[OOC: Several weeks pass without great event. Devon/Banior preaches. Joseph et al mainly just chill. Discussion of various things. At end of previous session/start of this, there was some discussion of a powerful Elf called Tamarcus (spelling might be wrong!) and what we'd do from here. I'm skipping the IC diary entries.] 17/2/955 Cold weather. Choisy looks impressive today. As we were talking, we heard a knocking at the door. We had the house to ourselves, and the knock came from an internal door. The knock came again. I drew my knives and waited. The door opened, and in stepped Seraphin, Nathaniel's wife. She gave Jack a scroll for the ritual he was planning. It seems she was repaying a debt on Nathaniel's behalf... or something. It wasn't entirely clear. She was about to leave, when a voice at the back of my head (in an entirely metaphorical sense!) reminded me to ask her if she or Nathaliel could heal my head wound. She said she could - for a price. Knowing the way these people think, I suspected it wouldn't be a monetary amount, and I'm sad to say that was so. She said if she helped me, I'd be in her debt. There'd be a price I'd have to pay. She wouldn't say what, or explain. Now normally, if someone made such an offer, I'd have them thrown onto the street before I decided to do something they'd regret, but I was in a tough situation. With my head wound, I was useless. Worse than that, I was a danger to my friends and family. I told her I'd never betray my family or the Free States. Beyond that, I'd try my best to repay my debt. She asked for confirmation - was I agreeing? I said yes. I felt dizzy, and fainted. When I recovered a few moments later, I was annoyed by her approach - it seemed to me as if all she'd done was cause my fainting problem to show itself. Still... something felt odd. Different. Wrong? The others looked apprehensive. Worried, afraid to talk. It soon came out that Seraphin had spoken to them while I was 'out', saying that my days were numbered, and that I was doomed. On the bright side, we decided to head back home as soon as possible. We walked down to the docks to tell Tanner we were planning on leaving soon. As we arrived at the docks, I saw a girl we'd noticed around the city once or twice already. She looked like a Free Stater, to me. I went over and introduced myself. It turns out she was also returning to the States, so I offered her passage on Tanner's ship. I said I was surpirsed to see a girl out here alone, so far from the Free States. She told me she'd had some buinesses here. (As I learned over the next while, her name was Aestrid Glengavel, from Nesfild in south Echtland. Her family home had been attacked by bandits, and only here sister and herself remained alive. She was here looking for the bandits. I don't think she'd found them. Oh, and her family were/are merchants, though not on the scale of my family.) After talking to Tanner, went for some drinks, which we got free because of Dev's reputation. Still, his rep isn't all it could be. The more conservative elements of Knutt's established church are a little displeased at Banior. Apparently, they've even demanded payment for various healings and the like that Banior performed. He's a bit concerned over what he'll do. Hopefully his supporters can gain ground without provoking a civil war. That would be ironic, and just what the damnable Elves would love to see. A Dwarven boy ran up to us. (We'd sent him on a errand.) He reported that Surefoot's people's ships were at Boon's Reef currently. S. wants us to drop in on the way back to the States. 18/2/955 Spared. Devon went to see the clerics who oppose him. No surpirses. They just don't like him much. Jack seems confident that he has the required ingredients to (and I say this so casually!) raise Lady Isolde from the grave. I suppose that's ok. She's not dead like other people. I must admit, I doubt many priests would think too highly of such a feat though. I'm not sure. I suppose it's Jack's business though, so it's up to him. Devon decided to put Phillipe in charge of "L'Order Sacre d'Amulet" here in Choisy. Fine choice. 19/2/955 We leave. Wind favourable. Making good time. Anchor for the night. 20/2/955 Dev and Jack made some sort of magic box. A storage device, for the Amulet. 23/2/955 Evening. We were still sailing through Boon's Reef when we first saw lanterns ahead. It was Surefoot's people's fleet. And what a fleet! It consisted of dozens if not hundreds of ships and boats joined up with ropes and planks, forming a floating city. very impressive. Not a Blackship, but not bad. As we pulled up alongside, I could see that some of them were eating their evening meal on deck. Some of the other monks ran over towards us and helped dock our ship. Their language is strange - sounds like a mix of Andoulaise and Echtan. (As I speak both, I could understand it fairly well, although some of their phrases are odd.) Surefoot explained who he was (and briefly who we were, I think), and we were fed. Thry gave us a spicy stew of meat and fish. I've eaten quite a bit of fish since we left the States, but this was tastier. Maybe it was the atmosphere. No assassins, nice weather, a city of sorts, a gentle breeze, a pair of monks punching and kicking the living daylight out of each other while we watched. (Surefoot got a few friendly kicks to the head and neck thrown at him, but laughed the attempts off.) After eating, we were taken to the centre of the fleet, a group of low, differently designed boats, filled with earth. It looks like they grow some basic foodstuffs. We reached Surefoot's part of the fleet. His master Ironhand awaited us. She was a tatooed dwarf. Not what I expected at all. They greeted each other formally, but were clearly glad to meet again. They chatted for a while and Surefoot explained what had transpired. I hadn't realised how his people worked as a society before this. Thinking about it, it's clear that they're not a people as are, say, Echtlanders or the barbarian Clansmen of Auchenross. Their ties are not of the blood, but of training, discipline and culture. Their tatooes tell their history as my family's Journals tell ours. Surefoot explained today how he was found by the monks in an Andou city as a young child. "Ironhand" is obviously from his eponymous master, not his family. 24/2/955 The monks' Council met and decided that Surefoot should remain with us, at our request. Good. Jack announced that he has to perform his ritual to resurrect Isolde by the 7/4/. Tanner enjoyed this place. 25/2/955 We sail. 29/2/955 We reached Trajir. Caed got some books which had belonged to his old Professor. 4/3/955 We reached Rothport. I got in touch with Rodderick Gibbons, the G&G agent. As always, he was helpful and effective. Ah, I thought I'd never be back! He said he'd arrange the carriage and riding horses. Myself and Jack went and paid our compliments to the Roths, but we stayed in an inn. 5/3/955 Left Rothport. As we rode along, a man approached - it was Lee! He's been training with the White Bear since we left. He's dressed differently. That chainmail is quite well polished! We discussed it, and we all wanted him to come with us. We went to the large walled estate where the knights live, and asked if he could join us. Permission granted. At this stage is was clear that Jack needed to move fast, and that the carriage was too slow. Myself, Jack, Lee and Aestrid rode on at speed, with a pack horse. The others would trundle alond at their own pace. I led the pack horse. 13/3/955 We reached Morpeth. I explained all that had happened to my family. I wanted more time in Morpeth, to rest, train, have some more time with my family, and teach Black Vigo not to mess with me. No time, though. I did mention that it's possible the elves will decide to launch a surpise offensive against the Free States, so as to prevent a war of two fronts. If they could smash us quickly, they could then concentrate on just one enemy, the Dwarves. Obviously, it's in both my family's and the Army's interested that they keep the Army well informed in this regard. Plus, if there's to be war, we need to start placing material orders. Jack had some business of his own to attend to. Rode off the next morning. Empty rode. 16/3/955 Reached mountains. Some bandits jumped us, but we'd spotted them and rode off. Round a corner, they'd put a log across the road, but we were ready, and I jumped it with ease. Lee got hit by an arrow, and fell from his horse. Jack tried to shatter the log to scare off the bandits, but instead also fell off. My friends aren't really horsey people. The two were swarmed over. I cut the pack horse loose as I drew my long-sword, and turned my horse around to face the bandits, from a distance. I called out that I'd give them gold, if they let my friends go. As we talked, Jack readied himself, and *blam*, a blast of force zapped the bandits back. They ran. So did we. (One forse was wounded, so we had to leave some supplies.) 22/3/955 Reached Baldock. Went to see Duke and told him what had gone down. Warned him of possible war. 24/3/955 Stay in Northern Rest. (No wanted posters this time!) Jack is going to go to the tower to prepare for the ritual. He'll join us at the castle were the "bandits" of Baron Aross used to stay. 27/3/955 Reached the bandits' castle. Seems that some of the rag-tag mercenary army that was defeated by MacAllister decided to become real bandits, and have stayed here. 28/3/955 Lee searched for Mender's cave. We found the lake and cave easily. It's unused - Mender must have found the presence of the nearby Bane too much, and left. Lee also found the over-grown entrance to the caves under the castle. Waiting for Jack. 29/3/955 Waiting for Jack. 30/3/955 More of the same. Reminds me of when we were waiting for that idiot small-time tradesman down on the south-west Echtland border. Stupid wet forests. 31/3/955 Waiting for Jack. Discuss when we'll go into the caves without him. Stepped in puddle. 1/4/955 Waiting for Jack. 2/4/955 Waiting for Jack. Decided to go in the day after tomorrow no matter. 3/4/955 Lee had a dream of something. He's not worried about Jack any more. I noticed nothing. 4/4/955 Mid-morning, we heard hooves. It was Jack's horse. We went in, all 4 of us. The caves were as oppressive as before, but I wasn't afraid. Moss, grime, wierd sounds. Yeah, yeah... We took a different route, and reached a broken down with earth behind it. We began digging. Lee heard the sound of a large creature dragging itself along, down the passage. Readied missile weapons. The thing was large - it filled the tunnel. It wasn't so a solid shape so much as a living oozing mass. The only obvious weak-spot was a small mouth at the front. There were also masses of postules. I aimed right at the mouth, fired and hit. It was injured, but it was clear that no amount of crossbow shots would kill this thing. We darted down a side tunnel as its postules exploded, sending an acidic gunge flying at us. It burned through everything it touched. To our horrow, but not surpise, the thing was able to squeeze down the smaller side passage. Luckily is was very slow. We were in uncharted territory, and I prayed that this was not a dead end. It wasn't. We found our way back to the main wider tunnels, and got out. Easy! As we left the cave, we hear voices. Bandits! They spotted us, and we ran for our horses. Jumping on, we galloped off through the trees. Arrows whisted by, and one hit Aestrid. Poor girl's probably not used to this kind of thing, although if she's travelled the islands, she must have seen some combat at some time. She was hunting bandits, come to thing of it. Anyway, they persued on horse, but were slower and heavier. We escaped. 5/4/955 Rode south. At midday, met others. Got back to tower. Aestrid needed rest. Dev helped her heal. The villagers were abuzz. Jack was busy, with this and that, using a furnace even. The centre of the ritual was to be a stone table in a clearing nearby, in the woods. 6/5/955 Jack was by now ready and rested. It was a cold clear night. Outside, we heard a commotion. This better not be wolves... I was ready, as were the others. No leaving our armour in a seperate building while eating! I put on my armor as quickly as I could, and loaded my crossbow. Brian Crawforth pointed out a white light. A small group of figures were emerginf from the woods. They were Dryadim. (Some sort of forest spirit people.) They carried a stretcher. The wounded Dryadim was covered with a shroud of leaves. Her eyes shone with silvery light. As the shroud was lifted away, we saw that she was gravely wounded, and that silver light came from her wounds. I remained behind cover, at the tower door. The Banner of Knutt used his healing powers, and knitted the wounds well. No more silver light was to be seen, but the injured lay there, breath shallow. Her eyes opened, and she began to talk, quietly. Something terrible has happened. "Saer Talsius" (High Mage Talsius) is now free from his captivity. Apparently, he's some evil human wizard, who was imprisoned long ago. She was part of the group that had guarded him. They were tricked, and he escaped. She had more to say, but was too weak, and died. I stepped out from cover, wanting to question the Dryadim. They saw me, and gasped. I glared at them, and asked what they were staring at. I was, they siad, "not there". They explained that my spirit was not present. I demanded an explaination. They could only say that they'd heard of a case where someone had been "maimed" at birth, and had no spirit. They said they'd send for this person. Talsius escaped three days ago, and summoned Krillath, beings that we might best call Demons. Taller than a man, with beady eyes and slopped skull, small mouth and a multitude of anomolous anatomical features, differing from demon to demon. Clawed feet, for example. He has holed up in a tower, like this one, south of here, in the forests of the Deep to the west of Echtland. Already, the Dwarves are coming under miliary pressure. Jack, undistracted, proceeded with the ritual, as the night wore on. A column of red light burst into the night sky, and two figures emerged from the forest clearing, each half-supporting the other. Lord and Lady Isolde. Jack and the long-dead woman whose picture hung aboce the fireplace in the tower. 7/4/955 Rain. I've a chance to sit and think. And there's a lot to consider. Surefoot got a little drunk the other day. He cursed the world for throwing yet another deadly task our way, and wondered if everything we do, helping Goodness and making ourselves more capable, was inevitably balanced by an accompanying rise in Evil. Pah, Balance indeed! Balance is just the illusion of equality. Victory and defeat are real, and sooner or later, one side wins, one side loses. Surefoot wished we could only face a good ol' Elven plot instead of nasty Demons and a powerful old High Mage. If it's any consolation to him, I suspect that the combination of too much drink, and his crazy Eastern philosophy, may have addled his stragetic senses. I suspect that far from Fate or Chance, it is in fact the Elves who have caused this unlikely "coincidence" of the sudden reappearance of an ancient evil just as we've gained an edge. They must keep Banior and the rest of us busy. Beyond that, they must, I think, strike now, or risk seeing the Dwarves unite against them under Banior, with the Amulet. This means they must attack one potential foe decisively. I'd considered the Free States the easy target, what with our simmering social discontent, regional divisions, and political machinations. I'd overlooked the Dwarves of the Deep. I suspect that this is a diversion, to lure the Dwarves south, and then over-run their northern borders. Once the Deep falls, the States will fall, and then the sea-dwarves and Surefoot's people. As soon as we have this situation in hand, we must stop reacting, and take the battle to the Elves. Defense is inflexible and weak. We must strike them. I have a plan that would take months and probably years to see through, but if it worked it would be a great justice, and a tremendous blow to Elven power. I must talk to Surefoot about it. I'm glad Lee is back with us. God, we've all changed so much since we first met. I'm glad Aestrid's joined us, too. I'm not sure what her plans are, but I hope she sticks around. We have a lot in common; more probably than with anyone else in this party. I know what it's like, losing people you care about, and we share a great dislike of banditry. Still, with the things we face, and my days being numbered, I almost pray for her sake she leaves at once.