Five Days After the Old Moon, Month of the Wolf in the Year 1023
Luna has blessed us this week, and the tides of battle have
turned in our favor. Snow has turned to rain as Ekkaku has taken the upper hand
in his conflict with Droxon the Frozen. The other great spirits, our sacred
guardians, have manifested to defend their shrines. Many skalds fell against
their power when they thought they had a quick opportunity to wreak havoc upon
the faith of our people. Little did they know that the land itself would rise
to thwart their wicked machinations. Such is the magic of our home.
The Stag Shrine front stayed quiet until a pair of 23rd
Generation Skalds appeared. Luckily, though it is more complicated than your
average foe, we know how to put them down. This generation of Skalds, and yes,
the generation is important, must be limbed with different weapons and then
struck in the back. Any hits to the chest will restore their limbs. Scouts
indicated that skalds had moved towards other locations as well, but we have
not yet come to blows with them. That is a skirmish for another day, as is the last
of the Laughing Dead that were successfully banished.
In other good news, relief troops from Blackwood and Sharingal reclaimed
Mirador. By all reports, the Mages and Rangers from Sharingal kept the enemy
occupiers pinned down with magic and arrows while Blackwood’s Fate Torn and
Giant Scorpions pushed into the city. No enemy troops could escape, for our
allies had already fielded three ships in the bay to cut off their retreat. I
feel safer knowing that they are watching the harbor. Mirador is our trade hub
and having it free bodes well for our supply lines. I will have to remind myself
to ask if I can pet one of the Scorpions. I rather enjoy meeting new and
interesting creatures.
Speaking of allies, Invictus and their mighty legions have
taken the field and are heading straight into conflict against numbers of Ogres
and Wolds. I’m not sure if there is a special way to take on an Ogre, I know
they are big, but Wolds take a special touch. These creatures are massive earth
elementals and must be smashed with magic maces or hammers. Blunt weapons, I
believe. Trying to hit them with normal maces will just break the mace and not
the Wold. Remember that if should you encounter them out in the world, their
hide is strong as stone.
This next part, I must profess with some guilt, that I did not get to
personally witness upon the front line, but I have listened to the tale a
thousand times and will likely listen to it again for the sheer joy it brings
me. According to the stories, Shadowstalker Tulkhan led the charge of wolves
under the glory of the full moon, heading straight for the Serpent Shrine and
the enemy commander, Arvitt Garrimaddon. Their enemies were felled with swift
efficiency, but Garrimaddon had brought a silver blade to a wolf fight.
Suddenly, more than a hundred Angels fell like shooting stars onto the
battlefield, and the Sword of Solarus, Azurewrath himself, took up the enemy’s
challenge. They fought against one another, and it seemed Azurewrath was about
to deal the finishing blow when Garrimaddon called for aid and disappeared into
a cloud of mist. I can’t be completely sure, but people seemed to think he
called a name before vanishing- Ixxen Iredann.
Suspicious of where he had gone, over the next few days we
put together a small scouting party to venture into the Otherworld, otherwise
known as the “Spirit Realm.” We had sensed strange energy from the lands beyond
and had concerns that he may have infiltrated a place he should not have. Our
hunches proved correct, and we found Garrimaddon in a bit of a pickle,
struggling to navigate the dark and the mist, endlessly teleporting in random
directions and distances. We were all so amused that we took a moment to find
humor in the situation, and banded together to banish him from the realm, but
not before severing the chain of one of the three spirits serving as his
shield. That spirit’s name is Benjamin Grans- Paladin of the Helmet, and former
advisor to the Lord Protector of Loche Torne.
Upon leaving the Otherworld, I had a sort of premonition. I thought I saw three
small dominoes standing before a bigger one. The first domino fell to the side,
but two remained. I ascertained that once the last two fell, it would trigger
an event that would throw the largest domino elsewhere. I believe these
dominoes represent Garrimaddon’s “shields”, and when they are freed, or
defeated, he will be flung to his stronghold Caer Ma-Ut upon the negative
energy plane. It is there that the final fight against the Champion of the Lord
of Corruption will take place.
It is daunting to think that this is but one foe of many at the Erl King’s
disposal, but we must press on for the sake of all we hold dear. We have seen
miracles and many great acts of courage over the past few weeks and all of them
inspire me to keep going.
In Service,
Spirit Queen Kindrianna Athame