[Well, dear reader! I think I may have finally got my journals more or less in order now. This entry will chronicle the last of Sylvia and I's adventures in Damara and just about get us concurrent with Fenrir in Westgate.]
DAY 359 (26th Alturaik)(February) cont...
You may remember that myself and Sylvia were part of an attack on the castle of evil vampire chap Baron Von Strahd. It was being led by King Gareth of Damara.
Somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of zombies we had just set loose in the cellars of the castle we hastened to the exit and I used a 'Wood Shape' spell to seal the door. After that we headed up into the main castle to report our findings to the king.
The king and his retinue of powerful paladins had defeated Strahd, but each time the killed him, he would slowly begin to reform. Constantly battering a reforming vampire was not a permanent solution so when we entered the king asked us for advice.
I relayed what the wise woman had told us at the gypsy camp and after much discussion it was decided that since we had the Sunsword and the Holy Symbol already, all that was needed was the Tome. Troops were sent to search the castle and eventually it was found down in the cellar where all the zombies were.
We watched as King Gareth took the three magical items and performed some powerful holy rituals to rid the world of Strahd. Once that was done, it was like a dark cloud had been lifted off the land, an oppression that had been weighing down on us since our arrival in the area had now gone.
Surprisingly the king handed back the Sunsword and Holy Symbol back to us. I mean, they were ours, since we'd found the symbol and purchased the sword, so I suppose that was fair.
The castle was cleared from top to bottom and all prisoners that were found were released. We found Tie-Pie and Yli, but Tie-Pie was dead and Yli was a zombie.
We laid them to rest in two small graves in the forest not far from the castle. All the other zombies, now that they were properly dead, the king had burned in a mass funeral pyre.
DAY 369 (6th Ches)(March)
Ten days have now passed since the end of Strahd. We returned to Barovia where myself and Gevyen Tallmer have been studying and discussing the Sunsword and the Holy Symbol.
I could wield the sword if I wished I think, but it is no simple undertaking to do so and would require sacrifices that I feel I am not perhaps up to yet.
The symbol is the same, it has certain properties that would be useful to Sylvia and yet, she is not well suited to hold it. We will take care of these incredible artifacts for the moment though.
(Needless to say I have also spent a lot of my time studying the local flora and fauna, folklore, architecture and anything else that has drawn my interest.)
The King has appointed another Baron to replace Strahd from among his nobles and Barovia is being set to rights. Irena is the new burgomaster and we have been staying at her mansion house.
I have come to quite enjoy the company of Irena, and of Ashlyn but today myself and Sylvia decided it was time to say our farewells and move on.
Not least because I had received magical word (via a Sending spell) from my wife.
She had visited her home in Sasserine apparently and after some soul searching decided that she had forgiven me and wanted a reconciliation.
From what I gathered when she left Waterdeep (DAY 278) it took her 21 days to sail to Sasserine in the Sea Wyvern. She then stayed there for 20 days, attending to family business. Next she had some business to attend to in Cormyr, which she reached via the canal that joins the Lake of Steam to the Nagawater. It was around that time that Fenrir saw Captain Crispy. Well, she knew I was 'in the area' so sent me a Sending spell to see if I wanted a lift. I said yes. She now intends to sail to Heliogabulus and meet us there.
DAY 370 (7th Ches)(March)
Today I released Fluffy from his service. He had been a very good Animal Companion but it felt best to leave him in his natural habitat.
We had one last dinner and a few drinks with out friends in Barovia tonight at Irena's mansion.
DAY 371 (8th Ches)(March)
We flew down to Heliogabulus today, me as a Giant Owl, with Sylvia riding on my back.
We found a nice inn and settled in to wait for the Sea Wyvern.
Of late I have been getting nightmares. Sylvia says she feels fine, but she has the power of Sylvanus protecting her. I think now that we are somewhere safe I have relaxed and now we are not spending all our waking moments either fighting the undead or thinking about how to fight the undead, I find that my thoughts are now awash with fear, anxiety and worry.
What a world we live in. The people of Heliogabulus go about their daily business, buying food for their dinner, drinking ale in the tavern, little knowing that not far to their north the countryside was swarming with undead. These people don't have all the magic that I do either, to protect them in direst need.
I shall spend my time studying the town and sampling all the local eating establishments in an effort to take my mind of such thoughts.
DAY 379 (16th Ches)(March)
It has been eight days since we arrived at Heliogabulus. I knew to expect them today and right enough the Sea Wyvern hauled into the harbour today, late in the afternoon.
It was lovely to see my wife and friends again, although in truth it had not been that long since I had seen them last. Nobby has crewed the Sea Wyvern with more gnomes but most of them I still recognise.
There are:
Lavinia - My lovely wife, who is currently 'in charge'
Nobby - my friend from Sasserine, a gnomish cleric and part owner of the Sea Wyvern.
Captain Crispy - reformed pirate and captain of the ship
Urol Furol - dirty gnomish druid and navigator
Lirith - ginger haired roguish lass
Skald - scout and look out
Hasyayoga - laughing monk
Meree - lady gnome ranger
Molly (and Boots) - my young helper and her pet monkey
Parry - lady cleric of Kossuth
Tavey Nesk - cabin boy
Eriss - lady gnome sorcerer - back with the crew now after her adventures in Chult
Oh, I should also mention, a few days ago I had a message from Cavu, along the lines of 'I hear you are an expert in slaying vampires these days, perhaps you could pop into Westgate on your way back and offer your sage wisdom to some of my agents there?'
It seemed like a reasonable request.
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