Botanical Exploration Gone Wrong - 30/5 Nowhere's Account
Jun 2, 2017 23:15:50 GMT
Neil, Leocanto, and 2 more like this
Post by Nowhere on Jun 2, 2017 23:15:50 GMT
The writings of Nowhere in exploring south of Daring Heights
My curse is to write these notes. Not that I wish to, but that I am forced to.
Things have felt strange for me since my encounter in the tomb last week. My decision to step towards my death has brought me mixed feelings that I am yet to truly understand. The feeling of power over my own destiny to risk all for those around me, has emboldened me, but my role in this place.... still unknown to me, is leaving me with a feeling of unease. This cursed book that never leaves me is a thorn in my side that can never be shaken, and makes me question why I should even continue here.
It was with these feelings heavy within me, that I decided to take a simple job. A protection mission for some residents looking to explore the surrounding area for botanics. However I have learnt that in Daring, nothing is simple.
I arrived at the Etin, and met the new party I was to travel with, many of the group were new to me, and in my current state I felt it best to be quiet and observe. It appears Gara felt it best to take a calmer option this time too, and he appeared to blush a little as he saw me... though under all of that beard who knows what his skin was actually doing. I resisted the urge to reference snow.
The others I did not recognise, but I had come to know through the stories told in the Ettin. Joining us was Manaia, the gnome I had heard so much about in the last few moons. She was accompanied by a dog who, I will be honest, I am not sure was alive or dead. Then there was Morgan, an old man who seemed slow in speed and reaction, but I sense a true inner life to him. He reminds me of one of my guild teachers. Next was Eric, a bruiser of a human who I had not seen in Daring before. His power I cannot judge for now, but I fear his skills when he seems to be unable to remember he has weapons on his back! Then, finally, there is Galen. A slip of a lad who appears to have more bravado than a boy of his age should do. Let us see if he holds to his reputation in the Inn.
We were all due to meet Kiric and Paula Voliet but they never showed. As we thought to leave we were approached by a strange elven man who informed us that our employers had been captured by kobolds. These kobolds were due south of the town and may have been planning something bigger.
We were convinced, after some negotiation, to head south. 5.5 miles into our travels we came to the start of the trees and with it discovered a backpack full of plants, so we assumed we were on the right path. As we moved slightly further south we came upon a clearing, and in it four tents along with a group of what I understand to be kobolds. We had to assume that Kiric and Paula were here, either alive or dead. After much planning we decided on our plan of attack.
I am not interested in reporting blows, but suffice to say that I learnt much about our group through this encounter. It is clear that Morgan has a deep belief in the sanctity of life, and I commend him for that. It is also clear that Galen has a love of death and the overly dramatic. Manaia is a woman of cunning, and is someone I will not take my eyes from. Any time I do, she becomes a different species! Needless to say I will be far more careful when I decide to step on spiders again! Gara was true to form and set fire to anything around him - though I can talk.... my lust of power from last time appeared to overtake me again and I stepped into combat far beyond my capabilities. If it were not for my comrades I may not have made it out. In these periods of self destruction I loose myself and realise I am no longer in the city fighting for my life and my respect. Nature demands respect, and when you treat it badly it fights back....... I need to stop burning things in woods!
What happened next summarised everything I needed to know about Galen. From his vantage point in a tree, he somersaulted down from the tree, whilst pissing over the fire to try and put it out. For someone without a tolerance to flame, I commend his bravery / foolishness if he had landed badly.
We defeat further kobolds, and in the process capture their leader. Searching the camp we come across the missing botanists, bound, alive, but shaken, in one of the tents.
Remember I said that everything I needed to know about Galen was summed up in that one instant. I was wrong. What he did next was to sum up Galen. With a brazen nature I do not know whether to commend or despair, he took wine and mead into the tent and, so I discovered later, seduced and laid with both Kiric and Paula. I never felt this was the way this day would pan out.
Questioning the kobold we learnt of a woman and a little one that the kobolds feared, further south into the wood. In return for sparing his life the kobold led us as far as he was prepared, into woods that were unnaturally warped. Finally we entered a clearing, bathed in moonlight.... as if the sun feared to tread here.
We saw only a cross, upon which hung beaded necklaces. Morgan decided to touch the beads, and as he did a ghostly apparition of a elven woman appeared and screamed. I have never seen such power wielded by only pure emotion, and in one powerful scream Gara was felled.
Then the scream hit me, and all my fears returned to me, fear of the unknown presence in my life, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of ridicule.... all mixed in a swirl of hatred. I could not move. I saw Eric going through the same torment and pain as I. The terrors continued as small ghosty figures of children appeared in the glade, almost ignoring us as they moved towards each other.
It is then that Galen surprises me again, as he stops his attacks and tries to reason with the apparition, but to no avail. But he is persistent and continues, until something happens, and he find himself holding the hand of a ghostly child.
We continue our attacks not sure of whether this child is friend or foe, and finally brute force overcomes reason, and with a final cast Morgan destroys the banshee.
As the dust settles and the sun returns, we are confronted with the sight of three apparitions, a husband, a wife and a child together at last, and calm...giving their thanks before disappearing.
The glade is cleared of loot, but it is not the gold that will leave with me, but the insight into my own darkest fears.
I wish to be back in the city, it seems safer than country life!
My curse is to write these notes. Not that I wish to, but that I am forced to.
Things have felt strange for me since my encounter in the tomb last week. My decision to step towards my death has brought me mixed feelings that I am yet to truly understand. The feeling of power over my own destiny to risk all for those around me, has emboldened me, but my role in this place.... still unknown to me, is leaving me with a feeling of unease. This cursed book that never leaves me is a thorn in my side that can never be shaken, and makes me question why I should even continue here.
It was with these feelings heavy within me, that I decided to take a simple job. A protection mission for some residents looking to explore the surrounding area for botanics. However I have learnt that in Daring, nothing is simple.
I arrived at the Etin, and met the new party I was to travel with, many of the group were new to me, and in my current state I felt it best to be quiet and observe. It appears Gara felt it best to take a calmer option this time too, and he appeared to blush a little as he saw me... though under all of that beard who knows what his skin was actually doing. I resisted the urge to reference snow.
The others I did not recognise, but I had come to know through the stories told in the Ettin. Joining us was Manaia, the gnome I had heard so much about in the last few moons. She was accompanied by a dog who, I will be honest, I am not sure was alive or dead. Then there was Morgan, an old man who seemed slow in speed and reaction, but I sense a true inner life to him. He reminds me of one of my guild teachers. Next was Eric, a bruiser of a human who I had not seen in Daring before. His power I cannot judge for now, but I fear his skills when he seems to be unable to remember he has weapons on his back! Then, finally, there is Galen. A slip of a lad who appears to have more bravado than a boy of his age should do. Let us see if he holds to his reputation in the Inn.
We were all due to meet Kiric and Paula Voliet but they never showed. As we thought to leave we were approached by a strange elven man who informed us that our employers had been captured by kobolds. These kobolds were due south of the town and may have been planning something bigger.
We were convinced, after some negotiation, to head south. 5.5 miles into our travels we came to the start of the trees and with it discovered a backpack full of plants, so we assumed we were on the right path. As we moved slightly further south we came upon a clearing, and in it four tents along with a group of what I understand to be kobolds. We had to assume that Kiric and Paula were here, either alive or dead. After much planning we decided on our plan of attack.
I am not interested in reporting blows, but suffice to say that I learnt much about our group through this encounter. It is clear that Morgan has a deep belief in the sanctity of life, and I commend him for that. It is also clear that Galen has a love of death and the overly dramatic. Manaia is a woman of cunning, and is someone I will not take my eyes from. Any time I do, she becomes a different species! Needless to say I will be far more careful when I decide to step on spiders again! Gara was true to form and set fire to anything around him - though I can talk.... my lust of power from last time appeared to overtake me again and I stepped into combat far beyond my capabilities. If it were not for my comrades I may not have made it out. In these periods of self destruction I loose myself and realise I am no longer in the city fighting for my life and my respect. Nature demands respect, and when you treat it badly it fights back....... I need to stop burning things in woods!
What happened next summarised everything I needed to know about Galen. From his vantage point in a tree, he somersaulted down from the tree, whilst pissing over the fire to try and put it out. For someone without a tolerance to flame, I commend his bravery / foolishness if he had landed badly.
We defeat further kobolds, and in the process capture their leader. Searching the camp we come across the missing botanists, bound, alive, but shaken, in one of the tents.
Remember I said that everything I needed to know about Galen was summed up in that one instant. I was wrong. What he did next was to sum up Galen. With a brazen nature I do not know whether to commend or despair, he took wine and mead into the tent and, so I discovered later, seduced and laid with both Kiric and Paula. I never felt this was the way this day would pan out.
Questioning the kobold we learnt of a woman and a little one that the kobolds feared, further south into the wood. In return for sparing his life the kobold led us as far as he was prepared, into woods that were unnaturally warped. Finally we entered a clearing, bathed in moonlight.... as if the sun feared to tread here.
We saw only a cross, upon which hung beaded necklaces. Morgan decided to touch the beads, and as he did a ghostly apparition of a elven woman appeared and screamed. I have never seen such power wielded by only pure emotion, and in one powerful scream Gara was felled.
Then the scream hit me, and all my fears returned to me, fear of the unknown presence in my life, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of ridicule.... all mixed in a swirl of hatred. I could not move. I saw Eric going through the same torment and pain as I. The terrors continued as small ghosty figures of children appeared in the glade, almost ignoring us as they moved towards each other.
It is then that Galen surprises me again, as he stops his attacks and tries to reason with the apparition, but to no avail. But he is persistent and continues, until something happens, and he find himself holding the hand of a ghostly child.
We continue our attacks not sure of whether this child is friend or foe, and finally brute force overcomes reason, and with a final cast Morgan destroys the banshee.
As the dust settles and the sun returns, we are confronted with the sight of three apparitions, a husband, a wife and a child together at last, and calm...giving their thanks before disappearing.
The glade is cleared of loot, but it is not the gold that will leave with me, but the insight into my own darkest fears.
I wish to be back in the city, it seems safer than country life!
