Selerel
Habitué
- Messages
- 253
Day 37 Continued: Early Camp
9th Kythorn, 1368 DR
Kivan was badly wounded from the fighting (and from some Firewine traps that Imoen did not detect in time); most of Neera’s and my spells were spent. We surfaced back to the ruined bridge and paid our leave to it, satisfied with our vanquishing of the evils here. We made camp a short distance away, towads the direction of Adoy’s enclave. It was only the later afternoon at this point, but we needed rest before we were to finally meet this hermit of a wild mage to the east.
Day 38: Adoy and Neera
10th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We awoke in the dark early morning and trekked a few hours east to Adoy’s enclave, getting there at dawn. It appeared that a goblin horde (along with a large population of wolves) had overtaken the small mountainpass where Adoy supposedly lived. I spoke to a solitary widower living in a nearby cabin and he confirmed the mage Adoy lived nearby. Most crucially, he had been kidnapped by the goblins when they had appeared in the area.
We fought our way through the goblins in their caves, killed their hobgoblin leader, and liberated Adoy. But shortly after, the Red Wizards of Thay who were pursuring Neera in Beregost all those weeks ago teleported into the enclave, ready to kill and kidnap. We were lucky to slay them all, but it was a difficult battle–Neera’s “Paws of the Cheetah” boots may very well have saved her life, as she was able to easily flee (repeatedly) from the mercenaries that seemed to want nothing more than to spill her blood.
After the fighting, we were able to speak more with Adoy. And we found out there was no way he could help Neera. I should have anticipated this to some degree, but my hope that I could find a just solution for Neera propelled me forward all the way out here. Instead it seems that Adoy is as irresponsible, unremorseful, and quite frankly as craven as Neera. Apparently one of his wild surges started this whole mess with the goblins, and he “by chance” disappeared during the fighting…and afterwards as well.
I’ve invested too much time with this girl Neera to NOT ensure that she makes amends for her past! She is not an evil soul, but without facing up to her crimes in High Forest, the injustice will rot. I must ensure as best I can that she takes responsibility for her actions and travels back up north to her homeland.
But, alas I cannot leave this southern region just yet. I had left Nashkel in a rush a month ago to find Tranzig in Beregost, which set off a long struggle against the Iron Throne that lasted several weeks (and truly, still lasts). But there was still much unfinished business in these Amnish borderlands. Brage? Dynaheir? Lingering kobold infestations? If anything, Neera will perform penance by helping to resolve these problems before we all inevitably travel back north.
In a foul mood we marched through the night, southwest in the wilds towards Nashkel.
Day 39: Ogres, Bandits, and Wolves
11th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We walked until the sun was up. As we finally started to make camp, we were attacked by large pack of wolves and then again by a gang half-ogres. But at some point a quiet morning befell us and we were able to get some rest.
***
We broke camp in the afternoon and resumed our travel to Nashkel. We battled through several encounters with ogres, bandits, and aggressive wolves: proof that the region is still in crisis. But we did our part to bring justice to the countryside.
We kept on traveling southwest and made camp again around nightfall.
Day 40: Return to Nashkel
12th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We awoke just before dawn and began the last leg of our journey to Nashkel. Our travels were relatively peaceful for the day, and we arrived in the town mid-afternoon.
It was apparent from speaking to the commoners that our party has gained some renown for our exploits, and not just because of the Nashkel mines. Already word has spread down from Cloakwood about what occurred there, too. But while the mine here is slowly recovering, the common folk made clear their problems still abound due to the lingering troubles in the region. Banditry, villainy, and the threat of war have not diminished. Truly my most just cause involves this Iron Throne organization in Baldur’s Gate…and soon we will head there. But first my real purpose in Nashkel: find Brage, the murderer and outlaw, and then track down Dynaheir, the mysterious witch. Once they’ve been accounted for and justice done, I’ll be able to turn north.
We walked the town and carnival, but there has been nothing new reported on either of them. The ranger Minsc still loitered in the center of town, now no longer even mentioning Dynaheir. I may have thought her to be part of his imagination if the woman hadn't also been sought after by the red wizard Edwin.
In one carnvial tent, through unlikely timing, we walked into a mage about to murder another mage…calling her a witch of all things. After he killed her he turned his magic on us, and we had to slay him before he was able to reveal any more of his story. Could this have something to do with Dynaheir, another “witch” being hunted by a mage? Is Dynaheir truly an innocent spellcaster, the charge of a madman, trapped by beasts somewhere? Or is she rather a spellcasting madwoman herself, some kind of Queen of the Gnolls, and member of an insidious network of Amnish witches? No, now my own dark imagination gets away from me…
As far as the twisted criminal Brage, there were no leads as to his whereabouts. A child I spoke at the carnival is still frightened of the whole story and hears the mad commander rustling about outside at night…but I doubt that’s anything more than a small boy’s nightmares. With nothing to go on, I resolved for the time being to head west to the gnoll stronghold and focus on the search for Dynaheir instead.
We stayed for the night at the inn, eager to begin our travels anew tomorrow.
Day 41: In the Cloud Peaks
13th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We left Nashkel in the early morning and headed southwest, with the landscape eventually transforming into the foothills of the Cloud Peak Mountains. We dealt mostly with xvarts and other creatures of the wilderness; but even bandits and ruffians were out this far to cause trouble for travelers. As usual, we brought justice to the countryside where we could.
We made camp in the evening.
Day 42: Getting Closer to the Fortress
14th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We remained in the Cloud Peaks the following day, still traveling west to the gnoll stronghold, far outside the standard Coast Way traffic. Although we were not completely outside the influence of ruffians: A pair of opportunists who were chopping down a Dryad’s tree attacked us when I attempted to speak some sense into them.
Gnoll encounters became more and more frequent. And one even spoke of a “captive” in the fortress to the west. This is likely Dynaheir, the target of our long search! Good. Whoever she is, she looks to still be alive and truly a captive of these beasts.
We kept up our pace well into the darkness of the night, but made camp before midnight.
Day 43: More Travel West
15th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We broke camp in the morning and kept journeying west. The land was sparse, and we were so far from the Coast Way that it seemed even the bandit crisis was finally well behind us.
I became uneasy thinking about the possible evils occurring back in civilization in our absence, but reassured myself that this mission I was undertaking was the most righteous course of action. Even so, we marched through the night again to hasten our arrival.
Day 44: Arrival at the Gnoll Stronghold
16th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We continued our march overnight to the gnoll stronghold, only stopping to make camp once the sun was up and we were near the base of the fortress.
***
By the afternoon, we were ready to begin our assault. We started by crossing a footbridge and dispatching of some ogrillon thugs. We then started to clear the series of paths and caves to the south of the walled fortress.
Current Party:
Stea Roco, Level 6 Priest of Tyr
Kivan, Level 6 Ranger
Imoen, Level 7 Thief
Neera, Level 6 Wild Mage
Reputation: Heroic (20)
9th Kythorn, 1368 DR
Kivan was badly wounded from the fighting (and from some Firewine traps that Imoen did not detect in time); most of Neera’s and my spells were spent. We surfaced back to the ruined bridge and paid our leave to it, satisfied with our vanquishing of the evils here. We made camp a short distance away, towads the direction of Adoy’s enclave. It was only the later afternoon at this point, but we needed rest before we were to finally meet this hermit of a wild mage to the east.
Day 38: Adoy and Neera
10th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We awoke in the dark early morning and trekked a few hours east to Adoy’s enclave, getting there at dawn. It appeared that a goblin horde (along with a large population of wolves) had overtaken the small mountainpass where Adoy supposedly lived. I spoke to a solitary widower living in a nearby cabin and he confirmed the mage Adoy lived nearby. Most crucially, he had been kidnapped by the goblins when they had appeared in the area.
We fought our way through the goblins in their caves, killed their hobgoblin leader, and liberated Adoy. But shortly after, the Red Wizards of Thay who were pursuring Neera in Beregost all those weeks ago teleported into the enclave, ready to kill and kidnap. We were lucky to slay them all, but it was a difficult battle–Neera’s “Paws of the Cheetah” boots may very well have saved her life, as she was able to easily flee (repeatedly) from the mercenaries that seemed to want nothing more than to spill her blood.
After the fighting, we were able to speak more with Adoy. And we found out there was no way he could help Neera. I should have anticipated this to some degree, but my hope that I could find a just solution for Neera propelled me forward all the way out here. Instead it seems that Adoy is as irresponsible, unremorseful, and quite frankly as craven as Neera. Apparently one of his wild surges started this whole mess with the goblins, and he “by chance” disappeared during the fighting…and afterwards as well.
I’ve invested too much time with this girl Neera to NOT ensure that she makes amends for her past! She is not an evil soul, but without facing up to her crimes in High Forest, the injustice will rot. I must ensure as best I can that she takes responsibility for her actions and travels back up north to her homeland.
But, alas I cannot leave this southern region just yet. I had left Nashkel in a rush a month ago to find Tranzig in Beregost, which set off a long struggle against the Iron Throne that lasted several weeks (and truly, still lasts). But there was still much unfinished business in these Amnish borderlands. Brage? Dynaheir? Lingering kobold infestations? If anything, Neera will perform penance by helping to resolve these problems before we all inevitably travel back north.
In a foul mood we marched through the night, southwest in the wilds towards Nashkel.
Day 39: Ogres, Bandits, and Wolves
11th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We walked until the sun was up. As we finally started to make camp, we were attacked by large pack of wolves and then again by a gang half-ogres. But at some point a quiet morning befell us and we were able to get some rest.
***
We broke camp in the afternoon and resumed our travel to Nashkel. We battled through several encounters with ogres, bandits, and aggressive wolves: proof that the region is still in crisis. But we did our part to bring justice to the countryside.
We kept on traveling southwest and made camp again around nightfall.
Day 40: Return to Nashkel
12th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We awoke just before dawn and began the last leg of our journey to Nashkel. Our travels were relatively peaceful for the day, and we arrived in the town mid-afternoon.
It was apparent from speaking to the commoners that our party has gained some renown for our exploits, and not just because of the Nashkel mines. Already word has spread down from Cloakwood about what occurred there, too. But while the mine here is slowly recovering, the common folk made clear their problems still abound due to the lingering troubles in the region. Banditry, villainy, and the threat of war have not diminished. Truly my most just cause involves this Iron Throne organization in Baldur’s Gate…and soon we will head there. But first my real purpose in Nashkel: find Brage, the murderer and outlaw, and then track down Dynaheir, the mysterious witch. Once they’ve been accounted for and justice done, I’ll be able to turn north.
We walked the town and carnival, but there has been nothing new reported on either of them. The ranger Minsc still loitered in the center of town, now no longer even mentioning Dynaheir. I may have thought her to be part of his imagination if the woman hadn't also been sought after by the red wizard Edwin.
In one carnvial tent, through unlikely timing, we walked into a mage about to murder another mage…calling her a witch of all things. After he killed her he turned his magic on us, and we had to slay him before he was able to reveal any more of his story. Could this have something to do with Dynaheir, another “witch” being hunted by a mage? Is Dynaheir truly an innocent spellcaster, the charge of a madman, trapped by beasts somewhere? Or is she rather a spellcasting madwoman herself, some kind of Queen of the Gnolls, and member of an insidious network of Amnish witches? No, now my own dark imagination gets away from me…
As far as the twisted criminal Brage, there were no leads as to his whereabouts. A child I spoke at the carnival is still frightened of the whole story and hears the mad commander rustling about outside at night…but I doubt that’s anything more than a small boy’s nightmares. With nothing to go on, I resolved for the time being to head west to the gnoll stronghold and focus on the search for Dynaheir instead.
We stayed for the night at the inn, eager to begin our travels anew tomorrow.
Day 41: In the Cloud Peaks
13th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We left Nashkel in the early morning and headed southwest, with the landscape eventually transforming into the foothills of the Cloud Peak Mountains. We dealt mostly with xvarts and other creatures of the wilderness; but even bandits and ruffians were out this far to cause trouble for travelers. As usual, we brought justice to the countryside where we could.
We made camp in the evening.
Day 42: Getting Closer to the Fortress
14th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We remained in the Cloud Peaks the following day, still traveling west to the gnoll stronghold, far outside the standard Coast Way traffic. Although we were not completely outside the influence of ruffians: A pair of opportunists who were chopping down a Dryad’s tree attacked us when I attempted to speak some sense into them.
Gnoll encounters became more and more frequent. And one even spoke of a “captive” in the fortress to the west. This is likely Dynaheir, the target of our long search! Good. Whoever she is, she looks to still be alive and truly a captive of these beasts.
We kept up our pace well into the darkness of the night, but made camp before midnight.
Day 43: More Travel West
15th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We broke camp in the morning and kept journeying west. The land was sparse, and we were so far from the Coast Way that it seemed even the bandit crisis was finally well behind us.
I became uneasy thinking about the possible evils occurring back in civilization in our absence, but reassured myself that this mission I was undertaking was the most righteous course of action. Even so, we marched through the night again to hasten our arrival.
Day 44: Arrival at the Gnoll Stronghold
16th Kythorn, 1368 DR
We continued our march overnight to the gnoll stronghold, only stopping to make camp once the sun was up and we were near the base of the fortress.
***
By the afternoon, we were ready to begin our assault. We started by crossing a footbridge and dispatching of some ogrillon thugs. We then started to clear the series of paths and caves to the south of the walled fortress.
Current Party:
Stea Roco, Level 6 Priest of Tyr
Kivan, Level 6 Ranger
Imoen, Level 7 Thief
Neera, Level 6 Wild Mage
Reputation: Heroic (20)