Moonday, Desnus 19

It feels right to be leaving. Although technically we remain the owners of this fort, by virtue of Magnimar having relieved itself of the responsibility, in practice we’ve done all we can to make it self-sufficient. The new recruits are being trained, and I smile a bit as I see Jakardos chastise them. He had spoken of retiring from this business (and still does) but I can see from the manner of his step and the way he holds himself that his words do not match his actions.

Logically, I do believe he has convinced himself it’s time to move on. Emotionally — ethically, perhaps — he seems to still feel a conflict, as if leaving now would be abandonment. I do hope for his sake that a protege rises from these recruits that will allow him to actually do what he has reasoned it is time to do. But that will still be, at least, several months off.

Our destination is Magnimar. Many of us have additional training we’d like to undergo, and while we were able to piece together some training from various elders and skilled artisans in the region this last time, it is nowhere near the same as having a skilled master, who is also skilled at teaching, guiding you as you extend your capabilities.

 

Fireday, Desnus 23

Of course, coming from the direction we were we would have to pass through Sandpoint before reaching Magnimar. And yet it startled me to come upon familiar bridges and landmarks, because I feel so changed in the intervening times. When first I arrived at Sandpoint, I knew none of my companions and few of my spells. I mean, really, a handful of goblins gnawing at my leg could have killed me. Now, with a greater mastery of magic, crossbow, and even quarterstaff, I doubt the infestation we encountered would do more than annoy me and my companions.

Sigh. Korvosa will always be my home, but Sandpoint still holds a special place for me. I look forward to an overnight here, and not simply for the promise of better accomodations than a bedroll and an open sky. I do like nature, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. And too little of a better thing like warmth and well-built shelter.

There will be little time to socialize, but it will be hard not to run into at least a few people we know. I could see us returning here with purpose if the promise of the giants’ reclaiming of their homelands is true, because Sandpoint would certainly be in that area of dispute.

Oathday, Desnus 29

 
We arrived in Magnimar a few days ago, and although we all immediately went in different directions to accomplish different things, we find it … comforting is not the right word … comfortable to reconvene in the evening. Weeks of relying upon each other have established some old habits, and I feel like I’ve forgotten something if, before I retire, I’ve not accounted for everyone in the party. That is silly, of course; we’re in a place of safety and it’s not at all unusual for somebody in the party to be out late or away a bit longer than the majority of the party on any given night. And yet, it is how I feel.

Father never spoke to me of the camaraderie that is formed by a band of adventurers, but then I don’t believe he ever found himself in the company of such a large group. From his stories, he had the occasional companion or two, brought together by circumstance or common foe or problem, but I don’t recall him speaking of a regular coming together of the same group. I will admit (to none here, of course!) that I find the sameness a little comforting.

Comfortable, I mean. Comfortable. I wish it were possible to erase ink without ruining a whole page of parchment. Hmm. Perhaps there’s a spell for that.

And that brings me to my training. I found my usual tutor, Berik, shortly after arriving in town. After a day or two of instruction, he found me, in his words, “particularly adept” at this point in time. He warned that soon, possibly as soon as at the conclusion of this session, he might consider me more of a peer than a student. I considered that a bad thing, in the sense that it meant it would be harder to learn new spells and techniques, but he disabused me of that.

“Trask, a sorceror reaches a point,” he confided to me, “where your magical improvement hinges more on your creativity and ability to explore new areas with peers than your ability to read textbooks and burn down labs.” He smiled. “Not to say you have not been extraordinary in that capability. Never have I found my create water spell so useful as with you. But the day is soon coming when you and I will consider things as equals, and learn together. There are still sorcerors and wizards who know more in breadth than you or I, and yet are not suited to be tutors to us.” And with those words, we returned to what may be our last session as professor and student.

Fireday, Desnus 30

We have settled on several new spells that Berik knows sufficiently to teach me. And he has commented again that I am picking them up very quickly. Featherfall is a very easy spell that I’ve never had the time to learn before. The rope spell is a fascinating spell that I never knew existed until somebody in the party asked if I knew how to cast it. It is a surprisingly easy way to hide from enemies in a dimensional pocket and I was fortunate to find that Berrik could instruct me in it. Neither of those requires a particularly complex lab area.

The other spells I am learning are tougher, but I see them having great use in our missions. I am learning major image, which will allow me to cast very believable illusions. I am learning greater invisibility, which conveys upon the recipient the ability to remain invisible despite taking action against another. I might find that Rigel is my new best friend if she finds I can do this to her. The last is wall of fire.

Berik raised an interesting topic with me after instruction today. He asked if I knew the basis for my magical control, and I told him I got it from father. He looked annoyed and replied that yes, of COURSE I did, but where did he get it from? And his look told me that if I answered “my grandfather” he’d create a large amount of water right over my head. I must admit that I was confused by the question. He looked astonished. “You mean your father never told you?” I continued to look perplexed, and replied simply, “He said magic ran in the family, and that as I got older, aspects of that would make themselves apparent. But it was that heritage which gave me the control and left others unable to have the same control.”

Berik looked me up and down, and commented, “If I didn’t already know your age, I’d accuse you of being intentionally idiotic.” I smiled briefly, and then paused, and said, “Hey, wait a minute.” Berik gave a wry smile and said, “You ARE an idiot, you know? At least when it comes to why you are a sorceror and others are not. Most sorcerors are well aware of why they have the gift, and whether to hide that or flaunt it. Especially given that your father apparently was reluctant to brief you on the topic, I suspect I know what it is that gives you the magic.”

I sat down for a moment and looked at him. “What can you tell me? Does this help?” And I made the claws appear. And even as I did so, I stared at them. I’d not brought them out in several weeks, since as my magic grew, my need for hand to, er, claw combat had lessened. But they seemed, I don’t know, larger than I remembered. More powerful looking.

For his part, Berik proved he had an innate ability to jump, travelling at least three steps back before regaining control. “Great Light of Desna, you need to say something before you point those at somebody in polite company!” He quickly regained his composure and stared me down. “Given this, and your predilection and adeptness at playing with fire, I suspect there is a dragon in your ancestry somewhere. Given your father’s reluctance to discuss it, that introduction may not have been entirely voluntary.”

I stared at him. I stared at the claws. I stared at him again. “A … dragon? Does this make me evil? Does it make me a freak?”

“No, and yes,” he responded. “All sorcerors, myself included, are a freak if you consider introducing magic into a human bloodline to be a freakish thing. I myself have a bit of the fey in my bloodline. But whether you choose to use this talent for good or evil is still an individual decision, borne of both upbringing, genealogy, and will. Has your father told you what to expect as you progress?”

“Well, he has said there are certain family traits that will become apparent — the claws, for instance, I’ve had since I exhibited a flair for magic,” I responded.

Berik nodded. “That’s typical. And I’ve observed your augmentation of fire spells, which tells me you’ve a red, brass, or gold dragon in your lineage. We should be able to tell from your breath weapon. What form does it take?”

“WHAT?” I sputtered. “A breath weapon? You mean like breath noxious gas on people?”

Berik chuckled. “You’ve that, son, yes, but that’s simply due to poor oral hygiene. No, at a point in your development — and I’d judge that to be soon — you will indeed be able to breath – fire, I suspect – upon those who displease you. Have you tried?”

“How does one do that?”

Berik shrugged. “Do I look like a dragon? I already told you my magic is fey based, not dragon based.” He looked bemused. “I don’t know if it’s a cough, or an exhalation, or what. I presume it doesn’t hurt you, but I may be wrong. Did your father ever barbecue dinner without the use of wood, or sneeze and set the curtains on fire?”

I just stared a little goggle-eyed at him, until he smiled a little. “I wish I was an artist,” he said, “because the look upon your face is worthy of canvas.” He sighed. “I know something of what you may expect from speaking with other sorcerors I have known. Exactly how it works and when it happens varies from person to person and my own inexact understanding of other bloodlines. But I believe you should expect yourself to become increasingly resistant to fire itself. You should expect to find yourself with fire breath that you can use infrequently, like once or twice a day. Those claws you already know about. They will continue to get more vicious. I would guess you already have a hide that is tougher than the average human, although it still won’t break a blade or be as good as the armor a fighter wears. At some point you may develop wings, or at least the capability for them.”

I took a deep breath and stared into the distance. At that moment, my pride in my father was at an all time low. And yet, I was excited. Enervated. Angry. Sad. Frustrated. Quivering.

“Trask?” Berik broke a very long silence. “Do we need to take a break?” There was real concern in his voice.

Still in a bit of a daze, I looked through him, and then focused. “Yes, please. I’d like to call it a day if you don’t mind.”

He looked at me intently. “It is still a gift, you know,” he said softly. “Even if it isn’t wrapped as nicely as you might have wanted.”

I looked at him and a thought occurred to me. “Do sorcerors and priests control magic in the same way?” I asked.

Berik snorted. “Completely different. Priests are granted power from their deities. Sorcerors utilize naturally occurring magical forces to concentrate them in ways that produce the effects of the spells they cast. It’s all rather metaphysical and a complete understanding of it is an area of study all its own. Why?”

“So priests don’t manipulate the same energies by focusing them through their holy objects and intense concentration?”

Berik remarked, “You really are an idiot, you know. But you’re 18 or so, aren’t you? So there’s still hope.”

I gloomily looked at the ground. “I think I have some apologies to make to some priests.”

And I knew I had a long letter to write. And probably rewrite, before sending.

Toilday, Sarenith 3

Instruction is going well. Berik says I am learning more spells than he would normally ascribe to a sorceror of my skill, and he thinks that too may be due to my lineage. We did not intend to study either fly or fear, but a few times I almost “accidentally” cast those in reaction to lab events. The imprecise reactions I had make the almost-cast spells dangerous, but it is taking but a small amount of instruction to formally pick up on those as well.

I continue to compose the letter to my father. It has already been rewritten twice and remains unfinished.

Others are also training and restocking, but for now I’m simply keeping my share from the artifacts we’ve sold. I’m in an awkward state where I have too much coin for mundane stuff and not enough for truly useful magical stuff.

 

Sunday, Sarenith 8

 

The letter is still not complete, and while I’m normally pretty outgoing and talkative with the party, I’ve been rather contemplative of late. Others are telling of the new skills, languages, and spells they’ve picked up, but although I’ve done well and completed my training with Berik, it just seems to not be an interesting topic to me.

I thought I was doing fine, but I’m not. And I don’t know when I will be. Berik has given me much to think about.

We are part way to Sandpoint. We have decided we must make a circuit across the cities and villages that may be targets of the giants and their allies. It may happen next month or next year, but we need to consider it urgent that they be prepared … if only for the advanced warning the fall of one city may give the others.

Moonday, Sarenith 9

We are back in Sandpoint, and apparently are remembered, judging from smiles and waves.

In fact there is a celebration scheduled in a few weeks to commemorate the great Goblin invasion (and defeat). Seems like a bit of Chamber of Commerce marketing effort, but hey, tourism supports the town better than random travellers so who am I to complain?

We will meet with the sheriff and mayor later today or tomorrow to discuss what we know. In the meantime, it’s rooms at the Rusty Dragon and Amiko’s friendly smile.

While many greeted us openly, on our way to the mayor’s office, Avia thought she saw somebody watching us secretly. Our resident sneaky people were unable to turn the tables on this person so we know little of whether they really were following us or if they were, why.

We discussed the need for a plan, and Takkad looked frustrated at the mayor’s Sandpoint-centric view point. Glyphs of warding were suggested and a reasonable defense was discussed. There is no standing army here and never will be, but perhaps a reasonable defense can still be put in place for any small foraging parties (whatever a small foraging party may look like in the context of giants.)

 

== Moonday, Desnus 19, 4708; Fort Rannick; morning ==

Our gear and loot have been packed and loaded onto the horses (plus a floating disk for the massive giant armor), and we have broken our fast with the Hook Mountain Rangers. Although at the outset Jakardros stated he wanted to retire, he seems to have settled in as the de facto captain of this new troop of rangers.

We talked with him late into the evening in Lamatar’s former quarters, which Jakardros now uses as his own, recounting our adventure in the mountains, and our encounter with the ogres and Barl Breakbones. We warned him that although we had thwarted the immediate threat of an invasion of giant and ogre forces, something large and sinister was brewing, and the rangers needed to maintain constant vigilance. We recommended that the ranks of the Hook Mountain force be increased in order to effectively counter any such threat in this region.

Now that the ogres in the nearby woodlands and fields had been slain or driven off, I suggested that farmers and settlers should be encouraged to reclaim the land. There should be plenty of people from the ruins of Turtleback Ferry who would prefer a life on firm, dry land rather than down in the fens and swamps along the river, and he should also reach out to neighboring towns and villages with the offer of free land. Increased patrols through the new farmlands would be required to keep the new settlers safe and secure, but an increase in the area’s population would provide Fort Rannick with a base from which it could recruit more rangers, and with the basic provisions it takes to maintain a large garrison.

The horses are stamping and steaming in the morning light, and the sun has driven off the mists that clung along the stream we will follow down to the Skull River, and then we will ride on through the Sanos Forest, and all the long leagues back to Magnimar.

By my count we have been gone from that great city exactly three months from today, and I wonder what we shall find upon our return.

== Wealday, Desnus 21, 4708; the Sanos Forest; evening ==

The weather has been fair, with Spring making her fecund presence felt with each day more pleasant than the one before. In the shadows of the wood ferns unfurl their fiddle-heads, fresh bright greens blush at the tips of the trees, and flowers boldly push up and reach for the sun in glades dotted with a riot of yellows, whites, purples and reds.

It rained lightly the day before, but the sun is once again out this morning, and the path remains dry with a soft and springy clutter from the trees and undergrowth providing easy footing for our horses.

Tomorrow morning we shall leave the woods and reach Nybor before mid day. There we plan to rest for half a day in the comfort of an inn (we have had no fire while in the Sanos, and thus no hot food since leaving Rannick) and then leave for Sandpoint on the following morning.

== Oathday, Desnus 22, 4708; Nybor; evening ==

On the way out from Magnimar we arrived in Nybor late at night, and left before light the following morning, anxious to be on our way. I had noted then that the town must be quite picturesque, and lamented not seeing it by the light of day.

I was not disappointed. Nybor is one of the most charming villages I have ever seen, and if I were looking for a pastoral retirement, this is where I would choose to settle down.

Nybor is nestled on the southwestern shores of Ember Lake. The magnificent Malgorian Mountains rise up from the far side of the lake and their snow capped peaks are reflected in the deep blue waters. The Sanos abuts the village on the far side of the Ember River, across which a small ferry runs people and goods. To the west the peaceful, undulating land is carpeted with farms and hamlets.

The town itself is quite prosperous, serving as the agricultural hub of the region, as a mill town for the trees harvested in the Churlwood to the far north, and as the main port for the small fishing fleet that plies the waters of the lake.

And the citizenry of Nybor are at least as varied as its industries! I have never before seen such a wide variety of races all living and intermingling together in such harmony. Certainly one can find equal diversity in the large cities such as Magnimar or Korvosa, but there the populations of different peoples are mostly segregated, with isolated ethnic neighborhoods or ghettos. In Nybor there is but one neighborhood, and all are welcome.

We were truly fortunate and arrived on the day of their spring festival! Rooms were short, and we had to bundle together in a single, expensive, suite that we rented from a local guild hall (the inn being completely full), but it was a small price to pay to see the town and its people shine at their finest.

That afternoon the local temple had a ceremony dedicated to Desna, which I am sure Kane attended, but I spent most of the afternoon wandering the streets talking with the happy folks I met.

I was sitting on the dock, drinking a fine local ale obtained from a nearby pub and looking northward out over Ember Lake, as the sun sank and set the far way mountains ablaze with a rosy glow. I then realized with a start that the infamous Viperwall was at the foot of those peaks, and my thoughts strayed to the map of that fortress which I had found at Fort Rannick.

Some day…

== Fireday, Desnus 23, 4708; Sandpoint; evening ==

We arrived in Sandpoint after dark, and have fours rooms for the evening at the Rusty Dragon (my companions each have a long history in Sandpoint, and know the innkeeper well). We are weary after long days of travel, and will leave early in the morning, following the Lost Coast Road to Magnimar.

We have been mostly quiet on the road, but we discussed our short term plans for when we arrive in Magnimar. Of course training is high on the list of priorities, and we have a large collection of valuables to sell. Many of us plan to use our gains to upgrade our equipment, and Sabin has graciously offered to enchant items for us at cost.

The past day went by swiftly as we passed through the verdant farm lands of the southwest corner of Varisia. My people come from the cold lands of the Storval Plateau, and while there are farming communities, the land yields her bounty grudgingly, and the crops are limited to a handful of hardy plants.

My family were traders, and we traveled across the plateau on our way to and from the rich towns and cities to the south. I remember well the hurried trips across the barren Cinderlands — giving the shattered city of Urglin as wide a berth as possible — as we rode towards Kaer Maga and the descent down the Wall to the fertile lowlands between the Mindspin and Fenwall Mountains.

It was only recently that we sought to broaden our trade routes and headed west to Magnimar, which is what brought me to join with my companions.

== Wealday, Sarenith 4, 4708; Magnimar; evening ==

We have been in Magnimar for more than a week, and are all busy training. The first few days were especially busy as we also dealt with necessary mundane tasks, such as putting the town-home where we are living in order (a few gold coins bought the services of an industrious cleaning crew), selling our loot and purchasing equipment.

I obtained a fine light crossbow to replace the one I lost with my ill fated run-in with Xanesha, and a mithral chain shirt to replace the burdensome heavy steel chain I was wearing. Sabin then enchanted these two items, and while it cost me virtually all the coin I have, the investment should prove worth it.

The city seems much the same as we left it, although there are disturbing rumors of ogre and giant infractions in the rural outlying areas.

We shall look into these unpleasant tidings as time permits, but for now our training continues.

== Sunday, Sarenith 8, 4708; Magnimar; evening ==

During the last week of my training I began to research the mysterious words of Barl Breakbones after the battle of Hook Mountain. Often Sabin or the others would join me in these efforts, lending their knowledge and support.

I picked up the giant language during my training, and from that learned that Jorgenfist was the giants’ afterlife, or the entrance to the afterlife.

But who Mokmurian was remained a mystery, although the name sounded like it could be giantish.

I felt it was time to speak with both Barl and Lucretia to see if there was more we could glean from our dead adversaries.

The conversation with Lucretia went thusly:

Who is Mokmurian?

“My lord.”

What were you and Xanesha doing for Mokmurian?

“Gathering the souls of the greedy. They were easy to mark and easy to harvest.”

Why were you and Xanesha serving Mokmurian?

“The Lamia were compelled to obey Mokmurian and the ancient dark ones he serves.”

Where is Xanesha?

“Xanesha is in Magnimar.”

Of course the answer to the last question was only as good as what Lucretia thought when we killed her, and was no doubt out of date now. But the other information was useful, and quite disturbing. And still we were left seemingly with more questions.

And so I turned to Barl and questioned him:

Who is Mokmurian?

“Mokmurian is the great stone giant necromancer. He taught me much.”

Where is Mokmurian?

“Jorgenfist.”

What is he trying to accomplish?

“He seeks to reclaim the birthright of our people.”

Does your birthright include the Churlwood and lands to the south?

“Yes.”

Well, obviously none of this bode well for the western lands of Varisia, and so we took our concerns, along with what scant information we had, to the city council of Magnimar, but mostly spoke with the head of the city guard.

Needless to say there was great concern, and they also supplemented the rumors we had already heard of giant incursions in the surrounding areas with more stories of the same.

We urged that action be taken to warn and enforce the major towns and villages to the north of Magnimar. They assured us that they would send out scouts of the Red Tabards to raise the alarm, but asked if we too could set out and help prepare each of the towns for what might prove to be a giant invasion.

What could we do but agree to help?

We gathered back at the town house and made preparations to start early the next morning. We would retrace our return journey to Magnimar, with stops in Sandpoint and Nybor, and then we would turn north and follow the western shore of Ember Lake to Galduria and Wolf’s Ear and possibly beyond, depending on what we found along the way.

Time was not on our side, and we planned to spend at most one or two days at each town to both warn them of the impending danger and help them to organize their defenses.

== Moonday, Sarenith 9, 4708; Sandpoint; evening ==

We are back in Sandpoint. This time we rode into town before the sun had set, and many of the townsfolk waved as we crossed over the southern bridge. My friends had made a name for themselves here the previous year by saving Sandpoint from an invading horde of goblins and some sort of Lamashtu cult. They were local heroes, and everyone was glad to see them — almost unduly so.

Back at the Rusty Dragon we spoke to the proprietress and discovered why everyone had been overjoyed at our return: there was an upcoming festival to celebrate the defeat of the Thistlestop goblins, almost a year ago, and the town folk assumed my friends were returning to participate in the festivities.

We briefly informed Amiko of our real purpose in returning, and arranged for a meeting with the mayor Devlin. On our way to the mayor’s office Avia noticed someone from an alleyway watching us suspiciously — she thought he might be one of the Scarnetti family’s hired thugs. I was informed about the unscrupulous nature of this family and their reputation for using arson and violence to ensure a monopoly on their businesses. Kane and Rigel immediately vanished into the back ways of the town and we knew we would hear back later from them if anyone was following us.

We spoke with mayor Devlin about our adventures to the east, and of what we found there, and what we had learned since. Sandpoint, we said, was in danger along with all the other settlements between Magnimar and the Churlwood.

She acknowledged that there were quite a few stories circulating through the town about giants and ogres being seen in the area, and she was worried that Sandpoint would not be able to defend itself against an invasion of giants.

Sadly we realized that she was right: these towns could not afford to keep standing armies, and the town guards were simply not trained or equipped to handle such a threat (Sandpoint’s guard were not even able to handle an influx of goblins!).

I proposed that she have a three prong plan for if and when the giants came to Sandpoint. First they needed to have as early a warning as possible, and I explained how the local cleric, Father Xanthus, could place glyphs of warding about the outskirts of town that would only be set off by giants or ogres. Second they needed to have enough of a force to repel the invaders long enough until the town’s population to escape into a safe place — in this case the network of tunnels beneath the city would serve well (and they should begin to stock these tunnels with provisions for such an evil day). And finally they needed to have swift mounted messengers who could race off to warn the adjacent towns — in this case Magnimar and Nybor.

Devlin looked puzzled at this last point, and asked, “Why would we want to do this?” I explained that it was important to give the surrounding communities as much notice as possible that the giants were invading, so they could be better prepared. She then asked, “And what good will that do Sandpoint?”

Amazing, how could someone as dense and stupid as Devlin be mayor of such a major settlement?

“Because,” I answered, holding in check my mounting irritation and frustration at her short sightedness, “it is the right thing to do. And, because each of the other towns will do the same for Sandpoint. It could be your bacon that is pulled from the fire because another town wasn’t so myopic in its thinking as you.”

Honestly, politicians!

She did agree to arrange for a meeting with us, sheriff Hemlock and Father Xanthus in the morning, when we would review the city’s defenses and what preparations they could make to stand against the giant menace.

We stopped by the temple next, and asked Father Xanthus to prepare a couple of Glyph of Warding spells for the morning, and then started back to our inn. On the way back I set a glyph on the far side of the northern bridge.

== Toilday, Sarenith 10, 4708; Sandpoint; evening ==

It was a quiet night in Sandpoint, and the first thing I did after morning prayers was to set another glyph of warding — this one at the far end of the southern bridge. We are about to meet with Hemlock and Xanthus, and anyone else the mayor had invited to discuss the defense of town.

We plan to spend the full day here, making sure the town officials recognize the magnitude of the threat, and helping them begin to take the needed precautions.

We will leave for Nybor first thing tomorrow morning.