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Since last I wrote much has transpired, almost too much to write in the short time available to me. I continue to grow in power and ability despite my seeming distance from Him. With that power it seems I am better able to serve Him, and to that end I cast a new magick that allowed me to speak with Him across the ever dark distance. I asked many things of great Cuthbert, but most importantly I asked if I should yet return to my home, or to help this rag tag bunch. He has counselled me to stay. We rid the caverns under the tower of villains, but found it necessary to leave the city after an incident where Kuros warred with his former countrymen. We journeyed North, following the cult members as laid out in a journal we found. Kuros was missing, and it was not long before the foul place played yet another trick on us. I still am not sure if it was a dream, but we were set upon by a vicious ghost of Kuros... without his head... who took our heads with his sword before we could move to defend ourselves. It was then we met the vile undead once-man known now as Azalin. He is a Lich, a most foul form of undead. A man of magic who sought the embrace of death to make himself more powerful. After a game of sorts where he either sent us back in time to spy on Strahd Von Zarovich, or caused us hallucinations, we managed to escape. We fought him in his castle, and we fought him in the forests. We discovered the ghost of his son, and his weakness, a golden dragon skull which can hold his life essence. In a forest of elves we battled finally, and he tricked us. We recovered his phyllactory again, but lost it when magics made it grow in size and fall to the forest floor as we flew from the overwhelming onslaught of undead. I wanted to stay, to slay them all, but it was hopeless then. We met Strahd as we flew. He wanted the phyllactory and we told him where it lay. Balthazar stole the vampire lord's evil sword and spirited it away. Strahd possessed the spirit of a new member of our group and sent him searching for it. Time was important, but my oaths to Cuthbert are greater and I went after the possessed man to break him free of his spiritual cage. We managed to retrieve him, and we left Strahd with his prize. |
has been long since I have had time enough to breath, let alone track our progress in this journal. I wonder at times why I keep it at all, but remind myself that if something were to happen to me, to all of us, this journal could serve to counsel others on how best to avenge us. And what am I, if not a man of vengence.
The Travel Logs of Lucius M. Volkskull
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When we reached the town it seemed devoid of life, dark and ominous, though it had only recently been day. We spied a girl, only a child, and gave chase, but she disappeared. Unfortunately she lead us right to two foul beasts, vampires, feeding from a man whose throat had recently been torn open. We followed them, though they tried to escape and fought them in churches and houses. I threw the might of St. Cuthbert at them and forced them back and down, and yet still they managed to escape. I wanted to continue after them, but Aylward insisted that they were not our concern, that we had bigger problems. I do not deny that matters are grave, but do we not have a duty to destroy these creatures whenever and wherever we find them? I can not help but question Aylwards convictions some times. He calls himself a man of Pelor, or the light, and yet he shuns his duties, in my opinion. What man of light can look upon a creature of darkness and turn his back? If you ask me he is blinded by the light. His new friends do not help either. The woman, Lady Whisper, though she is beautiful (and I cannot deny being moved by her beauty, at least in some places) we know so little about her. She pushes Aylward on like a lion-master, (or a wife) and he sees it as adoration from a servant, rather than what it is. And now another has joined, filling the void when Matheo died. This creature presents itself as a being of light, claiming to be sent by Pelor Himself! I can not help but question this. He is likely a spy, sent to mislead Aylward, and the rest of us. I shall keep an eye on him, and on Aylward. Two others have joined us. A man of strange ability who wields fire like a toy. He is the one I had to rescue, first from shambling undead, then from Strahd. The other new man is a strange one indeed. I do no yet know his goals. He lead us for a while to a town we seeked, and followed us to do battle with Azalin. Strangely though when the time came he hid like a coward! I worry that he may be a wounding heel for us. We shall see. I hope that I shall not need to divide my attentions by saving him, or avenge him. Now the time to continue approaches. I shall try to write more if time permits, or perhaps shall meet an untimely fate, and write no more. _________________ |
