Xugot's Journal18th MalachiteWe've been camped out near Balddread for the past few days. According to Abba's count, there are at least fifty goblins garrisoning the fortress, with at least twenty or thirty heavily armed and armored. Some of the soldiers are human. It looks like these have completely gone over to the goblins' way of life. I saw one of them abusing a slave with the flat of his sword and laughing. It was all I could do not to run down there and slay him.
Only once did we encounter a goblin up close. One of the guards sidled over to our campfire. I drew my mace, but I needn't have worried. There is currently an uneasy peace between this fortress and the nearby villages. He only sneered at me, spat into our fire, and wandered back to his post.
We've been here a fortnight, and I've learned a little about Abba. She's ten summers younger than me, but has been wandering the wilds for a long time - since she was but twelve years of age. Her mother died when she was a child, and her own Ranger's gear passed to Abba in the process. She is invaluable to our adventures, and could well prove of great importance in the days head.
I intend to strike out for the nearest town tonight, and see if there is anyone wiling to throw off the yoke of goblin oppression.
20th MalachiteToday we entered the great fortress town of Rightstributes, ruled by the Sunny Enchantments. There seems to be no military leader, the goblins may have killed him in one of their frequent clashes.
Abba told me that we should seek out help, at the mead hall or perhaps the keep, which stands in the east of the town.
laterI must remember to watch out for the swordsmen around here. In the mead hall Abba had a run-in with a local warrior named Sithe. She is not exactly what you'd call friendly. Normally I'd have respect for the aged, but this woman seems to have decided that as out-of-towners, we were beneath her notice. Thankfully, the situation was defused by a large leathern man with an iron morningstar in his belt and food stains on his jerkin.
His name is Threbe Freshsparkle. He's a ranger, and has long been sick of the goblin overlords and their ways. He has agreed to accompany us on our quest. He does seem to have a great fondness for food, though. He says that his first trade was as a fishery worker. All of that food preparation appears to have given him a fantastic appetite.
While we were her, I noticed something disquieting. The children rarely stay outdoors for long - most of the time they are sleeping at home or in the keep, under the watchful eyes of the local soldiers. The goblins have a propensity for child-snatching, but I've never seen fear this palpable. This oppression needs to end.
19th GalenaLast night we set out to find more to join us in our quest. North lay Relievedbar, a small frontier town run by Casot Stokerams, a retired Adventurer. After stopping to fill our waterskins, we headed down the road.
laterThe sun was getting low in the sky when we managed to make it to the tavern in Relievedbar. Casot welcomed us dourly, waving us over with her massive crossbow.
We fell to talking. She knew of no one who would be willing to join us - after all, we had just arrived in town - but if we were to destroy an old menace, perhaps we would be more favorably recieved.
The Cyclops - Uzin. She had been terrorizing the town for years. Forty-three years ago, Casot tried to bring Uzin to heel, but her vaunted crossbow skills failed. Funnily enough, Sithe, the irate Swordswoman from the mead hall at Rightstribute, had failed to slay Uzin as well. Perhaps if we were to do this thing, we would receive more respect from the others in our trade. Tonight we set out for Menhells, Uzin's home.
May the gods give us strength.
5th LimestoneWe arrived at Menhells earlier, and things are looking good. As we made our way to the cave, we were set upon in turn by a massive alligator, and a huge black bear.
I asked Threbe, who as a Ranger from this area would be familiar with the local animals, about this bizarre attack. He told me that these two were Othroratrid and Absamtashem, feared man-eaters. Strangely, the two shared the local territory without fighting each other. That ended today, as I stove in Othroratrid's head with my flail, and Threbe proved himself a fierce warrior, stoving the bear's chest in with a single mighty blow. We will seek Uzin later... meanwhile, I need to have a word with Abba about her form. She's a good scout, but hopeless in a melee.
laterUzin is dead! I have a few minutes away from tending Abba and Threbe, so I'll write this quickly. We entered the cave, expecting a long trek into the dank underground, but no sooner had we entered than Uzin launched herself at the cave's entrance, swinging her massive fists like hammers. Abba was in the lead, and Uzin grabbed her by the leg. As she swung Abba around in the air, Threbe and I rushed in, smashing at the Cyclops' flabby skin with our weapons. There was a sound as Abba's leg popped out of its socket, and she screamed, but I managed to smash Uzin in the gut hard enough to force her to drop Abba.
Unfortunately, Abba landed on me. I disentangled myself from her as gently as possible (her leg had just been dislocated, after all), but while I was down, Uzin gave Threbe a gut punch of her own, downing him hard.
I hammered at the Cyclops until she went down to her knees, and Threbe dashed her head in with his fearsome morningstar.
I must pause here. Abba has woken up and insists on trying to stand on her own.
19th LimestoneAfter the other two were well enough to make the journey, we set off for Relievedbar, and fame. As I arrived in town, I brandished the Cyclops' one-eyed skull, burned clean of flesh to preserve it for the journey. Jubilant townsfolk surrounded us and showered us with praise. It was a good feeling.
I flung the Cyclops' bones at Casot's feet. She was pleased enough to order drinks for the entire tavern, on her tab.
laterAt the tavern earlier, I was approached by a tall man with dark hair framing his narrow face. He introduced himself as Aslu - he didn't give his surname. He looked young, no more than 25 summers. He asked me if we truly meant to attack Balddread - before I could say anything, Abba put a hand on my shoulder, and asked him why he wanted to know.
He looked at her, grinned - his teeth looked like fangs - and said only, "Personal reasons."
Reasons or not, his hammer looked deadly and he looked the match of any of the soldiers we'd seen while we were scouting out Balddread, so I told him he was welcome to join us.
laterHad another run-in, this time with an elderly knight named Strildo. His sword was almost as tall as me, and his armor looked about as ancient as he was. He didn't think much of our chances at Baldreach, and told us so rather patronizingly. Threbe only laughed and patted his arm. Strildo is apparently a famous knight about these parts, and well-known for his foul moods. Nonetheless, we'd need a sword arm like his, but he refused to join us.
He told me that he would be leading me, rather than the other way around, but that he had no need for my protection. I'd met many of his kind when I was a farmer, and time doesn't make them any less insufferable.
I left him to his drinks. His partner, a woman whose hair had long ago faded to gray, seemed to look at us sympathetically, but she said nothing. I suppose it was a trick of the light.
8th SandstoneWe are in Blazeslabor as I write this, having traveled south from Relievedbar in search of strong warriors. It is practically a ghost town. Captain Oti, the mayor of Blazeslabor, sat up with us earlier tonight. His son was among those killed during the wars with the goblins - but by a human collaborator. How some can turn a blind eye to the evils of slavery escapes me.
9th SandstoneEarlier this morning, I went out to the Blacksmith's and had a spear commissioned - Bismuth Bronze, true enough, not as good as my flail, but it is finely weighted and well-honed. I remember how Das relied on his spear - it seemed a fine weapon. In his honor, I will take this spear and train with it until I am the equal of any spearmaster. Combined with my skill with the mace, I could well become a great warrior.
14th SandstoneWe stopped on the shores of a great lake earlier. It was unknown to Abba - while she had been scouting for ten years, she had rarely departed the area around the village and the nearby steppes. Threbe was not much help here either. There were few animals around, likely they had fled from the sound of our boots.
Over dinner around the campfire, Abba told me she had heard of a Cyclops causing trouble in Auntrinse - far to the south from here, but near where my home was - once. Killing a Cyclops would bring us all much glory. I told the others we would be heading south.
As I was trying to sleep, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Aslu. He asked me if I had ever been married.
I reluctantly told him about Quihu. He only frowned thoughtfully, then retreated to his bedroll. Strange young man.
1st TimberAs we headed southwards, we were beset - again! - by wolves. I have no patience for these ragged creatures - one of them took my eye, after all. My new spear performed quite well, and Aslu's fury and strength are frightening to behold. I'm rather glad we took him along, even if he is untalkative and frankly, very dangerous.
5th TimberEarlier today, Threbe managed to bring down a bear by the great river. We had it for dinner, and it tasted fantastic. I asked Threbe why - after all, I had never eaten bear meat.
He laughed. "Bear isn't always this savory. This old fellow was one of those toothless ones, those bears who have come to subsist solely on milk and honey and berries. This rich diet seeps into their flesh and makes them fat, and flavors their meat."
I mulled this over. "And what of the bears who eat men, and deer?"
"They are tough," said Threbe, shaking his head. "Tough and dry, with an evil aftertaste. I much prefer old bear."
Such a gourmand, he is. Even if the kill did attract wolves, which we had to dispose of rather messily.
8th TimberI was wounded by a bear earlier today, and though I did my best to bind the wound, the bleeding continued. Later that night, we were attacked by a Cougar - apparently attracted by the scent of my blood. Abba was on watch. It seized her by the hand. With a fury I haven't felt since Quihu died, I set upon the beast, transfixing it to the ground with my spear. Before I could draw my flail and finish it, Aslu was by my side, hammering at the Cougar with more than his usual rage.
When we were done, the resulting mess looked nothing like a Cougar. Abba stared at us both with a strange look in her eyes. I didn't notice it at the time - I had realized what Aslu's "personal reasons" were.
13th TimberWe stopped in Glazeblowing earlier tonight. Threbe spent most of his coppers on beer. In the meantime, I managed to find a former adventurer named Sut. The goblins are strong here, too, and have been for decades. However, he hasn't seen or heard anything of the Auntrinse Cyclops for years. I begin to believe that I have led us here on a wild goose chase.
19th TimberThe men and women of this area are hardly the most helpful of people. No amount of copper or beer can convince the people here at Jugglercleaned to come with us to seek this Cyclops.
22nd TimberWe arrived in Auntrinse a few hours ago, and I have a few quiet moments to write. The mayor says that they are untroubled, and have been untroubled for years. However, he did point out a decently shabby-looking area on my map - the Swamp of Matches. Perhaps we will find our prey there.
Aslu has begun to grind his teeth in impatience. I believe that he was once married - or in love, at least - and that the goblins killed or took his lady from him. Those are his "personal reasons", and the fuel for the fires of his anger. He is fierce, and strong, but his thirst for revenge may get him killed some day.
11th MoonstoneRats! No, literally, rats! There is nothing in this cave in the Swamp of Matches. Strangely though, the rats seem to have mistaken themselves for wolves, and tried to attack me. I made short work of them.
18th MoonstonePerhaps the elves will know where we can make a name for ourselves. Abba tells me the elven lands live far to the west, so along the way we stopped at Pleatedrinse, a great dwarven fortress, one which has never once fallen to attack. We slept that night beneath its walls. Say what you will about the dwarves - their hospitality is beyond reproach.
Threbe professes a great fondness for their beer. I'm no gourmand, but it is the best I've ever tasted - though it is a trifle strong.
23rd MoonstoneOn the way to Netivy, an elven outpost, we are attacked by a pack of wolves. The encounter does not last very long, and no one is hurt.
24th MoonstoneWe stopped in Netivy earlier today, seeking elven trade. It doesn't look like we'll find it, though. I had a few words with a guard - apparently, there's been some civil unrest here, and he had to kill a few dissenters. Their local Druid was among those killed in the fighting. It doesn't look as though we can do anything about the goblin overlords for now - especially not with so many potential allies out of the running. I have decided to head to head further west.
3rd OpalToday we were attacked by the biggest Jaguar I have ever seen. Some kind of Giant Jaguar. It died just as easily as other Jaguars, once it got a spear in between the eyes.
Tasted stringy. Threbe says Jaguars and Cougars are no good to eat. I'm inclined to agree with him.
7th OpalWe were fighting more wolves again earlier, when I... passed out. Or at least I believe I did. When I came to, the others were standing over me with a concerned look on their faces. I feel fine right now, but I can't imagine how unfortunate it would be if I fell unconscious in the middle of a goblin fortress.
It took a while to find my spear. Apparently I had left it stuck in a wolf that Aslu had sent flying with a vicious hammerblow. I found it some ten feet away.
I will need to be careful in the future.
14th OpalRan into another giant Jaguar. This one tasted a little better.
17th OpalAs we were tramping along towards the Elven lands, a huge scorpion - the kind I'd encountered before - leapt out of a hole. It broke Aslu's shield arm with one of those nasty pincers. The beast was maneuvering its stinger into position when I leapt at it with my shield outflung. The point of the stinger slid past my shield's surface and grazed my arm. I killed the scorpion before its poison could overcome me.
Thankfully, I barely got any of the poison. As of this writing, I am fine. Aslu's arm, though... It will never hold a shield again. I told him this.
He laughed and told me that his hammer arm is fine, and that's all that matters.
Strange young man.
12th ObsidianWe came into a vast expanse of forest earlier today. The trees seemed alive - seemed to be leaning in and listening to our every word. It was eerie - I couldn't shake the undercurrent of fear that he huge trees forced on me.
Every now and then I caught sight of a fleeting shadow among the branches, or peeking out from behind the trunks. The elves were watching us. I think these were wild ones, who hadn't seen a human being in all their long lives.
Abba said the same. "It's as though they're... overgrown children."
I could only nod in assent.
13th ObsidianWe were ambushed by wolves outside Mirrorisland. I am honestly not surprised.
15th ObsidianAn elf named Enure has joined our company. He seems prissy and faintly scornful, more suited for dancing than anything else. He has a bow, however, and the elves are supposed to be quite lethal with bows. This brings our number up to five. We're only outnumbered ten to one!
This is starting to seem better and better.
1st GraniteIt's the first time in 15 days that I've been able to write in this journal. We are finally in Rightstributes again, bunking at the great Keep that stands against goblin aggression.
The fighters of Rightstributes still refuse to join us, except for one - a pikeman named Buh. He was a farmer, just like myself, who took up a spear for the defense of his land. He is with the others now, downstairs.
Tomorrow we set off for Balddread. I don't know what will happen when we get there. I don't know if any of us will come back alive. I don't know if the goblins will put forth a punitive, cleansing storm if we anger them too much.
I'm worried. I'm no old man, but I'm the oldest in this company, and the leader besides. The others - Threbe, Aslu, and Abba, especially Abba, are like family to me, and the only friends I have since I left poor Das to recuperate back in our village. Enure has kept himself aloof, but that's just how elves are.
Buh seemed very eager to fight the goblins. I wonder what they have done to him. Abba's uncle was crucified by a goblin warlord, for some trivial reason. Aslu's wife was killed by a goblin agent. Buh must have, as Aslu put it, "personal reasons".
I don't know. But I'll need a good night's sleep if I'm to do what we set out to do tomorrow.
16th GraniteWe arrived in Balddread at dawn. The fortress was quiet, save for the few guards still at their posts. I thought we could make it in without alerting them, but I was wrong. There was a shout, and the priests and priestesses - goblins and humans both - came running out of the temple, brandishing arms. We fell upon them like wolves among sheep.
While the others were occupied with the lower level of the temple, I headed upstairs. A middle-aged, imperious woman stood there in front of some blood-stained altar. She glared at me fiercely and announced herself - Bosa, High Priestess of the temple, of this vile demon-worshipper's cult!
Before I could react, she came at me, swinging a huge sword that took both her hands to bear. Its weight was too much for her, and her stroke miscarried, burying the sword in the nearby wall. As she tried to free her sword, I brought my flail around and stove her chest in. She fell, cursing me and my gods even as her life's blood gushed from her mouth.
It was quite a nice sword, so I pried it from the wall. I was rushing downstairs to help the others when...
it... happened again. When I regained consciousness, Threbe had me slung over a shoulder. I told him to let me down. There were still goblins and traitors to fight.
And it was a traitor that almost did me in. A hammerman. I am still far from being a professional soldier. He blocked my blows and let loose a shot that would have felled me if not for the thick iron of my helm. Thankfully, Buh stepped in and slew my attacker before he could do any more damage.
Abba, myself, and Buh were all wounded. I decided it was best if we retreated for now - but Aslu and Enure were nowhere to be found.
As we were hurrying out of Balddread, Aslu turned up, hauling a little girl by the hand. His hammer was slung around his back, while his disabled arm hung loosely at his side. She was dressed in rags and covered in ash. It's safe to say that she was a goblin prisoner. I will know more later. First, I must rest.
2nd SlateI think we have evaded all pursuit now. We were caught by a single guard as we left the area. Aslu dealt with her in a single fearsome blow. His hate for human collaborators is intense - even more than his hate for the goblin overlords. He has not yet opened up to me about his wife.
We made camp by a murky pond and took stock. Abba is wounded - her leg, again. Buh was bleeding from the nose earlier, but it has stopped. Aslu and Threbe are both covered in blood, but it belongs to other people. Enure is strangely untouched. Come to think of it, I didn't see him in the fighting at all. Perhaps it is just the Elven affinity for stealth.
The girl. Her name is Oja. Her parents are Mab and Gabat, of Rightstributes. She was abducted 5 years ago, and for the first time in 5 years, she is free.
I wonder if her parents will even recognize her.
Enough. I'm going to bed now. My head still hurts, and the scar where my eye used to be has been itching lately.
4th SlateIt's amazing, the resolve - the heroism - you can find, often in places you'd never expect.
We headed back into Righstributes, filthy, covered in caked blood. A hero's welcome awaited us, surprisingly enough. I am writing this from the most comfortably appointed room in the tavern, and just as with Casot those months ago, drink is free. The people have hope again. The goblins' noses have been bloodied.
I spoke with Aslu earlier. He was all for returning to Balddread. We killed many goblins and their human allies, but several remain, perhaps enough to mount a punitive strike on another town, or warn the other forts that the humans have decided to fight once more. I was inclined to agree with him.
Abba and Threbe were against it, as was the elf Bowman Enure. Buh was for it. The six of us were at an impasse.
It was Oja who broke the stalemate.
This girl - barely a third my age, mind you! - volunteered to be our guide in another expedition back to Balddread. With her, we would be able to find the prisoners we had missed, and possibly even kill the local ruler.
The vote was four against three. We are returning to Balddread.
4th FelsiteMy wounds from the battle at Balddread have mostly healed, and we headed north to recruit more help. In Relievedbar, the old knight Strildo barely cocked an eyebrow at the tales of our exploits.
"Slay a dragon, perhaps," he said. "Then I might consider joining you."
Surprisingly, however, his companion spoke up this time. She was furious with him.
"A dragon, Strildo? You've never even seen a dragon, much less slain one! Perhaps you're blind with age, if you can't see that these youngsters are doing some good work!"
He glowered at her. "If you're so eager to rush off and die, I'll not be stopping you."
"I'll do just that!" she shouted. She told us to follow her, and stormed out of the hall.
She introduced herself as Buqui, a knight of the old make. Her sword is just as large as Strildo's, and perhaps her heart is larger. We will return to Balddread with the help of an experienced military woman. Things will go even better, I hope.
7th FelsiteIt is with a heavy heart that I set my quill to this page. We returned to Balddread, and emerged alive, but two of my friends were killed. Aslu and Threbe are dead.
Oja was as good as her word. Five years growing up in the shadow of Balddread proved useful this day. She led us through the twisting passages of the Southern fort, allowing us to silently dispatch most of the opposition. Buqui's big sword allowed her to cleave through goblin ranks with ease.
I told Oja to guide us to the local Captain's quarters. That is where it went to hell.
A big goblin, wearing bone in his ears and heavy iron armor was waiting for us when we emerged from the depths. He grinned and introduced himself.
He must have been the local leader, come to deal with us himself. Aslu bared his teeth at this chance to personally destroy one of the goblin overlords. He rushed at the big captain, hammer raised high. He never made it.
If he'd still had his shield, you see, he might have gotten within striking distance. I never saw the shots that brought him down, but he fell before he'd even made it a few feet to Ngerxung.
Threbe rushed the goblin, yelling at me to grab Aslu. The arrows were flying thick. Most of them bounced off our armor. I saw one lance through Abba's shoulder, and a few more penetrate Threbe's armor. He winced and launched himself at the closest enemy - one of Ngrexung's guards, with a big hammer.
Buqui told me all of this later. I was busy hauling Aslu out of there, as far from the carnage as I could. Meanwhile, Buh came around with three more prisoners, took one looking at Aslu, and started running with us.
I didn't see the blow that killed Threbe. It's just as well. Buqui told me that the big hammerman crushed his skull as though it were jelly.
I set Aslu down once we were far outside Balddread, and we were sure there was no pursuit incoming.
He was pale, and barely conscious. He pulled me close and whispered in my ear.
"Xugot. The man who killed my wife... his name... Ibu Patternedyelled."
Aslu looked like he was trying to say more. His mouth simply stopped working, though, and before long he was dead. There was nothing for it but to run. No doubt that bastard Ngerxung would be sending patrols soon.
I can still hear Abba crying from here. I'll write more here later. I suppose she needs someone to talk to.
8th FelsiteThe children have been restored to their parents in Righstributes. There was to be a celebration, but none of us felt up to it. We will set off for Relievedbar tomorrow, to recuperate and replenish our stocks.
22nd FelsiteIt's been a fortnight since our semi-successful raid on Balddread. We have rested, and mostly healed.
There's been some trouble around town lately. Wild horses have been killing people. Is it a mark of something sinister, or just wild horses being what they are? One of them was successfully put down, but the other two - Iboinut and Durpulush - are still running roughshod outside town.
Strildo has refused to see Buqui, and refuses to speak with us. Is he jealous? Afraid? I do not know. All I know is that his sword is probably rusting in its sheathe from disuse.
Enure worries me. Of all of us, he has never been wounded, even once. I have never even seen him fight, nor found any of his arrows in corpses after a battle. Has he even been fighting at all? I must investigate further.
Thankfully, we were joined by another - a woman with a fearsome axe, named Mapo Tameblot. Her daughter was among those prisoners freed years ago from the goblins, and she wishes to continue that kind of good work.
In memory of Aslu and Threbe... and of darling Quihu... We set out tomorrow, to whatever adventures await.
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Topic: Adventure Succession (Read 16159 times)