XVII Journal of The Fist of Valor, Bonded Mercenary Company of Urza-Dun.
Chronicled by Lt. Pax Nerin, Keeper of the Journals, Scribe’s Hand
Under the leadership of Captain Ralivan Vordune, Keeper of the Fist and Wielder of the Blade of Sighs
Current Company 7.0.
Captain Ralivan Vordune – Keeper of the Fist
Lieuenant Gharmon Foretia, Scoutmaster of those who are our eyes
Eyes – Undelaine Tas, Velish Nor, Kiryn Montage, Tobert Gydalson
Lieutenant Balasar Skyright, Master of the horse
Chargers – Ebert Locksley, Yvaine Locksley, Martin Shera, William DeFrost
Lieutenant Herod Goral, Master of the skirmishers
Skirmishers – Lincoln James, Jason Cromley, Asher Smythe, Asam Wyant
Lieutenant Pax Nerin, Highmage of sorcerers, Keeper of the Journals and Scribe’s Hand
Sorcerers – Windlight, Karal Orson, David Peru, Kygior Valenson
This 14th day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
A new contract has been offered by the Mage-Lord Falendras of the sixth tower of the Arcanium. The mission of choice is a search and retrieval of rare components needed by the Arcanium for preservation of magical energies. The probable location of harvesting is along the Delta of the River Shatt within the swamplands known as Jhivantane. Little is known to us of this secretive nation called by many the Dark Realm. The ruling body is known to be a “royal magiarchy” dedicated to the twisted corrupt side of earth magics and the invocations of chaos. The populace is primarily human and goblinoid with the goblinoids and possibly the living humans being a servator race to the dark masters who maintain themselves within the Unlife.
The men are somewhat nervous regarding this mission. Jhivantane is something of a dark legend in these men’s homelands. A place parents tell their children of to inspire fear in them, a place of nightmare. It is also a place where those with skill can harvest components of power for use with formal magics. Yvaine Locksley claims that he once ended up in the swamps of Jhivantane and he and his companions found themselves besieged on all sides by ghouls hungering for their living flesh. He shudders as he tells us this tales but Yvaine is known for exaggeration and he is not speaking loudly against accepting this contract.
This 16th day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
The contracts have been reviewed and it has been decided that the risk is not worth the reward offered for this trip. The refused price is ten trained horses for the chargers with gears and lance, Two Hundred Ingots of Purest Gold by the minting of Urza-dun, resupply for the company for six months. The contract would require that all findings of ritual worth or arcane power must be turned over to the Mage-Lord upon exiting Jhivantane. The Captain did not need to think long on this pitiful offer before he was ready to deny it. I think he simply waited the two days to let Falendras stew in his own juices.
Most of the Company seems to be breathing a bit easier but I’m sure the Mage-Lord will come back with another offer. They always offer pitifully low hoping to catch us one day. The Captain is not fool though.
The Enforcers of Valdire, a non-bonded company from Ere-Tessa has been disbanded after a shambles involving Lord Ectress of Tanamount. Several members have come seeking employ with us but for the most part they are well below our standards for employ. One former member has promise and we may arrange for his hiring with one of the caravans we regularly deal with to see if his potential can be brought out. A letter has been written to Merchant Sire Hyas Rockwell to begin this process.
Master Smith Tedrick Steelrhyme’s contract has been completed and a full complement of fine honed shatter resistant swords has been delivered. Twenty Lexan Trade bars, the agreed price, were sent via courier of bond to his smithy in payment.
This 17th day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
The process of negotiation with the Arcanium has begun. They have added one hundred more Ingots of Purest Gold by the minting of Urza-dun, resupply for one year, and cost of passage into and out of Jhivantane covered by the Arcanium. The Captain told them he would consider it. I can tell by his voice that he’s still not ready to accept this offer.
As the day ends the Captain has still not announced to the Arcanium that he isn’t listening. I give him till tomorrow.
This 18th day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
The Captain invited the Mage-Lord to tea today, now shall be the start of serious negotiation. I would think for the possible seriousness of this mission, the cost could set us for several years to come. If we would do it at all.
After a days negotiation, though the price has increased, the Captain is still not satisfied by the offers made by the Mage-Lords. He has sent them away to reconsider their offers.
The 19th day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
A new offer of contract from the Baronet of Asharam has been given for consideration. It is mostly guard duty but it pays well for the effort. One hundred gold Sovereigns of Yeovan minting and upkeep of the entire company while on duty. The Captain is giving it consideration its easy work if not particularly profitable. Karal Orson has expressed his interest in this job as he grew up in Yeovan not far from the Baronet’s lands. I’m sure he thinks the light duty will give him opportunity to look up old friends and perhaps lost loves as well.
This 20th day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
A new Mage-Lord, Corintalus, has come to negotiate. It is likely that he Arcanium has heard of the possibility that we would hire to another and has come ready to make a serious offer.
This 23rd day of the Gryphon, year 273 B.R.U.
The Captain and Mage-Lord Corintalus have come to an agreement of sorts. The terms are somewhat loose, the way the Captain likes them, and very profitable. The Arcium must realy need these components badly for the Captain did even better for us than I could ever dream of.
Recorded this Day, the Twenty-Third day of day of the Gryphon of the year 273 B.R.U.
A Contract entered into willingly between the Arcanium of the Palantine and The Fist of Valor, Bonded Mercenary Company of Urza-dun.
The Arcanium of the Palantine (hereafter known as the Arcanium) agrees to hire The Fist of Valor, Bonded Mercenary Company of Urza-dun (hereafter known as the company). To perform the following tasks.
1) Journey into the area known to the common man as Jhivantane
2) From within retrieve formal magic components totaling: twenty units of temporal energy in increments no less than two; twenty units of arcane power in increments no less than two; ten units of elemental force in increments no less than two; twenty units of voidal energy in increments no less than two; twenty units of spirit energy in increments no less than two; and one hundred units of arcane power in increments of one or greater.
3) Return to the lands of the Palantine and deliever said components into the hands of a fully recognized Mage-Lord of the Arcanium.
4) In payment for this, the Arcanium agree to render in full value the following to the company: Two thousand five hundred Ingots of Purest Gold by the minting of Urza-dun; forty fully trained medium weight warhorse of Sprigian Breed with all tack, barding, and horsemounted weapondry; basic resupply for the company for a period of five years; The sword Fairgiver, a permanent celestial creation enchanted with six damage aura rituals, four expanded enchantment rituals allowing the casting of shield magics, six cloak rituals versus binding, and three bane rituals versus binding; all costs while acting upon this contract will be repaid by the Arcanium to the company; a fee of ten Ingots of Purest Gold by the minting of Urza-dun will be paid to the company while engaged in the completion of this contract on top of already agreed upon pricing. In addition the following considerations are given to the company: casting of rituals for the company shall be done by the Mage-Lords of the Arcanium for no charge for the next five years, formal caster will be of acceptable quality to both parties. All items of arcane power and formal components over the minimums required to be turned over to the Arcanium found by the company within Jhivantane while engaged in the completion of this contract may be considered the property of the Company with with no claim held by the Arcanium upon it.
5) If this contract is not completed by the company for any reason, other than incorrect information supplied to the company by the Arcanium, the company will turn its bond over to the Arcanium in recognition of a voided contract. Current value of the bond is Fifteen Thousand Ingots of Purest Gold by the minting of Urza-dun.
6) This contract myst be completed by the Seventeenth day of the Dragon, the year 273 B.R.U.
7) In the event this contract is voided by the Arcanium due to failure on their part toward the responsibilities for the company or misinformation supplied by the Arcanium to the company all fees to be paid by the Arcanium to the company will be doubled and a second englamoured weapon Heartseeker containing fifteen full castings of the damage aura ritual will be given to the company.
8) All other stipulations are by the standard mercenary contract of Urza-dun.
Agreed upon this day the Twenty-Third day of day if the Gryphon of the year 273 B.R.U.
Captain Ralidan Vordune, Keeper of The Fist and Wielder of the Blade of Sighs
Mage-Lord Corintalus Tal-Phaius
Witnessed this day the Twenty-Third day of day of the Gryphon of the year 273 B.R.U.
Lieutenant Pax Nerin, Highmage of sorcerers, Keeper of the Journals and Scribe’s Hand
Oolamak Tyrines, Witness of the Seventh Class a Urza-dun
It of course does occur to me that if the Mage-Lords want this done so badly and are willing to pay so much then there must be more to this land than we think. Legend and rumor say that the swamps of Jhivantane are the perfect site to harvest components of all types which is why this mission is being undertaken, the rumors also say that no one passes the Guardians of Jhivantane which is why the Mage-Lords hired the Fist of Valor.
With the acceptance of the contract the talk among the members of the Fist has turned to the mission ahead. Rather than discussing the fears of Jhivantane they all share they now discuss strategy and how to deal with possible problems. As with all of the great mercenaries of the world once the contract is signed its all business.
This 1st day of the Dolphin, year 273 B.R.U.
It is auspicious to begin this new mission on the turning of the sign, the last week has been spent outfitting the party, acquiring potions and scrolls, compnents and formal scrolls needed for rituals on the roads we walk on this mission. Each of our warriors now carries a blade enchanted for at least a year as well as a blade of coldest iron and pure silver each rendered indestructible by formal might, one nevr knows what to prepare for in a new and deadly land. In addition to the standard complement of of arcane power many temporary magic items, many charged magic items, and even a few of permanent duration have been acquired for this mission. Perhaps the most significant of thee being a hammer called Dreadmallet which is enchanted specifically against the undead by mages of both spheres, Herod Goral now wields this hammer having given his own mace to sergeant Lincoln James. It was quite the accomplishment retrieving this weapon but the Captain has his ways.
After going over the maps the best approach into the swamps would be to sail into the delta of the River Shatt and disembark from there. We now depart our fortress, Valor's Gauntlet, for the Harbor of Gentian where we will hire ship to take us into the drak realm itself.
This 4th day of the Dolphin, year 273 B.R.U.
Despite offering sums well over that expected for even the most dangerous of missions we have been unable to secure a single ship willing to risk the trip even to the mouth of the River SHatt let alone to sail into the delta even just a few miles. Many ship masters suddenly realize the need to be halfway to Zephyr when the passage into Jhivantane is requested. A few shipmasters have told tales wherein entire ships are sunk by waterlogged dead rising out from the river to board the ship and take it back with them to their watery grave. Other site the giant sea monsters which live in the waters off the coast of the delta of the River Shatt, its wasters supposedly supplying the monsters with food from the bits of flesh that constantly are found floating down its currents.
This 6th day of the Dolphin, year 273 B.R.U.
At this point we have exhausted all possible choices of ships to carry us to our new employ. The Captain has decided against trying some of the other major ports and has decided that we go overland from the interior of the continent through to the swamps. The travel will add at least two months to the trip but will still leave us with much time to complete what is required of us. Somewhat annoyed we set off to southeastern border of Jhivantane.
This 12th day of the Pheonix, year 273 B.R.U.
Our guide for the long trek across the land has left us. Before he went he pointed to a large jag of obsidian with a sickly brown moss draped over its surface and spoke in that gutteral language only Kygior Valenson can understand.. As we watched his back Krygior informed us that what he had said was "there is death still walking, this is the line of division." Though it is not even a guarded border we all loose our weapons in their sheaths and summon forth our aura. It is not the first time that there are only ten months or less left upon our temporary enchantments left and hundreds of miles to go through hostile, unknown, swampy terratory where we will begin to look for needles in a very large haystack. But we have signed a contract and nevr does the Fist not complete its sworn word.
We stepped across the break of obsidian and a strange difference could be noted by all. It was nothing we could put our finger on. Windlight said it was "the whisper of those speaking of our deaths." Windlight always was melodramatic, his flair for words could be impressive when engaged in speaking of our exploits or invoking fear.
We walk on, several with weapons already in hand as if expecting to need them in what appears to be clear terratory, of course they are the smart ones and the Captain is among them. One look from him increases everyones readiness in the wake of his cool stare. The Captain is afterall the Captain and has yet to make a mistake being too cautious.
We make camp in the lee of a patch of drooping willow trees, the droop seeming to be more of a draining here than their natural bent.
Watches are set in in three with one off and each group has at least minimal healing among it.
This 13th day of the Pheonix, year 273 B.R.U.
I am awoken from sleep by a scream of pain and terror. I quickly jump from my roll aura already in hand. In the grey darkness I could just make out the hunched form of Jason Cromley at the edge of the camp. His armor half off as he prepared for sleep. Attached to his leg was a segmented creature, leech-like with a circle of teeth embeded in his thigh. Jason's Shield-Mate Asher quickly sliced the creature from Jason's leg but this did not end the twisted grimace of pain on Jason's face. Karal quickly went over to appraise the situation his ability as a helaer now coming into play.
Nothing Karal could do seemed to allieviate the pain that Jason felt. Healing did no good and did not seal the wound of the teeth in his thigh. Extreme measures were attenmpted, first the leg was removed using the keen edge of the Captain's Blade of Sighs. This calmed the pain but did not remove it entirely. Finally though it may waste our needed resources we put Jason to the sword taking his very life only to restore it again using Karal's power. Even with his lifeforce totaly depleted and renewed through Karal's power still was the wound on his leg open and still did he clench in pain, his eyes open as if staring at some unseen horror. In an attempt to at least relieve Jason, Karal used a sleep spell on him which did not work. The magic was prevented in someway from causing his consciousness to flee and allow him into peaceful sleep.
We have maintained camp here for the day trying everything we could think of to aid Jason. We have been very careful to seek out these leech things and avoid them, they are easy to kill if you don't let them bite you. Tomorrow we continue on carrying Jason with us. If things get too bad we only have one option left and that is to send his spirit back to Valor's Gauntlet to ressurect.
This 14th day of the Pheonix, year 273 B.R.U.
Today we have met with the inhabitants of this broken land for the first time. The first encounter was with pitiful twisted goblinoid forms barely able to speak only to guesture and gutter. These are typical of goblins elsewhere, low in strength but high in numbers. The Captain is basically immune to their attacks due to the protective aura of his shield and he often engages entire packs of the gibbering creatures. At times they do manages to swarm around him and into the midst of the party. They often jump out from the twisted bushes and rushes that surround us as we attempt to break a path into the heart of the swamplands.
As we break to make camp there is no improvement in Jason's condition. He still has not slept he stare openly with darting eyes face grimaced in terror or pain. His body curled as tight as the snakes that slither through the rushes. Currently there is no problem bringing him along. Goblins are no challenge but it is clear that these are the least of what we will face.
This night we first saw the feared undead of Jhivantane and learned why they are so feared. They came as most attacks from the undying do, shambling out of the darkness. Skeletons and Zombies, Revenants and Ghouls. They came and we fought them though at first we noticed that the earth magics did not seem to effect them as they should, the effect was clearly lessened. Next we realized that the horde of lesser creatures marching in to the slaughter was simply a ruse as several non-corporeal monstrosities rose from the ground amidst us. Here Herrod jumped to the fore wielding Dreadmallet and the Captain next to him with the Blade of Sighs. Windlight and Krygior quickly backed up these two mighty warrirors and the leaders of the undead fell to the sword and hammer within our bounds as the rest of the Fist cleaned up the lesser annoyances. It was a difficult battle which did make us invoke the arcane items we own but it was not beyond us at all. If we faced this three times each day we will live and propser here in Jhivantane. Of course we do expect it to get much worse. This is clearly the outer defenses or perhaps just ordinary inhabitants. We have seen no sign of habitations or buildings, just waste and murky swamp.
We are keeping the same watch pattern except for poor Jason, we needed to use a life spell on him during the battle with the undead as they did manage to kill his defenseless body but we have not yet lost hope we still expect him to pull through this, we are not readyto let him die. As I glance over at him on my watch, I see the dim light of the beglamored weapons reflecting in his ever staring eyes and wonder what it is the is happening to him. I check the area extracarefully for thr horror worms as Asher has taken to calling them.
This 15th day of the Pheonix, year 273 B.R.U.
This day more goblins and some of their larger breatheren have been attacking as we move. They are still not difficult but we have noticed that they often carry small fetishes. Upon my examination nearly one fifth of them are formal quality componants. By my estimation we have already found much first strength power and temporal components. We need much more before we have completed the searching but if goblins carry these here, we can only imagine what awaits us further in.
Just after noon a fortunate occurance happened. For the first time we have seen a troll among the goblins, a sort of misshapen taskmaster set over them. The fortunate part is the comment he made when he saw Jason's body. "Kill them all," he said, "even the one locked in the nightmare." This gives us a glimpse of what might be wrong with Jason and a possible solution. If indeed his mind is locked in perpetual nightmare slowly killing him through fear, Velish Nor may be able to save him. Velish is Biata and can walk the paths of ones will at times. He was not highly trained in this art and is loathe to use it at times, but it may be Jason's only hope and he is willing to try.
This 16th day of the Pheonix, year 273 B.R.U.
It has been fifteen hours since Velish initiated mind contact with Jason and they appear to have broken contact. The good news is Jason's eyes are clsoed and he appears to be sleeping. The wound on his thigh is now amenable to healing. The bad news is that both Jason and Velish are unconscious and nothing can shake either one of them from this including awaken spells.
All night half the group has stayed awake guarding and destroying incoming raids of undead. We also destroyed seven more of the worms that di this to Jason. We need to move on but we are trapped until they regain consciousness.
As evening set a new group of corporeal undead was were seen approaching us. This time one seperated away and spoke before simply attacking. He named himself as Orakash a servant of the Lords and that we were in tresspass of the domains of the Vael-thug. We were to now become servitors as ownership of our spirits was in the hands of his Lord now. The Captain appraised the situation carefully and then called for drawn swords. Orakash raised his arm and the undead came to him and advanced upon us. Huge bolts of ice were thrown from each ones hands at us, the very elemental nature indicating the coldness of their graves. Several fell to the onslaught but healing was quickly distributed and all rose.
Herod stalked the creature Orakash and struck him repeatedly with Dreadmallet. Their battle was perhaps the most intense among us all. He was certainly one of the most powerful undead we have ever seen, yet he claimed to be merely a servant, what then must the Lords he follows be like.
Herod finally struck down Orakash, spending all his strength in the process. As Orakash fell many of his minions quickly pounced on the weakened form of Herod who swung about him with Dreadmallet. Finally Herod himself fell to the blows he was taking. Sergeant James quickly leapt to his defense and stood over the body letting none touch it. With this brave Herod was saved by Windlight who in the midst of combat ran by with a successful life spell, his last. This was good for Herrod but not for Lincoln James. He still stood to cover the retreat of Herod to where he could be healed, having expended all the power of his items before this. Lincoln was surrounded by a pack of Raveners and his body was shredded to pieces by them as they feasted upon him drinking his blood and devouring his muscle. This frenzy among them lasted for the next five minutes while we regrouped. As Lincoln's body vanished for his spirit to seek the solace of a resurection circle back in Valor's Gauntlet the Raveners slowly turned toward us eyes hungry fangs dripping, holding Lincoln's enchanted mace in his bloody hand. The Captain called for a careful withdrawl to a defensive position draging the bodies of the fallen with us. Lincoln James became our first loss in this bleak land but will by my eyes not be our last. At least in the retreat Jason and Velish began to stir, we could use their aid in defending while the mages and healers rest and restudy their spells to fight again.
Editor's note: This is now the entire text that the Great Library possesses. The grammar has not been corrected so as to maintain the authenticity of the original copy.