8? Winterswax Year One
We left the temple with the recovered treasure, and the party made plans to return to a cave in the south. We did deposit said treasure with the banks. I wonder if all this coin is going to draw too much attention to us at some point.
We also attempted to get some information about some of the magic items we had found. This proved to be quite difficult, what with the fear of wizards and magic in these lands.
We then followed the river to travel south. Mostly uneventful. We did encounter an Alchemist, and some of my fellow travelers bought potions from him. The alchemist was offered to join our band, but refused.
The only incident on our voyage occurred when Simon, having several magic scrolls he wanted to learn, was suddenly turned into a small tentacled monster. We were ready to smite it, but it seems the change is in appearance only. Simon can still talk, cast his spells, and so on. We held off on smiting him, for now.
We arrived at the cave. Entering in a few. It doesn’t look that bad.
8? Winterswax Year One - Evening
I am very thankful to Tharok, the Iron Sentinel, for I am able to update my diary. Unlike some of my companions. What horrors awaited us!
Our descent into the cave started easy enough. The cave had clearly been flooded in the recent past, and for a while, it seemed deserted. The flooding surely having drowned whatever may have once inhabited this cavern. The foul stench, some debris and some odd carvings were all that remained. Or so I thought.
A little ways into the cavern, we came across ghosts. They seemed threatening, and I attempted to turn them. Yet they were not driven away. I tried to interact with them, and while they were very spooky, they did not attack. I think that this is why I could not turn them; Tharok, in His wisdom, saw that these poor wretches were not hostile, and saw no need to dispatch them.
The ghosts followed us, keeping a distance of about three feet. Taking up the rear of the group, as is my habit (for the Unseen Strike is the Most Deadly; yet as Rurik watches, darkness holds no refuge to the wicked), and I kept an eye on them.
We soon ran into the true horrors of the cave, however. My mind still reels at their sight! They were, in a way, women, yet they had elongated necks, and those eyes! Those eyes! I shudder!
They attacked us, and while we outnumbered them, they proved to be horrible foes. Their mere presence seemed to weaken us, and their mere stare was enough to strike my companions down! Rander and Madras were their first victims, dead where they stood! Conrad died, too, struck by what we think must have been a poisoned dagger. I tried to Hold their leader, but alas, I failed. We were able to slay these vile witches, and not a moment too soon, but this was a high price to pay.
We did find some items in their disgusting hole, gems, a chest, an assortment of items on the head witch. Of note is a set of playing cards, and I wonder why it was among their treasures.
We scooped up what we could, and then dragged our fallen out of this cavern. Maybe the elves of Sylvaire can bring them back to life, so that’s our next destination.
I thank Tharok for being able to fight another day. I shall not fail in my duties.