This week
Testing new equipment and making rumors about Bob seem unsubstantiated.
Test Subjects Wanted by Ulfgar
Today, the 30th of Aban, I, Ulfgar Firebeard, Armorsmith Extraordinaire… decided that going on another adventure would be a good break from working in the forge, and pitfighting between to help with my…. Temper.
When I got to the adventurers Guild I found four compatriots, Orla who I already fought with before and three new people. Cahir, an Elf, Castar, a Halfling with a strange blue tattoo of sorts, and Bob… Who is a farmer.
I, and I expect many of your readers as well, have heard stories about Bob, the danger he would be, his nicknames.. However I can tell you and your readers: There is nothing true about that! I will get back to that but I have seen that Bob is a brave hero and a skilled magic user guy. I saw him take a fierce attack of a giant, frenzied Jagya and simple walk it off.
We gathered and had word with Lornan, who informed him he did not know much more than the note said. We then went on our way to the Gate to go to this other world.
I have not a scared bone in my body of course, but I did feel a twinge of nerves when we arrived at the game and I saw a guard there who I had opposite me in the fighting pit this past week… and who came out the loser. He was, however a true professional, I am happy to report.
When we went through the gate we entered a world heavy with a forest, hot, humid. Why do I always get chosen for hot worlds? Or are all the worlds so much hotter then we know back at home? I may have to talk with the researchers about that. I was just happy not to have heavy armor like some of my new friends.
Up ahead we saw a Half-Elf standing, looking rather upset about something. He stood next to a pedestal, on which stood a chest. He was named Phann, and was the person who had put up the notice. He explained to us what we needed to do, what we had to test for them.
He then took out of the chest 5 sets of daggers, distributing them, and gave me some sort of trap to use. The chest actually did not want to let him go it seemed. It was called Chester and it seems, from what Phann said, Chester has sadly now been burned in a fire. I would have rather liked to purchase him, but was not given the chance.
We were to use the daggers, which can put even the greatest monster to sleep, it seems, to capture a creature which steals Eggs from other monsters on that world. The trap would allow us to capture a beast to better attack it with the daggers.
We were told about several creatures, in varying sizes and degree of veracity: The Jagy, Jagya, the Great Jagya, the Egg thief, and someone called Angela, or something. We were specifically told not to engage the last one.
As Phann left us we were approached by a feline creature, different from Jade, even more feline it seemed. She introduced herself als Felicia, the the ‘pawtner’ of Phann.She explained further what we had to do: Use the tools provided to capture the ‘egg thief’, and also to find 10 blue mushrooms and 10 fern-like plants. Those would be used to create potions, of which we each would get one as a reward. Any plants or mushrooms over the 10 we handed in would be rewarded with a gold piece.
She also showed us around the place, they were in a camp, with a solid campfire, good food, and some hunters hanging around.
However, we were warned to be back before sundown, and with sundown being 6 hours away we decided to swiftly get underway.
Along the way Orla and Bob already found a number of the fern like herbs, which was a good start. As we made our way through the forest to nearby hills where we might find caves - a good place to find the mushrooms- they continued to find ferns, and collecting those they managed to.
When suddenly two creatures came running out of the underbrush, attacking our group I felt the red haze go over me again. Next I really know I was standing over one sleeping creature as Castar started running after the other one.
After Orla tied up the beast, I pulled it up on my shoulder to bring with us and we continued on to the hills.
After arriving at the cave Orla and Bob went to work collecting the mushrooms they found, outside and inside. However as we got further into the cave and Castar threw a rock which was shining bright light into the darkness we suddenly heard half-snoring of a creature which might wake up any moment. A big creature by the sound of it.
Orla and Cahir went ahead silently to try and collect more mushrooms, but came back in a rush after another snort of the creature. We then decided this might be that Angela and we left the caves to search further for more of the ferns.
We decided to slowly go back but to look out for more mushrooms and ferns along the way. When we got to a clearing along the river there were a lot more ferns to be found. I was keeping an eye on a group of very large but apparently herbivorous creatures when there was suddenly a yell from Cahir. When I spun around to look I saw Bob standing up to a giant creature akin to the one on my shoulder, but with a mad look in it’s eyes. The creature attacked him and knocked him down, so of course I dropped the one on my shoulder and rushed to Bob’s aid! During the fight I did have the red haze again, but I do know Orla deployed the trap we had gotten and that we did our best to lure the monster into it. That did work but not before it ate the one that I had been carrying around, for nothing it now appears.
We decided to make a fire, try to signal the people at the camp to maybe get help get this monstrosity back there, and to have a rest for ourselves. I did feel pretty banged up and a lot better after the rest. A few more of those Felines came with a big cart, and proceeded to take our capture back to the camp. I must admit: I was sure they would just be telling people they had captured it, but on retrospect they seemed to be honest.
We decided not to go with the cart, but to take a slight other route back to increase the chance of finding more of the herbs and mushrooms if we could. While Bob and Orla again looked out for plants, and Cahir and me looked out for monsters, it was Castar who behind us bumped into some ostrich chicken parrot kind of creature, carrying an egg about as big as Castar! When he attacked it with his incredible magic the creature was finally sure we were a threat, and we had to fight it.
For some reason the red haze did not overtake me that time, and the fight seemed harder then normal. I decided to drink the elixer I bought from Doctor Vasilievski, which should have given me more rage and more power. However, it seemed to just be water with a flavor, and nothing happened. We attacked the creature with our combined might, Cahir, Orla and me getting up close, Bob and Castar staying at a distance. Finally, after it kicked me I sunk my dagger deep into it’s thigh, putting it to a peaceful sleep.
Carrying the creature together we returned to the camp where we delivered it, and were rewarded for both captures, as well as given a potion which would heal us each.
After taking a rest and a meal at the camp, and all of us returning the daggers like Phann told us to, we took our leave and returned back through the gate after Felicia opened it for us.
As you may understand, dear reader, I did go to have harsh words with the doctor, who assures me that he is not a cheating, lying…. Etc. Luckily he saw reason and gave me compensation, and I will try again with another of those elixers at a later time.
Test Subjects Wanted by Cahir
Despite my new luxurious and comfortable lifestyle, I developed a certain problem. I keep having the same dream over and over again. I wake up at night and notice that I am drenched in sweat. Finally, after waking up from this seemingly never ending dream I remember several things. I recall a vague silhouette of a person I believe to be a woman surrounded by books. I also see a large tree out of the window behind her. She turns around and tells me something. However, no matter how hard I think I can never remember what it is she says. Besides this I started to notice that my skills have been becoming a bit duller, due to my new comfortable lifestyle. I am not as quick and accurate anymore. The previous jobs have made my life a bit more comfortable, perhaps a bit too comfortable. I decided to fix this and hoped to forget about my repeating dream. For that reason, I stand here before the notice board. A certain job catches my eye, it is about testing some equipment which have been developed in another world. However, before going into the guilds office I wait until more adventurers are interested in the same offer. A bit time passes and I see several individuals interested in the job. Orla a human, Castar a halfling, Ulfgar a dwarf and Bob another human. I felt something strange from the person named Bob, who called himself a farmer. His magic felt a bit unstable so I decided to keep an eye out on him.
After getting more information from Lornan about a certain half-elf from the hunter’s guild who requested able bodies to test out some new equipment we went through the portal and arrived at our destination of interest. Leaving the portal, I immediately felt some kind of pressure, something was different in this plane. The weave, it feels a bit weird, a bit more primal but at the same time it has a more natural feel to it. Upon gathering our bearings, we notice that we arrived in some sort of jungle and our party spots the previously mentioned half-elf. This individual has silver gray colored shoulder length hair. Upon seeing us he introduces himself as Phan. He hastily gave us the equipment which we needed to test and told us about the herbs and mushrooms they require for their potions. After taking a mental note that this person is a bit of a prick and not any fun at all, as his name suggests, we saw a bipedal cat the size of a halfling who introduces herself as Felicia, a Felyne. Seeing this strange creature, I remember that I heard of a fellow adventurer who runs a circus. He would probably be quite interested in this creature, I wonder how much he would offer for one… Sorry for digressing. She tells us about the specific materials they require for their potions and where to find them and the application of the weapons. Apparently, there are Jaggi’s, Great Jaggi’s and an egg thief roaming in this jungle. We were also warned not to attract the Anjanath as it would be a quick way to reach our eternal rest. The final warning we were given was that we should return before dusk, as more ferocious beasts appear at night.
Whilst making our way to some caves where we would find blue mushrooms, we see several of the herbs which also were requested. Bob being the farmer he said he is handled the harvesting of the plants. I still do not trust this guy so I keep him under surveillance. While I was surprised and distracted by Bob’s expertise regarding this field Orla notices some animal tracks and we immediately enter a fight with two Jaggi’s. We make quick work of them, putting one asleep with our new equipment. Unfortunately, the other one ran away. With Ulfgar carrying the unconscious Jaggi we continue with our quest for plants. Having finally reached our destination I can see that the bulk of the party is more interested in the blue mushrooms. Amateurs. Only Ulfgar and I myself seem to be interested in potential dangers from the beasts. Of course, with my amazing senses I noted that everything was “fine”.
Upon entering the cave we harvested more blue mushrooms, however deeper into the cave it becomes a bit darker. Castar being a halfling with many tricks up his sleeve has a solution for this, one which almost cost us our lives. He throws an illuminated rock deep into the cave. As the rock goes quite a way into the cave, I note that Castar’s throwing skills are quite good for someone of his size. However, after the rock lands and elicits a nice thudding sound it is answered by a muffled grumble from a very large sounding beast. Now we know that the Anjanath is residing in this cave. Despite that Orla and I decide to sneak further in the cave to fill our quota of blue mushrooms. I begin to feel like I am finally getting my edge back as we manage to harvest more mushrooms.
Upon leaving we decided to head back whilst collecting the last couple of herbs required for the job. We stumble upon a riverbed with large herbivore like animals with cross shaped heads. They seem uninterested in us as they appear to be herbivores. While Bob moves to collect more herbs from the edges of the riverbed, I notice something in the water. Even though the guy seems a bit daft he seems to have grown on me I quickly yell at Bob to watch out and get back. Finally, the large beast emerges from the water and we see its ginormous form, it appears to be a frenzied large Jaggi. The water still dripping from its enormous body it lunges at Bob. After a fierce fight we manage to subdue the beast with our given equipment.Having subdued this beast, we were at a loss at how we should transport this large creature. Bob having a sudden moment of enlightenment suggested to create a bonfire to signal the camp. After sending the smoke signal we heard a certain noise coming from behind several trees. It was a cart being pulled by several Felynes. They seemed to be prepared for such occasions as they, to my surprise, swiftly loaded the beast on the cart and disappeared out of sight.
Finally, after collecting everything we decided to head back to the camp whilst still looking for extra herbs. With Ulfgar and me at the front keeping an eye out for beasts nothing could stay unnoticed from our gaze. Bob and Orla stayed in the center still looking for plants and Castar was covering our rear. Castar in the back being really “alert” noticed the so-called egg thief, which upon closer inspection seems to be a beast called Kulu-Ya-Ku. Having this mental itch of using my body I try to engage in melee combat, however my body not being used to these sudden movements cannot keep up. As a punishment for my failed attempt at knocking the beast unconscious it seems to have a vendetta against me as it lunges at my face and rips a piece from it. Eventually this beast is also subdued with our nice sleeping daggers and we transport it back to the camp.
After returning to the camp we find Felicia and finish up our transaction for the herbs, blue mushrooms and the two unconscious beasts we brought back. After finishing our job Orla walks up to me and offers to fix up my face, she says that it needs further treatment otherwise it will still leave a scar. I decided to keep the scar as a reminder to never forget the humiliation of this job. Leaving this strange jungle and heading back to the guild I start to reminisce about today and my previous quests and realize that maybe having companions isn’t such a bad thing. Having these new thoughts and wondering what the future will hold for me I decided to take a well-deserved rest.
This night I again saw the same dream I mentioned before. But it was not exactly as I remembered, it felt more real more vivid. I felt as if I was physically there. I now noticed that we were in some sort of library or archive. Looking out the window I saw white horses grazing around a black tree which looked gigantic as if its branches reached till the heavens and its roots went as far as the depths of hell. I was mesmerized by this view. Finally, I noticed the figure of a women. This person wore a flowing, traditional white robe and has long, flowing white hair. Upon my gaze this figure turned around. She wore a mask which only covered the top part of her face. She said to me "Power, you shall have. Glory, you may seek, but as you travel, I would hear every bit of forgotten lore you stumble across. And in the end, your story will rest on my shelves..." And then I woke up. Finally, I knew where my powers come from, what my dream meant, and I knew what I had to do.
Signed ~ Cahir Isengrim, Child of the Heather Valley and follower of Mergen the Archivist
On the next issue:
Diplomatic Connections
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