Log
Chapter I: The Second Expedition
6/2/03: Attendance:
Ken, Joe, Shawn.
What started out as just another day in Cairn Clorencia quickly turned into something which would forever define the lives of three of its young members. Months of building tension and whispers about a Second Expedition had built much excitement among all in the cairn, but few thought anything would actually be done. It was announced early one morning that the entirety of the cairn was to gather tomorrow in a meeting the likes of which had not been seen for 23 years…when the decision to send out the First Expedition was made.
Hawkins, a young scholar of the Landedon family entertained himself with the Books of Tomorrow while his adopted brother Onoros made use of his anxious energy by training with Bossiance. Atorin, youngest child of the leading line of Brandolians, had little time to be excited as his brothers taunted and teased him as usual. When he went to speak to the love of his life, Alyssa, whom was betrothed to his eldest brother Willym, violence erupted as he tackled his elder brother in payment for taunts. As night settled, Onoros had an enigmatic encounter with Galaudin who promised the young man that his future would be interesting.
The next day the council was held. Two generations of youths were held outside of the council room all day and much heated debate could be heard from within. Hours after the council began the youths were let in and informed that The Second Expedition was to be formed and that those of their number would comprise it. A random drawing found that Atorin, Hawkins, and Kaiden were to be sent to scout the world above. Kaiden, son of Enowne Landedon, was none to pleased about this arrangement, nor was Onoros who longed to get out of the cairn.
Two months of intensive training passed and Kaiden became increasingly unwilling to go. His weakness did great dishonor to his family, though their adopted member, Onoros, quickly filled his place (surprise surprise). Alyssa paid a visit to Atorin the night before the expedition was to leave and revealed that his brothers were actually proud of him though they did not know how to show it. She also said she was proud and gave him a light kiss on the forehead.
The next day, they departed the cairn. Galaudin used Sorcery to open the massive gates and paid a price for it as he fell, bleeding from his nose and mouth. An amazingly intricate pattern was carved into the gates and the remains of Horrors could be seen trapped within, glowing with sickly light. They had three days to return to the cairn and report on what they had seen.
The party reached their first challenge before they even got outside. Near the cave exit laid a large, menacing figure. It looked canine, though mixed with insect features and covered in chitinous scales. It was a huge figure, easily twelve feet from snout to hindquarters and was six feet high lying on its side. The entire thing had a mottled yellow and brown color to it. It did not stir. Cautious investigation revealed a metal spear lodged between its scales. Its one visible eye was the only thing that looked different…it was closed and was a shiny black color. Near the wall, a strange silk-like substance covered odd shaped lumps.
Suddenly, the eye opened and scanned the room. Gleaming with malicious intent it shimmered and then faded away to the yellow color of the rest of the body. Atorin removed the spear and the entire thing crumbled to dust. Then the scratching sounds began.
From under the shroud the lumps on the wall began to convulse and writhe. Soon they were standing and began attacking the crew. All fled but Onoros who volunteered to hold them back. With great skill and amazing agility Onoros quickly felled each of the risen dead. It did not take long to realize these were the remains of The First Expedition.
The three then approached the exit of the cave and looked for the first time on the outside world. After spending some time taking in the sights they noted two things: A river ran south not far from the high cliff on which they stood and there was a strange area of the forest off to the west…a large bare spot marked only with gigantic white trees rising out of it. Sticking to their mission they made their way toward the river.
Following the river south they had an uneventful trip other than spotting a cat-like creature covered in porcupine spines on the other bank. After half a day’s walk they came across a boat moored to the stone pillars of a dock. Ruins sprawled over the hill near them. They had found Clorencia.
No one answered their hails to the boat so they took to exploring the town. They found a recent campsite, but no people. After some exploration they came across a sword wielding individual who called himself Loika. He claimed the boat was his and that he was here on official business from Kolvar. It was his duty to find cairns that had not yet emerged and document them. He was quite charismatic and requested to be led to Cairn Clorencia. They refused and asked to see his boat. He did so and introduced his companion, Prieda, who was the ship’s pilot. Atorin noticed the ship was in bad shape.
Eventually, Atorin’s helpful nature proved him foolish as Prieda trapped him in the hull of the ship. The other two came to his rescue in a quick battle that left Hawkins badly wounded and Loika dead at Onoros’s bladed hands. Prieda was let go. It seems that Loika was actually a slaver and was looking for the easy prey of a new cairn. Before the battle broke out he made offers to the Onoros and Hawkins, but they would not sell out their Cairn.
With a new ship claimed as their own and their old town rediscovered, the group rested, vowing to return to the cairn the next day.