Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune 10-19-17
The Wisps taken care of we resumed our
ascent. With little more difficulty we quickly reached the top.
Once there prick my eyes we did see a strange sight. An arched
entrance into our destination and a centaur strung up in a tree.
Bones littered the ground and the stench of death hung heavy.
Caution upon us we studied the area carefully and noticed what wasn’t
right. The tree the centaur hung on was no ordinary oak. It was a
Witch Tree and hungry with malice. Thinking back to what we knew of
such creatures we knew it would be no easy foe. Knowing we
recognized it, the tree demanded we sacrifice one of our number for
the privilege of entry. As much as I was tempted to put forth the
annoying elf as payment, I tried to look to my better nature such as
it was. Yes, you voices, I know to stay away from the evil path, but
do you have to be so loud about it. Some deserve what they get.
Ahem, as I was saying… Determined to do the right thing and not
sacrifice a party member, instead we negotiated with the creature.
Using my best of politeness I negotiated with the thing and received
a riddle for my efforts. Solve the riddle and forward we could go.
Sadobras quickly recognized the riddle was about the Black Rider,
Alarian Matvias, and said so. As we had solved the riddle and that
we were sent to search for Baba Yaga, the tree did let us pass.
Within the hallway itself was a wonder.
Carved with a spring motif, flowers and vines, fresh with new
growth, it spoke to me of the maiden. For a maiden is the source of
life. Some would say that is the mother, but one is a maiden when
one creates the new life, one becomes the mother once new life has
begun. Down we went within the heart of the mountain, deep within.
Dalomar scouting ahead heard noises below and tried to sneak close
enough for a look. Luck wasn’t with him though and an errant
gurgle of his stomach alerted those waiting ahead. Two Ettins did
block our way and we knew they waited for us on the other side of a
wall. What deity decided to create such a creature of madness? I
know not, but they did have a reputation of evil. How to get into
the battle without getting skewered was the question. Snori flew
forward and tried to distract them with the offer of a fine axe, but
the two (four?) of them were too canny for that. Dalomar did an
amazing spring attack against them, darting in and out of cover.
Sadobras also moved to the attack. Once battle was joined, the rest
of us moved up and one of them did try to cast an Evil Eye hex on me.
On me, a hex against me will you? Anger flooded me as Gretta
moved to the attack. Her weapon seemed particularly effective
against them and she sliced deep.
The battle was starting to move in our
favor, but then Snori went exploring some more. Soon, it wasn’t
just two Ettins. They were joined by a Frost Giant and three
Andrazku Demons. Snori paid for the foolishness though as the Frost
Giant bull rushed him, through a door he had put in the giants way,
into a wall as he was casting reduce person upon it. I inflicted it
with misfortune and Yoska moved to the attack. Yoska with his cold
iron scimitar, flaming with magic, did finish the reduced giant.
Soon enough, Ettins, Frost Giant, and Andrazku all lay dead before
us. Such a battle just scant weeks ago would have been our end and
I stood in wonder at our ability in battle. Even the elf seems to be
blending in well with us in combat, his arrows inflicting terrible
wounds. My familiar Grr tells me my Patron spirit has gift for my
advancement as well. I begin to think us a group worthy of the
gifts we will surely get from Baba Yaga.
Of course, that thought was just enough
to jinx us. As we went onward through the passages, a strange music
pulled at us. A Satyr with his fiendishly powerful pipes called to
us. Evidently to feed to some giant plant Dalomar saw while
scouting. The Satyr called to us once affected, but luckily not all
of us could understand the language in which it spoke. Sadobras
threw out a feather token tree to block the passage and though the
pipes addled my mind, I knew enough that I didn’t want to see what
lay beyond. So, as a path was made under the tree, I immediately
sealed it with a web. In time, our wits returned and we decided to move
on and search elsewhere….
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