Whispers Through the Black Gate.

Brief.

... at the Peltarch's City Hall.


Dear Journal,

My fever still lingers, but i was able to contribute to the Sharran Bandits investigation again.

We were briefed shortly in the Peltarch City Hall by a Guard Sargeant, then headed to Cerulean HQ.

There our Priestess, Ute Snow, called spirits of the dead bandits we had corpses of.

They were questioned across the Veil between Worlds of Living & Worlds of Dead ... at Selûne's prayer's grace.

One of them was a priest by name of Klinton, other a mage by hard to remember elven name.

Both 'served shadows', following Shar's Church orders, engaging into banditry in attempt to gain coin.

Their leader 'has no name', they operate 'everywhere' with no permanent base of operations.

Not much was revealed, but we were able to confirm that the bandits follow Shar.

By our detective, Roslyn Underhill's initiative, these two will be raised from death for further interrogation.

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




a Cast.

Death's Gate (Frances' Tale).

... It was been a while since i was so close to the Land of Mists, to the Fugue Plane - where dead mortals pay a visit before passing to the Outer Planes of their gods.

There are ways to return from Fugue to the Prime Material, but often there's no desire to go back.

In a good mood i've entered kobold swamps, with a little problems ventured deeper into east.

Fought few of Kobolds, then Lizardmen.

Bad weather distracted me, i didn't notice dispel magic spells that they cast upon me to abolish my arcane defenses ... then two of melee-armed Lizardmen charged me, one after other.

i defeated one but was too wounded to face second.

Dangerously wounded tried to escape, but they run too fast ... and pain from wounds was too great.

My blood flowing i went down, feeling no strength to stand up and continue fleeing.

Lizardman seemed happy with his kill, as i appeared to be dead. He wandered about, distracted - perhaps looking for more of adventurers to slay or flee from.

'Frances, get up ... get up Frances ... ' - i kept repeating to myself, blood flowing from my open wounds & lips.

Trying to not catch Lizard's attention, i put bandages on my wounded leg, almost passing out from pain ... wound seemed stabilized, i managed to drink one 'Cure Serious Wounds' potion, grabbing it from my leather belt.

Pushed myself up, white mist mixing with swamp lights & sights as i fled, pulsing in ears, blood flowing from mouth ... i managed to escape deeper swamps.

Don't know why Lizardman didn't pursue, didn't care to bother or look back.

In Peltarch's Temple of Selűne, in infirmary they took care of me ... good food & rest allowed me to recover & write this in journal.

Thanks to curative powers of potion i drank, there will be no ugly scar - one of infirmary attendants told me smiling.

Potions are expensive, but these save lives ... and are meant to be drank when someone's wounded - otherwise would be only a weight in inventory.

Praising Siamorphe and Kossuth, i'll be leaving infirmary and continue my rest at inn.

-- Frances, an Adventuress of Darkhavens' noble origin.