[Meanwhile, I was in Sasserine.]
DAY 523 (8th Eleasis) (August)
Since Dak seemed to be a permanent fixture in my life now, he accompanied me when I went into town to sell our recently acquired loot. He was beginning to suspect I wasn't simply some old adept, so I told him who I really was - a young druid called Rollo - and filled him in on some of the basics of my recent escapades.
We also went into town to get his amulet looked at. We'd started off with me summoning Rhemera (the bard that lives inside a magic flute that I own) to cast her eyes over it.
All she knew was that it was a;
'Wooden figurine, a bearded man playing a fluted instrument, a symbol of Oghma, God of Knowledge.'
Well, I could have told him that, one of my brother Corum's pals is a Cleric of Oghma after all.
We took a saunter to the Temple of Oghma and talked to a priest there.
He told Dak:
'Indeed, these figurines were only given to people who had performed an important service to the Church of Oghma and they can be used to gain a boon.'
Dak told us it was his mother's, although he apparently did not know her name. That's half-orcs for you though.
The priest studied the figurine further, getting out a magnifying glass to take a closer look.
'I can tell you where this was issued!' he reported. 'Cimbar, just south of the Sea of the Falling Stars.'
What Dak was going to do with this information he did not reveal to me.
I think he has gone off to the pub with some of the servants tonight or something. I am spending the evening with my lovely, but increasingly rounded, wife Lavinia.
DAY 524 (9th Eleasis) (August)
Spent the day loafing about at Vanderboren Manor, then went to the local tavern later on.
Molly seems to be doing fine in Sasserine. She likes to ride around on Stephen's back and scare the locals. She seems fully recovered from her kidnapping and adventures on Midpoint Island.
In the tavern Dak spent a good portion of the evening bragging about his adventures on Yacg'harr Island. While it is true that he did strike the killing blow on the Evil King, I was not entirely a by-stander. I did not correct him though, not wanting to get noticed.
I find it interesting to compare young Dak to another half-orc of my acquaintance - Shump is also a barbarian and a devote follower of Miliki. We rescued him off a pirate ship down Chult way and he's been a firm friend of mine ever since. He is a quiet and thoughtful fellow though, I wonder if he and Dak would get along?
Where is Shump now I wonder? Last time I saw him in Weyloon. He went his own way again after the Plane of Shadows. I suppose I could use a Sending if I was really interested.
I've no doubt the other half-orc I know - Drashnag would have not liked him, but that would be because he was an Eye of Grummsh, and they don't like anybody.
DAY 525 (10th Eleasis) (August)
Flew back to Yacg'harr Island with Dak again today.
Arrived at six o'clock and hunted out Silas. He had researched, or whatever it is he does, and found the location of the artifact we were after (to activate the portal in the Barrow of the Evil King) and said it could be found in the 'Nameless Monastery'.
This could be found in Anauroch Desert. It was hidden by some kind of magical means though and one was simply to set off on the Black Road and eventually the Monastery would find you.
As Sylvia, Corum and Jiggles were all unavailable I decided to go it - more or less - alone and only take Irritator for his teleports. Dak said he wanted to come, scenting more opportunities for adventure and things to brag about later no doubt.
I should mention, Sylvia has a 'Sending Round Robin' on the go at the moment where every few days she contacts:
Me, Corum, Jiggles, Irritator, Dad and Giselle.
Basically everyone that was involved with Midpoint Island.
We'll spend the night on the island and fly back in the morning.
DAY 526 (11th Eleasis) (August)
Arrived in Sasserine in the late afternoon on a favourable wind.
I've decided to release Stephen from service (for now) as he is not really suited to tropical climes. Molly is sad, but she understands.
So without any further ado, we teleported to Westgate, where we had arranged to meet Irritator and then teleported to Corm Orp (we had to pay for that one).
We spent the night in a pleasant pub full of halflings. Dak boasted to them all night. Irritator tried to fit in with his 'people' with mixed success.
DAY 524 (Eleasis) (August)
Teleported to Waterdeep. I think Dak's head is spinning!
Then went to the OJB (Old Jock's Brewery, where my brother Corum is based) and then went for lunch at the Singing Sword.
I took Stephen to the north gate, then a few miles beyond the wall from there and released him.
He'll make his own way back to Kryptgarden.
It's a shame, but probably for the best.
Spent the night at the Singing Sword.
DAY 527 (12th Eleasis) (August)
In the morning we flew to Loudwater, a town west of the desert and spent the night there. There are only two taverns and we selected the 'Enchanter's Ecstasy'.
The inn was chock-full of cutesy decorations such as statuettes of smiling wizards and enchanted novelties like talking clocks that spoke the hour in fluting voices, doors that thanked people who opened them, and even illuminated chamberpots that could be used in the dark. The lobby housed a fountain with statues of mermaids holding fish that continually spouted cascades of water.
I got drunk. Dak went outside and peed in an elf's garden.
'Get off my cabbages you dirty bugger!' came a shout from the darkness.
Dak was only a few yards away from an outhouse.
I think Dak is very confused, and clearly doesn't know where he is, from all the teleporting and flying. He was drinking all day on the flight and was already as drunk as a lord before we even landed.
Irritator was an obnoxious drunk little halfling, but he did manage to summon the bard on the flute and when the wizard was summoned too we got them as drunk as we could on strong spirits in the hour that they had before they went back.
I think I lost a few hours towards the end of the night as I don't remember how I got to bed.
DAY 528 (13th Eleasis) (August)
Hungover I flew east on the gentle warm updrafts that came off the desert.
In the early evening we landed and made camp, right at the Anauroch Desert's edge.
I then settled down to meditate and summon an animal companion suitable to the terrain.
I could hear Rolanda somewhere, trying to get some conversation from Dak and eventually giving up on him, before going over to chat to Jonathan the seagull.
DAY 529 (14th Eleasis) (August)
In the evening a Dire Lion appeared. I named her Harriet.
It was decided that Irritator would remain here, at this spot. He had no great desire to wander around in the desert with us, so we said we could always teleport back to get him if we needed him (and since I got my boots I don't need him as much as I used to).
So after we had had our diner the rest of us walked directly into the desert on the Black Road.
Apparently there was no way of finding this Monastery - it found you - and the trick was to just keep walking.
We did that until nightfall and made camp under the desert stars.
DAY 530 (15th Eleasis) (August)
We set off again in the morning and after four hours we came across a man stood in the middle of the road. He appeared menacing, although he was unarmed. He was hooded and only the bottom part of his face could be seen.
Around him were the bleached bones of various beasts, including something massive which turned out to be a tarasque. There was no shortage of humanoid skeletons either.
'Hello?' I called. 'Do you speak common?'
He did. He then demanded 300 gold to 'pass'.
I don't know what his problem was, and I doubt I ever will, and why he was guarding and empty bit of road, or why he didn't think we could not just go back or around him. I myself was interested to see what sort of challenge he would be, and I was beginning to suspect he was a warlock.
We went back 400 feet and I told Dak my plan.
'Take my Goggles of See Invisibility, old chap,' I told him. 'He can go invisible and fly, of that I have little doubt. I will fly and summon other beasts of the air to battle him. Your job is to keep your eyes on him at all times. It is of the utmost importance we stay out of range of his blasts. Got that?'
'Durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?'
'Oh, you'll be fine. Just keep shouting out where he is and I'll do the rest!'
I turned into and owl and Dak got onto my back. We circled high above the man, and as I had predicted he vanished.
'300 gold or perish,' said a voice in our heads.
Well, I hate bullies, so I circled higher, determine to fight off the villain.
As an owl I could not talk though, so I glanced over my shoulder to see what Dak was doing. He should have been trying to locate the warlock.
What he appeared to be doing though, was squinting directly at the sun.
A huge beam of white energy went whizzing past Dak's head. Like something from Fenrir, but bigger.
I located the source, about 300ft away. I knew that I could fly faster than a warlock (a standard issue one anyway) so I swooped off in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile Dak's courage had all melted away and he had quickly shoved handfuls of his gold into a pouch and tossed it over the side.
I watched it plummet into the sand and burst open, and a moment later the warlock appeared, walked over to the gold and began to pick it up.
Well, I dare say Dak had been right, but I would have preferred to have put up more of a fight first!
We did not speak of it when we made camp that night.
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