Post by Lydia on Apr 16, 2012 11:23:35 GMT -7
Stars guide me, Ateria. I have looked danger straight in the eye, and it nearly doomed me!
When Halkos sent me out of the temple, I confess I was a little overeager to see the world after being confined to the woods around that sacred place for so many years. She and I had often disagreed on what was the proper way of showing our respect to Celestia and the spirit of travel, and after many years she finally yielded permission for me to take up sword and shield and travel the countryside to do as I had been taught to do. She did so only very reluctantly, even though it is my thirtieth year in this world, and I know very well that evil lurks without the temple walls, not within.
I will not say she was right, because I have done much good already, even in my first month of travel. However, I can understand now that her reluctance was born of care for me as her pupil. After all, out here, she cannot protect me.
I traveled almost without rest for two weeks before I reached Sweetgrove. It is a quiet town, not nearly as lawless and uncivilized as I was led to believe by the nobility I encountered on my way there. Despite having no magistrate, the people of the town went about their normal business with the honor and kindness only farmers and common folk know, and I felt immediately at home among them. Years of separation at the temple may have made me into a warrior, but they have not taken away my roots, and I was happy to see a thriving farming community where I had thought to find bandits.
At the town's center is a beautiful fountain, and near it I found the place of carousing, a McGinty's Tavern that housed, among other things, the fledgling Adventurer's Guild. Intrigued, I joined straightaway, and demanded that McGinty share with me some important deed needing doing that I might cement my value as a member of the guild postehaste.
As it turned out, he did know of such a problem, for up the river in the marshlands, there are lizardfolk, the kuotonan fish people, and many other monstrous humanoids that prey upon the unsuspecting. He explained that trade upon the rivers has all but ceased, and directed us to the Guild hall for other guilds unrelated to the Adventurers, so that I might ask them directions to the source of their troubles.
I had not considered the merit of bringing help on this mission, but McGinty pointed out that there were two others on hand that I might bring with me. They proved to be quite talented. A corpulent merchant by the name of Cornelius Eggman agreed to accompany me, as he had a personal interest vested in trade; and the other, a magic wielding woman named Baolin Pompadour, became interested at the mention of magical artifacts hidden in the stolen hoard of the beasts.
The river traders were skeptical at first, but permitted us the use of one of their boats. We hired the assistance-- somewhat unfortunately-- of a cleric named Ymir, who worships the closed-minded god Pholtus. He was not entirely useless, however, so it is uncharitable of me to dismiss his addition to our party.
We went forth, traveling for a day or two until we reached a shrine to the evil gods worshiped by these monstrous creatures, and disembarked to set forth and slaughter the ugly things. Inside we found Kuotonans, and some strange artifacts lying about on the floor in some side rooms. There was a central chamber to the shrine, and there some twenty five of the monstrous things lingered, talking and as yet unaware of us.
My companions, not particularly battle hardened, drew me back from issuing an open challenge to them. Baolin drank of a potion that made her very small so as to travel through a lowered portcullis, but we later learned that we could adjust the switch without putting her in such a predicament. I and Cornelius carried her upon our shoulders, trading her off as we walked about, and she had many clever ideas, even if she was predisposed to a little more trickery and subterfuge than is considered acceptable by my personal honor.
We discovered, most importantly, a trap door. It led beneath the earth, deeper than the shrine, and in it we found a room of books dedicated to the foul study of necromancy. Beyond the study lay a bedroom bedecked in skulls, and the man to whom the books belonged.
I challenged him to fight me head on, but he fled down a secret passage hidden in his room! We all chased after him, with Lady Pompadour casting some strange spell upon him when he finally turned back to us. It confused the man, making him think they were friends so that he did not fight us. Such reprehensible manipulations are unholy, so I struck him down once she had spoken to him for a short time, and we proceeded to the end of his secret corridor, where we found a wicked shrine to his disgusting dark god.
Even Cornelius was offended by its presence, and tried to destroy it. Though he succeeded, he was transformed into a creature of the undead. Repulsive! Ymir Turned the foul thing away, and we returned to the front corridor, where I announced my intent to challenge the kuotonans to combat. We had raided the alchemical laboratory of the necromancer, for we had need of a healing potion to save Lady Pompadour's life; in it, I also found a mysterious red potion, and a green potion. Drinking the green, I found it had no effect, and so I readied for battle with the kuotonans and instructed Lady Pompadour and Ymir to flee if it should seem that I would perish.
Lady Pompadour bravely offered to follow my movements invisibly, making use of another elixir we'd found, and to feed me a healing potion if I should fall. I accepted her offer, and set forth, roaring my challenge to the heinous creatures.
They surrounded me, and though I fought them as best I could, I knew I was likely to die. Thinking it might do me some good, I quaffed the red potion I had found, and very nearly burst into light with the divine energy of Celestia herself. It may not have been a work of hers, but it did feel thus: the kuotonans could not stop me, and I cleaved them left and right, tearing down fifteen of their number before the remaining ten fled.
I tried to give chase and at least kill their leader, a shaman, but I failed and it was all I could do to safely emerge from the water of that horrid shrine still breathing.
This is, perhaps, where I went wrong; I am not sure. I lifted my sword, still filled with joy over the glory of my battle and my continued survival, and struck down the statue to their heathenous monster god.
Something very strange happened, Ateria. Lightning descended from the heavens, as it had when it turned Cornelius into a ravening zombie monster. When it touched me, I did not become undead, but instead found myself transformed into a wicked man who worshipped Iuz and called himself Zack Badman!
I did atrocious things as this man! I followed the fleeing kuotonans and helped Cornelius-- who was, at the time, quite mad, in addition to being a zombie-- to poison them where they'd fled, killing them all. I threatened and frightened those around me when given the option, and upon returning to Sweetgrove, I took candy from a small child and nearly stole the few treasures we had collected from the evil shrine. It was only thanks to the persistence of Lady Pompadour that Cornelius and myself were cured of the curses we had suffered. I shudder to think what I might have done as this evil man if I had been permitted to continue on. Ah, lights of guidance! I must atone for my unfaith during those days.
I have asked the eminently wise Elder Thomas if he knows of a place I might travel to and deliver goods, and he told me of the Lamb and Lamprey tavern, which lies up the road in the forests near Sweetgrove. I shall travel there, carrying trade for some of the farmers here, and return with their earnings in two day's time. In this manner, perhaps I can encourage trade without permitting myself to profit from it, and thus atone for my attempts to unrightfully take the money owed my friends of combat!
Of course, Ateria, we will meditate at all other times, and fast until we have fully atoned for stooping to such a low method of murdering those kuotonans who did not get their fair attempt to strike back at me in honorable combat.
When Halkos sent me out of the temple, I confess I was a little overeager to see the world after being confined to the woods around that sacred place for so many years. She and I had often disagreed on what was the proper way of showing our respect to Celestia and the spirit of travel, and after many years she finally yielded permission for me to take up sword and shield and travel the countryside to do as I had been taught to do. She did so only very reluctantly, even though it is my thirtieth year in this world, and I know very well that evil lurks without the temple walls, not within.
I will not say she was right, because I have done much good already, even in my first month of travel. However, I can understand now that her reluctance was born of care for me as her pupil. After all, out here, she cannot protect me.
I traveled almost without rest for two weeks before I reached Sweetgrove. It is a quiet town, not nearly as lawless and uncivilized as I was led to believe by the nobility I encountered on my way there. Despite having no magistrate, the people of the town went about their normal business with the honor and kindness only farmers and common folk know, and I felt immediately at home among them. Years of separation at the temple may have made me into a warrior, but they have not taken away my roots, and I was happy to see a thriving farming community where I had thought to find bandits.
At the town's center is a beautiful fountain, and near it I found the place of carousing, a McGinty's Tavern that housed, among other things, the fledgling Adventurer's Guild. Intrigued, I joined straightaway, and demanded that McGinty share with me some important deed needing doing that I might cement my value as a member of the guild postehaste.
As it turned out, he did know of such a problem, for up the river in the marshlands, there are lizardfolk, the kuotonan fish people, and many other monstrous humanoids that prey upon the unsuspecting. He explained that trade upon the rivers has all but ceased, and directed us to the Guild hall for other guilds unrelated to the Adventurers, so that I might ask them directions to the source of their troubles.
I had not considered the merit of bringing help on this mission, but McGinty pointed out that there were two others on hand that I might bring with me. They proved to be quite talented. A corpulent merchant by the name of Cornelius Eggman agreed to accompany me, as he had a personal interest vested in trade; and the other, a magic wielding woman named Baolin Pompadour, became interested at the mention of magical artifacts hidden in the stolen hoard of the beasts.
The river traders were skeptical at first, but permitted us the use of one of their boats. We hired the assistance-- somewhat unfortunately-- of a cleric named Ymir, who worships the closed-minded god Pholtus. He was not entirely useless, however, so it is uncharitable of me to dismiss his addition to our party.
We went forth, traveling for a day or two until we reached a shrine to the evil gods worshiped by these monstrous creatures, and disembarked to set forth and slaughter the ugly things. Inside we found Kuotonans, and some strange artifacts lying about on the floor in some side rooms. There was a central chamber to the shrine, and there some twenty five of the monstrous things lingered, talking and as yet unaware of us.
My companions, not particularly battle hardened, drew me back from issuing an open challenge to them. Baolin drank of a potion that made her very small so as to travel through a lowered portcullis, but we later learned that we could adjust the switch without putting her in such a predicament. I and Cornelius carried her upon our shoulders, trading her off as we walked about, and she had many clever ideas, even if she was predisposed to a little more trickery and subterfuge than is considered acceptable by my personal honor.
We discovered, most importantly, a trap door. It led beneath the earth, deeper than the shrine, and in it we found a room of books dedicated to the foul study of necromancy. Beyond the study lay a bedroom bedecked in skulls, and the man to whom the books belonged.
I challenged him to fight me head on, but he fled down a secret passage hidden in his room! We all chased after him, with Lady Pompadour casting some strange spell upon him when he finally turned back to us. It confused the man, making him think they were friends so that he did not fight us. Such reprehensible manipulations are unholy, so I struck him down once she had spoken to him for a short time, and we proceeded to the end of his secret corridor, where we found a wicked shrine to his disgusting dark god.
Even Cornelius was offended by its presence, and tried to destroy it. Though he succeeded, he was transformed into a creature of the undead. Repulsive! Ymir Turned the foul thing away, and we returned to the front corridor, where I announced my intent to challenge the kuotonans to combat. We had raided the alchemical laboratory of the necromancer, for we had need of a healing potion to save Lady Pompadour's life; in it, I also found a mysterious red potion, and a green potion. Drinking the green, I found it had no effect, and so I readied for battle with the kuotonans and instructed Lady Pompadour and Ymir to flee if it should seem that I would perish.
Lady Pompadour bravely offered to follow my movements invisibly, making use of another elixir we'd found, and to feed me a healing potion if I should fall. I accepted her offer, and set forth, roaring my challenge to the heinous creatures.
They surrounded me, and though I fought them as best I could, I knew I was likely to die. Thinking it might do me some good, I quaffed the red potion I had found, and very nearly burst into light with the divine energy of Celestia herself. It may not have been a work of hers, but it did feel thus: the kuotonans could not stop me, and I cleaved them left and right, tearing down fifteen of their number before the remaining ten fled.
I tried to give chase and at least kill their leader, a shaman, but I failed and it was all I could do to safely emerge from the water of that horrid shrine still breathing.
This is, perhaps, where I went wrong; I am not sure. I lifted my sword, still filled with joy over the glory of my battle and my continued survival, and struck down the statue to their heathenous monster god.
Something very strange happened, Ateria. Lightning descended from the heavens, as it had when it turned Cornelius into a ravening zombie monster. When it touched me, I did not become undead, but instead found myself transformed into a wicked man who worshipped Iuz and called himself Zack Badman!
I did atrocious things as this man! I followed the fleeing kuotonans and helped Cornelius-- who was, at the time, quite mad, in addition to being a zombie-- to poison them where they'd fled, killing them all. I threatened and frightened those around me when given the option, and upon returning to Sweetgrove, I took candy from a small child and nearly stole the few treasures we had collected from the evil shrine. It was only thanks to the persistence of Lady Pompadour that Cornelius and myself were cured of the curses we had suffered. I shudder to think what I might have done as this evil man if I had been permitted to continue on. Ah, lights of guidance! I must atone for my unfaith during those days.
I have asked the eminently wise Elder Thomas if he knows of a place I might travel to and deliver goods, and he told me of the Lamb and Lamprey tavern, which lies up the road in the forests near Sweetgrove. I shall travel there, carrying trade for some of the farmers here, and return with their earnings in two day's time. In this manner, perhaps I can encourage trade without permitting myself to profit from it, and thus atone for my attempts to unrightfully take the money owed my friends of combat!
Of course, Ateria, we will meditate at all other times, and fast until we have fully atoned for stooping to such a low method of murdering those kuotonans who did not get their fair attempt to strike back at me in honorable combat.