The Journals of Wulf the Furious
11th Doddul 1520TH
My lust for vengeance has abated somewhat. I
have more scorcher blood on me now than I can ever recall. I have taken
a walk away from Jacob's Well in order to clear my mind of the past two
days and to decide where I should go to now. The feeble little T'Skrang
swordmaster and his circus troop could use someone like me to help them
live longer… longer than my brother Njal and my dear friend Guntra.
My destiny is pointing me in their direction but they make me so…
furious!
It began a week ago when the airship the Kirii, that Njal, Guntra and I were crewing
on was downed by some scum Theran slavers. Many of our crew were killed
in the catastrophe but Guntra and I managed to pull my younger brother
Njal from the wreckage as those Theran pigs began to harvest the rest of
the crew. We salvaged what furs we could and pushed our way into the snowy
forests that we had crashed in.
Guntra claimed he had seen a settlement to the
west as our doomed airship plummeted toward the earth. The climate was
horrific but we looked at our crystal shoulder guards, our symbols of power,
our station… we were Sky Raiders, the crew of the Kirii, and a little
snow and ice would be no threat to us… unfortunately something more
sinister was to come before us.
As we passed through the mountainous terrain,
of what I surmised to be the Tylon Mountains from our last bearings in
the airship, it grew dark. Guntra, a worthy friend from childhood, and
Njal, my beloved brother and ward, discovered the entrance to a cave as
a mighty snowstorm bleached the darkening forest with blinding ferocity.
The three of us sat, wrapped in our furs as the
fearful storm raged outside. Guntra and I started a small fire and attended
Njal's wounds from the crash. I encouraged him to perform his fire blood
ritual and the bloody wounds bubbled and disappeared. I looked down into
the cave and I could swear I could sense something… an evil presence…
My brother and friend laughed at me, saying the Therans must have broken
my Sky Raider spirit. I laughed with them and soon the three of us slept
soundly.
In the morning I awoke to find Njal missing and
Guntra fast asleep. I woke him and picking up flaming branches we scanned
the surrounding area. Njal's footprints, on the earthen cave bed, led deeper
into the cave. Again I sensed an unearthly evil and a cold sweat chilled
my spine. We had hardly advanced several meters when from the dark Njal
stumbled, coughing and groaning. His face was pale but he insisted he was
all right. I knew this place was bad news so we decided to push on to the
place I now know as Jacob's Well.
On arrival to Jacob's Well we used our meager
coinage to secure entry and lodging with the trading post's owner, one
Jacob Nashkar, an ork. Our first business was to get a bed for Njal who
had worsened on our journey. Guntra and I had carried him for most of the
journey. After ignoring the filthy ork's warnings about Njal being contagious
I put Njal into a bed and he seemed to sleep, fitfully, but sleep nonetheless.
Walking back down into the taproom I looked around
at the other patrons. There were two dainty looking warriors, an elf named
Valantas, who I later learned to be a swordmaster, and another self-proclaiming
swordmaster T'Skrang named Mantious. A weedy looking human in blue robes
seemed to be interested in the T'Skrang and started to chat to the two
'masters'. A trio of furriers had also sought out Jacob's well for shelter,
as had some kind of ork chieftain and his two bodyguards. That's the problem
with these settlements… they let anyone in.
Suffice it to say I was not in my best mood and
since childhood, friends and enemies alike knew that getting me angry is
a mistake. I decided to take a seat and try to relax after the past days'
events. The fairy bartender, a windling called 'Bugly' or something, served
me a drink and Guntra and I voiced our concerns over my ill brother. I
had just started to relax when the T'Skrang in the next booth started to
boast of his prowess with his sword 'Pile's wreak', or something, to the
elf, the blue robed human and a dwarf. I shook my head and tried to ignore
the salamander. Before I knew it I could feel my blood start to burn as
he intentionally goaded me. Guntra told me to remain calm but then I heard
the word 'barbarian' mentioned. Being called a barbarian makes me FURIOUS!
I stood and towered over the gibbering lizard
and he had the stupidity to challenge me. We went outside and the patrons
gathered around us as the overgrown skink danced around like a showgirl
I once saw in Barsaive. He lashed out with his sword knocking me to the
floor. I looked up and he started to boast a victory. I stood and cleaved
his head off. Then I returned to the bar and continued my drink in silence.
Some fool wasted some magic and brought the lizard
back to life and he stormed in looking for another fight. Luckily his elf
companion whispered something into his head. He then approached the table
and started to be nice. I ignored him but he wouldn't go away so I shook
his hand.
This is when a bad week became a nightmare. Njal
screamed from upstairs and we raced in to see that something had burst
from within and crawled from his mouth and out the window. I looked to
the window and below the cunning T'Skrang had anticipated that an attacker
would flee through the window. He called up that there were no tracks.
Devastated, Guntra and I performed the Sky Raider last rites on Njal. If
my parents lived they would surely blame me for the death of their youngest.
I did not sleep. I had searched Jacob's Well
with Guntra from one end of the compound to the other. Jacob had refused
us entry into the cellar. I must get down there and see what he hides from
us all! Something was stalking us all. As I lay there in the dark, stroking
my axe, I smelt smoke as an orange glow from outside illuminated my room.
I looked out of the window and below the barracks burned! As did many of
the guards.
On the morrow more of the dwellers of Jacob's
Well were missing. The cook with one arm and the second in command of the
guard, Krieg, in particular was noticeable in his absence. The T'Skrang
offered to cook for us, but the food smelt strange so I ate my dry rations
instead. Guntra told me the T'Skrang's cooking wasn't half-bad. I ignored
him. Then to make matters worse the captain of the guard, Jaeger, and his
men decided to desert us. The cowards packed their weapons and left. I
was not going to leave until justice had been metered out.
As the evening came again, along with many annoying
questions from the other patrons of the taproom, we all settled down for
another restless night. I was just about to doze when the sound of smashing
glass and breaking wood roused me. I burst from my room, axe in hand, to
a sight I can hardly describe. One of the ork chieftain's men leaned against
his door, his arm nearly severed and inside a foul insect like creature
scuttled over the headless corpse of the other bodyguard. It leaped out
from the room and disappeared into the darkness of the inn.
The so-called adventurers leaped after the creature
and so did I. As I rounded the corner I saw that the T'Skrang had once
more bitten off more than it could chew. It stood there motionless, obviously
its primitive reptile brain had fallen under the sway of the evil insect's
powers. The dwarf, I think his name is Ford or something, pulled the overgrown
gecko from the bug's path. The rest of us engaged the foul apparition but
it fled before Guntra and my onslaught. We could not find the beast and
soon Mantious awoke and started dancing around with his sword again warbling
like all T'Skrang do. I returned to bed.
The next day another large battle ensued. Orks,
trying to kill Tonazak, rode up to the outpost demanding the surrender
of Tonazak. Rather than giving the ork chieftain over to the scorchers,
Mantious decided to bring a war on us.
Guntra and I scouted the interior of the outpost.
But cursed be our fortune whilst we were separated the curse of the place
possessed Guntra. I almost lost control as I fought the evil that possessed
him. But he fell before my more experienced battle prowess. I looked around
the stable where he attacked me. There had been some type of struggle.
We once more searched the area for the creature the 'Thing' for want of
a name. But it was not to be found. When we returned to Guntra we knew
where the Thing had been hiding. His mouth was distended and a trail of
blood led from his gaping maw. I'd lost the last friend I had in this world.
The orks, using a diversion, attacked the outpost.
The events of the last few days overflowed in my rage. I cleaved through
scorchers without the least regard for their lives. All I felt was the
magnificent warmth of my fury! Van Storme and Forge watched in horror or
fascination as ork after ork fell before my boundless rage. When I had
finished with them I found that the three of us, Van Storme, Forge and
I had carried the battle out of the compound. On entering the gate I saw
Valantas go down before another dancing swordmaster. This time it was an
ork. Mantious then danced around flicking his sword at the ork. Luckily
Tonazak had the sense to finish the ork leader with a well-placed hawkhatchet
to the back of the head. Scaly was not impressed. His honour or something
had been offended. Bah! The fight was over and we had won.
I think I might join up with this small band.
They are good for a laugh and they are interesting to watch as the elf
and lizard dance around like showgirls and Van Storme does his magic and
Forge does… whatever Forge does! They say they are headed for Kratas.
I will join them.
Date 20, Doddul 1520TH
Kratas
The stench of the lowlands is beginning to become
bearable. As a Crystal Raider I understand why the lowlanders must smell.
It is our custom to pour our waste on to them.
On the way to Kratas we were attacked by a bunch
of white, winged monkeys with an attitude problem. I tried to control my
temper, but it was too difficult and I ended up wreaking havoc on the stupid
monkeys. Mantious decided to rest during the battle in a blanket of ice
as Van Storme decided he would test his mentality against the ice monkeys'
leader. Forge impressed me. I wonder if he was once a Newot of Sky Raiders,
as he fought with the ferocity of a true Newot.
In the fury of battle I lost track of time. The
predictable monkeys kept dive bombing me so I kept swatting them. One of
their cowardly lot landed on my back and started to rip into my neck. It
scored a lucky bite and I toppled. Forge awoke me and the fact that I had
fallen caused my blood to boil. My fire blood healed me and I stood, not
a scratch on me. The snow around me had melted from the ritual.
After collecting the crystals from the monkeys'
wings our group continued toward Kratas. Mantious was a bit concerned that
every fight we engaged in he was somehow made powerless. He felt some unseen
powerful entity was somehow controlling his destiny. Remembering our fight
I shook my head, he had been powerless then also. But I disagreed and said
that even great warriors have bad days and bad luck. I told him that it
would be inconceivable for him to be rendered powerless all the time…
I was wrong.
On arriving at Kratas the guards, weak humans
of little courage asked for donations before entry was allowed. I scowled
at them and handed over some of their worthless coin. Mantious was upset
about the fee but I could not be bothered arguing with the lowland scum
that took our silver. One of the guards recognised me as a Sky Raider and
mentioned that a Drakkar of fellow Raiders was in town. I began to consider
joining their crew and returning to my home… but I had sworn revenge
on the Black Locust! AND I WILL HAVE IT!
Like all human cities, Kratas smelt terribly.
All types of name-givers sauntered around the streets. None dared to meet
my gaze. I immediately set off for the Drakkar as Mantious went looking
for this mysterious Debreus we had heard about on our journey. I nodded
at Forge and Valantas who shared my suspicion that our poor friend Mantious
was the unsuspecting host of the Black Locust. They would watch him as
I went to the Crystal Raider Drakkar.
I boarded the troll sky ship and was met by a
surly obsidiman who informed me that this ship was of the Stoneclaw moot.
I remember my father teaching me that the Stoneclaws were a worthy clan
although they had, for some bizarre reason adopted the habit of wearing
dwarven fashion. The rock brother directed me to a tavern, The Sign of
the Fair Warrior I believe, to meet their captain. I arrived in time to
find most of my companions gathered. Mantious was flirting with a wench
and Van Storme and Valantas were drinking with the captain of the Crystal
Raider drakkar, one Kargan Stonehammer. Forge was nowhere to be found but
I was to learn later that he had accepted employment with a local weaponsmith.
Mantious called me over to his table and the wench, Johana, pointed at
Van Storme claiming he was a Theran. I could not believe it but it perked
my suspicions. I wonder what would have happened if I told the Stoneclaw
captain that Van Storme was a Theran?
Mantious the amorous asked for some privacy and
I left him to the wench. I glanced back wondering how a reptile with internal
sex organs would pull off a seduction. It boggled my mind and I knew if
I got too confused I might get angry or even FURIOUS! So I walked up to
Kargan Stonehammer and exchanged introductions. My companions goaded me
into a hurlag sculling competition with the troll and swallowing hard I
took the challenge.
When I awoke I was in a room draped across the
bed, still in full armour and clothing. I had some hazy recollection of
wondering how a human and T'skrang might mate and entering Mantious's room…
then awakening in this room. My head pounded and I wondered who had consumed
the most hurlag, me or the troll with the stomach twenty times bigger than
my own. I staggered down stairs and the rest of my companions had gathered.
Forge bid me good morning and then went to work!!?? I thought perhaps I
was in some strange dream still when Van Storme said he was going shopping
in the markets. Mantious brought me back to reality by informing me that
Johana's brother had gone missing and that we were to investigate. I looked
at the T'skrang and the human female and my mind began to boggle again.
I agreed and the wench, Mantious, Valantas and I were soon in her brother's
quarters. The room where he slept was cold due to the window having been
shattered and the glass falling on the inside. I remembered the horrific
death of my brother and wondered if during the night the Black Locust had
struck again but Johana said that her brother had been missing for over
a day. Peering out of the window into the alley below I saw scuff marks
near a sewer grate. Our next stop would be the sewers.
And I thought their city smelt bad! The sewers
reeked! My boots became damp but luckily they were weather proof and none
of the indescribable filth was to touch my feet as we waded through the
knee-deep filth. We entered a large circular chamber that seemed to get
deeper toward the middle. One of my companions must have triggered a hidden
mechanism as suddenly the muck started to be drained from the room as the
centre dropped away. Mantious slipped and was sucked into the whirlpool
of sludge. I looked at the disgusting mess and shaking my head, dived after
the helpless lizard. I slammed my ax into the sloping side of the floor
but the decaying mess broke apart and I was drawn into the open pipe. The
ax caught hold of the rim and I felt Mantious clinging desperately to my
waist. I held my breath but I was getting tired. I didn't know how long
this outpour of sewage was going to last so I unhooked my ax and Mantious
and I were dragged into the depths of the sewer. We landed in a large underground
cavern and Mantious found an exit. Again we were swept along by the current
and landed in a river outside of town. The river water cleansed the filth
from my furs and hair and we spent some time washing in the river before
lighting a fire to dry our attire.
We re-entered Kratas and were charged more to
enter. As Mantious began to protest I shoved the coins at the guards and
dragged Mantious into the city. Van Storme was anxiously awaiting our return
at the Fair Warrior to throw jokes at our earlier predicament. I glared
at him and I think he realised I was in no mood for comedy. I returned
to my room, bathed and began to write this. I will now sleep. According
to Forge and Van Storme we are to investigate some Master Eloch tomorrow
evening. Tomorrow Valantas, Mantious and I will return to the sewer with
Johana.
Date 25, Doddul 1520Th
Kratas
The next morning I was surprised to find that
Forge was going to accompany us into the sewer and that Valantas was not
going to accompany us. Forge told us that he and Van Storme had investigated
a crowd of gatherers who had been called to one Master Eloch's tower. They
had seemed to be enthralled by the villain. Valantas had later disappeared
last night after some harsh words with a stranger. Seemingly, Forge informed
me, he had returned later battered, bruised and with no equipment mumbling
something about honour, four air sailors and he seemed to walk funny. He
must have received a cruel pounding.
Our next venture into the sewer found Johana's
brother… attached to a monstrous amorphous beast that spat a gooey
resin… right on top of Mantious, effectively stopping him in his tracks.
Could fate be so cruel as to incapacitate this sword master again? The
answer sadly is yes. The creature sent out vile tendrils and spat goo at
Forge and I. At one stage the creature picked up Forge, slammed him against
the ceiling and stuck him to its foul mass. I hacked into the beast but
the more I struck at it, the less effective my blows became. Forge broke
free and threw flaming oil onto the creature as Johana thrust her burning
torch at the foul thing. A tendril attached to me as my ax became stuck
to the beast. I was slammed into the wall and then to the beast. Two smaller
tendrils pierced my neck but I concentrated my burning anger into the fire
blood and the creature released me as I scorched its leech like appendages.
Forge delivered a killing oil flask that burst into flame killing the creature.
Johana's brother was long dead. We helped Mantious out of the spittle and
returned to the surface world of Kratas.
That evening we entered the abode of master Eloch
and learned some hidden truths. One he was an illusionist with foul stone
monster servants, two he was involved in slavery and three he was a coward
who fled before our vicious onslaught. This fiend was into slave trading.
For all I knew my parents may have been passed on through this building.
I would stop this man's secret trade and he would pay. This was not the
Newot system of slavery of the Sky Raiders where a Newot could earn his
or her freedom. This was heartless lifelong servitude. We gathered evidence
and when we left the local guard accompanied by the cowardly illusionist
confronted us with criminal charges. A major battle almost erupted but
I knew that this would destroy my companions' credibility and I surrendered.
My friends followed suit. We were arrested and taken to the local constabulary
where we were given a stern warning by their captain, one Sergei Lucian.
He must have believed our suspicions of a secret trade ring though and
released us on our own recognizance or something like that.
With the kill of the monster from the sewers
and the trials of Eloch's home under our belts we decided to attempt Second
Circle. Van Storme was not yet ready but he had acquired valuable information
for us. Captain Kargan Stonehammer tested my bravery by making me tie a
rope to myself and throw myself over the side of the drakkar and attempt
to land on the other side. Making sure the other end was secured to the
mast I tied the other to the shaft of my ax and hurtled myself over the
edge. My training with the Thundersky trolls came in handy and I easily
arced under the drakkar and flipped onto the other side, landing nimbly
on my feet. Many of the Stoneclaw trolls gaped with amazement. Obviously
this was not a common feet and Captain Kargan commented on my bravery.
Guntra would have called this my insanity.
Regrouping after our training was complete we
decided to investigate a huge yellow warehouse that had been implicated
in the documents we had acquired from Eloch's place. On going there we
pretended to know of the slave operation and eventually the owner Cassius,
after much denial, let it slip that we shouldn't talk about it until the
night. So we returned under the cover of darkness.
The warehouse was securely locked so I barged
in through a back door. A long battle followed and using my newly acquired
battle skills I fought alongside Forge and Van Storme as rogue after rogue
fell before us. My fury ignited and the cowardly rogues tried to best me
with missile weapons. I threw myself to the floor and pretended to be unconscious
as I let my fire blood completely heal me. Valantas was in luck, he had
tracked the rogue who had betrayed his previous group and after a long-winded
oath from Valantas, the villain who had the power to become invisible,
killed him. Mantious decided he would avenge Valantas and he too was slain.
I approached the villain who once again tried to become invisible but my
hardened crystal raider mind was not deceived. I still saw him! To his
surprise I shoulder charged him, and slammed my ax home into his side.
Forge and Van Storme, who could not see him, used the growing pool of blood
as a guide and soon Valantas's nemesis was no more. I pulled a last chance
potion from my equipment and poured it into Valantas and he re-awoke ready
to continue his battle. I assured him his quest for vengeance was over.
Mantious lay at our feet. The brave, often comical, T'skrang was lifeless.
I bent to examine him when muffled cries for help distracted us. We found
Cassius and his son imprisoned and we released them. They informed us that
slaves were moved through the sewer so it looked as though we were to return
there once more. On returning to Mantious's body I cursed my stupidity.
The black locust had been within his reptilian hide. It had long since
fled. We reported our findings to the guard and a windling named Reiver
begged for our acceptance. I felt sorry for the little guy and allowed
him to tag along.
Together we entered the sewer and heading in
the general direction we had been heading before, we came to some passages
that were coated in some type of "secreted resin" as Reiver called
it. We entered a chamber and found a cocooned human woman. On breaking
the cocoon we discovered it was once Johana who was now partially transformed
into some kind of mutant insect… It is good that Mantious had passed
away as this sight may have truly sickened him. I began to wonder if he
had actually successfully mated with her and this was the spawn of the
Black Locust. My answer was soon to come. Human sized insects with a virulent
toxic bite attacked us. One by one my group were rendered helpless by the
poison. I too was succumbing to their bite when my fire blood ritual cleansed
my veins. There venom made me angry and soon I bellowed with rage hacking
the bug men to pieces. Reiver fluttered around casting magic and I imagine
he must have helped somewhat but when my anger subsided the filthy bugs
lay in pieces at my feet. After a while my companions' paralysis wore off
and we discovered a letter in another alcove. It named these creatures
'INVAE'. We have returned to the surface for my friends need rest to heal
their injuries. I have finished penning for today. I must remember to secure
my journal lest my companions discover that I am quite learned aside of
having quite a temper.