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Journal Entries - On Patrol Journal of Aravin de Tylmarade Some two weeks ago, we were tasked with patrolling the Codrada Corridor, whilst Veslii and the Vigil rode out to against the Gorgon threat. He advised us to patrol the first 10 miles of the Corridor, and report to him once he returned. Wise leader such that he is, he entrusted us with an intricate horn with which to summon a member of the Valraven, should we require assistance. The first nights of patrolling yielded up some interesting sightings. A Bone Lord, which Ruegoth managed to skillfully divert away from our camp, a reptilian bird with a barbed tail that flew overhead without noticing us, and a hungry bear. The bear wandered into our camp whilst Ruegoth was on watch. Even as he woke me to alert me to the danger at hand, he fell to the powerful claws of the bear. Thinking only of Ruegoth, I arose and summoned what I can of Corean’s will to heal the wry dwarf. Fatso reacted predictably and worked his war magics on the bear, serving to anger the bear. It responded in kind, and in ten seconds flat Fatso fell to those same claws. Instead of attacking this powerful beast, I tended to my freshly fallen companion, doing what I could for the poor mage. I had the presence of mind, however – thanks to Corean – to scatter about my trail rations for the bear to eat before helping Fatso. The rations satiated the beast’s appetite and it wandered off without further incident. Needless to say, my dwarven compatriots were very grateful for this. At least they were when they’d come around the next day. We spend some time there, the dwarves resting, and I would pray to Corean as I tended to them as best I could. Almost a week after setting out from Mullis town in the first place, we were back on our way again. Soon after we came upon a burning, upturned cart. Taking stock of the situation we soon noticed a trail of blood leading away from the cart. This, in turn lead us to a cave, wherein we found four coal goblins. We engaged, and managed to slay them all. Ah, the play of swords was music to my ears, I had started to miss it. We soon learnt that this was actually the entrance to a large coal goblin city. Concerned that the coal goblins might attack Mullis town whilst the Vigil was away, we immediately summoned the flamboyant “Orto Savageclaw”, riding on his avian mount, “Swiftstrike”. When we warned them of the threat, Swiftstrike, a huge bird, similar in looks to that of a raven, screamed into the sky, with such speed as I have never witnessed. He returned from the White City with news that Knight Barconius would not send assistance, believing this was a plot by his arch enemy, Dar' Tan the Penumbral Lord, to draw forces away from Mithril. In any event, the coal goblins did not strike. Aside from two scouts that were detected and killed, an uneventful week passed as we waited for the Vigil to return. With the gold and equipment we recovered from the fallen coal goblins, I have managed enough to afford a suit of banded mail. The armourer gave me a terrible price on the scale mail I traded in, but I’m very pleased to have a good solid suit of heavy armour. It is but one small step closer to becoming a Knight of Corean. Journal of Fatso Fjalar Journal of Ruegoth Ulgon After receiving the intelligence that we had received earlier, Veslii contacted us again. Veslii and the vigils were heading out to hunt down and destroy the Gorgon threat and was again in need of our assistance. Due to the fact that the Vigils were going to have to go after the Gorgons, Veslli asked us to patrol the first 10 miles of the Cordrada Corridor. To help us, he offered us a whistle shaped like the talon of a great bird. In case of an emergency, he told us to blow the whistle and aerial scout from Mithril would come and assist us. Veslii also loaned me the shadowwork armour that he loaned me on his last expedition. We headed out that day and started patrolling the corridor. On the first evening, I spotted another one of the large bone creatures that tore the wizards apart previously. Knowing that we would again not be able to handle this creature, I quickly put the campfire out, woke Aravin and Fasto and told them to hide in the bushes. I then snuck out into the other direction. I threw a small rock out past the creature to try and create a diversion. Fortunately the diversion worked and the creature stopped moving towards the campsite and moved away. Relieved, I resumed my watch as the others resumed their sleep. The next night I was not as lucky. While on watch, I spotted a large bear moving towards the campsite. Unfortunately, the bear also spotted me, knowing that I would have little chance to lure the creature away now that I had been spotted, I move over towards Aravin to wake him before the bear could attack him in his sleep. Unfortunately just as I woke Aravin, the bear's claws tore into my body. I awoke the next day to find that the bear had also injured Fatso, but thanks to Aravin's quick thinking, the Paladin managed to lure the bear away with some food and healed us both. We spent the next few days resting, until we were almost spotted by a large flying creature on the fourth day. On the fifth day, we spotted a burning caravan. We found a trail and followed it into the forest. After about 30 minutes of travelling we encountered a cave. I crept inside ahead of the others, the cave opened up into a cavern containing 4 coal goblins. Aravin, Fatso and I quickly dispatched the coal goblins. Strangely we found no signs of anything that could have been on the caravan. After searching around for a while, we found a hidden door, with a ladder that decended into the darkness. I lead the way down the 200 foot long ladder. At the bottom of the ladder we followed the a corridor that went for about a mile. At the end of the corridor, it opened up into huge cavern, almost 500 feet across. We were shocked to find that this cavern contained a coal goblin city! The city contained around 100 small buildings, a dozen or so larger buildings and a large temple in the middle. I ventured into the shadows of the cavern, circling around the outside of a small set of buildings under the cover of darkness, staying well away from the temple. I could not see inside the buildings without going into them but I could see a large number of coal goblins. I decided to report back to Aravin and Fatso. We headed back to the surface. Uncertain of what to do next, we staked out the cave for a few days, to try and track goblin movements. On the morning of the second day, Fatso spotted a coal goblin sneaking back past us into the cave. Fortunately, the three of us managed to catch up with the goblin and cut it down before it could make it back to its base. Knowing that we were going to need some backup, with a coal goblin army only 5 miles from Mullistown, Aravin blew the whistle. After about 15 minutes, a rider on a giant Raven swooped down. The rider introduced himself as Orto Savageclaw and his mount as Swiftstrike. Quickly we summarised the situation and Orto decided that he would return to Mithril to tell his superiors. In the meantime, he suggested that we return to Mithril and try and mount a defense. We returned to to Mullistown and we got an audience with King Jaren. King Jaren told us that he had no way of contacting Veslii and as we were part of the Vigil, he left the defense of the city in our hands. We spent the next few days trying to round up a militia and having two of us on watch at all times during the day. After a few days, Orto returned. Orto revealed that he has spoken to Barconius himself! Unfortunately Barconius decided not to send troops, as he though it might be a plot by his arch-enemy Dar' Tan the Penumberal Lord to draw his troops away from Mithril. A few days later, Orto and Swiftclaw spotted and killed a coal goblin scout. Fortunately for us, this was the only goblin incursion that occured. A week later Veslii and the rest of the Vigil returned, much to our relief. Journal of Viktor von Haelsburg My companions have been summoned to patrol the corridor in the absence of the Vigil. I however am staying in Mullis Town. I can come across some details of a book detailing my craft. The book is entitled The Libris Mortis, the book of the dead. Excited I researched further and found that a copy of this great book was housed in the Guild of Shadows in Mithril City. The book is alleged to contain writings on necromantic spells, constructs and the like. Oh, to get my hands on such a tome. When my friends return, I will have to suggest a little detour to this fabled city. Good fortune smiles again and the party returned worn and beaten but alive, speaking of goblin cities and giant bears. I believe that their imaginations may have run a little wild this time. |