[Meanwhile, I was having my own adventures in the house of Durgen Hillstone, a man who had somehow managed to fill his home full of slimes and puddings.]
DAY 516 (Eleasis) (August) cont ...
I decided to have a quick look down the trap door. The ladder led to a room full of crates and a desk. The desk was for transactions and stock taking I think. I added these papers to the evidence.
There was a door, and inside the next, larger cellar chamber I saw a number of Gelatinous Cubes.
With my magic depleted, I closed the door and decided to go back upstairs and take the rest of the day off.
Myself and Lavinia are now camped out in the largest, least slimy room, with Rolanda and Jonathan keeping watch. I can hear them talking somewhere. I wonder what a rat and a seagull find to talk about? Anyway, I'd better go to sleep - more slimes tomorrow!
DAY 517 (Eleasis) (August)
Our sleep was uninterrupted and in the morning I went back down to take care of the Cubes. It was not hard as each of them did not attack until they themselves were attacked. So a bunch of crocodiles made short work of them.
The room was full of crates and kegs, and also a hidden passage (behind a barrel) which led to some old tunnels. Down the tunnels I found a library, where there were more notes on what Durgen was up to. There were also blueprints for a machine he was making to extract gemstones from the magic crystal I'd seen mentioned in his other notes.
I raided the shelves and shoved a number of interesting books into my bag. I know this sounds a bit like theft, but believe me when I tell you - in the unwritten rules of the 'Adventurer's Code' this is perfectly acceptable, rather like the laws of 'salvage' at sea.
In the next, and final, room across from the library I found the room where all the nonsense had been happening. There was a giant machine and a big green crystal. As I entered the crystal began to power up, then I was struck on the chest by an arc of energy.
I was then pulled into the crystal and found myself on a strange island in a sea of sentient green ooze. In the middle of the island was an orb of ooze.
Puddings and Oozes came from the orb, but I had plenty of room, and turning into a bird I flew up into the sky and summoned up a veritable army of crocodiles. I called lightning from the sky to help out and soon all the oozes were obliterated.
Before I could land though, I was suddenly transported back to the cellar!
The big crystal seemed to be broken now, so after searching the room and taking all the treasure I found there (see note on 'Adventurer's Code' above!) I went back upstairs, gathered the troops and we all flew back to Westgate.
We found Ilde Balderk and told him the bad news, that Durgen Hillstone had likely killed himself and his family with experiments that had gone dreadfully wrong.
Balderk was very sad at this news, but did give us 500 gold as thanks. We wished him well and returned to the manor.
We spent the evening out in the garden, sitting watching the sun set and discussing our ships. The Sea Wyvern, the Blue Nixie, the Black Cat and the Sister.
We both still like the idea of a 'base' and since Midpoint we both have now like the idea of an island (just not a horrible one!).
DAY 517 (Eleasis) (August)
Today we went to the 'Wolf' again and had food and drink with Rhemera the Flute Bard and Wellby the Spellmaster (or 'Ring Wizard' as he'd much rather not be referred to!)
I spent a lot of time asking around about islands in the local area and was told of a place called Yacg'harr Island, which was situated in the middle of the Shining Sea.
It had a small pirate port on it apparently and was only used by thieves and brigands as a place to hide from navy ships. It sounded an ideal place to use as a base, assuming the pirates could be kicked off.
Once back at home, myself and Lavinia discussed it further and I decided to fly over there tomorrow to take a look.
DAY 518 (Eleasis) (August)
It takes about ten hours to fly from Sasserine to Yacg'harr Island as I discovered when I flew there alone in the shape of a giant owl.
It was a small island with two anchorages. I could see one large, untidy and possibly piratical ship and a small town (or large village if you prefer) with an inn, a selection of houses and a few shops such as a chandlers.
In the disguise of 'Pierre the Historian', a scruffy middle-aged Adept, I entered the pub. I had a drink in a quiet spot and watched as a ship's captain and first mate came in. A grumpy, but good looking wench served me.
I wanted to talk to a local privately, so on this pre-text I asked the innkeeper where I could find a tart. He told me to go three doors down.
I thanked him then shortly arrived at the door of a dwarf lady called Akal Disanz. I'm not sure exactly what she offered to passing lonely sailors and I didn't ask!
I paid her two gold coins to talk. I was interested, mostly, in the possibility of there being a portal on the island.
I was now determined, obsessed really, by the idea of having a portal on my 'base' just like at the Lost Refuge and Midpoint. If this island did not have one, then I would maybe try another island.
I wasn't expecting much, but to my surprise Akal told me that there were old stories on the island of a buried portal. She knew no more than that, but told me to go talk to Egnol Galeborn, an elven wizard, who was known as the unofficial historian of the island.
She also told me that their was no ruler on the island as such, it was effectively an anarchy, with no law keepers and no justice system. It was purely survival of the fittest.
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