6/22/09

4 Almsberth 459

Azgaar was miserable. He'd expected the cold mountain terrain to remind him of home, but there was little comfort there. His home in the Ragesian northlands was not a happy memory. He'd been intending to return for the past few years and show his appreciation to his kinsman. He'd imagined various tactics for doing so, but his favorite thus far involved turning the whole mess of them into undead slaves. That way he could enjoy his retribution for years to come.

Not that Leska would approve of such extra-cirricular pursuits. Azgaar bit off a guttural epithet or two for the new empress and eyed the orcs that surrounded him. As a wizard of some renown, he measured a good deal more respect amongst his countrymen than a typical goblin. Nevertheless, he'd trade all that respect in a heartbeat for the chance to be free of his Ragesian yoke.

The alien cry of Second General Sigmus' destrachan mount pierced the night from somewhere above. Azgaar shuddered, ill at ease with the officer's monstrous companion. Given that its trumpeting was doubtless intended to serve as a sizable boot up his goblinoid ass, he was quick to unwrap the Icon of Kersh and set it gently to the ground. The crystalline shape immediately captured the moonlight around it, the resulting luminescence clearly betraying that it was more than simply decorative. Its aura was palpable and slightly uncomfortable to the goblin. Leska had entrusted him with the device because he was clearly capable of handling it, but that did nothing to ease his tension. Quite the contrary; it was almost as if he could sense Leska's touch on the thing.

Azgaar sighed, barking a quick command to his bodyguards. The orcs moved a few steps away, giving him room to wield his magic. Wanting nothing more than a warm fire and hot meal, Azgaar lifted the crystalline artifact into the air and chanted his first invocation. As cold fire coiled in the heart of the crystal, it lifted free from his grasp. Adjusting quickly, the goblin planted his ashwood staff firmly into the frozen earth and changed to the second invocation. He felt a moment's drowsiness as the magic of the icon poured forth into the night. It would reach into the dreams of every sleeping wizard in the village and keep them locked in slumber.

And in Eresh, that was very nearly a third of the population.

The destrachan hovered in the darkened skies, and Ragesian footmen formed a ragged line on the snow-covered plain. Distantly, Azgaar could sense a disruption in their ranks. Swordsmen had emerged from the houses near the river and approached the soldiers, and the goblin could clear hear the ring of steel. Men were falling beneath the blades of this new threat, and Azgaar wondered briefly if he had misjudged his chances of survival. That warm fire suddenly seemed very far away.

Suddenly, the icon blazed to life and exploded in a shower of sparks. An arrow had emerged from the darkness, somewhere to his left, and the artifact had been destroyed. Azgaar had but a moment to digest this new development as the blackness closed in. There was pain, there was light... then there was nothing.

Encountering a Ragesian patrol guarding a goblin wizard and a mysterious artifact in the field just east of the inn, Jasmine and Elessar divide their forces and coordinate an assault. As Charm and Elessar charge in from the south, Jasmine, Basil and Arlyn sneak up on the goblin's bodyguards from the east. The enemy commander descends from above astride some sort of monstrous beast, and the enemy soldiers begin to rally. Taking the initiative, Arlyn targets the goblin's glowing artifact and unleashes a deadly arrow.

Then... everything changes. The magic of the artifact is unleashed in a chaotic burst, and most of the heroes suffer from random transmogrifications.

Jasmine finds herself naked on the field of battle, her armor, clothing and weapons having been somehow absorbed into her flesh. A little experimentation demonstrates that the armor remains effective and the weapons can be summoned at will.

Charmalina's flesh is turned to living stone. She is slowed, but overjoyed by the feeling of invincibility.

Elessar's sight is changed so that the life force of others appears as a nimbus of luminescent flame. He can more easily pierce the veil of invisibility, but soon finds that the undead are even harder for him to perceive.

And Derek, who was rendered unconscious by the artifact's initial power, has been reduced to but a sixth of his regular size.

But Arlyn suffers most of all. Immediately following his attack on the artifact, he awakens in the body of the goblin wizard. The goblin, now a halfling unrecognizable to his Ragesian watchdogs, is gone. Disappeared into the night.

6/15/09

4 Almsberth 459

Eresh.

Joshua gazed down upon the quiet village with a sense of purpose. In many ways, as unimportant as this tiny mountain community was in the grand scheme of things, Eresh's plight represented much of what Joshua fought for.  The trillith, though she had intended no evil, had held the village practically enslaved in a desperate bid to prevent hostilities. Balance herself had desired nothing more than peace and solace, and had used her power to enforce that need. In a way, her invasion had been no less violent than the Ragesians.

He couldn't quite make out the Ragesian camp from the narrow pass, but they should certainly have recovered sufficiently from the trillith's power to mount an offensive by now. With luck, their initial advance would have met an unexpected resistance from the locals, many of whom had spent time at the monastery and learned to effectively defend themselves. But the Ragesian commander was likely no fool, and he would press any advantage he could.

So there it was. Eresh. Once a peaceful community well-isolated from the war, recently beseiged on more than one front. Joshua hadn't the opportunity to interact much with the villagers, but it was likely they desired nothing more than to be left alone. But like it or not, the Monastery of Two Winds had suddenly become a major player in the conflict, as prophecy dictated that they held the key to reaching the Torch of the Burning Sky.

Joshua sighed, leaning on Sharakis whilst his companions took a much-needed breath. He was tired. It seemed like they'd been fighting for months without a break. Either fighting or walking. There'd been a lot of that too. Joshua reflexively extended his leg, relieving the pressure on his once-crippled knee. The damage had been undone, but he still felt a twinge at times, like a reminder from Holy Thaeos that the threat posed by Leska's vile minions was far from over. The stately cleric snorted, his breath hanging in the pre-dawn air. He needed no reminder. Everywhere he went, Ragesia's presence could be felt like a shadow across the sun. He'd begun to suspect that the unnaturally long winter was itself a Ragesian ploy.

He'd begun his journey in Gate Pass. It would not end in Eresh, but he strongly felt that there were surprises yet to come.

Surprises like the grinning gnome who now emerged from the nearby rocks...

The heroes return to Eresh from their struggles in the Valley of Storms, to be greeted by a gnomish tracker referred to as The Lynx. Their new acquaintance leads them on a circumspect journey through the village's outlying structures, and soon brings them to the town library, where Bechus, Eril and Three Weeping Ravens have established a base of operations. As the party exchanges information with them, learning of Second General Sigmus's recent assault and their suspicion that he intends yet another attack after daybreak, the library is inflitrated by enemy soldiers and a battle ensues. As the heroes dispatch the Ragesians, an explosion rocks the night, and the party empties into the street to find an enemy regiment on approach. Joshua remains behind to question one of their attackers.

It takes the heroes less than a minute to eliminate the two dozen invaders. In the distance, a roaring blaze can be seen in the direction of the inn. Realizing that their enemy's assault has begun in full force, the heroes take to the shadows between buildings and make their way toward the heart of the village.

6/8/09

3 Almsberth 459

Jasmine heard the woman's voice just a heartbeat before the attack. Every nerve in her body suddenly screamed in pain as a crackling bolt of energy, not unlike lightning from a stormy sky, moved through the group gathered near the door. An acrid odor blended with that of sizzling flesh and crisped hair, and her eyes began to tear up. At her side, Joshua stumbled, as if struck by giant fist. A sharp laugh and further running commentary erupted from behind the party, as if their antagonish had somehow ridden the lightning to escape the chamber and now floated in the air just beyond the stairs. Her words were largely swallowed by the ringing of her ears, but Jasmine didn't near to hear the woman to kill her.

With three steps and a powerful leap, the assassin hurled herself at the flying monk. A magical shield turned her blades, however, and she found herself plummeting to the ground amidst the glowing green biomancy tanks. Tucking her legs up and adjusting to her momentum, Jasmine landed smoothly with little more than a grunt and a couple of bruises, rolling instantly to her feet. Surrounded by the creepy glass tanks and their seemingly lifeless inhabitants, the swordswoman quickly got her bearings and moved into a silent crouch, making her way around a few of the vats to the base of the stairs. There, she found the battle firmly in progress. Even as she lined up for another attack, Elessar and Charmalina relentlessly laid into her. Her magical flight had somehow been dispelled, so her companions had her at a disadvantage. Before the whole of the party could marshall their resources, Caela suddenly disappeared.

An explosion of flame in the office's upper story revealed the woman's movements. Setting her teeth, Jasmine spurs her body into motion, ignoring the pain that wracked her slender frame with every move.

The heroes pursue the woman back into the office, Basil falling prey to a maneating rug en route, but the monk responds by shattering the glass ceiling and raining sheets of glass down on the heroes. She escapes into the storm, which immediately intensifies. The entire lab is shaken by its ferocity and begins to collapse around them. A desperate flight results as the heroes navigate the debris in an attempt to reach the crevasse through which they entered. They are successful, and soon find themselves back in the valley above.

6/1/09

3 Almsberth 459

Basil Corbett had spent the majority of his life in the mountains. He was accustomed to the snow and ice, the morning chill and the glare of the sun. As he leaned against the frost-rimed canyon wall at the edge of the Valley of Storms, however, conducting a quick manicure with the tip of his dagger, Basil reflected on the distant vistas he had encountered in the past few months. He'd grown a little soft since leaving Gate Pass. The rain-swept port city of Seaquen had provided a welcome departure from the endless winter which now gripped the world. In the city's seedy taverns and underworld gambling dens and drug parlors, it had been easy to forget the cold climes of his home city.

He pondered, not for the last time, his decision to leave. Not Gate Pass... that had been an easy decision. His guild fellows had become increasingly difficult company in recent weeks, and the Ragesian siege wasn't making things any more comfortable. An ill wind blew from the nearby mountains, and war was inevitable. He'd had no stomach for it, and saw no future in remaining close to home. Joshua's quest had been an opportunity. A dangerous one, to be sure, but the greater the risk, the richer the reward. And Seaquen had seemed a fine reward indeed.

Until he'd run afoul of the local pirates, anyway. He smiled, fondly remembering Anya's creative bedroom gymnastics. True to form, however, her prior relationship had managed to come crashing through his door, sword-first.

He sighed. That seemed to happen a lot.

Basil blinked. A nearby boulder had moved. More specifically, it had turned slightly and raised two bulbous appendages over its head. Correction... heads. With a pair of toothy grins and an evil glint in its eyes, the ettin straightened fully and moved to face the swordsman. Basil's sword flew from its sheath as he raised an alarm. He needn't have bothered, he soon discovered... his companions were on their feet with weapons in hand.

They were surrounded.

A quartet of two-headed giants with fallow, useless wings on their backs assault the party's campsite. The heroes make short work of them, then quickly break camp and push onward into the valley. Arlyn spots a tower in the distance, situated on the far side of the valley, and the party closes with the edifice.

The tower turns out to be a ruse. A hidden crevasse takes the party by surprise upon approach, revealing a subterranean doorway in its icy depths. Once the heroes dispatch the sentries, a group of distorted humans and dwarves who might once have been Seaquen's previous envoys, but have since been transfmored into mindless icy monstrosities. The cavern's interior turns out to be some sort of twisted laboratory, with numerous occupied biomancy tanks situated throughout. One enormous pit shows signs of recent use, but is now empty. The party traverses the lab and approaches the office on the far side.

The office is arranged in two levels connected by a curving stair on the back wall. The second story chamber overlooks a nicely-appointed sitting room, which is currently occupied by a monastery official named Caela, who hovers invisibly just inside the door. As Basil leads the way into the chamber, a disembodied voice drifts down from above.

"You just don't understand the concept of 'forbidden valley', do you...?"

2 Almsberth 459

With a destructive roar and a deadly volley of spikes from its tail, a mantidrake drops from the skies above and spreads chaos in the wake of the monastery force's departure. The heroes mill about trying to get out of sight whilst avoiding the spreading mass of falling pines. A clearing has developed around the creature as it casts about, attempting to discern the most accessible prey.

It's Balance who manages to save them, stepping forth and wrapping the creature with her unusual power. With an uncertian toss of its scaly head, the mantidrake retreats, no longer interested in the fight. The heroes regroup, then make their way to the edge of the vale, seeking shelter in a small box canyon where the road descends toward the valley floor. There they establish a camp for the night, hoping to determine their best course of action upon dawn's approach.

Balance seeks one final conference with Joshua before finally separating from the company of her rescuers. She has regained some measure of her strength, and the distance from Eresh has likely freed the locals from her ensorcellment in a gentler, more controlled fashion, but she can sense the unnatural disturbance that grips the valley. She informs the cleric that the heroes may want to consider investigating the monastery's activities here in their forbidden valley before returning to deal with the Ragesians, and urges him to consider a path of balance and wisdom in the efforts ahead. She assures him that violence will not always be the best answer to their needs, and grants him her magical boon.

2 Almsberth 459

Near the edge of the Valley of Storms, the heroes encounter an ambush by monks from the Monastery of Two Winds. One contingent leaps from above, flying from tree to tree with long, bladed whips, whilst another creeps through the underbrush, throwing magical lightning into the party's ranks. The flying monks provide targets for their hidden counterparts through the use of glowing shurikens. As soon as the heroes can get a handle on their enemies' tactics, they scatter, focusing their energies in every direction at once. Once they've brought a number of their opponents to ground, the remaining monks bug out, disappearing into the mists.

2 Almsberth 459

Jasmine contacts Crystin via the dreamstone, incidentally dragging Joshua along, and explains their quandry. Crystin agrees to teach her the Song of Forms, and Joshua steps aside to act as a sentry as the two of them seek a more secluded place for Jasmine's singing lesson. Unfortunately, the magical song completely eludes her, so Crystin suggests an alternative plan. Invoking a bit of her father's forbidden magic, she establishes a sort of "soul splice" that allows her to send her consciousness back into Jasmine's body, thus allowing her to be present to perform the song.

This tactic works, though Jasmine wisely agrees not to inform anyone else in the party - particularly Elessar - that Crystin's awareness in now riding along in the back of her head. Through Jasmine's body, Crystin is able to perform the seela's magical ballad and force Balance into a corporeal state. The heroes immediately abscond with the woman, following a treatment by the healers to ease her pain, and make their way eastward toward the forbidden Valley of Storms. A single Ragesian patrol appears to slow their progress, but they aren't foolhardy enough to pursue the adventurers once they're quit of Eresh.

1 Almsberth 459

Whilst the halflings lounge at the Peak's Shadow, Jasmine combs the village in search of an elder named Bechus, whom the barkeep identifies as the man with whom Seaquen's previous envoys interacted with the most. She is unable to locate the man, however, and returns to the inn. She witnesses some odd behavior from the locals on the way, which seems to be a reaction to the curse that has beset the town. People who are recovering from the curse seem to react violently, as evidenced by the scene outside the inn, where four Ragesian soldiers are taking out their sudden burst of aggression on an unsuspecting villager.

Even as Jasmine is outside the inn issuing a challenge to the Ragesians should they choose to continue their bullying, Arlyn finds himself in mortal peril when the halfling woman with whom he has been engaged for the past several minutes attempts to stab him with a hidden dagger. In fact, having already examined much of the girl's body with his hands, Arlyn finds the weapon's sudden appearance to be something of a mystery. He is forced to defend himself, and sadly slays the girl where she stands.

Charm, meanwhile, makes short work of her would-be assassin, and relieves him of his sword and magic gauntlets. Then she and her brother both rush outside to see Jasmine putting the last of the Ragesian agitators to the sword. Bechus appears from the crowd at this point, approaching the swordswoman just as Joshua's party enters the square from the opposite direction. The party regroups and accompanies the elder to his home, where the only surviving member of Seaquen's original team is secreted away in the basement, trying desperately to resist the curse. Eril, a ranger who accompanied four other adventurers on a mission from the Lyceum, does not know of his party's fate, but suspects that they met their end in the forbidden valley to the east.

A local healer visits the elder's home that evening, summoning Joshua to meet with the unusual creature which addressed him earlier. The summoner's name is Balance, and she identifies herself as a Trillith, a race of magical beasts who escaped from the depths of the world many moons ago. Indomitability, whom they slew in the fire forest, was another such creature, as was Madness, disguised as a gnomish sorceress at the court of King Steppengard. Balance informs the heroes that she is dying, that the magical effect on the village is her doing, a desperate attempt to quell the violence of the Ragesian siege, but that the hostilities present in the valley are weakening her and will eventually end her existence. She warns that the abrupt cessation of her magic will drive the locals mad, and all who are affected by her enchantment will suddenly be beset by their returning emotions in a raw, uncontrolled manner. If she could withdraw out of range, it would be more gradual, but she lacks the strength. And the Ragesian camp, which is already starting to slip from her control, would obstruct any attempt at escape.

She lapses then into a coma, and the healer explains that they are unable to help her in any way as she is an incorporeal being. The party retreats to Bechus's home, pondering their options and considering their resources. Jasmine points out that the Song of Forms, used by the seela in Innenotdar to trap Indomitability in a corporeal form, would allow them to treat her and perhaps even carry her from the valley, but only Tiljann and Crystin knew anything of the song and weren't here to be of aid.

Then Jasmine coincidentally discovers that the Stone of Sarinine is in the elder's possession. He had acquired it several years ago, when he was a student at the monastery. With the dreamstone, and the notes penned by Adlion all those years ago, it might be possible to reach into Crystin's dreams and have her teach Jasmine the magical song. As the party establishes a watch around the house, Joshua and Jasmine retreat to the elder's bedchamber to try and access the rock's mysterious power.
 

5/4/09

1 Almsberth 459

Brother Kiernan woke in a cold sweat. His hands were shaking as he struggled to a sitting position, trying to catch his breath. The dreams were getting worse. They were more than dreams, of that he was certain. They were holy visions, granted him by a divine agent of his faith, and they were getting more insistant. He took a deep breath, reciting a quick prayer to the morning as dictated by the Aegis of Racene, before rising to greet the day.

A water basin sat on the small chest near the foot of the bed. As he broke the thin layer of ice, he gave thought to the last night's visions. There was unrest in the kingdom and talk of war, so dreams of a battle were not necessarily uncalled for, though the intensity of the dream left him shaken and a little frightened. It was as if he were there, a foot soldier in the armies of Duke Gallo. His companions were now a familiar lot, heroes whom he had followed since their departure from Gate Pass on New Years Day. He could assume that the battle had already happened, as his dreams seemed sometimes weeks behind. He'd heard naught about a battle, but word had spread that the Dasseni king had been deposed as a villain and a madman, and that Duke Gallo had accepted the crown in his stead. 

Kiernan shook his head. The rise and fall of kings and madmen was of little import to the tenets of Faring House, but he had obviously been selected for a grand adventure. It was past time to stop dragging his boots and bow to the will of the Lord of the High Road, to whom he had pledged his very soul. He sighed, glancing through the narrow window at the tiny village surrounding him. Winter had clung to the Dasseni hilltops long past its due. 'Twas the very first day of Almsberth, the day following the Bel Tane holiday, and the rolling lowlands surrounding the town should be covered in wildflowers, not frost.

Word had come from the temple. Teleportation magic was decidedly dangerous, but sufficient fire protection would offset much of the risk. A leisurely trek would certainly be his preference - Kiernan loved nothing so much as the earth beneath his feet and a clear destination on the horizon - but it simply wasn't an option. It was time to tap the potent resources granted him by his faith, and be away to Bresk with due haste.

It was time to find the Stormborn.

At the gates of Eresh, the heroes make their way through the Ragesian camp under a magical cloak of invisibility. The Ragesians, though diligent in maintaining their patrols, show a decided lack of enthusiasm for much of anything. As the heroes make their way into town, it becomes obvious that the villagers are suffering from a similar malady, and Elessar and the halflings soon start showing signs of it as well. At the local inn, a sizeable structure entitled The Peak's Shadow, the party encounters a couple of monks from the monastery nestled in amongst the other disaffected patrons. With a little bit of prodding, Joshua is able to convince them to accompany him to the monastery, which is situated at the top of about ten thousand steps on the side of the mountain to the north. 

He drags Elessar, Derek and Basil in his wake, leaving Jasmine and the halflings to learn what they can from the locals.

At the northern edge of the village, Joshua finds himself drawn to an odd little building just off the road where he encounters a cryptic creature that seems to speak with him as both a man and a woman, addressing him from behind gossamer veils in alternating directions. It seems to be delivering some sort of warning, but its intent is unclear.

High on the mountain, Joshua's company encounters a pair of elemental guardians intent on keeping them from reaching the monastery. As the others strive to distract them, the cleric grants himself the gift of flight and circumnavigates the battle on a quest to reach the gates. A woman comes to the door and refuses him entry, unwilling to entertain visitors until the strange curse laid upon the village below is dealt with. Agreeing to do just that, Joshua retreats, gathering his companions on the return journey.

4/27/09

27 Aurorsmoon 459

The old wizard deftly navigated the clutter in his parlor, balancing a tea tray on three slender fingers as he used his other hand to keep his robe from snagging on anything. Jasmine watched in utter fascination, amazed that no magic was used in the process of traversing the room. Unlike men, elves showed their age very subtly, and Adlion was old indeed. His skin had a pallor to it, his narrow brows were heavy, and his hair was so white as to be nearly without color. Jasmine refrained from reaching out to catch the tray as the magus drew near. Despite his age, he seemed remarkably... stable.

The wizard's narrow eyes met her own and he smiled. Jasmine kept her mask firmly in place, but she strongly suspected that he knew what she was thinking. Whether it was simply remarkable intuition or some sort of ensorcellment, Jasmine had no intention of laying her thoughts bare to this doddering Shahalesti. Adlion laughed as he settled into a chair opposite her own, crooking a finger to encourage the tea to pour itself. Jasmine raised one delicate eyebrow.

"Just trying to set your mind at ease," he offered, his voice surprisingly clear. "I wouldn't want my shaking hands to compromise your... um... wardrobe."

Jasmine snorted, coloring slightly. He probably didn't receive many visitors, few of them in any kind of armor, but he hadn't hesitated to invite her into his little house. It occurred to her that he likely had nothing to fear from most visitors, given his years of study in the arcane arts. Yet his manner was easy, his movements relaxed. He certainly didn't perceive her as any kind of threat.

"Show me," he said, gesturing toward the scroll case in her lap. Jasmine deliberately took a sip of her tea before handing the tube across the table. Adlion's graceful fingers wrapped entirely around it as he accepted it, almost carressing it in his hand. He examined the container for several seconds before loosing the clasp, and Jasmine detected the slightest movement of his lips. She smiled as she took another drink. The old elf hadn't reached his golden years without being cautious.

His eyes sparkled as he recognized his own handiwork, and he grinned as he glanced Jasmine's way. His gaze lingered briefly at her throat, and she resisted the impulse to reach for the pendant secreted beneath her jerkin. He knew... she could see it in his eyes. But he said nothing. The worship of Sarinine was not spoken of aloud, not by strangers. But the secret they shared filled the space between them and gave her a moment's pause. Adlion was Shahalesti by birth, a fact that she couldn't dismiss entirely, but they were far from his homeland and the gods who watched over his people.

"So you seek the dreamstone," he said, settling back in his chair. Jasmine nodded, schooling her features to stillness once again. He watched her for several moments before sliding the documents back across the table. "I'm sorry," he intoned, "but I no longer have it."

Jasmine blinked. That wasn't the revelation she'd been expecting. "May I ask who does?"

"For that," he said, groaning as he got to his feet, "you'll require access to the monastery to the north." Jasmine breathed a sigh of frustration, somehow not surprised that her goddess had elected to set the artifact firmly on the raod ahead. Adlion seemed not to notice. "I studied with Longinus and Pilus for a time," he continued, "living in Eresh and using my skills for the betterment of the community. It was peaceful. When I left, I gifted the stone to the monastery." His fixed her with a piercing stare as she joined him on her feet. "They had little interest in the stone's power," he added.

Jasmine nodded, reading the warning in his eyes.

The party purchases fresh mounts and leaves the city of Yen-Ching traveling northward, into the mountains. On the third day of their journey, they are ambushed by a Ragesian patrol led by a goblin worg-rider. Following a prolonged, bloody battle on the treacherous mountain path, they manage to take a single prisoner. Joshua separates from the others and interrogates the man. The soldier readily describes the Ragesian encampment at the gates of Eresh, and the mysterious malady that seems to have afflicted the soldiers who remain near to the town, and Joshua frees him with instructions to flee southward, away from his countrymen.

The heroes rest for the night, planning their morning approach to Eresh and the Monastery of Two Winds.

4/20/09

27 Aurorsmoon 459

The small craft sailed smoothly over the waters of the bay. It was the dead of night and a light fog hung above Seaquen's north harbor, adding to the sensation that they were isolated somehow from the rest of the world and its simpler people leading simpler lives. Jasmine glanced around at her companions, restless to get their newest mission underway. She'd settled at the stern, where she could watch everyone in the craft without being similarly observed. There were more than enough eyes focused on the water around them. Nothing was likely to leap from the sea without a proper greeting, which would certainly include a deadly assortment of blades and arrows.

For the seventh time since climbing into the boat, Jasmine checked her pack to make sure it was secure. She plucked a scroll case from her belt, examining its contents before sliding it into her magic satchel. Coincidentally - assuming you believed in such things - their current destination also held the key to one of her personal goals. Argarius, the magus whom she had hired to enchant the leather coat she'd purchased in Bresk, had discovered the existence of an artifact which could prove invaluable to her spy network, an enchanted stone which held the power to contact people through their dreams.  The "dreamstone", referred to in some texts as the Stone of Sarinine - the irony of which had nearly driven her into hysterics - had last been studied by an old Shahalesti wizard named Adlion, who had retired to the Ostaliner city of Yen-Ching nearly a century ago. Argarius posed the theory that the stone might still be in the aged elf's possession, assuming he still lives.

Near the prow, Jasmine could just pick out the hooded shape of the Wayfarer mistress Sheena Larkins, who was preparing to teleport the entire party to the very same city, en route to the Monastery of Two Winds. They had to be clear of the city to use any kind of teleportation magic, since the Lyceum had elected to maintain the teleportation beacon brought in by Ragesian agents before the hurricane, allowing them to redirect anyone teleporting into the city directly to the academy dungeons. They would also require a healthy dose of fire protection magic, which explained the presence of Kiernan Steckart. The dour dwarf did not seem to enjoy boating overly much, as he clung firmly to his bench and sat even stiffer than usual.

Joshua lingered near to Sheena, speaking quietly with Torrent and Samis. Neither cleric would be accompanying them this time, as Mistress Larkins' considerable magic was only capable of transporting eight individuals in addition to herself. Tiljann was also present, riding along near the prow with her strange leafy wings fluttering in the breeze. Jasmine caught the occasional snatches of song from the girl. She sighed. Such innocence...

Other than the party, only Three Weeping Ravens would be accompanying them, as he had been to the monastery once before. Crystin was the only other passenger present who wouldn't be traveling with them to Yen-Ching, yet her eyes were only for Elessar. The two of them sat close, whispering quietly to one another and sharing the occasional kiss and tight embrace. Jasmine hid her smile. Despite the challenges ahead, and her frequent disagreements with the paladin, they deserved their hard-won moment of happiness. Though combining her innocence with his stiff sense of honor was likely a formula for a very long courtship.

Her companions afforded them as much privacy as they could aboard the small galley. The halflings were laughing quietly amongst themselves. Basil was, predictably, snoring softly from the deck nearby. Derek appeared lost in thought. The young wizard wasn't much of a braggart, but Jasmine's eyes and ears extended into the Lyceum now, and the school had been abuzz with his spectacular victory at Conjurer's Hall. His considerable intellect had been focused inward ever since, and Jasmine found that she was surprisingly curious about the details.

The boat slowed, it's sails growing slack as the magical propulsion began to fade. Sheena Larkins rose to her feet and turned to address the assembled adventurers.

"It is time."

The Wayfarer's Mistress attempts to teleport the party into the city of Yen-Ching, but another teleportation beacon in the proximity to the city instead redirects them to a military camp at the edge of town. After a brief confrontation, the heroes agree to lay down their arms and surrender to their Ostaliner captives, on the condition that they be allowed to address their commander. The party is taken before Khagan Omandammin, the latest warlord to inhabit the crown of Ostalin, who has a vested interest in the designs of the Lyceum. He offers an alliance with Seaquen, pending the approval of the monk Pilus, Master of the East Wind, with whom the party will soon be speaking at the monastery. As a gesture of goodwill, Omandammin offers the group a comfortable place to rest for the night and access to his harem. The group retires, preparing for their journey north on the following morn.

4/13/09

25 Aurorsmoon 459

For perhaps the twentieth time that morning, Elessar smoothed out the mysterious note from his pack and read over the letters. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but Crystin had remained conspicuously absent since his return. Across the table, Derek McDraken seemed to mirror his actions as he perused a formal invitation recently delivered by a Lyceum courier, one of his musty tomes sitting open on the table between them. Joshua, balancing a platter of mutton, eggs and freshly-baked bread with a frosted pitcher of only slightly sandy water, approached the table with his henchman in tow. Elessar absently kicked out a chair for the cleric as he transfered their breakfast to the table.

Joshua cast a quizzical glance at their wizardly companion, and Elessar shrugged. "Something from the school," he offered. 

Derek glanced up, seeming to realize that their attention was on him, and carefully pressed the letter between the pages of his spellbook. Looking over the victuals, he crinkled his nose and carefully speared a bit of flesh with his belt knife. "At least it isn't fish," he muttered. Elessar quietly agreed. As mountain folk, not a one of them was accustomed to much seafood in their diet, yet it was obviously the most readily available meat to be found in the isolated port city. Come to think of it, he didn't remember seeing many sheep in the camps... probably best not to give it too much thought. Joshua seemed unfazed, at least, already hard at work devouring his considerable share. Squinting a bit and smiling to himself, the priest stuck a massive finger into the water pitcher and muttered a quick prayer. The water seemed to swirl slightly as if stirred by an invisible spoon, and all the sand and other pollutants almost instantly disintegrated.

"I'm off to the temple," he said between mouthfuls, glancing at the paladin. "Samis feels that I should spend a little time with each of the priests, show an interest in their... assimilation."

Elessar nodded. It had been an incredible undertaking, the Hall of the Faith. Constructed in record time with the aid of a magical lyre, leant to them by a dragon lurking in the nearby swamp, the humble temple was a fitting edifice for the bastion of hope that Seaquen had become. Nearly a dozen deities were represented in its hallowed halls, though a few of them lacked any sort of local clergy. The worship of Holy Thaeos, for example, boasted little more than a small shrine near the center of the temple's main corridor, a nod to the force of will that made the place possible. Elessar glanced past his brother to the quiet presence lurking in his shadow. Samis's sister had been the one to invent the idea, yet the young priest had declined to serve as a local clergyman for the Aquiline Cross, Laurabec's devotion of choice. Joshua had asked him about it, and the youth had referred to the idea as a conflict of interests.

"I will accompany you," Elessar proclaimed, stuffing Crystin's enigmatic missive back into his vest and turning his attention toward his breakfast. "I'll be visiting the camps anyway." He had heard that the militia training at Xavious's fort had increased three-fold since their journey north, and he was eager to appear before them and congradulate the old dwarf personally. The captains of the muster were more than just capable soldiers. They were good men, and they were friends. He would give them until after the midday meal, however. Word had doubtless spread to the camps of the party's return, and it was only fair to grant them an opportunity to clean the barracks and put a shine to their armor. He rather hoped to cap the evening off with a brandy at the old fort, with Xavious's hearth to chase away the lingering chill.

But first, he needed to locate a certain young sorceress.

*   *   *

Jasmine's eyes narrowed. There was nothing. Not an incriminating scrap of paper, not a sign of anything amiss.

Katrina's room was somewhat less than immaculate, a fitting reflection of the woman herself, but everything had a certain order to it. Jasmine knew that she was unlikely to find any damning evidence in the wizard's belongings, as the woman had personally offered her the key to her room, well aware of her suspicions. But despite a cursory examination, it wasn't Katrina's possessions that held her interest. It was her maid, Jaylee.

The girl had been a curiosity since they'd found her. There had always been something about her that set Jasmine's teeth on edge, but she'd largely settled on the woman's distinct Ragesian accent as her primary cause for consternation. Still, she'd taken pity on the girl. In the wake of her mistress's tragic death, Jaylee had seemed suddenly lost and alone in a strange land far from her home. Joshua had agreed to accept responsibility for her safety, and they'd carried her with them on their journey southward through the southern wilds of Dassen. It wasn't until they'd encountered Katrina, however, that Jaylee had begun to behave suspiciously. And the wizardess, initially uninterested in the girl's fate, had abruptly demonstrated a significant change of heart upon arriving in the city, and taken the her on as a personal maid.

But whilst ensconced at Gallo's Fend, preparing for the coming battle, Jasmine had discovered that the guardsman who had died at their hands all those weeks ago on the party's quest for Elessar's holy steed had shown a remarkable talent for visual art. Jaylee wasn't a maid at all. According to the neatly inscribed caption beneath a portrait very clearly depicting the lady's maid, she was in fact the lady herself, Talia. Jasmine could only conclude that the woman had swapped clothing with her servant as the combat raged outside her door, and then plunged a dagger into the girl's heart, making it seem a suicide to avoid capture.

The matter had been complicated somewhat, however, by another discovery since Jasmine's return to Seaquen. Keeping one half-elven ear focused on the corridor outside, Jasmine fished the collected reports from her local network of eyes and ears out of her belt pouch. In the past few weeks, a mysterious woman from amongst the refugees had managed to move to the center of her operation, organizing the flow of information in an extremely efficient and calculated manner. Jasmine had no complaints regarding the intelligence that had been produced. Nothing seemed to be missing, and the woman appeared to have no personal agenda that would conflict with her chosen duties. But the enigmatic "Lady J" possessed a remarkable quality of penmanship, a hand that looked very familiar to Jasmine.

She extracted another parcel from her magical satchel, this one containing the private correspondence retrieved from Lady Talia's belongings, and compared the writing again. It was the same. Not only was the seemingly innocent lady's maid actually a murderous Ragesian noblewoman, but she was also Jasmine's personal spymaster and most valuable asset.

Katrina had known, had encountered the girl on some previous engagement, and had apparently elected to blackmail her into service, though she was unaware of Jaylee's extracirricular activities. Jasmine had tipped her hand, however, while trying to determine whether Katrina was a hapless victim of the girl's machinations or a Ragesian sympathizer working against the Lyceum from within. Her loyalties remained unclear, but Jasmine had no intention of allowing the fiery-haired wizardess to compromise Jasmine's operation. Not if Jaylee's story was convincing enough, in any case.

Not Jaylee, Jasmine reminded herself. Talia.

There was movement in the hallway, and the documents quickly disappeared into their original containers as a key was inserted into the lock. Jasmine settled herself against the window sill, effecting a sense of outward calm despite the outrage that roiled within. She'd hoped that this trip back to their current base of operations would provide a bit of clarity. Her earlier interview with Katrina had proven unsettling, and she suspected that this one wouldn't work out any better.

Even so, a decision had to be made.

*   *   *

There was definite hum to the chamber, as scores of students gazing down from above strove to keep their excitement to a minimum. Derek glanced about, basking in the moment. Mere months ago, at Gabal's School of Wizardry in Gate Pass, Derek had been one of them. An onlooker, excited for the opportunity to watch master magician's at work.

The invitation had been from Pristina Whitehair, a master conjurer and a respected instructor at the Lyceum. She lingered now near the far side of a broad circle insribed in the chamber floor, where the demonstration would soon take place. Ostensibly, he was here to help demonstrate the divergent approach to spellcasting taken by one who has been tested time and again on the field of battle. Derek understood very well how significant a difference it was, having done his entire apprenticeship nestled safely behind university walls. Magic learned in a classroom was tried and true, studied practices that had been thoroughly documented and proven reliable. But out in the violent world with a war raging all around you, an entire civilization poised to fell you at the slightest indication of sorcerous intent, you had to learn to be adaptable to the needs of the situation.

And you were inevitably exposed to magics that never visited your school.

He was a slight bit more concerned that the coming demonstration would be staged as a spellduel. His one attempt at spelldueling, at the faire in Bresk, had been an embarassment. He'd lasted less than seven seconds before being put summarily to sleep. He held out little hope that tales of his public humiliation had failed to reach the Lyceum, given his sudden celebrity status amongst the wizards of Dassen. Today was his chance to mitigate some portion of the damage that was done in Bresk.

He glanced at the instructor, and their eyes briefly met. She smiled, a pleasant in not entirely reassuring expression. Pristina's talent in the dueling circle was the talk of the academy, a talk he wished he'd heard something of prior to accepting her reputation. Nevertheless, they were likely fairly well matched, which was actually part of the point of the exercise, as the pretty magus was easily a decade or more his senior. The path to power was often swifter on the open road, assuming you survived its rather unpredictable challenges. Derek himself had never imagined that the magic he now commanded would so quickly come into his grasp. Pristina's voice rang across the chamber as she outlined those very same points to the assembly.

Derek inhaled deeply, holding his breath for just a moment. He could already feel the fire building, the magic coiled inside of him stirring in readiness for the coming conflict. The enchantment laid upon the dueling circle would make their spells considerably less lethal, allowing them to use flashier ensorcellments. Derek had already spent several minutes mentally preparing himself for the task ahead, organizing his magic in his head, deciding how he would lead off and how he might respond to any surprises. He was calm, and he was ready.

As he was introduced to the class, Derek McDraken stepped forward and raised his voice to be heard in every corner of the room.

23 Aurorsmoon 459

After a short rest in Bresk, during which the heroes lend their aid to Dassen's new king, the party returns to Seaquen. At the Lyceum, Joshua delivers his report to Simeon regarding the events in Dassen and the headmaster outlines the party's next mission. In two days' time, they will be teleporting to the Ostaliner city of Yen-Ching and making their way northward to the Monastery of Two Winds.

It is time to retrieve the Torch of the Burning Sky.

3/30/09

16 Aurorsmoon 459

"The food is poisoned... and the Book is missing!"

All activity in the king's banquet hall ceased utterly as the pronouncement rang through the halls.  Steppengard rose slowly to his feet, his face darkening as silverware was hastily lowered throughout the chamber.  A quiet sob emerged from somewhere amongst the nobles, and a low murmur started to spread.  All eyes were on the main entrance, where the guards were parting reluctantly to allow their harbinger to pass.  Jasmine worked her way into the room, her eyes taking in everything at a glance.  Joshua was only seconds behind, and she was intent on distracting anyone from noticing his weakened condition.  There had been apparitions in the cemetary.  Joshua had drawn them to him to spare his companions their deadly touch, while Jasmine and Elessar dealt with zombies in the tunnel.  The encounter had left the priest even weaker than before.

The king was here, of course, as was the duke and his champion.  At Elessar's side, Dani looked around in confusion.  Between the two, Charmalina's eyes were shining, her bloodlust already beginning to rise in anticipation of the fight to come.  There were no Ragesians, of course.  They'd already been dealt with.  Jasmine's hand wandered to her belt, where the newest bear-skull mask in her collection was secured.  The Ragesian ambassador's notes had been his damnation.  A magical poison had been sewn into the victuals presented at the banquet, a potion intended to incite madness in its victims.  And the Book of Eight Lands, the nobles' magical ward against just such treachery, had been stolen somehow.

Jasmine felt as much as heard Joshua's arrival.  As she finally located the king's advisor, the woman whom Jasmine firmly believed was at the center of this little tragedy, her fingers touched the hilts of her swords.  She stepped aside as her towering companion strode purposefully into the room, the ring of Sharakas clearing his sheath descending like a death knell on the assembled gentry.  Joshua faced the king, raising his sword before him.  There was no sign of a limp as he walked into the room.  Jasmine's heart was full.  She wished she could see his face, but she refused to let Nina Glibglammer slide from her view for even an instant.

"What kind of king," Joshua intoned, "would sacrifice the land and people he is sworn to protect..."  The words descended on the room like hammers upon the tables, and Jasmine felt the familiar rush that preceeded combat.  She wondered that she had come to cherish these moments, when her senses sharpened and her heart started to pound.  The blood was rushing in her ears.  Jasmine didn't even try to pay heed to remainder of Joshua's speech.  Her attention was elsewhere...

Nina was smiling...

With a wordless roar, King Steppengard leapt to his feet, flinging the head table over in the process.  Screams erupted throughout the chamber as nobles great and small abandoned their doomed repast.  Joshua was only halfway across the chamber when the king produced a wicked-looking flail from beneath his seat and threw himself upon the duke.  Elessar virtually exploded into action, moving quickly to intercept, only to be balked by the king's loyal bodyguard, a giant of man with a very big sword.  The paladin smiled an apology at the man and raised Anyariel to meet his attack.

Nina was on the move.  The banquet hall was in chaos, as nobles tried to reach the exits and guards attempted to discern their obligations.  The gnome seemed unimpeded, however.  She moved through rather than around the obstacles, steadily approaching the doors.  Jasmine moved to intercede, but it was not to be.  As the diminutive woman drew near, she shimmered and changed, erupting into a nest of giant serpents.  Jasmine blinked.  Arlyn appeared at her side, taking in the monstrosity with typical aplomb.

"Well, that's different."

Jasmine nodded as the arrows began to fly.

*   *   *

On the Sixteenth Day of Auror's Moon in the Royal City of Bresk, King Steppengard of Dassen was beheaded by Joshua Stormborn in the heat of battle.  The Council of Eight pledged unanimous support for the impromptu execution, which was a response to the monarch's attempt to poison them all in the depths of the madness which had consumed him in the wake of his family's tragic assassination.  Nina Glibglammer, revealed to be some sort of vile shapechanging monstrosity, disappeared under the assault of Joshua's companions, but not before infecting many of the assembled nobles with a deadly murderous insanity.

Michael Gallo has reluctantly accepted the crown of Dassen in the wake of the king's death, as proposed by their saviors from Seaquen and ratified by his peers.

Long live the king!

3/23/09

16 Aurorsmoon 459

Elessar looked every inch the champion, his armor shining in the midday sun. His stallion stamped impatiently, his frosty breath a challenge to those who worked dilligently to tighten the cinches and make the necessary adjustments to knight and mount alike. Jasmine glanced skyward, raising her hand against the the glare. The opening rounds of the joust were out of the way, and the main event was about to start.

The faire may have been a smokescreen for whatever dubious plans the king had in mind, but it was a brilliant one. Despite the weather, the people of Bresk were turning out in droves to enjoy their holiday, a welcome reprieve from the repression and conflict which threatened to consume their country. The Ragesians remained poised at the north end of the Alydi Gap, but the war had already come to Dassen. Many of the common folk who wandered the faire had the haunted look of loss and hardship painted on their features. Even the merchants who populated the festival had the stink of desperation about them. Many of Dassen's sons had met a bloody end on the battlefield at Gallo's Fend. Jasmine refused to accept responisibilty for their loss, however; it was their beloved king who should carry the burden for that bit of foolishness.

Jasmine rolled her eyes. Beloved indeed... King Steppengard was, in her estimation, either a cunning supporter of the treacherous Ragesian agenda or a complete loon, but she had yet to prove it. Her eyes wandered over the stands, searching the royal pavillion for its anticipated occupant. Steppengard had yet to arrive, but many of the other nobles were already seated, including the duke. Joshua hovered nearby, his eye on their current patron. She strongly suspected that the king would tip his hand soon enough, however. She just needed to be ready.

The sudden appearance of her uncle was somewhat less than a surprise, as she would certainly have failed to notice him had he not intended to be noticed. Nevertheless, she was slow to wander form her selected vantage point. She was loathe to let Joshua out of her sight. Even his subordinates were otherwise occupied, most of them serving as Elessar's squires. She glanced back toward the knight as she wound her way through the crowd, picking out Samis and Gilli at the edge of the lists. Samis she had come to trust, but Gilli remained something of a mystery to her. He was clearly here for his lover, not for Joshua, and he had a manner about him that reminded her too much of herself. She'd followed him for a time as he'd wandered the faire Dani and Chamalina, but he'd eventually lost her.  She next time she'd seen him, he'd been following her... She definitely intended to have a talk with the man. It might turn out to be a fairly pleasant one, assuming that he didn't turn out to be a traitor.

Linael lingered near the back of the stands, watching as a couple of guards dismantled the wagon of an unruly vendor. Jasmine had heard the man complaining about his exile from the castle's kitchens, validating her suspicions that something unusual was happening at Steppengard's keep. As she drew near, her uncle turned and sidled her direction, slipping a note into her hand as he passed. Jasmine continued moving. Arlyn was approaching from the other side of the stands, and the crowd started shifting as the horns sounded on the field. As soon as she had a moment, she glanced down at her uncle's missive.

~ Pixis, Number 17-C, Carriage Way ~

Jasmine smiled.

As Elessar advances to the final round of the joust, Jasmine and Arlyn gather intelligence in and about the faire and eventually manage to put together an image of impending treachery, quite possibly with the king's hand in it. Mysterious deliveries through the castle sewers, a tunnel with which the former fugitives are intimately familiar, and news of the king's regular kitchen staff being displaced, seem to indicate a possible attack during the coming banquet, which Elessar would certainly be attending as the tournament champion.

Elessar's victory is bittersweet, however, as it is revealed that the actual tournament champion is using unsanctioned magical assistance to aid in the unhorsing of her opponents. Duke Gallo himself descends from the stands to strip the woman of her honors, and awards the tourney championship to his own man. The paladin accepts the accolades graciously as Joshua joins him at the lists to see to his injuries.

Derek, Dani and Charmalina accompany Elessar and Duke Gallo to the castle, while Raines and Orr don guard uniforms to gain entrance to the upper halls. Meanwhile, Joshua and his remaining retinue meet Jasmine, Arlyn and Basil at the sewer entrance near the graveyard outside the city.

3/16/09

16 Aurorsmoon 459

Joshua was at his ease. Whatever challenges the days ahead had in store for his odd little company, today was a day of celebration in the royal city of Bresk. A broad faire had erupted from the hillside just west of the city walls, surrounding a brightly-decorated tournament ground with seating enough to accomodate a small village. Children ran through the streets, playing games with wooden swords and staves, prancing about as if parading from horseback as they challenged each other in the manner they assumed to be common to the gentry. The stately cleric smiled at the display. There had been precious few moments to relax since leaving Gate Pass, what seemed a lifetime ago.

Merchants and vendors lined the snowy paths of the festival grounds, expertly hawking their wares to unwary passers-by. The smells of exotic foods reminded Joshua that, despite his more worldly perspective in recent months, he now walked the streets of a strange city far from home. The mixed accents of locals and foreign merchants alike lent a surreal quality to the place, as if he wandered in a dream. 

He winced a bit as he walked, still sore from Lady Timor's... affections. Joshua sighed. The woman was creative...

As if on cue, Jasmine wandered into view, and Joshua schooled his features to stillness. He'd started to realize that she spent a part of each night lingering in his room as he slept, and was relatively sure that he could rely on her to follow him around for much of the day. The tiniest thread of guilt lingered in the back of his mind, but it was neither warranted nor asked for, so he ignored it. A substantial connection lingered between the two of them, one they neither acknowledged nor denied, but it was question unlikely to ever see an answer.

Besides which, he mused, a relationship with the woman would be an adventure far more dangerous and complex than the road they currently traveled together.

There were tournaments and games at every turn, tests of strength and skill, men and women drinking and carousing and cheering each other on. There were clothiers, armorers, cobblers and tailors, jewelers, blacksmiths, hairdressers and priests. There were astrologers and alewagons and craftsmen of every land. Joshua paused to consider the carpets being sold by a wizened Ostaliner, a dwarvish matron situated nearby surrounded by tiny metal toys. The merry sounds of a mandolin emerged from a makeshift tavern behind them, accompanied by thin reedy voice that reminded him somewhat of his youngest sister.

Suddenly, Joshua was reminded that all was not right with the world, and there were likely surprises ahead this day.

As the day of the tournament begins, Samis establishes a practice yard for Elessar within the walls of Duke Gallo's estate. As the paladin trains for the coming challenge, most of his compatriots make their way out of the city to the faire, which is just beginning to come to life.

3/9/09

11 Aurorsmoon 459

Hear ye! Hear ye!

By Order of the Duke, Michael Gallo,

Protector of the Crowne,

Warden of the North,

On this, the 11th Day of The Aurors' Moon,

Year Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine C.E.,

In the Hour Poste unto Vespers,

All are Well Come unto a Grande Celebration of Victorie

And a Ceremonie of Knighting for the august persones of

Elessar The Heartsblood,

Derek Mac Draken,

Charmalina Goodberry and

Basil Corbett,

In Recognition of Noble Service and Exemplarie Performance

In Defense of Dassen and All of her Children.

May the Gods Look Down Upon Thee

With Favor and With Grace.

On the second day following the cessation of hostilities, a courier from Konigsmarshal Malkan, King Steppengard's military commander, rides to the city and delivers an annoucement to the duke that the king's army is preparing to withdraw. The king further requests that Duke Gallo attend a peace conference in the royal city of Bresk, claiming that new evidence has been discovered identifying the Ragesians as a threat. There will be a two-day festival with tournaments and games followed by a great feast, then a day of discussion for the nobles as they plan the future of their nation. Suspicious of the king's intentions, but unable to honorably deny his invitation, Duke Gallo asks that the heroes accompany him to Bresk, offering knighthoods in honor of their recent victory to make them eligible for the tourneys and to sit at the king's feast.

Joshua agrees, proposing that Elessar, Charm, Basil and Derek accept the duke's accolades, and they prepare to leave the following day. The journey to Bresk is swift and uneventful, and they receive a royal welcome at Steppengard Castle, the king himself emerging to greet them, seeming considerably calmer than the first time the heroes had made his acquaintance. The duke then leads them to his manor in the city, carefully setting guards against treachery in the night.

3/2/09

9 Aurorsmoon 459

Jasmine's heart sank. Everything fell apart in a single moment. From where she stood out on the field, everything around her seemed to slow to a crawl. Silence reigned within her heart and in her head. As if struggling through air as thick as water, Steppengard's cavalry bore down upon her from the south. She could see the steady flash of their hooves as they soundlessly beat across the muddy terrain. She could see their breath, emerging in tiny clouds of frost that would hang before them then finally slip away. To the north, her allies took flight, also pounding slowly across the snow. She looked down at the naked blades in her hands.

It was over. The mad Dasseni king would have his way, and Leska's armies would sweep across these lands and lay siege to Seaquen. And the world would burn for their failure, lest some other heroes rise to put a stop to the Scourge. One day soon, kings throughout the realm would bend their knee to Coaltongue's legacy.

A cold rage erupted within her breast, and Jasmine straightened up to face the oncoming horde. More than a dozen knights bore down on her very position, alone amidst the blood and melted snow. The world seemed to right itself, the sounds of their charge crashing in on her as the separation between them steadily narrowed. She adjusted her grip on the hilts of her swords and began to march steadily toward the enemy.

Behind her, like some sort of demon herald announcing the death of her enemies, Joshua's aura exploded into flame as the cleric rose into the sky. Jasmine never noticed, her deadly gaze reserved for the men who were rushing toward their doom.

The Battle of Gallo's Fend takes several hours to wind to a close, but the outcome seems pre-ordained in the wake of Steppengard's initial attack. A handful of heroes manage to hold the field long enough for Elessar's resolve to win free, the impervious grace bestowed upon him by his god once again taking hold. The rest of their soldiers are only seconds behind him, and are eager to follow the paladin back into battle. Reinforcements arrive after the enemy's second wave is broken, and the heroes are relieved.

Duke Gallo is clearly the victor. That evening, Steppengard's forces sound their withdrawal, and hostility's cease.

2/23/09

9 Aurorsmoon 459

There was a ragged cheer from the back line, and Joshua couldn't help but smile. The first wave of Steppengard's soldiers had been stopped cold, and not a single dwarf had died during the incursion. Keeping his exuberance in check, Joshua picked Derek out of the crowd of archers situated on the right flank. Much of the cheering was possible due to the young wizard's extraordinary magic. Joshua had always possessed a healthy respect for wizardry, but until this moment he had never feared it. Derek's utility spells had proven to be everything that Joshua could have hoped for, but his battle magic... his very first blast of flame had eliminated nearly a dozen enemy soldiers.

Joshua knew instantly that the duke's decision to remove the enemy's arcanist had been a vital tactical maneuver. He shuddered to imagine what sort of carnage a wizard trained in warfare might accomplish on the field of battle. Though his compatriot had trained at Gabal's school in Gate Pass, much of his growth as a magician had been on the road, and later at the Lyceum, where the challenges he faced were somewhat slighter in scale.

Elessar signaled Joshua from atop his massive destrier. Joshua's grin broadened. The return of the paladin's holy mount had been one of the most heartening omens he could have hoped for. Thaeos was watching, and victory was very nearly assured.

Following his brother's gesture, Joshua stood in his stirrups and cast his gaze further up the field. The enemy cavalry was closing in on the heels of their defeated armsmen. Joshua began issuing orders, sending runners both directions to carry word to his lieutenants. He needn't be overly alarmed; the dwarves were grizzled veterans and never lowered their guard. Arrows were knocked and crossbows reloaded. Derek rose his arms in preparation for his next extraordinary feat. He had shown surprising reluctance to employ magics that slew their opponents outright, preferring to give his targets the opportunity to survive and flee should they be canny enough to do so, but he had no shortage of pyrotechnics that could deal considerable damage to the enemy line.

This particular spell would never come.

It came from above and behind, a massive roar that shook them to their core. Joshua felt his nerves come alive. There was magic in that sound. It spoke of deep distress, a panic clawing its way from the depths of his soul. Joshua's focus sharpened as he scanned the heavens, swallowing the irrational terror that threatened to spill forth. Whatever creature was responsible for this treachery was nowhere to be seen, but the damage was done.

The line broke.

Hardened dwarves took flight, leaving their weapons littering the ground. Here and there, Joshua noted a heartier soul resisting the urge to run. He scanned the remainder, trying to ignore the sounds of certain defeat in the screams of horses and the scrabbling of hard leather boots. Jasmine remained, as did Basil... Arlyn... Joshua frowned. Hertiage remained nearby, having flung himself from his horse in an attempt to avoid being carried away. But Elessar...

The stalwart knight was running.

Drawing Sharakas from its sheath, Joshua summoned his magic and began to rise slowly into the air.