Thayan Disguise.

-=- Chea in a Red Wizard Disguise. -=-


Dear Journal,

... as time progress, there are more and more encounters in Narfell with Thay.

... recently came across a Red Wizard - Thayan Archmage's expensively looking robe, and also got a Raumathar Battle-Wizard Staff.


Who are Raumiviri, people of Raumathar?

Raumathar was established by the Raumviran people in -900 DR, setting their capital as Winterkeep.

Raumathar was a great eastern empire that spanned the northeast and eastern regions of Faerun over the span of ~800 years. It included the lands that eventually became the nations of Rashemen and Thay.

The Raumviran people were known to be powerful battle-wizards, capable of wielding both sword and magic against the demonic forces of Narfell they so-often fought.


Being a Witch by myself, Rashemen peaks my curiosity ... and being a Cerulean Knight - trying to keep notes of Thayan moves.


It is spoken that Red Wizards of Thay are utterly evil, unhesistant of deploying darker arts of necromancy, unhesistant of using slaves, ruthless magocracy to it's core, with it's ambitions unbound.


Dear Journal,

... i am suspecting - but am not sure - that conflicts with Thay will increase, so considered using these items i've mentioned earlier.

... i have no hope of infiltrating their ranks - their customs are unknown to me, so they would discover me as a spy very quickly.

They are mostly Wizards, i am a Sorceress witch, as well.

They have women in their ranks, so perhaps this guise can be useful for Charm Person interrogation of Thayan people outside the Red Wizards caste, or just as a means to gain initiative for suprise first-strike attack, when needed.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, Cerulean Star 2nd, a Witch, an Adventuress.




-=- Red Wizard Archmage's Robe. -=-




-=- Raumathar Battle-Wizard Staff. -=-

Thayan Necromancer in Peltarch.

-=- A Guard. -=-


Dear Journal,

A night of duty for a cerulean knight star 2nd.

Guard came to me saying about a man, a crafter named Samson Lightwood being killed, then raised as a zombie ... it seemed murder investigation for a cerulean that i am.

With a fairly known wizard adventuress - Verika - we went to morgue and asked older person there for a corpse of Samson.

Detect Magic spell hinted Necromancy about, and Verika pointed to back of his neck - where black onyx, so called necromancer's gemstone - was placed.

... i've removed it and we went to Cerulean HQ to skry for more information.

The large skrying mirror was pulled and put in place, my scarf on floor before it ... three candles and incense alight ... and a water-full silver chalice in front of a mirror as well.

... i've cast Eagle's Splendour spell, then Clairaudience/Clairvoyance and entered skrying trance.

Image appeared of an middle-aged man, dressed in expensive-looking Red Robes of Thayan Wizards, with magical bracers on his wrists, with bald & tattooed head ... it seemed he was relatively high ranking member of Necromancers, those who serve Zulkir Szass Tam.

He was 'working' on another corpse at the moment ... relatively young girl, with no apparent cause of death.

He was in a small room, with very large table ... behind him trapped doors. On one end of the table a throne, on other end - another throne, with an urn and magical skull floating above the urn.

By girl's looks seemed she was Narfell's native, so whole 'affair' was perhaps very close.

Mage turned the girl around, put onyx in back of her neck and started animating her ... then my skrying spell's duration ended.


Then we went to Ashald's Park where zombie was found and put to rest.

... it seems that Martin the Gardener keeps coming to work there by night, working secretly - as city offices does not want to pay for extra hours.

... he said that he saw zombie coming and screamed for guards.

... guards came and chopped undead with their halberds.


Martin said prayer to Selune and when i positively responded - he offered to go for a drink someday.

... told him that someday we can ... he was enthusiastic at that.


Leaving Ashald's Park i've cast detect magic spell again, followed traces of necromantic energies ... that led us to a house.


... inside the house it was as in skrying vision, large table, red wizard.

... a battle of spells ensued, we won against Red Wizard without having casaulties on our side.


Where this leads, Dear Journal?

... is it an act of war from Thayan Red Wizards?

... is it Casus Belli, a Cause for War?


... i'll write report for the Cerulean Offices tomorrow, and paint the Red Wizard as i did remember him from vision.

-- Chea Allin, Cerulean Star 2nd.




-=- Skrying. -=-




-=- Martin. -=-




-=- a Spell-Battle. -=-




-=- Collapsed Ruins of a House. -=-

The Ice Witch of the Coldstone Mountains.

... this started when a group of crafters gather up on a resource-harvesting expedition ... and i was invited to go with them.

We went south, past ruined Jiyyd - it seemed that Demonic threat is mostly gone, except for occasional hit-and-run occurances.

Then something unusual happened - waves of winter wolves and undead ... also snow goblins ... it was a challenge still ... but still nothing very serious considering battle-worthiness of our group's members.

We went onward quite far, then found dwarven-monks cave where they lived and meditated during times of calm.

Now, however the sight was different - we found them battling against undead, and after we helped them to get rid of that wave - they greeted us and invited inside, mentioning they have been fighting for days.

... inside, there were more of Dwarven Monks, Order of the Endless ... and a sleeping gnome.

Gnome's name was Miranda Greywing, and dwarves were caring for her.

She seemed ill, poisoned ... and dwarves related that she told them about The Ice Witch and her Coven, dwelling nearby.

One of us cast the 'Heal' spell on Miranda, she felt for a while better then vomited.

We had a short talk with her ... she told us that this Ice Witch was once her adventuring companion - until was lured with strange power found near-by ... now she seems to be content on a nothing less than dominating, ruling, ... or killing every life form in the area.

After a while, Miranda turned pale and screamed that she must be out of cave ... turned into werecat, then jumped to exit.

To cut long story short, dear journal - we followed trails, fought Fel Orcs, Wolves, Ice Trolls, Animated Ice Statues, Snow Shamblers, etc. - as we made progress towards blizzard-covered mountaintop, from where Corrupted Druidic power emanated.

Was it related with Defiler, ancient druid of Rawlinswood, ancient druid with corrupt powers that proved to be threat to Narfell years ago?

We passed through land, we passed near strange menhir stones - was it that ancient power source that Ice Witch succumbed to?

With aid of Air Elemental we flew to mountaintop, where we found and fought Ice Witch, her Corrupted Coven.

The trees nearby turned to be treants, awakened by Ice Witch's power, to fight us.

Ice Witch was defeated, her Corrupt Coven as well ... Miranda Greywing was rescued.

After the fight, our crafters found rare woods ... including Darkwood.

We have helped Miranda reach Norwick, and Master Z did arrange for her inn room, and mentioned something about employment after she recovers.

We found some gold, and enchanted items ... i took my interrest in a tiara, simple and beautiful silver headband with a green gem covering forehead. This headband seemed to awaken energy centers and energy channels - not only thrid eye center and crown chakra center ... increasing wearer's wisdom, fearlessness, clarity and focus.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, an Adventuress, a Witch, a Seeker of Enlightened Energies.

11th Arcane Initiation.

Dear Journal,

... i've initiated myself into the Arcane Mastery again, 11th time in this life.

'Energy Channels' in my Mind, Speech & Body were purified & opened, allowing Arcane & Enlightened Energies to flow more freely.


... this lesson took long, but now is complete.

... i can cast curses - no worse than most of the witches, anyway.

... got 'Bestow Curse' spell for that ... and i have many tricks that can be useful with it.


... now i can cast more of arcane spells ... up to 5th circle arcane magick.

My weaker of spells also grew in power & duration, as well as in a number of casts per day.

... i can cast weaker of spells more often, at higher circles, if i use 'Metamagical Still'.

i am more combat- & adventure-worthy since now.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, a Witch, an Adventuress & a Seeker of Enlightened Energies.


       


       


       

Of Weeping Blade, of Druids, Demons, Devils & Dragons.

-=- 'Copp', a Copper Dragon. -=-


It happened that Isolde Garibaldi was guarding powerful Ilmateri Relic, a Sword named: 'Weeping Blade'.

Unaware of what's going on, i've entered Peltarch's commons and noticed a Copper Dragon curled under a tree.

It was my duty to shooo him away, before Commoners and other people get scared.

Most eloquent way was to give him something shiny and ask him to leave.

... i did that: gave him Chaos Shard i've had since a while ... while persuading to fly away.

Soon after Peltarch Guard arrived, and 'Copp' went West.

Adventurers & City Officials - including me - followed.




-=- Grove. -=-


To cut a long tale short, we were invited, transported magically, to a druid grove with nature's followers:
- druids,
- rashemi witch,
- rashemi berserker barbarians,
- good noble dragons,
- ...


We talked a while about weeping blade ... saw some visions then were attacked by devils who wanted the sword.


   

-=- Visions. -=-


After a long combat with a Devil ... which we were losing ... more forces arrived, and one witch ... i think she was called 'Maeve' ... did send herself and the devil along to the hells ... so rest of us could escape with sword.




-=- a Return on Dragonback. -=-


After a return, we went to Jonni's 'Witch & Seer Inn' and tried to scry ... we grasped maeve's location ... and tried a rescue mission.


We suffered some lossess, i am still confused who lived, who died, what really happened.

... i hope those who died can return to life on Prime Material Plane.


Then we got from grove's druids a gift, each of us got:

- 1x Heal Potion,
- 10x Cure Critical Wounds Potions,
- 5 000 gold pieces,
- 1x Briarpatch Crystal.

... it was their gratitude for help in defending their grove.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, a Witch, a Cerulean Star 2nd, Adventuress.

Premature Blessings.

Anheim, my nice martial artist friend asked me to include wrist-work, feet-work - not only distancing - and flat, strong stomach belly in my practices, in my blessings for him.

... i have arcane blessing spell, Cat's Grace.

... well, blessing for friends, curse for foes.

... i think it's best to cast it on him when we both are ready.

... 'Premature blessing is cause, is source of all problems', we think.

... for stealthy types, i have Improved Invisibility arcane bless, arcane spell ... i am Illusionist, anyway.

Occasionally i invoke wisdom in my mind, think: 'Wisdom, Awaken!'.

After this often other invocations works, often: 'Who is friend, who is foe?'.

... then other spells/mantras/prayers follow.

... without prayers i do not function, lose hope - as reality is beyond my comprehension ability, anyway.

Anheim is a nice, quiet, calm, handsome, unassuming friend.

... he believes that martial artists should ... well, minimum force approach with wisdom and compassion.

My daily rites include friends, of course ... as life progress ... my practice evolves ... and our blessings and energies mix ... in a way, spells last beyond their usual durations, i think.

-- Chea Allin, a Witch, a Seeker of Enlightened Energies.

Vulture's Trial.

- Prep. -


Dear Journal,

There was a Trial in Peltarch Courthouse.

Captured mercenaries were held, for assaulting 'Township', Peltarch King's small town.

Insane, probably possessed woman named 'The Vulture' led them with terror, lies and iron fist.

Two of six captured mercenaries were tried, had chance to avoid hanging on gallows.

One of them was a scared kid - under age of twenty, named 'Hadge' ... shaking and shocked ... other one was a man who offered remorse, offered to serve Peltarch ... and it was said he was considered mistrusted by rest of guilty mercenaries ... his name 'Ted' or something alike.


As for Law Court procedures, Dear Journal,

Court was led by one of Peltarch Magistrates, Vlana of the Noble Borodin family of Peltarch.

Famous, smart and influential Bard, Nate Wingates with his newly married wife, Isolde - also important Bard were acting as Defense for two of mercenaries.

i've noticed that Nate can speak reasonably when needed, ... it is nice, as Law Court is not a place for too much of art-flourish, playing emotions.

i've dressed for the Court Trial Professionally this time, in my Peltarch Defenders Uniform & Cloak, wore a light grey scarf at my neck with a small silver symbol of Selûne. Tried to behave and look pleasant, calm, gentle but stern still ... to look and behave professionally, to keep a mind state of focus with attention, to be spiritually clear ... to keep mind sharp and critical to 'Court Procedures', to be fair and consider both formal and informal laws well ... to have gentle heart for innocents and to be quite merciless to the Wicked.

... it's sad, but being merciless to criminals can protect innocents, and keep safer people on my side, on peltarch side as well.


Long story short,

... i didn't feel meaningless, and Nate with his wife did excellent work ... they were reasonable, and well-prepared for this Trial - not only with law understanding and papers at hand.

Hadge was proven innocent, of both accussations - which were of premeditated murder, and of destruction of property.

'Ted' was sentenced to jail, with possible release later depending on his cooperation. Magistrate Borodin, or it was prosecutor - stated that 'Ted' confessed remorse only in jail, which is important argument in my opinion.

... i was not sure if it was true that 'Ted' tried to protect kid, and i said that if 'Ted' wants out of jail, he should protect kid - even if working away from Hadge.

Turning murderers to jail instead of death sentence is called in Peltarch 'Blackwood Defense', after Abigail Blackwood case ... She was quite Evil Blackguard and Demon Summoner ... but Peltarch used her against her former allies.

... i think jail is also training and indoctrination ... or can be at least. Peltarch Defenders and other 'Protectors' can use Criminals, even if it's tricky ... i think that's how 'Blackwood Defense' works.

Reyhenna Jorino, 'Beautiful Blonde in Front' also was mentioned in 'Blackwood Defense' ... i am not sure about her. While she was Paladin, Temple Wards didn't let her in after a certain time, as other evil people are kept away ... she said 'remains of demon war', i think. Was it Evil Aura or Artifact that triggered Temple Wards? Or she was corrupted during war tragedy? ... we'll see.

After Trial, we had to witness hangings.

... i tried to not avert my eyes, even if it was painful ... considered it my duty.

... for many others it was sadistic show, however ... people had different reactions, usually strong and negative.

Three were hanged, necks snapped.

Vulture send winks and snide expressions ... then Guard kicked stool under her. She hanged and resisted death - neck didn't snap, her face turned colours ... and she struggled.

Isolde loudly claimed that Vulture is possessed, then we sensed magic 'Contingency Spell' linked with 'Teleport'.

We tried to 'counter' that magic-escape route, including my lesser dispel.

Spell was defeated ... Vulture panicked in shock, then died.

... i left soon afterward.

-- Chea Allin, a Witch & Cerulean Star 2nd.


P.S. i am quite Wicked as well, no mercy for me. i do not need nor want forgiveness ... forgiving people and showing mercy allows one to repeat her or his errors and mistakes too easily, i think. it's easier to improve when mercy is neglected, when forgiveness is denied. innocent kids need some gentleness however, they did not choose their way yet ... didn't went too far ... whatever their way is/will be. i quite strongly neglect confessing, and at any rate - i am not accepting other people's confession(s). i am not a priestess, accepting confessions would harm me, would harm those i try to protect as well ... far too much.

'no mercy to the wicked'.




- Magistrate Vlana Borodin. -

- Opening Trial. -




- Hanging. -

Star Harpy (Frances' Tale).

... it seems that 'Star Harpy' - a Spelljamming Skyship - arrived in Narfell again, floating near a cave-entrance to Oscura.

... something is brewing, not sure what.

Spelljamming Ships are one of many means of travel, between Planes and Worlds.


-- Frances, a Curious Witch of Darkhavens.

Spine Pains (Anheim's Tale).

... since a while, i have pains in spine ... i have to endure, my physical combat ability is seriously reduced as well.

... i made friends, i think ... while we were hunting a dire bear near peltarch, in orcish territory.

... we got 'so lost' ... endeared orc lands without their permission ... killed orcs, killed rampaging dire bear and it's master - wereboar spell-caster, as well.


... we've also fought and killed a menacing human warrior-fanatic of the 'Cult of the Dragon' - he sought 'a hermit' in this area - he said he wanted to 'talk'.

... we've survived orc ambush at our way out, as well.


... during this trip, i've mostly observed and advised ... but sometimes fought physically as well.

... during fight with dire bear and his master, i've waved staff at wereboar caster as well - to distract - perhaps that's why he charged instead of casting too much.

... i suspect this wereboar was some priest or shaman ... he didn't feel as arcanist - but who knows? ... there are sorcerers and wizards among more barbaric races and tribes as well, not only necromancers and demonologists.

... or was he 'fury druid' ?

... fury deities are darker side of druidism, but still part of 'Balance', 'Nature's Balance', etc.

... probably there's more to this philosophy, more than just destroyng 'old & rotten' - so new life can grow again.


... got some gold, some equipment - nothing very thrilling, however.

... goblin hide cloak can be useful in rawlinswood guard watch, at least - it hinders movements, it makes someone look uglier, but also drives away lesser foes and most importantly - helps to remain alert.


-- Anheim, martial artist & yogin ... of Tempus and Selune.

Scarlet (Character's Description).

((in construction)).

... a feminine fencing elven bard in making - character idea inspired by Evelyth Miliatani, revenant13's character.


Runed Elven Chain protects against weaker necromancy in mass numbers very well, i think.

... reduces energy draining, weighs a lot but it's also a 'diet' ;)

... i didn't publish her spells, women need to protect their secrets - and spells can change as well.

Crimson Spikes & Creel Bandits (Amyliomendur's Tale).

... many things happening in short time this time.

... i am saving coin for a Ring of Protection, with stronger enchantment than i currently have.

Sold a lot of potions, hunted kobolds and lizards, i have 5 200 gold pieces of the 7 000 listed price.

Also, i've informed Merlyenna Proudfoot of the Blight, and gave her note i found.

Also, i've patrolled Nars Pass with Adventuress Autumn, longbow-wielding woman.

We found some bandits - three of 'Crimson Spikes' group, and one of 'Creel' group.

Crimson Spikes were killed by our teamwork / i've blocked passage by bridge, she shot them with bow /, Creel scout escaped heavily wounded, after drinking many expensive potions.

... i've found six traps for sale, and a strong healing potion for my own use.

... i've advertised my sales in Peltarch, but i doubt i'll sell these traps soon.

Then i've fought kobolds and lizardmen to rebuild my potion reserves.

-- Amyliomendur Nain, Trader, Adventurer & Warrior on the Longsword Way.




-=- Crimson Spikes, Part 1. -=-




-=- Crimson Spikes, Part 2. -=-

Talona's Blight (Amyliomendur's Tale).

-=- a Tattered Note. -=-


... i've been fighting for coin in swamps where kobolds and lizardmen dwell.

Everything was as usual until i've noticed blight-looking spider and someone who looked like a human priest.

Lizards were fighting them, and i've seized opportunity - killed spider, priest as they were separated - then finished wounded lizardmen.

Fight with that priest was scary - one 'Hold Person' spell and i'd be a toast.

... i've kept disrupting his spells with my longsword, then he fell. Wounds disrupt casters' focus, and he wasn't so good at concentration to resist.

... i need mind-shielding equipment as well.

He was partially shielded from wounds, but my skill and strength prevailed this time.

Found a tattered note, that is a clue to Talona, Godess of Blight and Disease.

In Peltarch's commons talked with Maccavity Teagage, experience hin scout.

... Or perhaps he was a gnome, they look similar.

Learned that 'Ros' and 'Merl' investigate this as well, since months.

... i need to contact them.

Then me, Mac & Verika went searching the swamps for more clues but found nothing.

Priest's body was gone as well.

We've returned to Peltarch, then idea came to my mind.

The note found can perhaps be used in Skrying, and probably will lead to this priest's boss - i need to talk with appropriate people about that.

-- Amyliomendur Nain, an Adventurer & a Longsword Weaponmaster in training.




-=- Blight Spider. -=-




-=- Blight Priest killed. -=-