(G304 21/01/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL2

(G304 21/01/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL2


DAY 341 (8th Alturaik)(February) cont ...

We spent the evening eating and chatting in the Weary Horse Inn. Yli and Tie-Pie got to swapping old tales between themselves and Sylvia was deep in thought, so out of boredom as much as anything else I went over and talked to another lady in the common room.

She appeared to be a dark elf of stunning beauty. I'd not really talked to one before and she seemed happy enough to converse. She was dressed in black and red velvet and wore expensive looking jewelry. She had white hair and red eyes. At the table she was reading a book and drinking wine.
I introduced myself and she told me she was Sinrik of House Ilvaadrida. She was from the Underdark and I was greatly interested to hear as much about the place as I could. She told me her family had fallen on bad times and she was looking for her long lost sister. She was reading a book called 'The Fall of the Reaper' and she told me a little of it, it was an epic tale involving ancient heroes of her House apparently.

Well, we got on like a house on fire and when she offered me a drink in her room I found it impossible to refuse. I checked that Sylvia wasn't watching (she was talking to a dwarf warrior at the bar) and snuck upstairs with Sinrik.

It was a very pleasant tryst indeed. I do wonder though, do all dark elves laugh so much during the act? Well, anyway, later I did feel some guilt about what I had done, considering I am a married man,  but then again my wife was by now probably at the other end of Faerune and would never find out.

DAY 342 (9th Alturaik)(February)

In the morning Syvlia tore into me, having found out about Sinrik. Indeed, she found out from a letter Sinrik had left her before leaving. I wonder if all dark elf women behave this way?

Well, I told a bunch of lies and I think Sylvia believed me.

We left the Inn at eight in the morning. I asked a few questions of the innkeeper before we left and told me that it would take about half a day to get to Barovia and he recommened a tavern ther for us.

I was somewhat disturbed by something that happened on the trip. Tie-pie stopped for no reason and acted very suspiciously. We carried on, but I turned into a raven and went back to watch him. He had seen a treasure chest half buried in the snow and bushes by the side of the road, behind the trees and proceeded to stuff his pockets with platinum and small valueable art works.

I flew back and reported to the others on my return. Now, it customery to share treasure that is found in such away, indeed I have done so myself several times, but for whatever reason Tie-pie decided not to. I resolved to say nothing for the moment.

We arrived at the outskirts of Barovia, but something was very wrong here indeed. The fog was thicker than at the Weary Horse Inn so I could not scout as an eagle, but we could all smell carrion and I heard the distant sounds of swords.
We left Gevyen in charge of the cart and cautiously entered by the main road. We saw no one, but I did see large claw marks on the doors of the houses. There were burnt buildings here and there and an overturned hay cart blocking the street. Dense fog was everywhere.
What had happened here?

(G303 14/01/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL1

(G303 14/01/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL1



[Apologies dear reader. I must skip ahead now, at some point I will complete my chronicling of Fenrir and Co's adventures in the Underdark, but for now I will here record my latest adventures]
[GM note - don't blame me! The days of the game changed and now we are running two campaigns again]


I've left my main journal back at home and now have this 'travel' one. Here is a a quick run down of what has happened so far:

On my return to Waterdeep I approached the Font of Knowledge (via Nestoone) to give them a copy of my notes on my observations of the Plane of Shadows.

They gratefully received my essays and put me in touch with the powerful druids of the Circle of the Land. I should explain that this is a society of druids that work more closely with non-druid society (unlike the Circle of the Moon who are very secretive).

I had a meeting with the Circle of the Land druids in a grove deep in Ardeep Forest and I must say I found them a bit naggy and annoying.

They were very impressed with the part I played in defeating Despayr and saving the Vast Swamp and all that sort of thing but warned that since I had been so 'law abiding' during it all I was in danger of skewing my alignment and losing my druidic powers. This came as a shock to me and I pointed out that without at least one of the people involved in the whole thing being sensible it would have descended into chaos and disaster. You may remember I had to contend with the erratic behaviour of Gurudor, Drashnag, Basil, Mirabella etc etc.

The chief of them, an ancient old fellow named Sildair Tanpo accepted this but warned me none the less. Another Elder known as Chimal Luje warned me that when using 'Summon Natures Ally' spells I should give consideration to the surroundings and the 'natural fit' of the creatures. For example, he said, crocodiles are fine in the jungle's of Chult, but jarringly out of place in city streets. I remained silent at this and merely nodded. I did not want to offend the old fellow, but simply put, there are not many foes that can stand up to a wave of angry crocodiles.

So anyway, I returned to the Kryptgarden Estate resolving to be less law abiding, perhaps do a few more chaotic things.

With this in mind, when I heard that Sylvia, back in Waterdeep told me that Yli was organising another adventure I leapt at the chance. I'll show you, Tanpo you old fart, I thought to myself. Let's bring the chaos!

So I flapped down and met them all in the tavern, Yli and an old friend of his called Tie-Pie had met a scholar called Gevyen Tallmer who was looking for someone to take him to Damara.
Of course, he had met the perfect people because I knew through Corum and Cavu of a route through a yuan-ti snake gate which would cut the journey by more than half. We arranged it all that very night and although I had drunk quite a lot I didn't expect my wife to be quite so angry with me when I returned.

'But darling!' I cried. 'Another adventure. Think of it, we had so much... well not fun... but you know.
In Cormyr and the Plane of Shadow.'
'Don't you dare! You tell Sylvia to count you out! You promised we would go back to Sasserine this year!'
'But sugar-pie, I'm a druid, these are the things I have to do, we would be back in a few months.'
'You made a promise! I'm certainly not going with you. I'll charter the Sea Wyvern and go back myself.'

Well, it went on like that for a couple of days and got no better. In the end she stormed off to Waterdeep to charter the Wyvern as she threatened and with a heavy heart I joined the others to begin our quest.
I was going to my wife terribly, but what could I do? Being a druid was my calling and travelling was in  my essence. I hoped it wouldn't take too long, so I could join her in Sasserine and make amends somehow though.

The expedition was going to be led by Tallmer, who would be paying for most of the passage, with me, Sylvia, Yli and Tie-Pie.

Like Billitoppe, Durz and Arahel we made it pretty quickly to Hommlet, then the Moat House and the
Devil's Brew tavern. As the dungeon under the tavern had been cleared reasonably recently we had no great  problem with it. Also, since Karhad and Erin Ja were not around we had no issues in the tavern itself  either.
Unlike Billitoppe, Durz and Arahel we had no difficulty navigating the Thar. Having a druid in the group was handy for us. Well, Arahel is a druid of course so then let's just say, having a druid in the  group that can read a map and cast 'Lay of the Land' was handy for us.

We reached Melvaunt, then took a ship along the north coast of the Moonsea and the various large rivers east of Iron Fang. It was a lovely journey, it being the later part of winter many parts of the river were frozen over. The vessel we were on was an ice breaker and chewed its way up through  the snow and ice.
We saw little more than snow covered mountains and the occasional fortified dwelling.
Spectacular but uneventful.

We arrived at Heliogabalus, Tallmer hired a cart, a driver and some horses and we made our way north on the road to Ironspur.

Finally we arrived at the Weary Horse Inn. Here I now sit updating my notes and sorting out my journal.
Just to explain, my last 'adventure' ended on the 22nd of Uktar (DAY 256) and the last notes I have written down for Fenrir and his gang at the Necromancer's Spike was on the 13th of Nightal (DAY 278).
It is now 8th Alturaik (DAY 341) of the year 1374 DR.

Just for information here is my journal entry from 20th Hammer 1375 DR.

DAY 312 (20th Hammer 1375 DR)(January)

This was the fateful night I met Sylvia, Yli and Tie-pie in a tavern near Sylvia's house in Waterdeep.
Now, I had been splitting my time recently between my family estate in Kryptgarden and the refugee  camp at Hova Farm, but after my recent meeting with the 'Circle of the Land' I was in search of  adventure again and it had lead me to this night.

Sylvia, you know, is my second cousin and occasional arch rival. Yli was a fellow companion when we had killed the dragon Despayr in the Plane of Shadow. He was with his fried Tie-Pie, a half-elf sorcerer from Silvery Moon.

They had been hired by the scholar Gevyen Tallmer to help get him to Damara. They wished me to join them. Tallmer was a tall, gaunt and thin man with glasses. He explained that he had learned from ancient texts of some relics of the Morning Lord (the god Lythander) that were in a remote region of the land of Damara. They were guarded by two sects, the  Ecaterine monks and the Knights of the Raven.
He wished, more than all things, to set his eyes on them. These relics were, apparently, a Holy Symbol that shined like the sun and a weapon known as the Sunblade.

He had found that these items were in the remote town of Barovia, in the Galena Mountains in the north of Damara, a few days journey from the Iron Spur.


[Now dear reader we are all up to date! Here now presented below are my journal entries pertaining to my adventures in Damara]

DAY 341 (8th Alturaik)(February)

Arrived in the tavern called the Weary Horse Inn this evening. The snow is thick on the ground outside but it is not too cold in here.

It took seven days to get here from Heliogabalus, but the journey was uneventful and the roads very quite. This far north, not many people are abroad in winter unless their need is most urgent, or they are foolhardy adventurers on a quest.

Gevyen hired a cart, horses and a driver to get us here. We were now only half a day away from our goal, the town of Barovia.

As we arrived at the inn, it was dark, still being winter, and thick fog was creeping across the land. The Weary Horse was a warm and welcoming place compared to the bitter cold outside. The inn was subdued and there were not many folk about.

While we were ordering food and drink for our evening meal a messenger entered the inn, cast his eyes about the place then came and said to us,
'Barovia needs heroes! You four will do.'

And with that he dropped a letter on the table and left. I picked up the letter and read it. It was a most singular tale...


""
I am The Ancient, I am The Land. My beginnings are lost in the darkness of the past. I was the warrior, I was good and just. I thundered across the land like the wrath of a just god, but the war years and the killing years wore down my soul as the wind wears stone into sand.

…

All goodness slipped from my life; I found my youth and strength gone and all I had left was death. My army settled in the valley of Barovia and took power over the people in the name of a just god, but with none of a god’s grace or justice. I called for my family, long unseated from their ancient thrones, and brought them here to settle in the castle Ravenloft. They came with a younger brother of mine, Sergei. He was handsome and youthful. I hated him for both.

…

From the families of the valley, one spirit shone above all others. A rare beauty, who was called “perfection,” “joy,” and “treasure.” Her name was Tatyana and I longed for her to be mine. I loved her with all my heart. I loved her for her youth. I loved her for her joy. But she spurned me! “Old One” was my name to her – “elder” and “brother” also. Her heart went to Sergei. They were betrothed. The date was set.

…

With words she called me “brother,” but when I looked into her eyes they reflected another name – “death.” It was the death of the aged that she saw in me. She loved her youth and enjoyed it. But I had squandered mine. The death she saw in me turned her from me. And so I came to hate death, my death. My hate is very strong: I would not be called “death” so soon. I made a pact with Vol, a pact of Blood. On the day of the wedding, I killed Sergei, my brother. My pact was sealed with his blood, his…divinity.

I found Tatyana weeping in the garden east of the Chapel. She fled from me. She would not let me explain, and a great anger swelled within me. She had to understand the pact I made for her! I pursued her. Finally, in despair, she flung herself from the walls of Ravenloft and I watched everything I ever wanted fall from my grasp forever.

It was a thousand feet through the mists. No trace of her was ever found. Not even I know her final fate.

Arrows from the castle guards pierced me to my soul, but I did not die. Nor did I live. I became undead, forever.

…

I have studied much since then. “Vampyr” is my new name. I still lust for life and youth, and I curse the living that took them from me. Even the sun is against me. it is the sun and light I fear the most. But little else can harm me now. Even a stake through my heart does not kill me, though it holds me from movement. But the sword, that cursed sword that Sergei brought! I must dispose of that awful tool! I fear and hate it as much as the sun.

…

I have learned much, too, about this land of Barovia. Ancient are its ways, ancient beyond the knowledge  of the simple folk of the valley. A ancient saints dwelt in this valley long before my coming, and three  hidden fanes still give tribute to their memories. I visited the Swamp Fane, the Forest Fane, and the  Mountain Fane, and claimed their power for my own. Their servants now serve me, and thus I have become the Land.

…

I have often hunted for Tatyana. I have even felt her within my grasp, but she escapes me! She taunts me! She taunts me! What will it take to bend her love to me? I now reside far below Ravenloft. I live among  the dead and sleep beneath the very stones of this hollow castle of despair. I shall seal shut the walls of the stairs that none may disturb me.


"

Well, the messenger had long gone by the time I'd read the letter of course. Vampires! Well, well, well. My brother and Fenrir had had dealings with a vampire when they were in Darknessdeep (or maybe a demon  pretending to be a vampire, not sure on that one) and from what I knew of folklore (and Sylvia's suspect tales about Random the Robber who stole a treasure horde right from under the noses of a castle full of them) and such they were fascinating beings. I looked forward to meeting a fellow journal writer!

(G301 17/12/16 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ, HK, NG) SS15

(G301 17/12/16 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ, HK, NG) SS15

DAY 277 (12th Nightal)(December) cont...

[Merlock Tomes continues his report]

And so I, Merlock Tomes, acting on behalf of my masters in House Dusklorn continued to follow the trail of destruction left by the group of adventurers known locally as the 'Buffalo Bunch'.

The evidence in the kitchen was that at this point they were joined by Billitoppe. This  resourceful gnome must have been the source of the small tunnel I had discovered in the 'Advisor's Room'. I should imagine he purchased a Potion of Burrowing from Es Sarch back at the Dripstone Inn.

Together with the others (Fenrir the Warlock, Durz the Barbarian, Dwerry the Sorceress and Arahel the Druidess) they entered into combat with the denizens of the kitchen. These were two large Ghoul Mimics that were disguised as shelves and five Tomb Motes, smaller undead beings made from bones and ash. It was a chaotic and desperate struggle, items of kitchen equipment were strewn everywhere. The Ghoul Mimics fight by sticking to people so I can only imagine the confusion.

Still, the undead creatures were all slain in the end and from what I see from following the trails of blood, the 'Bunch' then returned to the Guard Room to rest.

Now, as I also discovered myself, the tower of Maroe is full of apparitions and spectral phenomena. As they rested, every hour or so they were disturbed by spirits entering the room and screaming, or some similar disruption.

Despite all the interruptions from this sort of thing they spent the rest of the day in this room.

DAY 278 (13th Nightal)(December)

From my hiding place in the Shrine I heard them leave the Guard Room and enter the secret room they had found behind the kitchen. This led up some stairs to the Charnel Pits area of the Spike.

This consists of a long walkway across two deep pits full of corpses. Here they were attacked by a Flesh Golem as well as swarms of Bone Rats and Corpse Rats.

Fenrir picked up Dwerry and carried her while she shot at their enemies with Magic Missiles. Arahel turned into a giant beetle and was soon covered in the swarming rats, tossing them hither and thither with her armour plated horns, stamping and squashing. Slowly she broke up the swarms with her bulk.

Billitoppe and Durz took on the golem and while Durz held it off the gnome shot it with two deadly arrows that were enough to finish it off. I was impressed as I once saw a Golem take on a horde of Inheritors. The Inheritors fired scores of arrows and the thing was a pin cushion but still standing. Even with twenty or more arrows in its hide it still killed all of the fish and frog people. This gnome, with his mental powers focused into his missiles, killed the golem with two arrows. Remarkable!