that made her appear to be where she was not, and he could not strike her. The ogre shaman who had vanished reappeared and chilled Rock, Phaele and Nikos to the bone with a spell. Rock struck him down, but he appeared to have a trollish ability to regenerate his injured flesh, and it took Rock many blows to slay him.

A second shaman appeared in flight above Rock's position. He attempted to cast some spell at my dwarven friend and ordered Rock to attack the rest of us, but his magic failed to affect the dwarf. Unfortunately Nikos could not see that the spell had failed, Rock being in one of his cold rages at that point, and Nikos hit Rock with several darts in an effort to deter him from harming his friends. At the time Nikos did not realize how badly hurt the dwarf was. Though he aimed his darts so they would cause little harm, Rock was very near the edge of death.

Phaele stabbed an orc with her lance, then shot a jet of flame at a bull ogre. From behind me, Erim cast a spell that caused three ogres before me to lose speed. On reflection it is rather amusing to think of myself darting about like Phaele's little companion Zahi, while the three ogres lumbered toward me with the swiftness of snails. But my speed did not save me from the power of their blows when they reached me.

Pakkin and Pekuah had not been able to escape the ogres on the opposite side of the path from my position. Pekuah  managed to bring down one who had earlier been injured by one of Phaele's fireballs, I believe. Nekaya then leapt away from slaying ogres to go to the aid of her little goblin friend. I had seen that Erim was also badly wounded and attempted to draw the ogres away from him. Nikos managed to eliminate one of my foes. Despite his wounds, Rock leaped up to strike the flying shaman from the sky, then peered down into the pit, where he heard the roars of something large and the sound of rattling chain.

Liadan and Phaele had been occupied in trying to eliminate the ogre bull who had tried to knock Erim from his horse earlier, but this one seemed almost indestructible. Liadan had been most frustrated that her spells failed to harm her foes as she wished. Nikos went to help them, and at last the bull fell. Phaele then began directing spells at an ogre shamaness who stood farther up the slope. Erim also fired his magic missiles at the shamaness.

Rock came vaulting over two sections of ruined wall to come to my aid. By this time I was almost as badly wounded as was he, both of us ragged and dripping blood. When he arrived he was so weary he could not aim his hammer and his blows missed their target. Then the ogre struck him in return and the dwarf fell. I shouted out to Liadan to come quickly to my friend's aid. She galloped to his side and leaned out of the saddle to call forth Lathander's healing power. Had she not been so near I doubt that Rock could have been saved.

Praise Corellon that she was close by, for moment's later a second ogre struck me and I, too, was plunged into that darkness that is so near to death. I am told that Nekaya was across the battlefield ministering to Pakkin, who had very nearly died as well, but she soon raced across to bring Horus-Re's grace to us. Our enemies had all been slain, though I am certain I have failed to properly account for them all here in my writings.

Then Nikos went to peer down into the pit, and heard the sound of chain snapping...

36. In the Pit (Cloven Mts., the Claws of Winter)

As I recovered from my nearly fatal wounds under the ministrations of Liadan, I was able to sit up and rest my back against the well that lay among the ruins. It was recalled to me later that one of the ogres I had fought had fallen down it when Erim's spell of slowing affected him. Nearby, my friend Rock was being treated by both Liadan and Nekaya, who had only barely saved Pakkin's life moments earlier. How close I was to awaiting my Erendis in Arvandor. I should be sorry to leave the mortal realm so soon, for dwarves cannot come to the realm of the Seldarine. I murmured prayers of thanks to Corellon Larethian for sparing my life a while longer.

It was still only mid-morning by the time we had slain all of the orcs and ogres. While I recuperated my strength, Nikos, who had survived the battle without harm, let a rope down into the pit to discover the source of the noises he had heard. Lighting his way with a sunrod, he set to examining the underground structure, which he had not seen before. He reported later that he saw a large beast, going about on two legs, but it had no eyes whatsoever. None of us could determine what manner of creature it might be. When the eyeless thing appeared to detect Nikos' presence, it let out a piercing cry that caused his rope to disintegrate to dust. Nikos had begun to climb up out of the pit once he saw the size of the creature, and this event very nearly tumbled him back down. Nekaya was waiting at the surface and was able to catch hold of his arm and draw him up.

Once Rock and I were on our feet once more, we debated what to do about the creature in the pit. Deciding we should do nothing in our current depleted condition, my friends and I set about removing the corpses of our foes to a central location at the edge of the terrace, and searching them for anything of interest or value. The ogres carried quite a substantial quantity of coin, which we discovered when we moved uphill to the actual temple remains, where the ogre shamans had been lodging. Liadan cast a spell to examine some of the items we had taken from the bodies. She found a number of magical objects, including two swords, a pair of bracers, a ring, and a staff. When Rock and Nikos examined the bracers they learned that these would resize themselves to suit the wearer, and Nikos attested that he felt better able to use his bow while wearing them. As he and I are the only members of our party who often use a bow, we may take it in turns to use the power of the bracers.

We set up our camp in the remains of the temple. After our evening meal, Nikos approached Rock and sought his forgiveness for attacking him when he thought my friend had been enspelled by the ogre shaman. I think the blow to the abdomen that he took was more than sufficient punishment for his transgression.

At sunset Liadan decided to attempt to open the portal through which we had arrived from Cormyr so many months ago. She did not know if this portal would pass in both directions, or if it might open onto some entirely different location than where we had originally come from with our missing companions. But she felt it would be useful if perhaps we needed to make a retreat. Sadly she could not make the portal function. She believes this is because Covenant aided her on the first occasion.

On the following morning we rose and prepared to return to the pit to pursue removal of the eyeless creature. Liadan once more attempted to open the portal, this time with aid from Nekaya, but they had no more success than on the previous evening. As we neared the pit we saw that scavengers had been at the bodies of the slain ogres - including the storm crows that had followed us in previous days.

Liadan had sought Lathander's grace to cast a spell of silencing on an amulet Rock wears. We hoped this would prevent the creature from harming us with its powerful cries. Nekaya called on Horus-Re's blessings to protect us, and Erim cast his spell of haste upon us. Then we all descended into the pit, with the exception of Nikos and Phaele, who chose to remain on the surface in the event we should need their aid to escape.

I had seen little of the underground structure on our previous visit, but Liadan pointed out with dismay that the creature appeared to have severely damaged the inscriptions on the walls. The creature waited in a side passage, dragging a length of chain that was stapled to the floor. It had a second piece of chain about its neck that had broken, explaining the sound Nikos had heard. It attempted to screech at us as we approached but Liadan's spell held and we could hear nothing. In the passage beyond the creature we could see a sort of box or cupboard such as the others had described to me during our first visit to the ruins.

The creature seemed confused when its cries did not affect us. It was obviously very able to sense its surroundings despite its lack of sight. When Rock attempted to subdue it with a blow of his hammer it leapt forward threateningly, so I struck with my blades. It attempted to claw at Rock with its short arms, to no avail. Rock stunned it, and I then slashed it several more times, though I did not slay it. Rock then smashed the chain that held it.

While Rock and I subdued the creature, Liadan and Nekaya examined the remaining inscriptions on the walls. They found one area, directly opposite the passage in which the creature was chained, where the plaster surface had not been as badly damaged. This was peculiar as the area was directly in the creature's path when it roamed the length of its chain. Liadan determined that the area was enchanted in some way, though she could not discern quite how. She thought perhaps it might be another portal but could not provoke any response from it.

Erim attempted to dispel the magic but met with no success. While examining the curious box-like construction at the end of the passage, he found that there was a hidden opening above it. We then realized that the underground chambers were in fact a curving passage with five shorter straight passages radiating off of it, in the form of a stylized sunburst - the emblem of the long-lost deity Elishar whose temple this had once been. Each of the passages ended in one of the stone shapes with a hidden opening above it. The stone shapes were not boxes or cupboards as had first appeared. They had a sloping section at the top, with the angled portion facing the hidden openings. When the first opening was cleared a shaft of sunlight shot through and reflected from the angled surface.

All of the stones had been covered with leather, which we now removed. Erim was able to open two more of the shafts with spells, but the inscription on the wall indicated that there should be a central doorway or shaft that we could not locate. It appears that we will need to dig for it in the center of the sunburst. When Nekaya prayed to Horus-Re for guidance the shafts glowed slightly. It recalls to me that once our battle with the ogres had ended, I noticed that she was glowing softly with a golden light.

In the meanwhile, Rock and Nikos had hauled the unconscious creature up from below, and set it free once it regained its senses. It did not appear to be very grateful for their efforts, for it screamed at them before it departed, doing them some minor damage. The world beyond the Hidden Hills is indeed full of peculiar things. I only wish that Erendis were here to share the wonder with me. Thanks be to Lord Corellon that I may continue to seek her.

37. The Chamber of Dawn

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We had determined that at the end of each of the five radial passages in the underground structure stood an angled reflecting column. Above each column was a cunningly designed trap door intended to admit sunlight. We at once set about uncovering the columns and opening the trap doors. The shafts above the trap doors were all blocked by many years of debris. I stood upon one of the reflecting columns while Rock steadied me, and found that there was a circular catch, apparently intended to be opened by a priest or servitor using a pole. By stretching my arm as far as I could reach, I was able to depress the catch. Rock and I scarcely managed to avoid the fall of earth and stones that tumbled in when the trap door openend. A brilliant shaft of noontime sunlight flowed down the shaft and into the passage in which we stood. Much to my surprise, the light flowed around the bend in the passage without hesitation. We followed the light into the curving main passage and saw that it turned the corner into that corridor in a most unnatural manner.

Erim had managed to open another of the shafts from above, and now light shone from all five passages. When the rays of light met in front of the magical section of wall that Liadan and Nekaya had examined earlier, the wall vanished, revealing another passageway. We had suspected that there must be a hidden chamber in the center of the arc formed by the curved corridor, since the symbol of Elishar included a dot at the center of its arc.

Liadan approached the new passage with much interest. Nekaya descended into the subterranean structure and joined her in the entrance to the passageway. Strangely, though we could see a clear passage, we could also see an image of solid earth in that space. At the end of the passage a small circular room was just visible. Strange lights glimmered from within the chamber.

Liadan and Nekaya went first toward the circular room. Within it we could now see a small dais in the center of the floor, and murals upon the walls. Something shining in the form of a man stood upon the low dais, the beam of sunlight halting where it struck this shape.

As the two young ladies made to enter the chamber, a voice spoke in a tongue I could not understand. But Nekaya appeared to recognize the words. She told us that the figure had said that as we did not bear a certain mark, we were not welcome in this place. The figure now resovled itself into a man-like creature seemingly made of white crystal. Then the light within the chamber pulsed twice, and two more crystalline entities appeared, one of green and the other black in color. The black crystal man assumed an threatening stance, while the green figure stood at the rear of the room, watching us with its featureless face.

I was so concerned with the threat of these crystalline things that I hardly noticed the murals upon the walls. Rock told us later he had noticed that they, too, were all in shades of white, green and black. The different sections of color intertwined in an intricate pattern, and where one color crossed another the images within appeared different. The green images were all obviously of our world, Toril, and showed pleasant pastoral scenes. The white images appeared even more pleasant and brilliant. But the black scenes were difficult to make out. Where the black and green scenes intermingled, the imagery became less pleasant, showing scenes of decay and destruction. Rock could not make anything out where the black and white bands mingled.

Nekaya began to speak in her native Mulan tongue, conversing with the white crystal figure. It told her that this room was known as the Chamber of Dawn, but it gave her little other information. It appeared to her that as none of us carried the emblem of Elishar, the crystal beings that were the chamber's guardians would not give us any information. Then Erim called out to us that the light was fading, and we hurriedly exited the Chamber of Dawn. Once the noon light vanished from the tunnels, the wall reappeared across the end of the hall that led to the chamber.

We decided to remove ourselves to the upper temple area uphill, where the portal lay, and seek further knowledge from that ruined structure. Sadly most of the murals and carvings there had been much damaged, perhaps by the presence of the ogres. We rested there for the remainder of the day while Nekaya carved herself a likeness of Elishar's emblem to wear. Curiously, as Rock told us more of what he had seen in the murals, he indicated that he had noticed a structure in the form of a bird, shown in yellow in the green band of images. This sounded to Liadan like an illustration of Morningdawn Hall, a great temple of Lathander that lies in Shadowdale. But this hall is not yellow; it is made of rose-colored glass. None of us could fathom why it would be shown in yellow, nor how it came to be depicted in a mural in a structure that was made long before Morningdawn Hall came into existence. Perhaps, as Elishar was a god of prophecy, these murals portray events that have not yet come to pass.

After a quiet night, we determined to investigate the Chamber of Dawn once again, hoping that Nekaya's new symbol would gain us more information. Before noon we spent our energies in preparing to disguise the shafts above the trapdoors, so that when we departed this place we might hide them from prying eyes. As noon neared we descended to the tunnels once again to await the opening of the Chamber. This time Nikos and Phaele came with us, so that fresh eyes might observe the chamber's interior.

When the Chamber opened I remained at the end of the entry passage to watch for the fading of the sunlight. Erim had also joined the others, and both he and Liadan called upon the powers of magic to allow them to understand the speech of the crystal guardians, though they would not be able to communicate with the guardians themselves. This magic required them both to touch Nekaya so that they might comprehend the words. In this manner they all proceeded down to the Chamber of Dawn when the entrance appeared.

On this occasion, when the white guardian saw the symbol Nekaya wore, it receded into a crystal nodule that was set into the wall. Liadan then stepped across the low dais, and observed that she felt infused with a positive energy. She attempted to expend a power granted her by Lathander, and found that her power was restored immediately rather than having to wait until the following dawn. Nekaya also trod upon the dais and felt a similar experience.

Phaele examined the murals upon the walls intently. She speculated that the black band represented the Plane of Shadow, but while it seemed logical that the white band then represented a Plane of Light, no such plane was known to exist to her knowledge. She also told us that there was so much magic in the chamber that for a moment when she cast the spell to detect it, she was blinded by the energy.

Sadly our time in the Chamber of Dawn was too brief to glean anything further. We retreated once again as the sun moved on its endless course and its rays grew too dim to activate the magic. Once we returned to the surface we spent some while covering the trap doors, and Liadan used Lathander's grace to seal up the hole that had been broken in the ceiling of the curved corridor. We then decided to spend the remainder of the day traveling toward Camber. We had realized that it must now be the beginning of Spring, and soon our friend Billy Tanner would celebrate his nuptials. As visiting Camber would not take us far out of our way should we continue toward Calimshan, we decided to go and wish the Tanners well.

We found the river much higher than it had been when we passed heading toward Arrabar. We took the time to make our way back to the ford to cross the waters. This carried us near to the Winterwood once again. As we rode quietly along the edge of the wood, Liadan appeared to catch sight of something no one else could see. She suddenly spurred Shadowcast away from us, then began riding to and fro in a most curious manner. When we caught up with her and Rock called out to ask her what she was doing, she announced that Califax was galloping toward her repeatedly and then veering aside!

We all recalled how she had claimed to see Califax running ahead of her during our last visit to this place, and suspected some phantasm. But when the mages sought for evidence of magic, they felt some stirring as the image of the great steed drew nearer. Each time Liadan rode toward Califax he would turn aside, then circle back to approach. At last, Liadan dismounted and stood her ground when the horse moved toward her. Suddenly she staggered, and at once all of us could see Califax there, just completing a powerful kick with both of his rear legs!

Though Califax had often snapped or kicked at Liadan when she groomed him, this kick did not seem as petulant as his previous behavior. He continued to kick and bite her as she stood before him. Liadan grew angry with his viciousness and blasted him with holy light, though her first attempt seemed not to touch him. Rock had also dismounted and stood behind her, and I now urged Aratan up to stand guard at her other side. Nekaya moved nearer astride Pekuah.

Shadowcast was standing behind Rock at this time, and quite unexpectedly began to attack my friend. Her behavior was odd and unnatural, as though she did not truly wish to strike at him, and as she is not a trained warhorse her kicks were weak. We all recalled that in the past Califax had shown the ability to control other horses when he led us to Gadron's hidden lair.

Shadowcast kept striking out at Rock, and Rock grew frustrated with the horse's attentions. He attempted to calm her but his efforts had no effect. He then struck her a mighty blow with his fist, and she toppled to the ground! Truly my friend has a prodigious might. But I was too concerned with what occurred between Califax and Liadan to give much thought to Shadowcast. For after Rock struck down Liadan's horse, he then stepped nearer and remarked to Liadan that perhaps this behavior was some test of her worthiness.

Liadan then caught hold of Califax's mane when he stepped closer to bite her, and vaulted upon his back. He wore no bridle or saddle, only a blanket that was near to slipping off. When Liadan sprang astride him he bolted away from us. Nekaya reacted more quickly than I and sent Pekuah galloping after him, and I followed a moment later. Aratan is swifter than Nekaya's great steed, and I was quickly able to catch up to the disturbed Califax. Liadan was clinging on his back with great determination, but when he carried her into a low-hanging tree limb she could not maintain her grip and fell to the ground.

Liadan scrambled to her feet, but Califax loomed over her in a most aggressive manner and renewed his attacks upon her. He now appeared extremely threatening to my eyes, and I doubted that Rock's suggestion was accurate. Something was seriously amiss with Califax. Liadan shouted angrily that Califax would never try to harm her in this way, and continued blasting him with Lathander's divine light. Earlier Nikos had flung a number of darts unerringly at the horse, and Califax was now burnt and bloodied, but showed no sign of relenting.

I rode up to him as Liadan once again sprang onto his back, and was able to catch hold of his ear. This obviously irritated him greatly but I was able to maintain my grip against his tossing head for a few moments. Then he pulled free of my grasp and Liadan tumbled to the ground again. Califax made as if to trample her and I swiftly pushed Aratan in his way. He then began circling about, seeking an opening to renew his attacks. I kept Aratan moving, always interposing my faithful mount between Califax and Liadan.

Nekaya provided healing to Liadan and joined me in blocking Califax's approach. He had become so persistent that I drew my sword and shouted to him in anger that he would die if he attempted to harm Liadan again. His eyes were wild and I felt that my words meant nothing to him, though I had known him to have the intelligence of a man. Then Liadan decided to call upon Lathander's power in the manner that she would employ to turn aside an undead thing. She stepped between Pekuah and Aratan to aim her spell. As Califax lunged toward her once again, he was rebuffed by some invisible force. Suddenly he reared, blood and foam flying from his lips, and emitted a harsh scream that echoed among the trees. Then he vanished.

38. Sorrows and Celebrations

---

In the aftermath of Califax's disappearance we stood in silence for a moment, startled by how far the struggle had carried us from our companions. Liadan was much distressed in both spirit and body. Once she had called upon Lathander's mercy, we made our way back to our friends whose mounts had been delayed by Erim's spell. Phaele was quite cross with Pakkin for taking her horse without her leave. Liadan was also displeased with Rock's treatment of Shadowcast. I assisted my friend in helping the horse to her feet.

Once we had all recovered a bit from those strange events, we discussed making camp at that spot, though it was only midday. We thought that perhaps Liadan would wish to rest following her upsetting encounter, but she desired that we continue our journey toward Camber as soon as possible. In the end, however, we chose to remain where we were. Erim sent a spell into the Winterwood in hope of contacting Gadron.

While Nekaya went hunting with Pakkin, Nikos climbed a tree to scout the area. He found nothing of concern. Later he and I sparred for a time to hone our skills. Nekaya and Pakkin brought rabbits for our meal. Liadan chose to pray and fast, seeking guidance from Lathander regarding Califax's condition. Whether he is gone for good none can say. Nekaya suggested that perhaps his separation from Covenant has caused him to go mad; she has more knowledge of such divine bonds, being similarly bonded to her steed Pekuah. Liadan fears that the horse was possessed by some evil entity.

Before dawn Liadan rose and prepared herself carefully for a full service to the Dawn Lord. Shortly afterward, as we were preparing to break camp, I caught sight of something moving through the forest, appearing to come toward us. Rock and Nikos also spotted movement among the trees. Rock moved closer to the tree line.

When the creature cleared the trees we saw that it was a large troll with a very bulbous nose, carrying a twin-bladed sword of fine make. It bore the weapon almost carelessly, and its eyes seemed vacant. Rock attempted to converse with it in the language of the giants but it did not respond. Nikos then shouted out to it in the common tongue to stop, also without result. Phaele next used her magical skill to toss a false ball of flame at the troll, but this did not deter it. Its eyes did seem to light up once it was attacked. Then I heard the sound of Rock's shield being thrown to the ground. I had forgotten that trolls are of the giant-kind he so loves to fight.

Rock rushed forward to meet the troll. Nikos fired arrows at it but they scarcely penetrated its rough hide. Nekaya moved closer to aid Rock. Phaele flung lightning at the troll. Erim attempted to cast his spell of reduced speed upon it but the spell failed to take effect. Liadan was attempting to mount her horse. I chose to hold my position while all this took place, assuming that my friend Rock would hardly be troubled by a mere troll after having slain a giantess single-handed.

Erim now enspelled those who were near enough with enhanced speed. Liadan rode up and seared the troll with divine light, while Phaele sent a true ball of fire to explode just behind the creature. It fell to the ground, but Nekaya reported that its wound appeared to be healing themselves with preturnatural speed. Using my increased alacrity I ran forward and moved behind it so that should it rise again I would be able to strike at once.

Recognizing that her magical fires were not having as much effect as she desired, Phaele then burnt it with corrosive acid. This appeared to have somewhat more efficacy. Liadan also attacked it with her quicksilver mace. Abruptly the troll transformed into several snakelike forms of green smoke - an apparition all of us but Nikos recognized from our first meeting with the wizard Gadron.

The snakes passed through our camp until they were near the remains of the fire, where they emitted an explosive sound and appeared to deposit something upon the ground. Then they returned to the Winterwood and vanished. Liadan retreived a sack of leather from the ground and removed a sealed scroll, which she opened. It contained a letter from Gadron.

The letter indicated that this was a difficult time for the wizard. He warned us not to remain in the area, for, as he said, "Do not tarry near this place; terrible events come borne on foul winds". He repeated this warning twice. He also spoke of his researches into the whereabouts of Covenant's party. He had been able to find no trace. He theorized that perhaps they had been utterly disintegrated, but seemed to doubt this explanation. He also spoke of other planes of existence that cannot be scryed upon or divined, planes that can be created by folk of great magical might. This portion of his letter made sense only to the wizards in our party.

The letter said nothing of our encounter with Califax, which caused Liadan to angrily curse at Gadron. Erim then sent another spell message to the wizard urgently seeking further information and informing him that we would continue to Camber. We gathered up our possessions and continued our journey toward the town.

The farms we passed as we neared appeared to be empty, but not abandoned. We guessed that perhaps the residents had gone to town for the celebrations. Our remaining journey there continued uneventfully, and a day and a half after the message from Gadron arrived, we reached Camber. There were far more folk within the walls than we had ever seen before, even during the seige when many of the outlying residents came within the walls for safety. We were greeted with pleasure by the guards, who were surprised to see us again so soon.

Peculiarly, several of us noted a large quantity of crows in the vicinity, though they were not storm crows, and I observed that there was a white crow among them standing out starkly against the black plumage of its fellows. As the orc shamaness we had seen with Micah had taken the form of a crow when she fled the town, we were concerned by this, but could not determine if the white crow was an omen of danger or merely an oddity of nature.

When we arrived at the First Gate Inn we found it fully occupied. We encountered Captain Puffleweis of the town militia, and were surprised to find her clad all in black during such a festive occasion. We did not speak to her, but were told by others that during our absence her husband had been slain by orc raiders.

We were surprised to learn that the priestess Esther whom Nekaya had brought to town was now marrying a local man - perhaps this explains why she did not wish to accompany us when we left for Arrabar. We also found a number of visitors who had no relation to any of the townsfolk, which seemed odd since Camber is not on any major trade route. An elder from Phaele's native land of Halruua was there with several companions and a number of servants, as well as a Chessentan fellow, a traveler from the Dragon Coast, and a pair of brothers from Athkatla in Amn, the city from which our former companions Garrett and Fallon had hailed. We have no cause to be suspicious of any of these folk, but it does seem curious that they have come so far out of their way at a time when we have been warned that danger nears. Now we ponder whether to advise the good folk of Camber of Gadron's warning.

[Dungeons & Dragons 3.5] Shadows of Greatness, parts 28-33

28. New Friends and Farewells

(Arrabar, the Claws of Winter)

In the space of two days I have experienced considerable pain, sorrow, and one of the most exhilarating events of my life.

We returned from our venture at the temple much the worse for it, as I think that most of us were sorely wounded but for Phaele and Erim.  Liadan kindly extended her god's blessings to me such that I recovered from most of my injuries.  But we all were wounded in another fashion after we returned to the Bonded Sword.

We found Sandrue waiting for us in the common room.  He had not returned in time to join us at the temple, and in fact had not known where we were.  During his absence he had come to a decision to part company with us for a time.  He has in the past expressed the opinion that his talents are insufficient to our goals.  I disagree and have told him so, but he must find his own path in life.  At least for now that path does not lie with the rest of our small company.  He would not look at Phaele when he told us of this, though I am certain they must have had more heartfelt discussions of the matter than I know of. 

Erim offered up a method by which we might remain in contact with Sandrue when we leave Arrabar.  Jastra had given him two enchanted books, such that anything written in one immediately appears also in the other.  He gifted one of these to Sandrue that he might send us messages.  I think Rock would have liked to have such a thing for himself so that he might continue his many conversations with Sandrue, but Erim would not sell an object that had been given him by his mentor. 

In return, Sandrue gave to Liadan a wand he had acquired in Camber, which is made of unicorn horn and endowed with healing magic.  After receiving our good wishes he did not linger at the inn.  The rest of us went to our bedchamber with heavy hearts. 

When we rose the next morning we found that Rock had gone out without speaking to anyone.  While we ate our morning repast, we were visited by Nikos, who came to thank us for rescuing him.  He has chosen to follow the tennets of Lathander and make a new start in life, and this would likely have been impossible without our assistance.  Our regret at Sandrue's decision was alleviated somewhat by Nikos' sincere gratitude.  He also brought us much-needed information relating to Covenant and his quest.

Nikos admitted that the reason the wizard Palan had captured him had to do with his former employment as a minion of the Shade Malastori.  I know little of the Shades but that an emmissary of their kind had come to Evereska before I departed from that place, and that they have some connection to the Anauroch Desert.  Erim told us more of their history and their relationship to the ancient Netherese people whose empire fell so long ago.  Nikos no longer wishes to serve Malastori, and knows that Malastori has an interest in Covenant's activities.  He also told us that Solomon Baker, the uncle of Simon Baker to whom we were to deliver Simon's message, is a master of spies in the employ of Lord Wianar.  Malastori has an interest in Lord Wianar's activities also. 

I am certain now that we should not keep our promise to deliver Simon Baker's message.  Some of the others are still not entirely convinced, I think, but none are eager to continue that mission.  Nikos asked for our aid in seeking out Malastori.  Although he desires vengeance against the Shade for his own treatment, he also wishes to defeat Malastori's plans, which he knows to be opposed to Covenant's goals.  After considerable discussion we agreed to do what we could to assist Nikos and foil Malastori.  We also showed him the message that Simon Baker had given us.  In his opinion it does indeed refer to our absent companions, whom he has heard spoken of as the "chorus of Light". 

Nikos wanted to seek out a contact at the Generon, Lord Wianar's fortress.  He hoped this person could direct him to Malastori's location.  He sought the aid of Phaele and Liadan, as he hoped they would be less conspicuous than others of our party.  Since Rock had departed to work in his rented forge, I decided to spend the day seeking out a shrine to Corellon Larethian that I had heard of.  I wished to seek guidance from my lord, and it had been many months since I last set foot in a holy place dedicated to him.

Before I departed, Phaele was able to determine that a chain shirt and a short sword we had acquired as part of the bounty for the Whisper Knives were both enhanced by magic, though nothing of any great power.  I have gladly accepted both the armor and the sword.  Thus equipped, I set out for the Rookery, the tower of Lord Wianar's gryphon riders, who I had been told were of my kindred. 

When I arrived at the tower I rang the bell and heard a voice call out in the common tongue that I might enter.  Upon entering I found several men of my kindred there, all relaxing as soldiers do when they have no duties.  One strummed a lute, another repaired a saddle of unusual design, and two more were practicing their fencing skill with rapiers.  The fellow who worked on his saddle expressed some small surprise that another person of his own kind had come.  They told me at once that the gryphon riders needed no more men, and I replied that I only wished to avail myself of their company and their shrine.  The one with the saddle made an off-hand comment that I might be seeking Erendis.  Though my heart leapt at the sound of her name, I held my tongue, knowing that she is likely not the only woman of our people to bear that name. 

When they said that Erendis was not here, I replied that the Erendis I knew would not be here, which seemed to amuse the saddle-repairer.  He made several remarks that might have been taken as immodest were I so inclined.  They directed me to the shrine, informing me that there was no need to leave any donation.  I had intended to do so, and told them I wished that my donation be used toward the upkeep of the shrine, as Erendis would wish it.  I then went to meditate for a time within the shrine.

I regret that I felt no particular inspiration regarding my beloved's whereabouts, but my time in the shrine did give me a sense of peace.  When I emerged my kinsmen made several remarks regarding Erendis and the shrine and I knew then that we spoke of the same person.  I had known from Leonna's remarks that my wife had visited Arrabar in company with Covenant.   As our conversation continued we at last came to introductions.  Once I told them my name they knew who I was.  Evidently my wife had spoken of me.  Their demeanor grew much warmer after that point, and the fellow who had made several sly comments regarding her earlier was now most ashamed and made many apologies.  His name is Rohon.  His companions were Culin, Mahtar and Megil. 

They offered then to show me their mounts, the famed gryphons.  Such creatures are entirely unlike horses, I now realize.  As horses are in nature animals of prey, gryphons are the sort of creatures that prey upon horses.  But when Rohon offered to allow me to ride his steed, I could not refuse.  Soaring out over the city astride such a fabulous creature is an  experience I will never forget. 

I hope that Rock will return soon so that I may share my story with him.  I think he will find it amusing - though I doubt he would have taken Rohon's initial remarks with good grace.  If only Erendis were here to have ridden the gryphon at my side.  May Lord Corellon protect her wherever she is.

29. Silent Danger

(Arrabar, the Claws of Winter)

I have still not had an opportunity to share the story of my day among the gryphon-riders with my friend Rock.  I suppose it is just as well, for he does not seem greatly receptive to such a tale at present.

I rejoined my companions for the evening meal at the Bonded Sword, and as we now had our full number present save Sandrue, and Nikos was with us also, our conversation turned to the matter of our reason for coming to Arrabar:  the message from Simon Baker.  Rock had not been present for our previous discussion, and he now asked, why would Simon Baker give his message to us if his uncle meant our missing friends and family harm?  Liadan wears Covenant's emblem openly, so Simon Baker must have known she had some relation to him, and we presume that Simon Baker also knew what reason his uncle had for observing our friends. 

This had not occurred to the rest of us, and we now reconsidered our chosen course of action regarding the delivery of the message.  Rock is a dwarf of his word and he is reluctant to break his promise unless we have more definitive proof that Simon Baker's uncle is an enemy. We concluded that some of us might approach the spymaster and inform him of his nephew's condition, thereby taking the opportunity to observe him and gain some insight into his nature.  To best use this chance it will likely be Liadan, Nekaya and Phaele who will seek to meet with him, as they can better sense his motives. 

We retired to our bechamber, Nikos joining us there as we hope he will be safer in our company.  I had settled on my cot to write in my journal while my companions slept.  Suddenly I heard a scratching at the window.  When I went to investigate I was met by a most peculiar sight:  a ferret stood upon the sill, seemingly performing a dance!  When I approached the window to open it the creature darted away.   Then I realized that someone had entered the room behind me. 

I saw a shower of what appeared to be copper coins striking the floor, but they fell without sound.  I could not hear my companions' breathing nor any other sound.  Then a brilliant orb of blue-white light flew into the room and burst in an explosion of chill air that left me cold to my bones.  The cold woke my sleeping friends.  Several figures ran into the room brandishing weapons.  I saw a fellow with orcish features bearing a fearsome double axe, a woman who appeared to be of elven blood wielding a longsword and a flaming dagger, and a dwarven woman with an ordinary axe.  Someone had jammed a spike into the floor to prevent the door to the room being shut again.

Nikos sprang to his feet near me and the orcish man and elvish woman both turned their attention to him, though the woman struck at me first.  I attempted to grab her from behind but failed to hold her.  I then turned to take up my swords.  The eerily silent battle  seemed to me to pass very slowly, though I am sure that was only an effect of the lack of sound. 

All of those of my companions who are able to cast spells found that they could do little with their magics, for most of their spells require them to chant or pray.  Phaele plied one spell she knew that did not need speech.  Liadan fought the orcish man, while Nekaya faced the dwarf woman.   Erim caught up one of the cots and stood it on end in the doorway, as I later learned, to prevent a woman mage in the hallway from casting her spells into the room.

Nikos soon felled the elvish woman, though he took considerable hurt from both her and the orcish fellow.  Another assailant had slipped into the room invisibly but Rock felled him swiftly.  Nikos fortunately found that this foe had a potion of healing in his possession.  I moved up behind the orcish man to assist Liadan but I was not able to do him much injury.  Liadan slew him.  I saw Rock push past Erim into the passageway.  When her other companions were slain, the dwarf woman ran for the windows and I slashed her as she passed me.

In the hall Rock faced off with the woman mage, who bore a longspear.  Erim had run up beside Rock but was not using his sword.  I followed them out of the room, to find yet another enemy just outside the door.  Erim moved up beside me, for Rock had felled the mage with a mighty blow.  Seeing two opponents - and then three when Liadan emerged from our room - the man before me turned and fled.  Thinking that we should question him as to who had sent his party against us, I pursued him to the rear exit of the inn.

The man ran halfway down the rear steps and then leapt off into the darkened street.  I sprang down behind him, and as I ran after him I felt myself begin to move more swiftly, much as I had felt during the battle in the dark temple.  Erim had cast a spell upon me.  Under its effect I was able to catch the fleeing villain and strike him down.  Erim then came to aid me in carrying him back to the inn.

When we returned we found that all of the other assailants were dead but the dwarf woman, who had jumped from the window and attempted to flee but had been caught by Nikos and Rock.  Rock was furious that one of his people would stoop to assassination.  We were told by other patrons of the inn that the woman with the spear had carried a seal indicating that she was a licensed bounty hunter.  This seal turned out to be a forgery, verified by the city guardsmen who soon arrived.  Before they appeared Nikos questioned the dwarf woman, who told us that a Thayan called Corvus Highstaff had offered to sell them magic items at a reduced price in exchange for our deaths.   

Some of my companions recalled that this Corvus Highstaff had been an apprentice of Nethimil, the Thayan wizard we encountered when we first arrived in this part of the world.  I do not think we did much to threaten his companions during that conflict, but our mere presence in the company of Covenant appears to have made us his enemies.  It seems unlikely that he will receive any sanction for his actions, since he did not openly hire the group of "bounty hunter" to slay us, and the Thayans have a treaty with the people of Arrabar that will likely protect him from punishment.

Liadan kindly extended the new beginning of Covenant House to the dwarf woman once she has served her imprisonment for her attempt on us, but she did not appear much interested.  Once the guards had taken her away, we found that their mage had cast a spell of silence upon the copper coins I saw, which they cleverly placed in a small lead coffer so that they could release them at need and disguise which coin held the magic. We also recovered three potions of healing, which were most advantageous to us as all of us had been hurt.  Only Rock and Nikos are accustomed to sleeping in their armor.

We remained in our room to rest and recover on the following day.  Toward evening we received a visitor, sent by Nekaya's friend Siorra Farr:  the Farr family priest came to offer us some divine healing.  It was most welcome. 

I shall take an example from Rock and attempt to wear my armor during the night, though I suspect that I will not be able to rest as well while wearing it. We must set watches to protect ourselves from now on, for we do not know if Corvus Highstaff will make another attempt on our lives, and we may also be in danger by minions of the Shade Malastori. 

30. Shades of Malastori (Arrabar, the Claws of Winter)

It seems that Nikos has been fully accepted by our little company, except perhaps by Rock, who I think is most regretful of Sandrue's departure.  It has only just occurred to me that our acceptance of Nikos is most fitting, as he like the rest of us seeks a new beginning.  I had not previously thought of myself as seeking a new beginning, but it is true.

After a day of rest to recover from our injuries, we set out to pursue our various goals before approaching Solomon Baker with information about his nephew.  Nekaya went to seek an audience with the baker and has arranged a meeting two days hence.  Phaele spent her time determining what magic is carried by some of the items we have recently acquired.  To assist her in this she has also acquired a familiar, a tiny jewel-like hummingbird she calls Zahi.  It is most amusing to see her sit with the little bird perched in her flame-colored hair, like some exotic ornament.

A number of the items in our possession are not of any use to us, being things we cannot use for lack of the proper skills.  Some of these things are obviously of Thayan make.  We intend to sell the items, but those of Thayan manufacture we will keep until we can dispose of them in some other place, as we do not want to draw further the ire of the Red Wizards.

One item that came into our possession is a longsword that is capable of holding several spells.  Strangely Erim did not wish to take this sword, though it seems most suited both to his magecraft and his newer ability as a warrior.  We very nearly had to force it upon him to persuade him to accept it.  Phaele accepted a pair of magical bracers.  I have already taken the shirt of chain, and have also been given a shortsword imbued with magic.  I have also had my own longsword repaired of the damage inflicted upon it by Micah in Camber, but I find that I now use the sword my wife gave me more frequently.  I have learned in our adventures that there are many creatures that can only be harmed by weapons touched by magic, and though my elven blade is keen it cannot injure such creatures, while the Cormyrean blade Erendis gave me is well suited to such use.

After retrieving my sword from the swordsmith, I introduced Rock to my new friends among the gryphon riders.  Unfortunately they greeted him somewhat coolly, though I suppose that I should not be surprised.  They do not know Rock as I know him.  Rock has also received word from the druids he sought to contact regarding the fortress in the forest.  The druids of the Winespring Grove are aware of this place, and were evidently much pleased by Rock's diligence in telling them of what we had found there.  They rewarded him with several items of worth, including leaves that can be used to brew beneficial teas, and two acorns that will magically grow into huge oak trees when broken.  Rock is taking great care to see that these cannot be accidentally broken, as having an enormous tree suddenly burst into life where one is standing would not be a favorable event.

I later accompanied Nikos in his search for the woman Beaora, whom he believes can lead him to Malastori the Shade.  In the course of his inquiries he learned that her name is not truly Beaora, as he suspected.  She is in fact Tambra Conley, daughter of a powerful merchant.  Nikos hopes to follow her to Malastori's whereabouts, or at least to some other minion of the Shade who will know where Malastori is located. 

That evening we met once more at the Bonded Sword and took one of their more private alcoves in which to dine and discuss all that we had learned during the day.  As we talked we noticed a shadow outside the curtain.  Nekaya opened the curtain to expose the half-demon Scorch, who had come to deliver a message to Nikos.  He told Nikos that a man of whom he knew sought to meet with him.  This fellow wished to see Nikos at a place called the King's Walk in the city gardens at midnight.  We all found this time and place rather suspect.  Nikos agreed that it was likely an ambush organized by Malastori, but he intended to go in any case, hoping to get more information from his contact.  The rest of our group readily agreed to accompany him in secret, with only myself going openly at his side.

In the time before this meeting, Nikos also sought some Red Wizard of low status, with regards to the bounty hunters who attacked us.  He was able to find a man called Solven Tierclaus, an alchemist of a rather dissolute nature.  He approached this fellow at a low establishment known as the House on Scarlet Street.  There he gave the wizard a note of warning intended for Corvus Highstaff, the wizard whose encouragement led the bounty hunters to pursue our company.  I am not certain how wise this course of action is, but perhaps it will draw out this Red Wizard so that we may force him to openly show his hand.

Near midnight our party entered the public gardens and approached the area known as the King's Walk - so named for a gruesome story that Scorch had recited to us with relish at the inn.  As Nikos and I approached the pomegranate tree which lies at the center of that story,  we saw the man Nikos was to meet standing beneath the tree.  He appeared oddly gray and frightened.  As we drew nearer he seemed to grow darker and darker, though the light in the vicinity did not dim.  Suspecting some treachery, Nikos and I made to withdraw.  Then shadowy forms seemed to emerge from the man's body, taking on man-like shapes to attack us.

I have never before battled such troublesome creatures.  My blades could not find purchase on their shadowy substance.  They touched me repeatedly, and each time I felt weaker and chilled.  From behind me a bolt of lightning shot out toward the pomegranate tree.  I saw at least five of the shadow-creatures flare in brilliance before they vanished.  I could hear Liadan and Nekaya calling on the power of their gods a short distance away, for they could use their divine might to turn these shadows aside or destroy them as they would undead things.  I also caught a glimpse of a strange golden light approaching but I could not see what caused it.

I grew so weak that my swords weighed in my hands as though I were a child lifting his father's blade, and my new shirt of chain felt like a suit of plate.  When I realized I could do nothing against the shadows I turned and went toward the golden light, seeing that Phaele had also gone in that direction.  When I reached her I found her in converse with a very old man, dressed all in rags, whose empty eye sockets emitted the golden light.  He asked us if we knew the Golden One.  We thought perhaps he might mean Covenant.  Hoping that his light could somehow aid us against the shadows, we led him to where our companions still fought the creatures.  Rock had fallen to his knees from weariness.  The rest of my friends were all exhausted and panting.

The shadows fled screaming from the old man's eerie glow.  Though the golden light did not give me any feeling of comfort, I did not feel the need to flee from it.  But when the rest of our companions assembled around him, Pakkin the goblin, who had been hiding amongst the shrubbery at Nekaya's direction, suddenly screeched and fled wildly into the darkness.  Then the old man seemed to sense Nekaya's presence, and to our amazement announced that he had found the Golden One he sought.

31. Lost Gods and Golden Light (Arrabar, the Claws of Winter)

The strange old man insisted that Nekaya was indeed the Golden One he sought.  He denied that he was drawn to her merely because she bore her master's weapon, which in her master's grasp had given off a golden light rather than the silver glow it has in her hands.  Though he could not see her he was certain she was the person he had been seeking.

As we stood trembling with weariness and gaping in amazement, the strange old man began to tell Nekaya a story.  He paid no mind when she suggested that such storytelling might be done more comfortably at an inn.  He scarcely seemed aware of the rest of us.  Rock had fallen unconcscious and slumped to the ground.  Before the old man began his story, Liadan did what she could to aid my dwarven friend.  Then those of us who were most fatigued by the shadows' attack sat down upon the ground while the old man spoke.

I must confess that I was so exhausted I could hardly follow the old man's tale.  He spoke a people who had somehow been torn away from their homes, of a rift of power, a lost god, enslaved worshippers.  Some of his words had the ring of prophecy to them, reminding me of the way Jastra Moondown spoke when she divined the future of our company.  When he mentioned the name of the lost god, Elishar, I recognized it as the name of the god whose abandoned temple held the portal that had brought us to this part of the world.  The old man told Nekaya of Soldiers of Light who sought a sword of power.  He made reference to "dawn in a gloved hand" and a sword that cannot be held.  These phrases sounded very much to us like the gauntlet and sword that Covenant seeks. 

As the old man concluded his tale we saw that the brilliant glow emanating from his sightless eyes had dimmed, and that it was Nekaya who now glowed, though not so brightly.  All of us later confessed that we had felt uncomfortable in that light, but it did not affect Nekaya so.  When the old man finished speaking he turned and walked away with scarecely another word.  The gardens seemed quite dark without his light.

Now as confused as we were weary, we struggled to our feet and managed to revive Rock enough that he could stumble along with us.  Erim offered to use a spell that could bear Rock along magically, but Rock being Rock, he would not agree.  The journey back to the Bonded Sword was very long, or so it seemed to me at that time.  Before we departed from the gardens we came upon two of the gardeners, who Nekaya warned against the shadows.  They did not appear greatly surprised by her news.  That pomegranate tree has an evil reputation to accompany the story Scorch had told us.

We spent the day resting in our room under Liadan's care.  She kindly sacrificed her own rest to look after those of us who had been most seriously affected by the shadows.  Phaele went out to seek a temple of the merchant god Waukeen, where divine aid for our ills might be purchased.  She returned with a priest of Waukeen who bore a wand that could remove our weariness.  It cost us each one hundred gold pieces to receive the ministrations of the wand.  Because my friend was so weakened, I offered another hundred gold pieces so that Rock might receive a second touch of Waukeen's divine grace.  No doubt he will think he must repay me for this and I will have difficulty convincing him otherwise.  But he is my friend.

On the following day Liadan was able to pray for spells of healing from Lathander and bestowed such healing as she could provide.  I am glad to say that I had fully recovered my strength by that point.  It was a relief to no longer be so weak that I could scarcely lift my swords.  Pakkin the goblin had also returned to us none the worse for his flight into the garden that night.  I think that creature has been blessed by some god of good fortune.

Though he was still not entirely recovered from our adventure in the gardens, Rock insisted upon going to his workshop to continue his project.  The rest of our company were visited by the half-fiend Scorch during the evening.  I think that Nikos suspected his compatriot of some betrayal in the matter of the ambush, but he was convinced otherwise after a short discussion, and he and Scorch chose to seek out a tavern. 

The next day was the date on which Nekaya had arranged to meet with Master Solomon Baker.  We had already concluded that it would be best for the ladies to seek audience with the baker, as they are better skilled at observing the behavior of others.  Nikos and I intended to wait nearby.  Thanks be to Lord Corellon that nothing untoward occurred during their meeting.  When they returned to us, they told us that they had chosen to give Simon Baker's cryptic message to his uncle.  Master Baker did not reveal much to them, acting the innocent despite what Nikos has told us of his true role in Lord Wianar's court.  But he did appear to confirm that Lord Wianar seeks the items Covenant is searching for, most likely in order to improve his own power so that he may further his desire to restore the fallen Chondathan Empire.

They told us that Master Baker burned the message after he read it.  They also had been interrupted by a visit from Lord Wianar himself, who seemed to ask too many questions in my opinion, but perhaps I am learning to be too suspicious.  In any case the lord's attention was diverted.  Nekaya, not being one to dissemble, gave Master Baker the names of all our company and told him our lodging place.  We can only hope that this will not turn out ill for us.

When we returned to the Bonded Sword following this meeting, the staff there told Nekaya that a package had been delivered for her.  In it she found several velvet bags, one inside the other, and within the innermost bag lay 1,750 gold pieces, lightly dusted with what appeared to be flour. 

As always, I wish my dear Erendis were here so that she might counsel us on the best course of action.  I look forward to the day when I can tell her of these events and she will no doubt laugh at my foolishness.  I long to hear her laughter.  May Corellon Larethian protect her, and all my new friends as well.

32. Farewell to Arrabar

As the message from Simon Baker had been delivered to his uncle, it now fell to us to determine what we wished to do next.  I must confess I am somewhat uncomfortable with the sum of money Nekaya received which we assume to have come from Master Baker.  But I did not refuse a share of it when Nekaya distributed it among us.  We came into further wealth when Phaele saw to the sale of many of the other items we acquired in Camber or from our adventures in Arrabar.

Though Nikos still wishes to pursue Malastori, he has come to the conclusion that in our present state we are not sufficiently powerful to confront the Shade.  We also realize that our destination to deliver the package from Gadron lies some considerable distance from Arrabar, and it will take many weeks for us to travel there.  Hence we decided to begin our journey at once, with a slight detour to return to the ruined temple of Elishar where we first arrived in this part of the world.  Liadan in particular wishes to examine the writings there for more information.

I purchased a new bow in preparation for our journey.  Despite Nikos' trepidations I feel stronger than I have ever felt.  This new bow will permit me to make better use of this strength when I face foes better met at a distance.

I said my farewells to my new friends among the Gryphon Riders, and left a letter there in the event that Erendis should come after we have departed.  Before we prepared ourselves for travel, Rock revealed that he had completed the project he had pursued so diligently during our stay in Arrabar.  He had taken a valuable diamond that had come into his possession - I have forgotten now how it came to his hands - and had set it in a pendant so that he might sell it for a greater sum.  He shared this sum with the rest of us, taking no larger portion for himself, if he kept any at all. 

My dwarven friend has also made a gift fit for a noble lady for Liadan.  He has crafted a beautiful circlet set with precious stones in the form of Lathander's emblem.  Liadan is as lovely as any elven maiden when she wears it against her silvery hair.

Once we had equipped ourselves for long travel and said our farewells to Leonna and her friends at the House of Covenant, we set out for the ruins.  Our journey was mostly without interruption before we reached the temple.  We did observe signs that caravans were now passing along the track, and that at least one had been set upon by orcs, though it seemed that the caravaneers had survived the attack.  And on one day Liadan had a curious experience.  She thought she saw a white horse that she took to be Califax crossing our path and running into the forest.  But when Rock examined the ground he could find no sign of hoofprints.  It may be that Covenant's steed wears enchanted horseshoes that leave no trace, but it seems unlikely that if Califax wished us to follow him he would not return to encourage us further.  Perhaps her vision was only wishful thinking on Liadan's part.

As we passed among the Cloven Mountains Rock caught sight of several ogres amongst the trees and called out warning to us.  Thinking that we did not wish such large foes to come too close, Nikos and I drew our bows and fired upon them, while Liadan, Erim and Phaele rained spells at the creatures.  Rock was most disappointed when all four of the ogres fell to our attacks before he could get within range to strike with his hammer.

It seems that he will have other opportunities to battle ogres, however, for when we came upon the ruined temple we found that a whole tribe of them have settled in the place, in company with various orcs and even a giant.  We spent some little while conferring on how we should respond to this situation.  Though we had been fortunate with the ogres in the forest a few days earlier, we did not think ourselves likely to be so easily victorious with some thirty or forty ogres and their companions. 

Liadan surprised us all by suggesting that we might give up our intention of examining the ruins and go on our way.  It was she who had most wished to travel there to begin with.  Rock wished to attack the ogres boldly.  Nekaya suggested that we might seek for a secret entrance to the underground portion of the ruins and thereby avoid the notice of the ogres.  I was torn between all these plans, not wishing to risk ourselves overmuch but not being pleased with retreating, nor with hiding in secrecy.  At last we came to agree that we would seek the underground entrance, but would also attempt to waylay any ogre hunting parties that we could.  If we can reduce their number a little at a time the danger to ourselves may be lessened.  And at least if they catch sight of us, if we have found a bolt hole beneath the earth the ogres will be at a disadvantage there, we hope.

33. Return to the Cloven Mountains (The Claws of Winter)

We spent some little while discussing whether to try ambushing ogre hunting parties in order to reduce their numbers without having to face them all in battle at one time.  Pakkin was sent to search the area for a subterranean entry into the chamber we seek to examine.  How odd that the goblin is more skilled at moving about noiselessly than are any of us.

We made camp but had no fire.  Rock disguised our tracks so that the orcs and ogres would not discover us.  As darkness fell we could see two fires burning farther down the slopes, but not near enough to our campsite to threaten us.  We knew that Pakkin had returned when my sword began to glimmer.  The goblin told us that he had discovered no entry into the chamber, but he had seen a second giant in company with the orcs and ogres.  This dismayed us somewhat, for though we were able to defeat the giant called Hillfang outside of Camber, we do not flatter ourselves that we can defeat two giants while also combating a horde of orcs and a large number of ogres.

During the night, as Nekaya and I watched over our sleeping friends, we heard sounds of large creatures moving about among the trees.  Nekaya pointed several pairs of yellow eyes out to me.  Whatever approached appeared to be attempting stealth, so I woke our companions and warned them of possible danger.  When the creatures drew near enough that we could identify them as very large wolves, Nekaya unsheathed her hakra and bathed out camp in its silvery light.  Liadan rose and cast a beam of brilliant light at the wolves.  One of the beasts then charged at her as she stood near Rock.  Its' packmates began to circle toward our horses.

I drew my bow and fired upon one of the wolves as it attempted to attack our mounts.  I heard another wolf yelp when Rock struck it with his hammer, the hammer's light adding to the silver glow from Nekaya's weapon.  A wolf slipped past our guard and sprang upon Erim's steed.  The beast was as large as the horse and bore it to the ground.  I drew my blades and struck the wolf before me, while from the corner of my eye I saw Erim send a shimmering array of colorful beams at the wolf that attacked his steed.

Rock rushed forward.  Erim brought his sword to bear, and suddenly the beast toppled, nearly falling upon me.  We had slain four of the huge wolves.  Erim's horse was badly injured and thrashing upon the ground.  I calmed it as Nekaya and Liadan came forward to offer the healing energies of their gods.  In the distance we heard the howling of other wolves, but they did not come near.  We determined to move our camp away from the carcasses of the wolves and settled down to rest once more.

On the following morning Rock crept out and saw some creatures moving about at the site where we had first camped.  He observed a party of five ogres and ten orcs examining that area.  Nikos roused everyone who was still sleeping and we prepared ourselves for further trouble.  In a short while the orcs and ogres approached our campsite. We had taken cover behind large boulders and we now began to fire upon them with our bows and the mages' spells.

Erim caused two of the nearest orcs to fall to the ground in a deep slumber.  Their companion called an alarm to his compatriots.  They began to move rapidly toward our hiding place.  Nikos fired upon one ogre, as did I, and it fell.  Liadan attempted to blast one of the creatures with light as she had done the wolf, but her divine magics failed to strike the target.  Nekaya moved out beyond the rocks and an orc rushed her.  After that point I was too intent upon my targets to notice what occurred to my right, where Nekaya, Phaele and Nikos stood.  And Rock had gone to the side to meet the orcs from another direction and could not be seen at all from my vantage.

A huge bull orc had appeared from farther back in the company.  Liadan flung a burst of brilliant sunlight at him and caused both the bull and one of the orcs with him to lose their sight.  This did not stop the bull ogre from rushing toward the sound of Nekaya's struggle with more of his orcish companions.  I left my bow, and drawing my blades stepped out to go to Nekaya's aid.  Erim also approached the bull orc, sword in hand.  I made the mistake of stepping too near, thinking that the blinded ogre would not be able to strike me, but his great club struck me a heavy blow.  After that I made it my strategem to move about so that he could not identify my location as easily.

Though Nekaya, Erim and I all attacked the huge bull ogre with our blades, he was not easy to slay.  When at last he fell he toppled onto Nekaya, nearly crushing her.  Nikos ran forward to help us remove the huge corpse.  Rock and Liadan had slain the other orcs, with a little aid from Pakkin, who seemed inordinately proud of himself.  Unfortunately Rock told us that he saw signs an orc had managed to escape.

Once Nekaya had produced one of the wands she purchased in Arrabar and employed it to heal our wounds, Phaele suggested a new strategy for destroying the interlopers.  Several paths lead down from the terraces on which the ruined temple lies, and she proposes that we attempt an ambush along one of these, where the orcs and ogres would be forced to move through a narrow area or slow down while crossing rougher ground.  It seems a wise tactic to my mind.  I relish the thought of removing these creatures from the temple environs.  May Lord Corellon bless our endeavor.  As always, I would that my dear Erendis were here.