Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune....
We continued on to explore the domain
of the Maiden. The Adrazku that had attacked us came from this way
so best to be sure they were all gone. With Snori’s help we
quickly arrived at the room they had come from. For Demons who
seemed to take such pride in their power and preening, they were
proven to be just cowardly little wretches. Taking a place of such
beauty as this and defiling it with filth and blood, covering the
walls with runes paying homage to Kostchtchie the Demonic Lord Father
of Frost Giants. Pah, children destroying beauty they are incapable
of comprehending.
The room did prove useful though in
that we found a rough map. We also encountered Jadranka, one who we
later learned is supposed to be the warden of this place. A kind
face she presented, asking our help in removing the demons and other
intruders, but I trust her not. She tells us keys to finding Baba
are here in Artrosia, but little she does to help. Exploring the
room further we found a Giant Portable Ram, climbing gear, a potion
and a wand.
On we went through the passage, but
soon found the motif on the walls turning from spring to summer. The
map we found listed areas we had as of yet to explore, so we decided
it was time to go back and finish what we started. Back to the
entrance we went to camp, rest, and retrieve Sadobras’ mount. In
the morning I felt my power had grown and my familiar unveiled new
spells to me.
On to the lair of the trixy Satyr we
did go next. Politely we asked him to come forward to talk, but
again he tried his tricks. Music from his pipes came to our ears,
but having been exposed to these tunes so recently, beguile us they
did not. Soon enough he came and flung spells as Sadobras. Touching
the primal fear that is hidden within all of us, the spell caused
Sadobras to run as fast as he could. Snori moved up and into the
room as Tauvem covered him with arrow fire. Getting my first peek at
what else lay within I saw a writhing mass of green plant flesh.
Massive I knew from my studies it was a Tendriculous. Vines and
branches pulled it forward and it attacked Tauvum. Turning
invisible and flying into the room I lined up the Satyr and his pet
plant and cast a lightning bolt at the pair. The Satyr threw off
the attack with his innate magic resistance, but the Tendriculous had
none and did much damage. Yoska moved up with his blade dancing with
electrical energy as well and sliced at the beast.
Hexing the plant with Misfortune, I
tried to limit the effectiveness of its attacks. It helped some, but
I knew my hex had little chance against the Satyr as well. Still,
one has to try so I cast a slumber towards it, but again it shook off
my attack. While it did that though, Yoska moved in and finished off
the plant. Gretta moved up to chop it and ensure it stayed as
mulch. Seeing that it had little chance left, the Satyr turned to
flee. I tried to stop him with a web, but soon it escaped and was
away. Not as satisfying as ending the threat, but a win is a win.
Going onward we soon found a strange
structure of cloth and sticks. A veritable house within a cave.
From this house came a woman who told us her name was Caigreal.
Prisoner she claimed to be of Jadranka and anxious for our help for
both her and her sisters. While we talked, Snori went to explore the
structure and took several of the items including clothes, valuables,
and a box. Seeing the items Snori had taken, the woman demanded
their return. Snori, being obstinate refused and the woman charmed
Yoska to ask for the items return. To protect herself she also
called forth a cloud of fog and hid within. Finally, relenting,
Snori took out the items to return them. As he opened the box to
show he was returning what was within, all saw that it actually
contained the scalps of many small children.
Have you ever had one of those moments?
One where your view of all that is happening is radically changed
in an instant? This was one of those moments. One second she is a
poor prisoner who’s things were being stolen by that damn fay. In
the next, she’s a bloodthirsty Anis Hag that wants her collection
of human scalps returned. The moments of our lives are certainly not
meant to be like this…
Sadobras quickly moved in and hit her
with a staff. Gretta, under the spell of the Hag struck violently at
Yoska, so I quickly cast slumber upon her to stop her till her senses
returned. Yoska shook off his charm as well as the Hag had
transformed and looked nothing like what she had. Tauvum and Snori
moved in to attack from behind. A blast of negative energy singed
all around the creature. Yoska moved up and his attack wounded and
fatigued it. The fog was thick and I was unable to target directly,
so I just moved up closer. Tauvum and Snori moved in again to
attack and Snori did a massive hit for such a small creature, hitting
some critical spot on her. Tauvum also wounded her. The hag struck
at Yoska and knocked him down so I moved up and gave healing to him.
Rage running through her on the damage to her mate, Gretta moved up
and with her axe finished the hag off.
Exploring the area we found an
intricately carved door we couldn’t open and so decided to leave it
for later. On we went far down one of the paths that branched.
Taking the left path we found that it opened up into a strange room
that seemed a meadow. Sunlight came down from above and tall, cool
grasses, stood swaying in the wind. Jadranka appeared again before
us standing next to a great ox. Disguised as a simple farm maiden at
first we did not recognize her. However, when she asked if we had
found those that had invaded her realm, we quickly realized it was
her. After a time talking she again teleported away and we readied
to move on, but then noticed the Ox was no longer just an Ox. The
creature was transformed and the illusion it was a cow and the
illusion of the swaying grass disappeared. Instead before us stood a
creature of fear and legend. The Gorgon!!
One blast of his breath and many of us
were petrified. Sadobras and Snori threw off the petrification and
moved to attack. Yoska and Gretta also moved up, knowing the breath
weapon could come again at any time, we knew we had to take it down
quickly. The Gorgon struck and gored Yoska, but luckily missed with
his hooves. Snori flew under him and slicked at its belly. Calling
upon the spirits to give fortune I hexed Sadobras to give his attack
power. Gretta moved in and did a massive hit to the beats side.
Then Yoska moved in and with his weapon again striking with
electrical energy he finished it off.
As we continued on we came to a room
with a pool surrounded by white stones, an oaken table, a side
passage with stone pillars and a door carved with the image of a
naked pregnant woman with a full moon painted on her belly. The
pillars were waist high and gray, hallowed out on top like shallow
bowls. Symbols on the pillars made it clear this was a part of a
traditional fertility ritual. Well, at least the tame version of
the fertility ritual. Not the sky-clad one traditionally followed by
an orgy.
Explaining to all the significance of
this, I pointed out the items on the table. Guiding the ritual,
quickly we did invoke the magic of the pillars, opening the carved
door and discovering the path to the summer of the life of women.
Deciding to finish exploring the path
of spring first, we went back and Dalomar took a crack at unlocking
the door we had previously found locked. Successfully doing so he
opened it allowing us to see within was filled with daylight. Prick
my eyes it did burn brightly and bold. Snori, taking his loincloth
upon his head moved into the room and found the light coming from a
crack upon the floor. The rest of us coming it, Dalomar and Tauvum
were stunned by the brightness.
The rest of us felt as if some force
were attacking our eyes and soon Gretta was near knocked off her feet
by a blast of something. Searching our memories to figure what this
could be we realize they be more trixy fay, the lurkers in the light.
All but invisible in the brightness, yet spells of see invisibility
are useless. At a loss to how to fight or defend, Sadobras came to
our rescue. Carefully husbanded for just such an occasion, he did
open and use a flask of ice flow elixir. Soon we can see the
creatures and begin to fight in earnest. My slumber is useless due
to the strength of will of them, but strength of will had naught to
stop fearsum strikes from Dalomar and Gretta. Tauvum unleashes a
cold iron arrow as well. Sadobras moves up to strike one, but gets
blasted by a blindness spell. Thinking furiously I pull out my
blanket and use it to cover the light. Soon enough between Yoska
and the rest, the lurkers are gone. Working carefully under the
blanket we pull out the source of light from the crevasse and find a
useful gem of brightness.
Needing a break to recharge my cure
blindness spell we retreat to the room we met the Ettins in and try
to rest, only to be woken by Frost Giants. Casting forward a blast
of confusion I have some success with one. Yoska tries to slumber
one without success, but following his lead I manage to bring one
down. Snori and Gretta attack wounding one that Tauvum finishes with
another of his wicked arrows. The creature is finished, but much to
everyone’s chagrin it falls over onto Gretta pinning her. Gretta
transforms into a wolf and tried to break free as I cast blindness on
the remaining Giant. Blind and outnumbered we make quick work of the
frostie.
In the morning I lift the shadow from
Sadobras. All of us once again hale and hearty we do continue on.
Through the room that had held the light. Coming to another strange
room we take stock. Huge stone Meniers form a giant ring, decorated
by the corpses of gutted giants and beset in the middle with some
strange plant. Seeing the Meniers I do quickly recognize with
excitement what this must be. A way to connect to the visions of the
maiden, but with something… missing. I move forward quickly to
look, but out bursts a naked demon wench. Using stonecall she
attacks us and we find it difficult to strike back. Such blinding
beauty fills me with desire and lust, but I can feel she has wounded
my familiar. Rage at this fuels me to fight, but her aura is
blinding and Sadobras and Yoska scream and clutch at their eyes.
Flying up above us we struggle to fight her as she remains mostly out
of reach. Calling upon my newest spells I call forth a phantasmal
killer to torment her. It strikes at her fears, but she survives.
Soon between all of us we manage to drive her off, fleeing with a
dimension door.
Healing Grr and waiting a time to
ensure she isn’t coming back we explore the area. I embrace the
ritual of the maiden and see through the eyes of the great stature.
Looking forth I see the beauty of the land, but little else.
Withdrawing back into myself from the vastness of Artrosia, I talk
with the rest of our group. Once again it seems we must rest and
heal before we move on. The secrets that await us are so close and
I worry the others will find them first. I grow impatient with our
progress, but I know we are where we are supposed to be…
