Journal Based on D&D Session Aug. 12, 2006

After taking a few days to recover, we began our journey back to Theonalar. Before we reached the bridge that would take us from Cheval to Falconi, we met a woman in armor, on a horse also wearing armor. She gave her name as Dame Gwyneth of Shield and stated that she was sent to protect the Earth Crown and make sure it arrives at its destination.

Gwyneth led us to boats that would take us across the river, avoiding an increased number of Chevalians at the bridge. We journeyed through Falconi and into Theonalar without incident.

As we came closer to Gathorim, we began our discussion about whether or not we should take the crown to the queen or to Prince Abnor. It was decided to go to Abnor, after restocking supplies in Gathorim. We traveled to Gutar and found that the Southern houses had created a barrier of bonfires and men, right at the area where it is considered to be the distinguishing line between the north and south. Gutar is the northern most southern house.

We were able to make it through the line and continue to Eisenhorn and the saddleback. When we arrived, we found that the battles had been worse than we expected. Eisenhorn was destroyed, burned to the ground. I don't know about the others, but I felt my insides knot up with concern for my family and even a small bit of regret that the quilt I had made for mine and Tal's bed was destroyed. Even that small bit of regret, though, could be pushed aside in the concern for my parents and our people.

We met with Abnor and advised him we had retrieved the Earth Crown. He refused to put it on, because he was worried that if the crown did not choose him, it would cause dissension in the army. I don't know if it was the stress of the war, but Abnor seemed changed. We were advised by Angus, after we left the tent, that we had to attend the funeral banquet planned for that night.

We spent time with our families, and I gave my father the horn from the chimera that I had taken for myself from the dragon head. All the northern houses were mixed in together, with the few southern houses that had come to Eisenhorn. Even the houses from Eisenhorn had been separated and the group of us were quickly split, planning to meet together again for the banquet.

During the banquet, unexpectedly, the man seated at Abnor's left tried to attack him. As if it were natural to have men attacking him while he ate, Abnor stopped the man and killed him instead. My father told me that since arriving, the attempts on Abnor's life had been increasing.

After the banquet, Abnor came to us and told us he felt the crown was not safe with us. He siad he wanted the crown taken to the queen and Kaz would take it. Dame Gwyneth followed Kaz, after I personally made it very clear to him that if the crown did not make it and for some reason he turned against us and Theonalar, I would hunt him down and kill him. With his usual smirk at my threats, Kaz left in the middle of the night.

The next morning, Abnor told us that he wanted the men to go back to the southern houses and bring them to the battle. As usual, being a woman, I can't do anything to help. Follow Tal, show support for the others. Oh, let me pull out my sewing needle while the men discuss the nature of war and how talented they are with the blade and how many orcs they are going to kill in the fight the next day. Nevermind I can fight with the best of them and as a Shield Maiden, some of those same men would not be alive were it not for the protection my training offers them.

Tal and the others were to question the princes of the remaining Southern houses as to their honor in letting their country be overrun by orcs and other humanoids that only sought to destroy our homes. If this did not incite the houses to join the rest of the country, they were to challenge the princes and take their houses if possible. Pots was to speak to the prince of the house of Boar; Tal had Lyonsheart; Angus had Baira.

We made our way to Gutar again, after we spoke to one of the remaining four houses that had changed their minds and decided to join us at the battlefront. Angus boldly called out his prince and after exchanging words, the prince of Baira agreed to join the others. Tal was not so successful.

The prince of Lyonsheart and Tal fought the next day. Many well placed blows were exchanged. With deft and skillful movements, Tal was able to defeat the prince and gain control of the house of Lyonsheart. The deceased prince's son then challenged Tal, but he was stopped by a man named Wilhelm. It was clearly announced that by the prince's own words, Tal was now the leader of Lyonsheart and everyone would follow him or die the death of a traitor.

Pots was able to convince the prince of Boar without bloodshed and tomorrow we leave. Tal has paid for the prince's burial and all three houses will be ready to leave in the morning.

About that scar...

Natani closed the book at the sound of footsteps. She had gone to the edge of town in the hopes of having some privacy, but it was obviously not meant to be. She turned to her left to see who approached, a newly developed instinct to keep her scar hidden taking momentary control.

Tal stepped closer to her at the slight nod she gave him as an indication she wanted his company. She moved on the log, giving him room to sit.

“You’ve been quiet since your injury,” he said quietly.

“I spent most of that time healing, or waiting for you to wake up,” she said defensively, then winced at the harsh tone of her voice.

“We haven’t talked much since the dragon, really.” Tal ignored her tone.

“You didn’t seem very happy to see that I had survived. You were also intent on making it clear you thought the way I was searching for the crown was dumb.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Not in so many words.” They both stopped for a moment, for the first time seeing the argument beginning and realizing that wasn’t what they needed.

“How are you?” Tal asked finally, turning his head slightly to look at her. Natani lowered her gaze to the ground and tilted her head, hiding the scar more.

“I have survived. That is what matters,” she answered quietly.

“Not if your spirit has been killed.” He rested his hand on hers. “Everyone’s noticed how you try to hide the scar.”

“It will not affect how well I fight.”

“That is not what’s important. You’re letting this affect who you are. You received the wound honorably. You should not be ashamed of it.” He tried to turn her face toward him, but she resisted him.

“This is different than the others.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. It just feels different.” Natani finally looked at him.

Tal smiled at her, then gently touched her scarred cheek. “You’re still beautiful to me. You accepted me with the change in how I look. Why would you think I couldn’t accept you?”

Natani stared at the man she dreamed of sharing her life with. “You accept it because you love me, just like I accept you because I love you. No matter how much we fight and disagree, deep down we love each other.”

“Yes, we do. You are still allowing this to bother you too much.”

“Maybe.” She lowered her gaze again.

Tal watched her for a moment, then caressed her back before standing. Without another word, he left her to her thoughts.

Journal Based on D&D Session July 29, 2006

Journal entry based on the D&D session of July 29, 2006 for my character, Natani Lyonsbane.

The journey to the Twisted Tower was uneventful, except for finding the remains of a group of orcs that had been burned. The dwarven scouts were able to determine they were killed by four giants. But that confused us, because we knew the orcs and giants were supposed to be working together.

From the direction we approached the tower this time, we were able to see a giant bear, with bone protruding over its eyes and jaw. We were also able to see a small number of orcs.

The group of us split in separate groups, with Pots and I going after the bear. Its claws were sharper than the sharpest blade I have ever held. Despite its strength and size, I was able to cut off one arm and then tear open its chest with my blade, killing it.

While I fought the bear, Angus fought one of the demons we encountered the first time we came to the tower. Tal fought some of the orcs, while the dwarves faced the other orcs. I joined Angus and a group of dwarves outside against the second demon. Angus was unconscious and the demon fell to the blades of the dwarves and my own.

We were checking on everyone, when a creature flew down on us. It had three heads; one lion, one goat and the third was like that of the red dragon, only it was black. From the dragon’s mouth came a liquid that burned like fire. Four dwarves fell to the creature’s wrath, before I killed it.

Angus was brought into the remains of the tower, as well as the rest of the injured. I took one of the swords from the demon brothers and I gave the other to Angus. I also cut off the horns from the dragon’s head and also gave one to Angus and kept the other.

So much happened in those days in the tower. We found the remains of four men from the house of Reinhardt, more specifically the lesser house Jathor. In the same room, an elf had been hiding, supposedly from the orcs. The elf had an interesting habit of searching dead bodies for ‘treasure’. Following his example, I found quite a bit of coins on one of the creatures, as well as two horns, which had been sounded at the beginning of the attack. The elf found gold coins on an orc that was Theonalaran, from the Southern Houses. Another false crown was also found and the dwarves finally told us how to tell if it was false.

The room we found the remains and elf in also had a trap door in the floor. When it was opened, somehow everyone in the room was first thrown to the ceiling, then dropped to the floor. I thought dwarves were sturdy people, but five more of them died in that room.

When we all recovered from our injuries completely, Tal made his way down the hole in the ground, toward the blue light I had seen earlier. Whatever it was attacked him and Angus and I quickly made our way down to join him. It appeared to be a large blue frog and Angus and Tal had it dead before I arrived. The others joined us, including the elf, but the dwarves stayed above, to ensure we were not attacked while we were in the rooms below.

The rooms appeared to be some sort of temple. A river of blood flowed in a rough circle over the floor of the rooms, into a pit. There were three intact blue pillars that had some sort of creature swimming within them. One pillar was broken and we could only assume the frog came from it, since it glowed blue like the pillars.

While we were walking through the rooms, we were attacked first by one, then a second large gorilla. The elf told us what they were after the first one. The second creature attacked Tal by surprise and raked his claws over him several times. Before we could stop the thing, Tal went unconscious from his wounds. Angus and I killed the creature, then he went to find out what the elf was doing while I stayed with Tal and Pots.

The elf, such a sly man, took his sword and ran it through the pool of blood. Angus and he exchanged a few words, and then he called Angus stupid. Before we realized what was happening, he had pulled a crown out of the pool of blood, which was the Earth Crown. The elf put it on his head after he tried to attack Angus. My large friend’s blows were not as successful as they should have been and I ran to help him. My blade, which we have found to be very capable against the oddest of creatures, was able to wound the elf and I killed him. Angus threw his body into the pool of blood after I took the crown off his head and he was stripped of his weapons and possessions.

We made our way back up the small tunnel with Tal’s unconscious form, but it was an old tunnel and Pots and I both fell because of the rings being so old within the deteriorating wall. Angus saved us though and the dwarves threw down some rope . We all made it back up to the top as we realized the elf was following us and he had been changed greatly.

His eyes were black, completely and he was covered with the blood. This time though, Angus’ attacks did nothing against him. We’ll have to do what we can to get him a blade such as mine. Despite my blade though, I did not see the end of the battle. The creature the elf had become attacked through my defenses and wounded me severely. I do not know what happened after that, other than what I was told by Angus and the others.

Somehow Angus was able to throw the elf back down the hole and closed the door, then ordered everyone to leave the tower. I awoke again when we had almost reached the small town outside of the dwarven keep. A scar mars my face, from the top of my ear, almost to my mouth, on the right side of my face. Scars are supposed to be the trophies of our battles, a reflection of the honor with which we fought each one. So, why does this one bother me so much?

Tal also recovered from his wounds during that time. The citizens of the town have once again welcomed us to their homes and will be helping us with supplies and other things we will need for our return journey.

But will we be able to make it with the crown? Or will our every step be dogged by those who wish to have it for themselves and keep our country in turmoil?