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We awoke from a relatively restful sleep, considering our rather uncomfortable position deep in an assassin's lair, and immediately put questions to our captive. I felt myself so distanced from him, from all my compatriots, that I had little thought except to get the information I needed to find the villains, dispatch them, and perhaps bring myself one step closer to returning home to my town. They need me. I requested help from Sefris' pet dragon, who "tickled" the answers out of our guest. When we were done, we let him... rest, and I managed to rouse Axel by calling on St. Cuthbert's vengeful glory to rid his body of poisons. That is something that begins to trouble me greatly... St. Cuthbert... HE feels so far from me. We continued down into the catacombs as directed by the captured assassin, bypassing most of the remaining uninvestigated halls and rooms by use of strange magics provided by Sefris and Axel. Aylward seemed displeased with me for the ribbing he took at my hands earlier. After some searching in a long corridor we finally found that for which we sought, and mayhaps it might have been better had we not! A secret door let in to a most foul and unholy chamber with high ceilings, a disgusting floor tiled in bone, and an altar to match, atop which rested the crystal skull of which our previous captive spoke. This, it seemed, was our goal. Unfortunately our way was blocked by more of the heinous assassins, and now their leaders too! A man of magic, and one of the dead-god myrkul (of whom I have learned a little from our new compatriot I lovingly refer to as "the man in the iron mask") one of them being the assassin's head priest, Ladislas. It was then that a fierce battle took place. We were set upon first by assassins who herded us back into the narrow doorway. Fires of hell sprung up around us! All escaped but I, caught in the flames, suffered most egregiously. Weathering that storm we pushed on, and I took a moment to study the battle as it raged around me, deciding when and where best to strike seeing as I was now quite hurt. Finally I saw my chance and I cast a spell to help the group, and hinder our enemies, calling once again on the distant St. Cuthbert (glory to his vengence). I waded in to the fray, handily crushing and smashing foes with my most holy mace. Sadly it was not to be enough. More evil magics encompassed us! A murky, noxious cloud to choke our lungs! I stumbled out into the clear tair, taking a hit from one of the villains as I fled. Vaguely I was aware that he battle was not going well for my compatriots, some of whom had fallen to the gruesome floor beneath us. |
t has been a trying day, to say the least, and I am not sure if I can steady my hand long enough to write here all that has transpired.
The Travel Logs of Lucius M. Volkskull
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I believed I was at an end. I believed I had finally been called in service to HIS side, to seek vengence in the after-world. I was wrong. There was peace... and then light, so much light. I saw a man in the distance. I thought it was HIM, but somehow knew it was not. Closer it came, an old man in glowing robes like the sun, his face awash in light, but still to be seen! He held out his hand to me, and I saw his lips were moving. He was speaking to me, but I could not hear?! This was not my god! This was some trick of the foul world in which I was trapped! And then I was standing up, dazed, a flash of brilliant light fading from the room. The two assassins stood again before me, surprised and shocked at this turn. I can not say I felt differently, but I had been given another chance! Before I could act, however, our Ironman exploded from the poison cloud, a vicious weapon held high, he cut apart one of the villains, another was felled, and I saw that Axel was rising. More fell, and Sefris was walking.... Before I could strike the two assassins before me fled like scared children. I know they could feel St. Cuthbert's vengence coursing through me then. The last villain was dispatched with no mercy, and we turned out attention to that thing of eee-vil upon the altar of bones, the crystal skull. I suggested to Aylward and Sefris that we three together could channel the power of our gods into this foul thing, and that maybe our goodness combined would be enough to overcome its evil. It was difficult... each of us took up our prayers, and poured ourselves into the evil vessle. It shook! It cracked! And eventually it was destroyed! I am not sure, but I swear upon my mace that I saw the sprirts of those wronged rise out, singing in praise to us as they were released. Now it seems the battle is won, and I am weary. As I sit and write we plan our next move. We must still leave these foul dungeons, and perhaps dispatch the remaining assassins as well. We shall see. I must pray now. I MUST talk to St. Cuthbert, even though he will not talk to me for some reason. Why is he so far away? Why do I feel so cold? A little whiskey then, to warm me... _________________ |
nce again I was faced by the two assassins who had set upon me! I battled gloriously in St. Cutbert's name, but alas it was not to be. I felt their daggers drive deep into my flesh, finding their way between the folds of the new armour I wore. They drew my life from me... and the world faded.
