The Bloodwhore

Journal entry 49
 
It wasn’t my idea to lead a humanitarian mission to the vampire market. I don’t mingle in politics. But But my companions where set on going and I couldn’t let them transport two full carts over a ravine by themselves. If I could have gotten my hands om some good quality wood, I would have built a beautiful bridge that would have served these people for eons to come, but all the wood in Avernus is dead a nd dry and time wasn’t on our side.
 
Nearing the edge of the ravine, we saw a gnome tinkering away at some metal contraption. They suggested one of us would take place in said contraption and be LAUNCHED to the other side. I would have expected Fenrir to rush in to this, because it was exactly the stupid thing that gets his blood all fired up, but it was Caja who was already jumping up and down in excitement. My ‘but what about the carts’ faded in the hot air. Now, I never trusted metal as a material to work with, it’s too fickle and it smells funny. Just to be sure I flew after her with my new flying booties. For a moment I thought she would make it, but my heart stopped when the thing started to fall down before it reached the other side. Some fast spellcasting prevented her from dropping to fast, but she was still slowly descending. With some rope and Fenrir’s strength we were able to get her out of there.
 
While we where catching our breath, the gnome studied my boots, and was able to craft a glove that was connected to the carts and made it possible to fly the carts over the ravine. Taxying the carts back and forth (the last one with Fenrir and Caja on it), we made it to the other side. Ran into the same devil’s again from last time, but they didn’t give us too much trouble.
 
I have to say I was almost disappointed that we succeeded in our venture. I did not look forward to see Klav Ikaia again. Caja and Fenrir keep saying we are helping the people, not the vampire. But I can’t let go of the fact that by bringing them these supplies, we are helping him keep his seat of power.
In the camp we saw Volo again, he finished his book ‘Volo’s guide to the nine hells’. I hope it’s better than the last things he wrote, now he’s actually been to the place that he’s writing the book about. But he seems to have a talent for twisting reality. I doubt he has even left the camp.
 
Everybody keeps saying how Klav Ikaia is a changed man. How there is no malice left in him. Yet he carries the same memoires, he seems to recognise me. How can it not be the same man? This whole thing is nothing more than a ploy to get to power again. Also, he has to eat, doesn’t he? Are they trying to tell me he survives sucking dry hellchickens or something? I’m not buying that.
 
Just to be sure he didn’t recognise me this time, I put on this golden mask I found earlier on a cultist. I think it looks rather mysterious. I’m sure this will work, i could be any dwarf now. People in power don’t pay much close attention the common folk anyway.
 
We brought the carts to this Melina person and boy, was she cold about it. Typical. I would surely just as easily bring it all back, but my companions won’t let me, because politics.
 
We met Nori again, she seemed milder towards Caja, I guess time heals all wounds. Also she read here letters, which helped. Nori got a bit angry with me though, just because I misheard her calling Klav Ikaia a bloodwhore (bloodwar). That got her really riled up for some reason.
 
And then there he was, on his high horse, surrounding us with his followers. Luckily I felt protected by my mask, but just to be sure I stood a little bit behind Caja so I wouldn’t stand out. I think it worked. There was no time to waste and us and the lot of them went back over the ravine to High Hall. Nori stone shaped a bridge over the ravine. I guess that’s one way to do it. And i do like stone more than metal. But there is just some skill in making a wooden bridge with your hands that magic can never beat. Then we made our way to high hall, with our 40 vampire friends on our heels.