Helm of Aware Mind (Isendir's Tale).

Since a while i live in Oscura, in a city in a cave.

It is a place where darkest deeds occur often - from slavery to necromancy.

It is a place where various factions compete for power both within the cave-city, and for power outside as well.

One of such factions are 'Sisters of Bones', a secretive sisterhood of women who practice necromancy.


I've made a deal with one of the Sisters, a deal to enchant a helmet for gold.


What are properties of enchanted helmet?

... well, i'll tell why first.

Just as a chain which is as strong as its weakest link, i've analyzed my strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion is that despite my earlier efforts, my lack of strong willpower is still my worst weakness.

Also, considering that occasionally act as a scout, my perceptions lack as well.

... so the helmet would increase my willpower and perceptions.

... i've called it: 'Helm of Aware Mind' - it not only shields mind somewhat, but also makes me aware of surroundings, so i have intuition where to look and when.

Most of helmets hinder vision, but this one is different, opposite in this respect.

-- Isendir Nain, Adventurer.

---
Character name: Isendir Nain.
Character receiving item: Isendir Nain.
50-50 XP Hit: yes.
Caster Level: ?.
Enchanting Facility: Sisters of Bone's Enchanting Facilities.
Spells Used: Owl's Wisdom.
Materials Used: MW Steel Helmet, Moonstone, Amethyst, Oil, Candle.

Item Level: 7.
Next Enchantment: ?

Item name: Helm of Aware Mind.
Item properties:
1. Saving Throw Will +2,
2. Spot Skill +6.

Costs:
7 point item-------Caster Level 7--------6,000 1e exp----3,300 gold


Description:

A well-made steel helmet enchanted to increase wearer's awareness and to shield his/her mind.


Enchantment process:

Isendir made a deal with Sister of Bones, a deal to enchant his helmet for gold.

After reserving time in laboratory & paying the fee, Sister prepares for a ritual of empowerment.

She focuses on her pineal gland - a thrid eye chakra - to impart her superior mind abilities on helm's wearer.

She purifies Helmet by draining unneccessary energies from it, then crushes moonstone and amethyst, mixes powders with oil - then spends energy.

She meditates, deeply visualizing herself and all 7 of chakras, then shifts attention to her 3rd eye chakra. She visualizes energies falling from her thrid eye onto a helmet she holds in her hands.

She smears the gem-powder & oil into helmet, spreading the mixture evenly.

Then she lights a candle and using tongs holds oiled helmet in a candle-flame, letting oil burn with smoke.

Spell she uses is 'Owl's Wisdom' for imparting mind protection and awareness qualities into the helmet.

Form she meditates on are chakras and their balance, then sends energy rays around that build up into powerfield (mandala).

Sister of Bones oversees energies as they flow, speaking arcane formulas as neccessary and correcting errors as they arise. After a proper amount of time, when all energy points are opened and joined with energy channels, she uses forms that give appropriate properties on each of them, then closes enchantment, finishing.

Helmet of Aware Mind is ready, she seeks Isendir and gives it to him.

He will check the item in a real combat.

Wolf among us (Isendir's Tale).

- Wolf among us. -


Been a while since i wrote a journal entry.

Met a werewolf, Aelthas - who didn't tell me how to tame my 'inner worg'. Felt left out alone after that.

Well, C'est la vie - such is life.

Adventured a while, killed some worgs in a team then felt Nature's Call and travelled for a while in the woods exploring.

During these travels, i felt love for woods, for nature.

Perhaps a Ranger awakened in me.

Have to talk with Ting about that.

-- Isendir, newly awakened Ranger.




Ranger.

Worg Call (Isendir's Tale).

... i've been dreaming during reverie, elven meditation.

... images in mind showed worgs pack running through woods.

i feel the pack hunts for me, and when i meet them - it will be either join or be eaten.

... i feel i have worg soul, so furry and tainted.

... worgs in my mind and soul are trying to escape, to make me express anger inside me violently.

i have limited time to prepare, to be stronger than worg alpha.

... i feel i'll have to look at alpha's eyes and teeth. if i am stronger, worg will see that and let me lead his pack. if i am weaker, i'll probably be eaten.

i fear worgs so far, but trying to overcome that fear by hunting with others in worg area.

... worgs hunt in packs as well, only occasionally hunting alone.

-- Isendir, Worg Soul.

Careless Whisper (Isendir's Tale).

By Mirror.


Bought a very expensive suit of Armour, from Caling, a sunite palading if i am not wrong.

Gave my exquisite longsword for that, as well as ring of protection, 1000 gp and some consumables - lesser boots of speed, blessed skull and eye with fireballs included.

But armour is enchanted, of great quality - it's lighter than my previous one, does not hinder agility in combat or outside combat.

It also is help in hiding & moving silently.

The higher quality of Armour, the more expensive are additions, improvements.

And this is quite high quality - it's very rare to find something as that for sale in narfell.

... for over 150 gp i adjusted looks of this armour, as well - at Violetta's.

Careless Whisper is worth about 15 000 gp - one should not save money on protecting equipment, i think.

-- Isendir Nain, Trader and Adventurer.




-=- Careless Whisper. -=-

-=- Enchanted Armour, Enchanted Far. -=-

Grishnak Elf-Slayer (Isendir's Tale).

Orc Cave.


Group of adventurers went Orc Lands & Orc Cave, in search of rumoured treasures.

I've bought 50 of Orc-Bane Arrows - for 350 gp total, in preparation.

Invisibility Circle spell got us into Orc Cave, past frosty mountain area next to Peltarch.

Running invisible is dangerous, as one might get lost - and this spell does not last for long.

One can also be heard, or bump into enemies - this often triggers Invisibility Purge spell, as their casters cast.

We explored labirynthine caverns, fought Elf-Slayer, some more orcs then recovered riches.

My share was three useful items:
- Ring of Protection with strong magic,
- Longsword with powerful combat enchantment,
- Ring of Insight, for knowledge appearance & for item identification.


My share also consisted of 600 gp, and some potions and balms.

Overall good day.

-- Isendir, Archer & Adventurer.




Equipment found.

Orc Cave & Longbone Debt Repaid (Isendir's Tale).

Visited Orc Cave a number of times, slowly gathering coin to pay my debt to Bronn, for the 'Longbone' Bow.

On last visit i wasn't alone, yet orcs had reinforcements - four Magicians & a Veteran, as well as unusually high numbers of Thugs & an Umberhulk.

We found some treasure, i was one who disabled trap & unlocked chest.

When we shared spoils in town, i hid a part of what i found, stealing from the party.

Then i participated in dice-rolling & sharing, taking even more.

Someday my greed will be my defeat, but for now i profit.

-- Isendir Nain, Greedy Adventurer.


P.S. i met Bronn Razenk a while later & paid him coins - now i owe him nothing.

Five Demons (Isendir's Tale).

This night in Peltarch's Commons was educating & entertaining.

Adventurers talked about their excursion into the Harbringer Mines, in Rawlinswood, full of Bugbears.

They were hired by a person named Thaz Al'Ghul from Temple Lighthouse, to seek sample of negative-energy-emitting crystal found there.

They fought their way in and produced a sample, stopping a Bugbear Ritual in process.

Thaz Al'Ghul, who appeared in Commons later during conversation shared his knowledge as well.

There's Demon coming from Thanatos, a layer of Abyss, Demon that now is bound to a location in the Negative Energy Plane, to a fortress called Tsian Tsumere ... his name is Glyphimhor.

Recently a Bugbear tribe fallen under his influence and the rite they performed was to open portal to Negative Energy Plane, so the planes conergence, the collapsing, is hastened.

There are many of vortices of negative energy in Narfell, even in whole of Toril, that the demons use to make undead & negative plane manifest in Prime Material of Narfell - this crystal is but one of these.

The Glyphimhor has four emanations, four demons with many lieutenants & slaves by which he employs his plans.

The names of these demons are:
- Ruin, demon of Narfell's southern parts,
- Rhigor, Lich that stations in Coldstones, Lich from 'the depths of the belly of death herself',
- 'Angel',
- Immolith.

This tale explains the rise of the undead in the Nars Pass, presence of the 'Shrouds of the Orcusgate' & of Curse of Old Norwick - rise of undead there - gaining in strength.

-- Isendir, Adventurer & Mercenary.

Lost City (Isendir's Tale).

Felt wanderlust again, and embarked on a scouting trip into the Rawlinswood with a Dwarf named Silver Chalice.

We passed through hobgoblin lands, past ghost wolves, corrupted goblin & mummified harpies territory ... into an entrance to the Lost City.

'Lost City' was one of important sites of the Old Narfell Empire, now is deserted, inhabited by monsters.

Silver warned me about not going too close to statues near entrance, as these 'awaken' & 'animate' to attack intruders, hard to defeat as well - perhaps a group of five would stand a chance to explore the Lost City deeper.

Of the monsters we passed on the way most notable were Ghost Wolves & Mummified Harpies.

Mummified Harpies are tough to damage, immune to nonmagickal weapons, sturdy as hell.

Ghost Wolves strike from nowhere, just appear, fight then disappear in mists ... Silver believes they can see invisible as well.

In the Lost City's first chamber i saw a pattern in a pillar, an art-form that made my former meditation with Anheim mature, it awakened an 'Iron Will' mind form ... as well as made me Visualize & Remember Vital Points on a human & other creatures' bodies ... my moves to strike at these points became more fluid as well.

i was positively suprised with my combat efficiency on our way back - especially with my new equipment added to that.

-- Isendir Nain, a Curious Elven Scout, Archer & Mercenary.




Mummified Harpy.




Corrupted Goblins.




a Forest Entrance to the Lost City.




Lost City's First Chamber.




Ghost Wolf.

Deeper Into the Darkness (Isendir's Tale).

Beyond the Purple Doors.


My ways crossed again with Old Lord Skull & his entourge.

We went Norwick Crypts & beyond mystery-shrouded, magically locked & trapped purple doors.

What we found there was a Lair of Necromancer, Balthazar Kane.

He gave us mission into Menzoberranzan's Outskirts, the Drow City.

We had to find adventuring party of escaped drow slaves & point them into direction of an artifact, of Demonsbane Trident.

We had to not pursue the artifact ourselves, as it was attracting too much of the troubles for our employer. Adventuring Party would kill demons that delay our boss' plans on them own, then attract revenge. Our role was just to hint them direction.

Merryl, Inkubus he summoned earlier, opened portal for us, we went in.

Inside we talked with Drow Militia & Matron Quenthel Baenre and were allowed to enter bazaar & talk to escaped surfacer slaves.

Soon they arrived, we exchanged words then went to bazaar.

i borrowed 10 000 gold pieces from Bronn, and bought a Longbow made from Bone & Sinew.

Others bought other items, not only at this bone stand.

Then we followed rumours of another 'Myrkul Godling', a mortal with blood of Dead-God Myrkul wishing to ascend to the Godly Throne on her own.

We talked a little, she cast a spell on Old Lord Skull, killing him instantly, stealing the godly spark in the process ... getting closer to her goals.

Then she raised him from death speaking words that she has power over life & death.

Old Lord Skull drank potion of 'Heal' then attacked her, we killed her ... and i took insane satisfaction that killing blow came from my arrow.

Old Lord Skull animated her corpse, so it would appear that she's alive for a while, then we fled the drow city.

At lair of Balthazar Kane, the Portal closed behind us, we were debriefed & rewarded.

i got a belt of agility, will have to hunt orcs for a while to repay Bronn Gold-Debt.

-- Isendir, Greedy & Succesful Adventurer, a Shady Mercenary.




Balthazar Kane, Necromancer.




Portal.




Matron Quenthel Baenre.




Adventurers.




Trade.




Myrkul's Godling.




Myrkul's Godling Dead.




Debrief.




a Longbone Bow.




Belt of Agility.

Debt Repaid (Isendir's Tale).

It was a lot of blood & gore in the orc caves, but i arranged for 5 500 gold pieces to pay Anna Blake for a cloak.

Now it's fully mine.

i'll need to take care of other things for a while, as such intense involvement in combat is mentally draining.

Perhaps i'll look into the brighter sides of life, more or less, for now, at least.

-- Isendir Nain, a greedy adventurer with a little of faith or morality.




Paid.

Romani Camp's History (Isendir's Tale).

Nars Pass' Bridge.


After acquisition of a Romani Scout Ring, i've decided to look at Romani & their History.

First went south to the Gypsy Camp, visited Cera's tree - found poisonous frogs & mind-disabling mists. After killing three of the frogs, went deeper to see Cera & her familiar panther, Mojo. They seemed distant, i didn't want them interrupted so i left.

On my way back, found undead in the Nars Pass. Zombies there are nothing new, but invisible wraith was a suprise. It struck me with energy attack, then as i approached Shrine of Tempus, it retreated - probably scared off by Temple's Wards & Protection Spells.

Reported this wraith to a guard near Peltarch's Gate, then headed to the City Hall, to the Library.

Studies revealed that Gypsy Camp was once a Mining Valley, where slaves toiled under Narfell Demonbinders in oppressive conditions. Not sure whether there was a revolt, or that Ending of Narfell Empire & Cataclysms gave them that opportunity - but slaves eventually fled. They lived on roads as Gypsies, Romani in their language, then returned to old valley and started to live there - in tents, underground & trees' interiors.

Couldn't find what caused them to leave area, or whether they were massacred - but of recent, only Cera & Mojo live there.

Cera is a powerful Sorceress, but slowly the Gypsy Camps falls into oblivion.

-- Isendir Nain, a curious adventurer.




a Signpost in Nars Pass.




Gypsy Camp - Outside Cera's Tree.




a Fight with a Poisonous Frog.

... in the Mind-Disabling Mists.




Cera's Tree Interiors - Campfire.




Nexus.




Wraith in Nars Pass.




Saved by Wards.




a Report.




Study.

Scout Crossbones (Isendir's Tale).

Orc Killed.


i've been visiting orc cave to earn gold i owe Anna Blake for a cloak.

It's usually better pay than visits to kobold swamps, but this time it was even more.

In a chest room i've noticed a large orc with Bagthru's Charms & Symbols, probably a cleric of this orcish god.

i shot him, he ran to me and cast a damaging spell on me; wounded i ran away while shooting, he kept following despite his wounds.

Finally i did kill him, and found a nice Gypsy Camp's Romani Scout Ring at his body.

Then i've cleaned rest of the cave and returned to Peltarch.

-- Isendir, an Archer Scout Adventurer Mercenary of a little faith.




a Gypsy Camp's Romani Scout Ring.

Demon Skin (Isendir's Tale).

Shady Meet.

i've met a group of shady adventurers in an Oscuran 'Coppers' Inn.

We embarked on an adventure to get a succubus demon skin, to be used in an summoning / binding ritual.

They required me to pray to Myrkul at midnight, so i did - perhaps there will be monetary rewards for that.

We found demons in Jiyyd Ruins, we negotiated, fought a challenge, and peeled a skin of succubus.

Female demon cried out of pain & pleasure, then was sent away to it's home plane before it died.

Then we went Norwick Crypts to deliver the skin, and a necromancer summoned incubus, a male seductive demon.

... it was something of finishing something unfinished, a necromancer's business that should last for a while.

We left via secret door leading to a hidden place, talked more with a vampire & another necromancer - then were teleported back to 'Coppers'.

It was interresting experience, we'll see how this will unfold in a future.

-- Isendir Nain, a Shady Adventurer.




Travel.




Demons.




a Necromancer's Rite.




Incubus Summoned.




a Secret Door out.




Debrief.