Deep in my Troubadour training, I received a very nice note from A'horangi (t'skrang Monk) asking for assistance. They have been in touch with the last practitioner of a discipline called Bodyguard, and they have finally received what looks like a challenge to prove themselves worthy of training.
Also joining A'horangi were:
- Lazulin, a troll Raider
- Sandrin, an elven Air Sailor and Troubadour
- LaShana Tumblesprout, a windling Thief
A'horangi's prospective master is Ironhead Zhang of the Cloister of Silence, so we proceeded to that location with all due haste. I have been wanting to visit the cloister for a while as it has been the centre of many heroics in the last three years, but this was my first chance. Once we arrived, the gate guards inquired to our purpose and then seemed really uncomfortable with the idea of going to talk to the Ironhead. We were spared the embarrassment of waiting for them to draw lots or something by the arrival of a dwarf who introduced themselves as Driggs and they took us to see the Ironhead.
Ironhead Zhang turned out to also be a dwarf, of brusque manner and middle age. They were clearly in distress as they explained that their husband (Feug Strappa) had started acting erratically and accused them of attempting to steal something before fleeing the cloister. They also informed us that their brother in law (Banik Strappa) was similarly affected but still present. Well if one can consider "chained down to a bed while ranting maniacally" to be "present".
I tried to reach out to Banik, but they did not react to me at all and continued with the mumbling and scratching geometric patterns in their skin. More talking with the Ironhead revealed that their husband was a scout and had been mapping the nearby peaks. Part of the final confrontation before their departure had included an attempt to burn one of the maps.
Sandrin examined the map and was confident they could lead us to the location that was being hidden, so we made plans to leave first thing in the morning. During dinner, we overheard some of the other inhabitants of the Cloister making fun of our endeavour and dismissing the Ironhead's pain.
In the morning I decided to leave Isidoros and Teh in the Cloister's stables since mountain climbing is not one of Isidoros' strengths and I did not want it to be lonely. In the meantime Driggs and about twenty soldiers showed up, determined to assist us, which was rather touching. A'hornagi extracted a promise that they would stay behind if we deemed the danger to them too great and then we set out.
Once again I was tasked with assisting with food and supplies, this time together with Lazulin, while LaShana and A'hornagi played spotters and Sandrin led us. The first few days went by uneventfully until we encountered a sheer cliff. LaShana and I assisted the tallfolk by securing ropes to the top so that their climb would be easier.
Mere moments after we had reached the top, rockworms ambushed us, before I could really tell what was happening A'horangi was down and Sandrin and Lazulin were bleeding. The following fight was messy and a very close call, I swear one of the hits should have killed Lazulin but he managed to get back up. Driggs followed up the ropes and called for bow fire from the troops, which together with the mounting injuries convinced the worms to seek easier prey elsewhere.
After the fight Sandrin was still out, so I checked on them and poured one of my booster potions in their throat (I have learnt that tallfolk drink those instead of just pouring them over their head). The next couple of days were spent recuperating and setting up the next stage of the climb, thankfully with little interference from weather or beasts.
Once we were up the next cliff we spend another day walking before arriving to a small valley, almost a box canyon filled with snow and ice. In the distance we spotted an opening in the mountainside with a couple of statues flanking it and some kind of palanquin carried by four humanoids.
LaShana approached to gather more information, but before they could get a good look, Driggs collapsed, looking like crystal spikes had just grown from inside their body. LaShana also screamed in pain, but did not lose control of their flight. She shouted something about "crystal entities" and "horrors" as the four misshapen humanoids dropped the palanquin and charged us.
I know little of horrors, but charging I do know and so I skewered the closest one, while Sandrin and Lazulin took control of the troops before they could break. At the same time some kind of beasts started pouring out of the cave to the south rushing towards us. The troops were directed to intercept the beasts, while I charged whatever was inside the palanquin. It turned out to be a rock. A killer rock that tried to grow crystals inside me too. LaShana and I made sure to smash it to bits before turning to deal with the Brutes and the beasts. The fight was short and brutal, but we prevailed.
Just as we were starting to take out bearings a great rumbling came from the cave and we decided that it was high time to get out. We made our way back to the Cloister with no incident, where Dvarim informed the Ironhead of their husband fate (we saw their face on one of the brutes). The Ironhead took the news as well as it could be hoped and offered to train A'horangi. Banik also seemed to be doing much better and offered to induct Sandrin and Lazulin in the Sun Herald path.Statistics:Posted by sigfriedmcwild — Wed Sep 16, 2020 11:12 pm
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