The Journal of Calamar Eldanil:

Chapter 5: Temple of the Star God

Although it was a pleasant enough day, I was still a little concerned.

After I had awakened a month ago from my illness that had laid me low for a season, I had been sent from my rest and recuperation in the Brightwood bearing news and warnings of the invasion that had begun in the south. I was to warn the Highland Forest community of possible activities in the north that might threaten them. This I had done and, although my heart and thoughts lay to wherever my friends were about the land in this time of trouble, I was now exploring the forest with a band of my brethren under the direction of the elven war leader Calandir. We were trying to root out the source of fiendish creatures that had been despoiling the forest of late. No doubt we would find this solution in some perverted arcane practice or some such. I had heard that my heroic companions had set off – albeit reluctantly – to continue to help the goodly folk of the area in the coming fight with the Lordship of the Isles and their allies. I could only hope that they were safe and sound wherever they had travelled these past four months.

A fellow elf named Lodorin, a paladin of the Creator (he foretold to me in my dream), and I had become separated from Calandir’s band when we were beset by a number of strange wolf-like beasts. They were some seven feet in length of their body, hideously ugly with fiendish brimstone-like glowing eyes, and covered with an inky black fur. They seemed to shimmer slightly as they moved and produced one of the foulest stenches it has been my displeasure to experience. They had the two of us cornered atop an outcropping of bedrock (somewhat of a familiar scene to me) and we had yet to bring down one of the creatures. Lodorin and I stabbed down at them as they began to circle us, one of the beasts hanging back as if to direct the attack or simply wait for an opportune opening.

Suddenly two figures burst over the crest of the hill. Two people who made my heart fair sing with the joy of life. Rackhe, my northern halfblooded friend with the flashing twin scimitars, and Kiri, my ladylove whom I suddenly felt a great aching need for well up in my breast, came loping over the rise, a welcome sight to our eyes.

Lodorin took this small opportunity to cast the strength of a bull upon himself as Rackhe settled into a stalk through the high grass towards the creatures. The beast that had been hanging back sensed a change in us and howled a terrifying yowl of evil, shaking my paladin companion to the core so fearful it was. The three that had been circling our stand upon the rock seemed to take this as a signal and lunged at Lodorin and I; one catching my leg with a fang and ripping open a gash a hand-width long. This proved to be a luckless thing on his part as my dear Kiri held forth her finger and, muttering something arcane, launched a bolt of ice at the creature that had wounded me. Fie on him for attacking her beloved.

Rackhe sprang into action at this point to strike one soundly, only to find that he was between two of the creatures as one came circling around the rock from another direction. More missiles of magical force sprang from my lady’s gesturing and the third of our party, my stout soldier friend Narion, came charging spectacularly over the crest on his horse and readying a thrust with his spear. He missed his first strike but scored well with the next two to drop one of the things.

Kiri had launched herself up into the air … flying! She drew her bow and began to rain arrows down upon our adversaries, the leader of which let out another terrifying howl. Both Rackhe and Kiri seemed shaken by this hellish noise so I drew upon my inner core and channelled the power of the Seldarine to remove the fear from my three affected friends. They felt the power of the gods and goddesses course through them and steeled themselves even more firmly against the foe.

As Rackhe dropped one of the beasts, another was stalking me around the rock. Just as it was about to leap upon me I called upon the power inherent in my celestial armour and launched myself into the air to add my bow-fire to Kiri’s. As I joined her, she launched another ice bolt at the one that had been stalking me. Narion dismounted and went to do deadly work amongst the two remaining snarling creatures.

A new person joined the fray. A cloaked figure, moving very fast, charged into the fight with a flaming scimitar in hand, laying about the creatures left and right. Narion drew forth a javelin and launched it at the one fighting with the paladin. Rackhe was wounded severely, bringing him to his knees, as the beast he was engaged with tore into his side. I immediately swooped down and saw to my friend’s wound. He swung madly at the four-legged thing, striking it across the jaw and slicing open its face. It turned to withdraw from the fight. I charged after it but was beaten to it by Narion, who had speared the last remaining in the fight and with a quick pivot had launched a javelin past me to lay the creature low. I then, to take care of any possible fiendish regenerative powers, sliced into the thing, severing its head from the shoulder.

As I was turning after finishing this task, I was suddenly bowled over by a flurry of warm embraces and caresses, and found two warm and sweet lips engulfing me in a passionate welcome from my dearheart one. We snuggled briefly in the warm grass of the meadow as the cloaked stranger saw to Rackhe’s deeper wounds and my other companions went about the business of cleaning up after the fight.

One of the beasts roused and tried to slink away into the forest but drew an arrow from Lodorin. Narion then dispatched a magic missile after it, laying it low once again. Then it was seen to that this creature and its companions would stay dead.

*~*~*~*~*

We then stood, my love laughingly helping me up by her hand, and I introduced her and my companions to Lodorin. I, in turn, was introduced to the cloaked figure. He was named Querat and turned out to be a hobgoblin! I was a bit taken aback at this but when it was revealed that he was a high-middle priest of the Star God, Celestian, I calmed a bit. But it was still quite a shock. Between the two of us, we saw to everyone’s wounds and readied ourselves to move off.

It turned out that my friends were also on a mission to locate Calandir and his band, and Narion also mentioned that it might be time to hurry up and move on as the invasion had already started in the south. So, as we decamped to head toward the main rendezvous, I filled in my friends as to my life since they had left the Brightwood. They in turn gave me an encapsulated view into their activities over the intervening months, among which was an action in Bayport that resulted in much damage to the enemy’s plans. They had also foiled a kidnap attempt on Mayor Castle’s young daughter, Luna. She now looked upon Rackhe as her personal hero. This brought a small warm smile to my face as I thought how good a judge of character the young are at times.

Not far off we encountered Sillana, Calandir’s second and a trained horse archer of some skill. I filled her in on our encounter with the four-legged beasts from hell and she called forward Calandir and the remaining ten elves in his troop. We all introduced ourselves around to everyone else, Querat the hobgoblin causing more than a few raised eyebrows, and sat down to have a small war council. Narion and Rackhe wanted to explain what they were up to in the grander scheme of things.

It was their plan to have a mounted task force in the rear of the invasion and it was to this end that they had been traveling to the Highland Forest as well. They wished to recruit a number of skilled elven woodsmen and riders, all to be highly skilled with the bow, to form the core of this raiding force. The idea was to base the raiding force out of the old dwarven stronghold outside of Griff and have them harass the flank of the northern invasion force. Military matters are beyond me, but this did indeed sound a like a daring plan.

Calandir thought upon this but said, “I’m sorry, but with the problems of fiendish creatures roaming the forest and the possible threat to our own homes we cannot spare anyone to provide for your raiders.”

“I have a thought,” I interjected, not being accustomed to how councils of war were conducted, “What if a small and dedicated band were to concentrate on removing the threat of the monsters and destroying its source?”

My friends caught my eye and started to smile subtly. Calandir paused for thought. “I think that if we had this threat removed,” he replied, “then we could easily free up some archers for this purpose.”

“Then I suggest that my companions and I be the party dispatched to this task.” As one my friends all agreed.

Calandir was a little taken aback by the enthusiasm my friends showed for such a task, but he thought that this might be a good plan that would fulfill both our criteria. And so, it was decided that on the morrow we would begin the task of resolving the situation of these fiendish beasts.

We camped the night while Calandir’s warriors protected the camp. Kiri and I curled up and talked well into the night, catching each other up on what had happened to us in the months of our separation. Lying and resting beside this beautiful creature, I felt a warm feeling spread throughout my body and my soul. It felt as if I was home.

9th Goldfields 591

The next day dawned clear and sunny. It was almost a certainty that the day would grow warm and pleasant as the sun progressed across the sky. While we were breaking camp, Rackhe suggested that we investigate an abandoned temple that they had been told of by Querat. Narion mentioned that Nerull cultists had formerly corrupted it and perhaps some forgotten magic had been overlooked. Perhaps this was what was causing the strange creatures that roamed the forest.

After further questioning as to how they had come by this information, Rackhe seemed a little embarrassed as Narion explained, “This was the temple where Rackhe gained his moniker ‘Blackfoot.’ We had explored part of it previously. But we saw no sign of fiendish activity at that time. Perhaps we overlooked something. Or perhaps the thing has new tenants.” Lodorin agreed that this definitely bore investigation.

We mounted up and, during our ride, I chatted with Querat about his religion’s theories on the two moons, Luna and Celene, and why one couldn’t be seen. I felt that he would have some interesting insights on this discussion. Calandir’s troops scouted ahead of us and I eventually dropped back to ride beside Kiri, taking her hand in mine as we rode and catching up on small things that we had missed about each other.

After a half-day’s travel through the forest, Narion and Rackhe started to recognize landmarks, such as where they had encountered some strange hyena-like creatures called krenshars. We felt it best to dismount and leave the horses here, and to continue the rest of the way on foot as we were close to the temple.

After proceeding on foot for some time, we arrived at the temple location. Our new friend Querat was amazed; this was the largest temple to Celestian he had seen in a long time. As for me, this was my first time visiting a temple to the God of Stars.

We prepared to enter the temple first by imbuing ourselves with divine energy. Querat called for the power of his deity by channelling divine power into the strength of a bull, as did Lodorin with our gods. I channelled the divine power of the Seldarine in a golden rush of an eagle’s splendour. I once again called for protection on my beloved Kiri, channelling the Lifegiver’s grace in a shared shield bond between us.

While I was finishing that prayer I heard something approaching from the flank and we were engaged by a pack of wolf-like hyenas (more ‘krenshars’ as Narion and Rackhe had fought previously) … five all totalled. They howled a fearsome and terrible yowling, terrifying my two stout fighting friends Narion and Rackhe, as well as Calandir’s elves, who all bolt for cover. The dour elf dispatched his second, Sillana, to rally them as he readied his bow.

As the krenshars charged us, we loosed a volley of arrows at the hideous creatures and dropped three as they broke cover. The remaining two launched themselves at us, one attacking Kiri and the other Narion, who dropped it with one firm thrust of his spear. Rackhe dashed out of cover, slid beneath the belly of the beast attacking Kiri and sliced open its belly, spilling it guts across the forest floor.

It was then that we noticed another pack of ten or so charging across the open field from behind the temple. Our team loosed a veritable barrage of arrows at the creatures, dropping seven of them, fully more than half of their number, before they closed. They eventually attacked us and one lunged at Lodorin, ripping open a gash in his thigh. Rackhe sprang to the paladin’s defence and struck down the thing in one fell blow. Calandir was also attacked by one of the beasts and Narion thrust his spear through its gullet, killing it as its lifeblood spewed across the dried leaves on the ground. Querat was quite amazing, as he drew forth his huge scimitar and sliced off the head of the last beast.

In tending to our wounded Lodorin revealed to me that the krenshar bite affected him with a feeling of evil, much as he feels a rush of the power of the Seldarine when he smites a fell creature. After discussing this with my new clerical friend, we come to the conclusion that the creatures appear to have been summoned, or have some other unnatural quality to them. Indeed their glowing brimstone eyes would give away their fiendish origin. It would appear that we have found the source of the evil infesting this area of the forest. And it would indeed be prudent to remove this threat to our people and those others dwelling in the forest prior to the coming invasion.

*~*~*~*~*

Upon warily approaching the temple proper, we found that the main double doors were missing and the grounds were very much unkempt and in disarray. Calandir elected to remain outside and guard our rear after the rallied troops, who were now returning, gathered on his position. Rackhe moved forward to scout out the temple itself.

Waiting for his return from this brief foray, my dear Kiri turned to me and asked, “What was that last prayer you offered just before we were attacked? I’ve seen you proffer it before but it doesn’t seem to have any effect. But I have a feeling that it is connected with your wounds that appear from time to time when you’re not actually in the thick of the fight. Would you mind explaining?”

I paused and somewhat embarrassedly explained the power of our two platinum rings and how they are linked by the Lifegiver in sharing any pain that befalls her. She softly placed her hand to my face and, with as much ire as she could muster at the time, said, “What am I going to do with you?” To which my response was to simply turn and kiss her palm, reminding her of how valuable she truly is to me, as well as the rest of our little band. She laughed and shook her head … although I fear I’m not quite out of the woods yet on this subject.

As we had now approached to the main doors, Rackhe scouting into what appears to be the main worship area, we were suddenly attacked by three large scaly minotaur-like creatures, again with glowing brimstone eyes. The fray opened wildly with Lodorin leaping in to help defend Rackhe, and the three creatures charging like mad bulls at our friends. I called upon the Seldarine to bless us in our time of need and the fight raged back and forth with great fury.

It was truly a scary moment as the scaled minotaurs were tough opponents and it was difficult to gain ground against them. It got even worse when one stepped forward and opened its maw, breathing forth a strange and otherworldly cloud of noxious green and grey smoke or gas. The fowl substance clung to my skin like some evil dew, and it seemed to start to turn wherever it touched into some scaly rock-like material, almost as if it were turning me to stone. None of us were affected but it certainly gave each of us pause.

We managed to slay the three bulls and set down to heal those in need. It was definitely to prove a prudent decision, as our fights in the temple were to tax our resources to the utmost. We then set to investigate some of the side rooms. These included a small observatory, the main observatory, and a ransacked dining hall with broken furniture pushed to either side of the room. Rackhe could detect no secret tracks except the ones leading to the door we came in from. As proof of this what happened next was to bear some bitter fruit for us - Narion in particular.

While we were about to start our investigation of the next room - what was apparently the main study area and entirely in darkness - I was in the midst of calling forth the power of the Seldarine to provide us with a divine light by enchanting my bow. In the few seconds that the spell took affect it revealed a large spider-like creature in a nook of the ceiling, which turned upon us and spewed a thick web-like substance at me, pinning me to the spot. It then swung down and tried to disarm me of my bow, and did so quite handily with me being stuck in the gooey web. Once again we were plunged into darkness as my light spell failed.

Narion cast forth a light spell upon his spear to lure the creature to him so he could skewer it, thereby protecting me. A stout friend that! But suddenly it seemed as if all our plans went wrong all at once. Kiri and Querat both cast spells upon it … and both seemed to have no effect! It disarmed my spear-wielding friend in a flash of an electrical discharge. Narion ducked and rolled to the side, retrieving the spear in the process. Then, with the combined efforts of our weapons at hand, we struck the creature hard. It leapt out of melee with us so Rackhe and Querat both charged at it with drawn blades. The rest of us loosed arrows upon it and, with Lodorin scoring the killing blow, it died … falling on the two bladesmen beneath it.

Kiri helped me clean off the remains of the gooey web, and then we all helped clean off Rackhe and Querat. It was while we were looking to our weapons that we discovered that Narion’s spear was no longer enchanted. Somehow the creature had drained its magic when it struck it. This would appear to be the reason my light spell dissipated from my bow once I’d cast it. Narion’s only comment was a sour look and some expletive. We then turned our attention to an old holy symbol to Gruumsh (which had been hammered flat by our old friend Krellan) and the now revealed hole in the floor of the room.

Good Lodorin held forth his mailed hand and concentrated. “I detect a number of auras of evil in the chamber below.”

Rackhe turned to us and said, “I would advise using the stairs. They are carved out of the living stone and probably, as Narion and I cleared it before, void of the evil. But let’s check out the last few adjoining rooms … I’d hate to leave something behind us.” We all agreed and were thankful to find the rest of the rooms empty. Indeed, the entire residence area seemed to experience no activity at all, unless gathering dust is an activity.

Narion chimed in with a caution, “We should still check the residence area. We didn’t before and we need to be sure of what’s behind us.” After checking the rest of the ground floor and finding nothing, we descended the carved-out-of-stone stairs to the cellars below - Rackhe in the lead, followed by the elf paladin Lodorin and myself (readying my holy symbol), and our other two companions along behind. At the bottom of the stairs, we found ourselves in a curved stone passageway that emptied into a large chamber. In the centre of the chamber, we saw the remains of a mausoleum lying before a large arched doorway leading into another chamber. Stopping us from investigating were two side chambers, each of which contained almost half a dozen krenshar. The creatures had been penned in by wrought iron gates that had been roughly set at the mouth of each chamber. They couldn’t get to us and we couldn’t get to them. An ideal situation to which Narion suggested, “We could slay them with our bows from here.” Everyone took their bows in hand and, while Lodorin and I covered our friends, they loosed a few shafts at the krenshars. Immediately upon our arrows striking their targets, a piercing wailing howl arose from the further chamber. What had appeared to be an easy task was about to get much tougher.

A large bat-winged and horned demonic creature appeared, reeking of the infernal pits of the Nine Hells and bearing glowing-red brimstone eyes. Loud buzzing and humming noises could be heard from behind the thing. I reached into my component pouch and spread a handful of silvered dust, casting it about us to create a magical protective circle against infernal forces.

“Foul creature! By the command of the divine power of the Star Lord, I task thee to return from whence you came. Be gone!” The Celestian priest Querat tried to dismiss the creature back to the nether planes but failed. The devil’s response was to launch a ball of infernal fire at our group, impacting squarely in the middle of us. Thank the Seldarine we all managed to avoid the main force of the blast. Narion gripped his spear and, with a growl, launched himself at the creature. I called forth the power of the Seldarine to strike the devil with a hammer of chaotic force. A huge blast of amazing colour burst forth upon it and sent the devil reeling. My holy companion Lodorin fired off an arrow at the devil and pierced its chest, dropping it lifeless to the ground.

Then the source of the buzzing noise revealed itself. Four large buzzing shapes – female-faced wasp-like creatures, looking as if they had been carved out of obsidian – flew out of the archway toward us. The room suddenly erupted in sparks and electrical discharge, blinding Narion. Then a billowing cloud of blackish smoke filled the room and I couldn’t see more than the shadowy figures of my companions and the wasp creatures. Kiri called forth the arcane powers and conjured a Mage Hand to guide Narion back to my protective circle. Querat leaned forward and, placing his hand on the spearman’s shoulder, placed him under the protection of Celestian against all evil forces.

I grasped my holy symbol and prayed, “Great Coronal of Arvandor! Bless us in the coming fight that we may strike down these creatures from Hell!” The paladin let loose two arrows at one of the creatures and it fell from the sky, dead and still on the floor of the chamber.

The other three dipped their tails and fired small greenish balls of hellfire at us, hitting both Narion and our ranger, Rackhe. Narion was thrown from the circle, but Rackhe reached out and dragged him back into its protective magic. Querat turned to Kiri and asked, “Do you perhaps have any acid or some such, my dear?” She, catching on to his idea, immediately dug two flasks of acid from her pack.

“Great Creator,” I shouted, “I call forth the power of your mighty arm to strike our foes.” A shimmering golden sword of divine power appeared beside one of the wasp devils and struck it soundly. This gave Querat the opportunity to take the two vials from my lover and prepare to throw them at the things. Rackhe leapt out of the circle to carve a large gash out of one of the creatures, driving it into the wall and dropping it in one blow. Narion enchanted his bow with magical power and prepared to engage them in long-range battle. I, being not quite as sturdy as my companions, called forth the healing power of the Seldarine to ease my pains. Lodorin kept up his mighty hail of arrows, dropping the third in two shots.

The last surviving wasp creature dove forward and stabbed Rackhe with its stinger. To compound our difficulties, the bat-winged devil we had slain before stood up. It had somehow healed or regenerated itself. As it rose from the floor, preparing to strike at us once more, Rackhe spun and, in a flash of his sword, pierced its breast, slaying it again. Narion launched an arrow at the remaining wasp creature and pinned it to the wall, it kicking its foul life out against the missile’s force.

With our combined efforts and vials of acid and holy water, we then ensured that our foes would remain dead. It was to prove a prudent tactic as we were then to be confronted with the source of the bellowing from the next chamber. I managed to give two vials of holy water to each of our team, allowing Kiri and Lodorin to prepare vial arrows. Querat cast a protective magic upon our Northman friend so that he, as was Narion, was protected from the forces of evil. As for myself, I prepared to counter the magics of whatever may be approaching. Narion and Querat prepared magics of their own.

In my opinion, this was to be one of our toughest fights yet.

Two infernal creatures appeared through the archway. They were large fiendish creatures, with membranous wings, and horns sprouting from their large foreheads. Large muscular arms reached out from barrel chests, red-skinned and dark-furred. Huge maws with yellowed fangs were set in protruding jaws below deep set glowing eyes of smouldering brimstone. Large clawed feet carried them into the chamber, their snakelike tails whipping about their legs.

One began casting a spell but was quickly countered when Querat wrapped him in magical silence. Lodorin fired off an arrow and struck it squarely in the chest. We all watched in stunned awe as the arrow merely bounced off the large breastbone of the creature. A shaft of searing light shot forth from Querat’s hand, striking the second devil in the face but having no effect. Our first opponent bellowed loudly, its breath reeking of brimstone and fire, and lunged at us. A large flash of light revealed itself as it breeched our circle, striking forth to swipe a clawed hand across the chest of the Celestian cleric.

I leapt to the side, although this placed me out of the protection of the circle, and called forth a searing blast of light to strike the second devil. It reached forth a great, clawed hand and, summoning forth a ball of hellfire threw it at our little band. The ensuing explosion caused me much grief as I felt fiery pain course through my very being. Suddenly I felt another burst of pain as the power of my shield spell on my lady directed some of Kiri’s anguish to me. I was severely rattled and weakly turned to see the damage wreaked on my friends, catching sight of their faces grimly focused on the fight; all except one. Kiri’s eyes locked on mine; in a brief moment, I saw those pretty gems widen in shock … and then I slumped to the ground in a heap, my last conscious thought that I was but seconds away from death.

My friends weren’t about to let my spirit pass the veil at this time. Narion launched himself at the devil that had thrown the fireball, channelling his true strike spell through his spear in an attack powered by my soldier friend’s muscular arms. Under cover of this attack, Lodorin had lunged at my prostrate form, stretching forth his hand. Upon his holy touch, the power of the Seldarine flowed through me, lifting my vitality and bringing me back from death’s door to consciousness.

Kiri took a step back and shot at the devil within the circle, Rackhe stepped under its outstretched arm and stabbed upwards into its armpit, causing it to wail and fall dead to the ground. I called forth a protective ward around myself as well as Lodorin, who proceeded to drop the first devil with a quick shot and then turned and struck a second arrow into the second creature. Narion thrust his spear into the devil and it fell to the ground … but immediately stood up again. He struck it again and Rackhe and I doused it with the holy water we had prepared. This devil would not rise again.

We stood, panting at the exertion and raising thankful praise that we had survived. We healed ourselves and then turned to the task we had originally embarked on and slew all the krenshar penned on the two side chambers. After further exploration, and much to our ranger friend’s chagrin, we found the place of Rackhe’s now-famous “Blackfoot” incident. We were happy to return to the surface once again, to be reunited with our elven brethren under Calandir.

As we set in for camp upon the grounds of the temple, I counselled those of the band that had been run off by the krenshars when we first arrived. We were all pleased that we had succeeded in clearing the temple and the summoned creatures that had been plaguing the forest. Our initial mission had been completed. And Kiri also had the opportunity once again to chastise me for the enchantment to shield others … a little less gentle this time, but still forgiving. This woman’s heart is full of the lifeblood of our people. Is it any wonder that she is my dearheart one?

10th Goldfields 591

In the morning, we held another small impromptu war council. Our group was to split in two. Calandir and most of his band were to finish clearing the area and would return to the settlement to prepare for the northern arm of the invasion. Lodorin would stay with Calandir’s group and serve to protect our people’s lands. My companions and I were to take Sillana and eight archers assigned to us and head south. We would meet a second group of elven militia at the southeast end of the forest under the command of a young trainee priestess of Solonor Thelandira, Cae. Our friend Querat had decided to stay and rebuild the temple.

Upon splitting the treasure we had recovered from the devils, I opted out of a share of the coin. Instead, I suggested to Querat, “Take my share and use it to rebuild your temple my friend. It will go far in promoting the cause of good in this region.” I was immensely proud of my friends, as after a short pause they followed suit. Querat was a little embarrassed, but pleased none the less. He also presented me with four scrolls that might aid us in our endeavour.

“In your travels south, could I ask a favour of you?” Querat asked of Narion and Rackhe.

Narion replied, “Of course, my friend.”

“Warn Kadri’s village of the coming troubles. I’d like to extend an invitation to them to come and take refuge here at the temple. It is clear now … maybe they have bad memories but it is safer and more defensible.”

The spearman laid a muscular hand upon the cleric’s shoulder and smiled. “Indeed we shall. I too do not wish to see any harm befall the old elf or his village.”

*~*~*~*~*

After travelling for most of the day, we arrived at a small elven hamlet in the southern region of the forest. An older elf, wearing a battered old breastplate and a pot helm approached us and hailed Narion and Rackhe. This was the village where my two friends had rested and recuperated after their adventure at the temple the first time. This was actually just prior to our first meeting, in fact.

As the old man ushered us into the small collection of homes and outbuildings, I noticed that both Rackhe and Narion took some small pleasure at seeing a small and feeble half-orc chopping wood behind one of the storehouses. I remembered from their tale that this was their captive from the first foray to the temple many months ago. They were pleased to see him doing good work instead of the raiding he had participated in previously.

Kadri heard our news and agreed to take his band to the temple area. The security of the temple and the aid of Querat’s powers would be of some comfort to them in the times to come. I presented a small sermon of hope and cheer to the people of the village. They all seemed to be uplifted by the stories of the Seldarine. Indeed, I saw what I figured to be the village wise woman smiling beatifically and nodding in time to some of the chanting. It gave me an opportunity to hark back to a simpler time and wonder at the choices I had made that brought me, a simple country priest, here to the brink of a war - an invasion that threatened not just my folk but all the good people of the Hestmark Highlands. It was a long and winding road. I silently gave thanks to the Creator for the protection of my friends that had allowed me to come this far, and for the ability to assuage some of the fear felt by our people whom I came across in these terrible tense days.

We travelled the rest of the day and, as dusk was coming on, rendezvoused with our other little band of elves. They were waiting at a small encampment area, a fire already warming water for soup. They were ten in number, all bedecked in studded leather armour and carrying the weapons of our people, the longswords and bows of the Children of Arvandor. In charge of this group was a young elf, a girl not too long into her majority, with light brown hair that curled softly about her tanned face and deep brown eyes that betrayed a sense of purpose belied by her years and youthful demeanour. As I could tell from her dress, she was the priestess of the Keen-Eyed One, the Great Archer, Solonor Thelandira. This was Cae.

They greeted us and Sillana asked Cae as to happenings elsewhere in the forest. The young cleric replied that there was not much activity beyond the preparations for the coming battles. It would appear that our efforts at the temple had indeed stopped the incursions of the fiendish creatures that had recently plagued the forest. Cae and her group were full of nervous anxiety anticipating tomorrow, the day the invasion was supposed to begin. There was much talk about this over the fires in camp that night, with the untried elf band exchanging views and ideas with Sillana’s more experienced team. I circulated through the camp, offering words of wisdom and comfort as needed.

At a small council with we four and Sillana, Quillaqui (the band’s wizard), and the young priestess Cae we discussed our plans for the morrow. Rackhe suggested that we move as quickly as possible. I gather his plan was to try and get to Griff and the hold before the invasion actually occurred. Sillana did not want to wear out the few horses – or the elves – in a hasty rush southward. Narion doubted that our band, now some twenty elves, roughly half on foot, would be able to make it that far in a day’s travel. He felt that at best we would be able to make it to the ford over the Exploits River the first day and then Griff the second.

I leaned over to my ranger friend and whispered to him, “Remember good follower of Kord, your elfblooded side would lead you to understand that there is time. There is no need to rush through life. That is how one misses the small enjoyments the Seldarine presents to them.” I reached over and squeezed Kiri’s hand, not interrupting her listening to the discussion between Narion and Sillana.

Rackhe just huffed, turned to me and in a quiet voice said, “Some may not have as much time as others.” An enigmatic reply indeed. My northern friend, follower of the Brawler, seemed to occasionally give glimmers into a deeper character than we would normally expect.

As we settled in for the night, the first in many a day where we did not have to be concerned for a watch thanks to the combined bands of Sillana and Cae, Kiri expressed a disappointment that we would not have the privacy she ‘desired’ to get properly reacquainted. I curled my arms about her and, kissing her on her pretty nose, promised on the tresses of the Winsome Rose to make it up to her as soon as I could. Then we both settled into a soft and cuddly rest for the remainder of the night.

I marvelled once again that the Lady Goldheart had seen fit to bless me with such a wonder as the woman who lay snuggled up to me by the fire. Life is indeed good.

*~*~*~*~*

TO BE CONTINUED...