I’m floating in the darkness. It feels so nice here! Nice and warm and dark. There was a faint light earlier, but it’s just a pinprick now. I don’t remember any of my problems. Why isn’t everyone here, it’s so nice! How did I get here? Let’s see, the last thing I remember… (flashes of crocodile jaws, teeth, slits of eyes, tremendous weight and strength overtaking me) AAAAAH! No no, that can’t have been real. (Flashback of Ashleigh telling me to get away and shut the door) Oh, that girl! Oh now I remember! We were all on a quest together. Ashleigh? (Flashback of Ashleigh asking if I want to have a girl talk) She and the green guy…Saddush (flashback of Saddush, smiling, backlit cinematically by the sun)… were captured…but they’re ok after all! I think?
(Flashback of Ileander trying to heal me) Oh him, he’s so nice! Ileander? He came to my aid, he tried to save me. Oh Corellon! Does that mean I’m dead? I don’t feel like I am. I feel like I’d know if I were.
(Flashback of Arterious the Bear saying “You are the Chosen Ones.” It echoes: chosen ones…chosen ones…chosen ones…) Oh that’s right! Oh, smelly dungheaps! (Flashback of adventure thus far. Flashes of teammates. Flashback of Halfling tribesmen falling in battle.) I guess I have to go back. But…maybe not yet...maybe I can float here in this nice darkness for a while longer…
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Day 4, Illander's Diary
Dearest Whomever,
I never thought I'd be so glad to see the inside of this wretched bathysphere. The attack on the lizardmen's compound was an utter failure, though we did manage to save Ashleigh and Sadush (not that I heard any thanks from either of them).
Most of the halflings we brought with us, after barely convincing them to fight, fell in battle. I am certain I will never forgive myself for not protecting them better. To make matters worse, Laird nearly fell twice. I did everything I could, but in the end I couldn't do much.
I suck.
If we are the chosen ones then why can't we do anything right? Are we supposed to learn something from all of this? What are we chosen for?
The strangest thing of all is that at our darkest hour a lizardman sorceror of some sort let us go. He had a strange amulet around his neck which I could tell to be of infernal origin. we couldn't speak to him because none of us can speak Draconic, but he seemed to be the same age as us. Are there chosen ones for the side of evil?
To do over the coming days: find out who this lizard sorceror is, translate the Draconic runes on the tablets into common, find out what purpose our presence on the island serves, nurse Laird back to health.
Also, write Erevan a letter about Ashleigh. I wonder how Iagon is faring with the merpeople. Better than I am here, hopefully.
A new poem:
The cold, cold touch
of death
you wear
like a cloak around you
is beautiful
when your hair is blowing in the wind.
It becomes you.
But do not wear it long for
you are chosen
hand picked for great deeds,
by elves and humans alike.
Your people.
And yet not your people.
You are alone.
And yet not alone.
I never thought I'd be so glad to see the inside of this wretched bathysphere. The attack on the lizardmen's compound was an utter failure, though we did manage to save Ashleigh and Sadush (not that I heard any thanks from either of them).
Most of the halflings we brought with us, after barely convincing them to fight, fell in battle. I am certain I will never forgive myself for not protecting them better. To make matters worse, Laird nearly fell twice. I did everything I could, but in the end I couldn't do much.
I suck.
If we are the chosen ones then why can't we do anything right? Are we supposed to learn something from all of this? What are we chosen for?
The strangest thing of all is that at our darkest hour a lizardman sorceror of some sort let us go. He had a strange amulet around his neck which I could tell to be of infernal origin. we couldn't speak to him because none of us can speak Draconic, but he seemed to be the same age as us. Are there chosen ones for the side of evil?
To do over the coming days: find out who this lizard sorceror is, translate the Draconic runes on the tablets into common, find out what purpose our presence on the island serves, nurse Laird back to health.
Also, write Erevan a letter about Ashleigh. I wonder how Iagon is faring with the merpeople. Better than I am here, hopefully.
A new poem:
The cold, cold touch
of death
you wear
like a cloak around you
is beautiful
when your hair is blowing in the wind.
It becomes you.
But do not wear it long for
you are chosen
hand picked for great deeds,
by elves and humans alike.
Your people.
And yet not your people.
You are alone.
And yet not alone.
Day 4, Ashleigh's War Journal
Dear Diary, WAR JOURNAL,
I guess these lizardfolk mean business. Somehow we survived the battle in their lair, but it was disastrous. I heard from the others that they tried a frontal assault and that something they called a "vine whore" slew most of the halflings (such strange creatures abound outside of Valon! Flying dolphins, translucent pianomen, and now prostitutes made of plants. Good thing Sadush didn't see her--HAHA!) Of course, things might have gone better had *I* been leading them and not Illander and Laird--whom I of course managed to save from being eaten by a crocodile--one of my goals, BTW, is to save her from HERSELF--We have a makeover planned and she will no doubt be partial to ANYTHING I suggest--but I plan to be kind, not cruel--cruelty is really not a part of my nature.
Anyway, we're now heading back to the dreary halfling settlement in this dreary bathysphere. Everyone is in low spirits, myself included. I do not know why the lizardman shaman we've seen in our dreams decided to spare us, but I know one thing--I'LL MAKE HIM REGRET IT.
So why have I started calling you a war journal, dearest diary? Well, I'm going to make some plans. It is what all the great commanders do--Granddad did it--and because I'm already a great commander I feel a little late to the party, you know? So here goes:
STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE
1. Frontal Assault? No. Tried that with a bathysphere and failed. The lizardmen will be prepared next time, and I fear we saw only a portion of their forces and only a small bit of their wretched dungeon.
2. Rear Assault? I do not think they have a rear--and if they did, Illander would probably have investigated it already because he is a homosexual.
3. Floor plan? This is where the halflings can help us. They live in a big stone dragon statue too, so maybe their network of caves is similar or identical to the lizardmen's. And MAYBE just MAYBE there's a secret entrance somewhere. A small party--say four CHOSEN ONES--could investigate, proceeding carefully and running if things looked too grim.
4. Return to Valon? No--we're here and any time we lose could help the enemies. I do not think they understand who they are dealing with--yet.
5. What about the rest of the island? If the lizardmen decide to make war on *us*, we need to know the lay of the land. Ask halflings.
6. Draconic runes: ask the halflings.
7. Consult Dungeon Master for any research problems, but do not bother trying to talk to Daddy because he is SO busy, probably with STEPMANTICORE.Daddy, Daddy, I'm through! For instance, ask about the possibility of EVIL CHOSEN ONES. The lizardman shaman looked to be about OUR age.
I guess these lizardfolk mean business. Somehow we survived the battle in their lair, but it was disastrous. I heard from the others that they tried a frontal assault and that something they called a "vine whore" slew most of the halflings (such strange creatures abound outside of Valon! Flying dolphins, translucent pianomen, and now prostitutes made of plants. Good thing Sadush didn't see her--HAHA!) Of course, things might have gone better had *I* been leading them and not Illander and Laird--whom I of course managed to save from being eaten by a crocodile--one of my goals, BTW, is to save her from HERSELF--We have a makeover planned and she will no doubt be partial to ANYTHING I suggest--but I plan to be kind, not cruel--cruelty is really not a part of my nature.
Anyway, we're now heading back to the dreary halfling settlement in this dreary bathysphere. Everyone is in low spirits, myself included. I do not know why the lizardman shaman we've seen in our dreams decided to spare us, but I know one thing--I'LL MAKE HIM REGRET IT.
So why have I started calling you a war journal, dearest diary? Well, I'm going to make some plans. It is what all the great commanders do--Granddad did it--and because I'm already a great commander I feel a little late to the party, you know? So here goes:
STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE
1. Frontal Assault? No. Tried that with a bathysphere and failed. The lizardmen will be prepared next time, and I fear we saw only a portion of their forces and only a small bit of their wretched dungeon.
2. Rear Assault? I do not think they have a rear--and if they did, Illander would probably have investigated it already because he is a homosexual.
3. Floor plan? This is where the halflings can help us. They live in a big stone dragon statue too, so maybe their network of caves is similar or identical to the lizardmen's. And MAYBE just MAYBE there's a secret entrance somewhere. A small party--say four CHOSEN ONES--could investigate, proceeding carefully and running if things looked too grim.
4. Return to Valon? No--we're here and any time we lose could help the enemies. I do not think they understand who they are dealing with--yet.
5. What about the rest of the island? If the lizardmen decide to make war on *us*, we need to know the lay of the land. Ask halflings.
6. Draconic runes: ask the halflings.
7. Consult Dungeon Master for any research problems, but do not bother trying to talk to Daddy because he is SO busy, probably with STEPMANTICORE.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Day 3: Sadush Seaborn, at the bottom of a pit with Ashleigh, awaiting sacrifice by lizardmen, to the halfling prisoners:
“Don’t mind Ashleigh not saying hello, she’s just preoccupied, trying to think of a way out of here. She’s not so bad. I guess she’ll never think the same about me though. On our way here, I asked the alchemist – yeah, Maleogre – to consult the I Ching and ask if Ashleigh would ever love me or at least be nice to me. He said the sticks indicated The Wall, an insurmountable barrier. So I guess that’s that. Wow she sure can pace. Makes this pit smell like rose petals. Look at her shake her head – she’s not giving up! Maybe if I was more than just a human I would find that kind of courage. She might as well be facing this alone for all the help I’m giving her – hey wait did you see? She just looked right at me! What does that mean? Maybe she doesn’t feel so alone, maybe -- oh man now she’s just sitting there all depressed. You can just tell she’s full of dark, disturbing thoughts. Maybe I should just go over there and put my arm around her to make her feel better. Should I? What would you do? I’m going … uh oh I’m not going over there, now she’s just making a fist and looking pissed! Don’t look at her, she’ll bite your head clean off. Seriously, don’t mess with her when she’s in that mood. Oh okay it’s cool now she’s smiling. She’s gorgeous isn’t she. I can’t help it. If I could just get back my sword I swear I’d kill enough of the lizardmen for her to feystep away. It would at least give her a chance! If I could just get up this wall – hey wait. The WALL of this pit! Being captured by lizardmen to be sacrificed to the green flamed skull. Now THAT’S an insurmountable barrier! Maybe the I Ching wasn’t saying there’s a wall between us that I can never cross, maybe it’s saying that she’ll love me when we’re BOTH going against that WALL!!! That’s it, I knew that there had to be a way! All fucking right! Hey she’s smiling – maybe she knows that I’m going to rescue her. She’s got such great hair. Now how hard would it be to climb out of this pit … not so hard …
Ashleigh, I’ve got an idea!”
Ashleigh, I’ve got an idea!”
Day 3, Illander's Diary
Dear Whomever,
Things have gone from dark to dismal. After the longest bathysphere ride with an undead captain I hope I ever take, we arrived on the tiny island that was our destination. While aboard the bathysphere I took in a session of the I Ching, a sort of fortune telling game. The old alchemist threw some bones down and lo and behold I received "the well". What do you suppose that means? I'll tell you-- a fundamental inability to complete my life's goals. Terrific.
Ashleigh of course took this ride as an opportunity to make nastly little comments about my journaling and my poetry. Sadush was being terribly forthright with Maleogre and so very moral. I've always considered myself a good person, but out here in the world... I don't know. It's taxing to always be so fair and moral and sugary sweet.
Once we landed we got Maleogre the Alchemist to agree to wait for us on the beach. As you know, we traveled here because of the dreams we've been having in which halflings are sacrificed by lizardfolk beneath immense stone dragons. What's strange is that the dragons on the island are not the dragons I've been dreaming about. The stautues in my dreams are much more ominous. I didn't tell the other three. None of them said anything about it, so I assume the dragon statues on the island are, indeed, the same stautues from their dreams. Why then am I having different dreams.
The halflings on the island were less than amicable and seemed generally upset to have a warlock in their midst. They claimed that their lot and the lizardfolk had always lived peacefully on opposite ends of the island. They would offer no help unless we could prove the lizardfolk had indeed sacrificed halflings. That said, we set a path for the other end of the island.
We were confronted with such horror! Scores and scores of animated halfling skeletons guarding the entrance to some sort of lizardfolk compound! Ashleigh, much to my chagrin, has been learning magic and took three skeletons out with one fell swoop. I know she's only doing this to be mean to me. I'm starting to really hate my brother, Erevan. Ashleigh's magic was not enough nor, to be fair, was mine. Ashleigh and Sadush were nearly killed and were taken into the compund. Thank Correllian that Laird survived. I'm waiting for her on the beach as I write this.
It is up to us now. I've brought a halfling skeleton with me as a proof that their people are being sacrificed to nefarious ends. I hope they see the light.
What's most surprising in all of this is that I am the one still alive. I am the one entrusted to rescue the others. I don't think anybody, myself included, thought this possible. As it turns out, I am the most powerful and not Ashleigh.
Please let me find the strength to continue.
No time for poetry!
Keep It Secret,
Illander Illrune
Things have gone from dark to dismal. After the longest bathysphere ride with an undead captain I hope I ever take, we arrived on the tiny island that was our destination. While aboard the bathysphere I took in a session of the I Ching, a sort of fortune telling game. The old alchemist threw some bones down and lo and behold I received "the well". What do you suppose that means? I'll tell you-- a fundamental inability to complete my life's goals. Terrific.
Ashleigh of course took this ride as an opportunity to make nastly little comments about my journaling and my poetry. Sadush was being terribly forthright with Maleogre and so very moral. I've always considered myself a good person, but out here in the world... I don't know. It's taxing to always be so fair and moral and sugary sweet.
Once we landed we got Maleogre the Alchemist to agree to wait for us on the beach. As you know, we traveled here because of the dreams we've been having in which halflings are sacrificed by lizardfolk beneath immense stone dragons. What's strange is that the dragons on the island are not the dragons I've been dreaming about. The stautues in my dreams are much more ominous. I didn't tell the other three. None of them said anything about it, so I assume the dragon statues on the island are, indeed, the same stautues from their dreams. Why then am I having different dreams.
The halflings on the island were less than amicable and seemed generally upset to have a warlock in their midst. They claimed that their lot and the lizardfolk had always lived peacefully on opposite ends of the island. They would offer no help unless we could prove the lizardfolk had indeed sacrificed halflings. That said, we set a path for the other end of the island.
We were confronted with such horror! Scores and scores of animated halfling skeletons guarding the entrance to some sort of lizardfolk compound! Ashleigh, much to my chagrin, has been learning magic and took three skeletons out with one fell swoop. I know she's only doing this to be mean to me. I'm starting to really hate my brother, Erevan. Ashleigh's magic was not enough nor, to be fair, was mine. Ashleigh and Sadush were nearly killed and were taken into the compund. Thank Correllian that Laird survived. I'm waiting for her on the beach as I write this.
It is up to us now. I've brought a halfling skeleton with me as a proof that their people are being sacrificed to nefarious ends. I hope they see the light.
What's most surprising in all of this is that I am the one still alive. I am the one entrusted to rescue the others. I don't think anybody, myself included, thought this possible. As it turns out, I am the most powerful and not Ashleigh.
Please let me find the strength to continue.
No time for poetry!
Keep It Secret,
Illander Illrune
Day 3, Laird's Triple-Locked Journal
From the Triple-Locked Journal of Laird Sonoly...
Oh Corellon!! I know I should keep running, I've got to find Ileander and rescue the others, but I just have to stop for a moment... my heart is in my throat, I can't breathe... I'm pretty sure I'm not being pursued, so I think I can take a moment or two here to rest.
Ashleigh and Sadush have been captured by lizardmen, and taken inside some compound, through the legs of a giant dragon statue (the very statue from my dreams!). I am praying that the lizardmen don't sacrifice them, that we don't meet their bones later in the marsh, stripped of flesh, empty eye sockets glowing red. Such abberations of nature, such mockeries of life, ugh! That's a sight I won't forget soon: when we first approached the lizardmen's side of the island (we're on Skaver's Moor D'More Island, but more on that later), we found it guarded by the undead skeletons of some of the missing halfling tribesmen. We fought them competently enough, but in the thick of battle, lizardmen began emerging and joining the frey. We'd kill one off and two would emerge to replace the last... I barely stayed on my feet! I was hit with more arrows than I could count, but I'm also tougher than I look. Everyone fought bravely, with Ashleigh and Saddush doing most of the heavy fighting. Unfortunately, this also meant they were the first to be felled and captured, which is exactly what happened! Lizardmen grabbed them and *walked* over the water of the marsh-moat (which I later tried to swim and nearly drowned doing so) to their compound. I did manage to make it across the moat, even after an evil lizardman druid caused the vines and stalks of the marshes to come to life, wrapping around me and trying to take me down to the bottom of the water. Although I wanted to push past him and chase after Saddush and Ashleigh (whom I had just started to come to like), but based on the noise I heard beyond the dragon's legs...I have a feeling it would have been really foolish to run in there, alone, and nearly dead as I am. So I turned around, jumped back IN the moat, and swam back from whence we'd come, in retreat. Ileander had already fled, and I'm hoping I can find him after this. We've got to convince the halfling tribesmen to help us so we can wage a more balanced attack on the lizardmen -- we now have no doubt that they ARE up to evil ends, capturing and sacrificing the halfling tribesmen who they were supposedly friends with?
I've got to press on and find Ileander, but in case I don't make it to write again...I want whomever to know, that I tried. I tried to do what was asked of me. I never asked to be chosen! I think I understand now, what Arterius the Bear meant, when he apologized for such a heavy burden being put on ones so young. Maybe it's *too* great of a burden. I don't know. But there's no turning back now.
Oh Corellon!! I know I should keep running, I've got to find Ileander and rescue the others, but I just have to stop for a moment... my heart is in my throat, I can't breathe... I'm pretty sure I'm not being pursued, so I think I can take a moment or two here to rest.
Ashleigh and Sadush have been captured by lizardmen, and taken inside some compound, through the legs of a giant dragon statue (the very statue from my dreams!). I am praying that the lizardmen don't sacrifice them, that we don't meet their bones later in the marsh, stripped of flesh, empty eye sockets glowing red. Such abberations of nature, such mockeries of life, ugh! That's a sight I won't forget soon: when we first approached the lizardmen's side of the island (we're on Skaver's Moor D'More Island, but more on that later), we found it guarded by the undead skeletons of some of the missing halfling tribesmen. We fought them competently enough, but in the thick of battle, lizardmen began emerging and joining the frey. We'd kill one off and two would emerge to replace the last... I barely stayed on my feet! I was hit with more arrows than I could count, but I'm also tougher than I look. Everyone fought bravely, with Ashleigh and Saddush doing most of the heavy fighting. Unfortunately, this also meant they were the first to be felled and captured, which is exactly what happened! Lizardmen grabbed them and *walked* over the water of the marsh-moat (which I later tried to swim and nearly drowned doing so) to their compound. I did manage to make it across the moat, even after an evil lizardman druid caused the vines and stalks of the marshes to come to life, wrapping around me and trying to take me down to the bottom of the water. Although I wanted to push past him and chase after Saddush and Ashleigh (whom I had just started to come to like), but based on the noise I heard beyond the dragon's legs...I have a feeling it would have been really foolish to run in there, alone, and nearly dead as I am. So I turned around, jumped back IN the moat, and swam back from whence we'd come, in retreat. Ileander had already fled, and I'm hoping I can find him after this. We've got to convince the halfling tribesmen to help us so we can wage a more balanced attack on the lizardmen -- we now have no doubt that they ARE up to evil ends, capturing and sacrificing the halfling tribesmen who they were supposedly friends with?
I've got to press on and find Ileander, but in case I don't make it to write again...I want whomever to know, that I tried. I tried to do what was asked of me. I never asked to be chosen! I think I understand now, what Arterius the Bear meant, when he apologized for such a heavy burden being put on ones so young. Maybe it's *too* great of a burden. I don't know. But there's no turning back now.
Day 3, Ashleigh Oberholt's Internal Monologue While Cruelly Imprisoned by Lizardmen
[Pacing.] How could this have happened? I am a Chosen One! A ridiculous series of events makes me fall on the field of battle--and I wake to find myself imprisoned by lizardmen, who, as everyone knows, are vicious disgusting cannibals, and as I know very well from my yeah-I-get-it repetitious dream sequences are also into sacrificing their victims. [Shaking head in wonder.] (I DID NOT know that they move three times as fast as other creatures and can walk on water, like the famous wine merchant of Viridistan.) Viridistan--Hmm, at least Sadush is here. [Glancing at Sadush.] That I ever thought myself capable of thinking THAT, or that I should consider myself glad to see his verdant hide--it makes me feel more dismal than ever. [Sitting down, head in hands.] If only Daddy had seen me off, perhaps I would have had the strength to smash that lizardman's skull. Doesn't he know that without his confidence in me I have...less...confidence in myself? Dark, disturbing thoughts. [Shaking head as if to rid herself of dark, disturbing thoughts.] In any case, if I die here, I am glad that he probably won't know that I failed miserably before I died--hmm--but then Valon would fall--and as a consequence he would *still* know that I failed!!! SO I MUSTN'T FAIL [Clenching her first unconsciously]. I have to get out of here. Perhaps Laird and Illander are seeking help. They both seem like people that don't mind asking for help once in a while--I know that I DON'T--which is, I guess, why they are who they are and why I am who I am--fiercely independent and beautiful. [Smiling slightly, despite the wretched circumstances.] Well, I can't blame myself in any way for being here, which is a relief. [Stands up and flips hair resolutely, then, struck by a thought, gropes in her backpack.] And we still have the Dungeon Master!!!
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