Markas Virnala
Markas Virnala (a.k.a. Ghost Puncher)
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Tall, lean with an athletic build.
Identifying Characteristics
The first thing you would notice about Markas when you see him is the completely Grey hair that is at odds with the youthful complexion of the Half-Elf. Combined with fair skin and misty blue eyes lend an almost mystical aura to his appearance, that is immediately undercut but the cheesy grin he wears and his down to Earth manner.
Markas has been marked my his adventures, evidenced by a series of scars, the most visible of which is a cut on his left cheek and a burn on the left side of his neck that disappears below his robes.
Underneath the robes, he has large claw marks across his chest and down his back, several puncture marks across his torso and dozens of tiny cuts across his arms and legs.
Finally, Markas has a single tattoo on his left arm of a Hydra head
Apparel & Accessories
Markas is generally seen wearing his customary Robes. Dark Grey with a subtle yellow scale-like sheen to them.
This is mostly concealed however under the array of weapons he carries with him, including a custom made Falchion and Spear. The most interesting (and charismatic) of of his possessions is Hoop.
Hoop is a sentient plate Markas found early into his adventures in Kantas and now travels with them after making a promise to help them.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Much of his early life was spent living and working in a Monastery in a remote corner of the world. He had become well respected and had began to settle down into committed relationship there with an Elven woman named Aila. He was fairly content with his life until Aila announced she needed to leave but refused to say why. The resulting argument see her leave without him and soon the life he knew was gone.
Prompting him to leave out to find her again, Markas has spent years travelling, seeing many things and visiting many places until finally sailing to Kantas where he has since settled into the life of an adventurer, focusing on the new bonds he is making instead of the old.
Employment
Adventurer for Hire
Painter
Accomplishments & Achievements
The most recent achievements have been in aid to the people of K'ul Goran during the war with the Giants, working with others in saving the people of Jarvenol during it's fall, exposing the Cambion spy in Zot Goran and freeing Koriah, the Storm giant leader from her imprisonment and helping end the war.
He is also caught the Displacer Kitten in during the Amaranthine games (admiteglly with the help of Laurel, Pieni and Sperren)
Failures & Embarrassments
Markas has attempted and failed many things.
Mental Trauma
The first event to seriously affect Markas was the departure of Aila and the end of that chapter of his life. This was the event that triggered him to start travelling.
Life on the road and his early steps into the life of an adventurer provided a series of other defining moments that have stuck with him, including almost dying of starvation, accidentally causing the death of another and witnessing the death of a friend.
His arrival in Kantas however is where the majority of his trauma has arrived from, facing multiple near death experiences, being taunted by visions of his past and most recently, performing Euthanasia.
Morality & Philosophy
Markas is a strong believer in doing the right thing. He isn't delusional to think that will always be easy and has learnt the hard way that it can mean doing something he doesn't want to do.
He also understands that "the Right thing" is more often a subjective thing, one persons right being another's wrong. Often in those situations there is no singular answer is going to make everyone happy.
More-over, he believes in being kind and forgiving, irrespective of another persons background or manner. Historically, this has even been the case where the person in question may have been fighting him moments before.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Markas' initial motivation for travelling was to find a loved one who had left abruptly, but years looking and never finding any sign of them has dwindled that motivation. Since arriving to Kantas and officially becoming an adventurer, His main motivation has been to find his own place in the world rather than holding onto the past, making sure he can protect his new friends and put some Good into the world.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Markas has started to make a name for himself as a regular adventurer and as such has formed strong bonds with the many of the adventurer's in the Dawnlands. In particular, he has developed a particular affinity to Sheryl the Fey-touched, Big Blue the Firbolg Florist, Bogg The Halfling Rogue, Ghesh the "Walking wall of Destruction" and Quick White Paw, the Tabaxi Monk.
The closest of those bonds, however, is to Baine Cinderwood, the Large Half-Orc Fighter who came to Kantas around the same time as he did and the person he has spent most time with, both during and out of adventures.
Romantically, Markas has started relationship with Sunday, one of the earliest adventurer's to come to the Dawnlands
Handsome Half-Elf with Grey hair and a talking plate, exploring the world and trying to do some good.
Character Location
Alignment
Neutral Good
Birthplace
Dogdale, Faerun
Children
Current Residence
Gilded Mirror, Daring Heights
Gender
Male
Eyes
Misty Blue
Hair
Grey
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Fair
Height
6'1"
Weight
148lbs
Sunkissed Za'Suul
4th Entry from the Journal of Markas Virnala
Shopping, Tourism and Crossing Criminal Contacts
I never expected, after just a few weeks, I'd already be sailing off again. It's been an interesting week.
We were having our usual drinks at the seashank. Bain and Bogg were still looking after the young Halfling Urso, still drinking the lumpy milk Jedd has behind the bar... I've still not been brave enough to try it myself.
We met a few other adventurers that night too, who ended up joining us on this trip: a shady looking guy called Lem with a kind of nervous disposition. He was missing 2 fingers on one hand and Urso relentlessly quizzed him on it. The other was an interesting guy... tall man with black robes and a scarf over his face, with purple hair. Mystigon was pretty chatty and.... unpredictable, but he seems capable of handling himself.
Anyway, a few weeks earlier, a couple of ships arrived in Port Ffirst and we heard were about to leave for their home, Kul'Goran. None of us had been before so sounded like a good opportunity for a little exploring. Plus we heard it was mainly populated by some exotic sounding races I've not heard of before. Since coming here, I've already seen something I've never come across before, like G'Lorth the frog person we worked with before or even Fraeser, the Turtle man I came here with, but I cant help but want to see!
We headed off to the port and found the ships packing up the last of their goods ready for sailing. Mysty (or Scarfy, as Bain has taken to calling him) managed to get us on board to speak with the captain about stowing away but he wasnt very generous about it. Even slapped Mysty at one point! Gave me a Bain a laugh. Captain Alexandross was a huge minotaur with a gruff and hard way of talking. Wanted us to pay for passage but doubled the rate if we "got in his way". A few of the others tried to reason with him about helping man the ship but he was adamant he wanted paying.... until I suggested I could paint a portrait of him that is. He wanted to see what I could do so I showed him one of my old paintings of a girl I did back before coming to Kantas and he was pretty impressed. Enough he gave us all free travel if I could make him look good, with a few similar girls around him.
I spent most of the 3 days working on the painting and teaching Bogg some new words in Elvish. Everyone else had to try and stay out of the way for the trip but I was pretty much allowed freedom of the ship so long as I had a brush in my hand. Few times the captain actually spotted me just milling around but managed to swing that i was getting inspiration each time. I was even getting him to pose at points! Mysty tried messing with the painting right as I was finishing a session by messing the captains hair as I was so focused on what I was doing I accidentally put it in but I managed to fix it up still. Shame to give it up in a way, turned out pretty good in the end... Still, it did get us free travel and I have some of the practice sketches still.
Za'Suul is an interesting place. The captain gave us a brief history of the place. The country borders the plane of Air. It's very sunny but also extremely windy. The whole place has a constant and subtle melodic humming sound that comes from these large holes cut into some of the larger houses. The houses are spotted on steep hills leading up from the sea, while the walls are covered in murals. It really is a beautiful place. I can see myself coming back sometime....
And then there are the people. It's fair to say our group stood out alot here. I've seen Aarakocra before. Ekani I came here with was one but this place had all kinds around. I'm somewhat used to Minotaurs now too, seeing a few minotaur ghosts and of course Captain Alexandross. I've never seen Tabaxi before though! Cat folk with lean and agile looking frames. They were common in Za'Suul and kept giving us interesting looks. We met one with puffy white fur as we left the ship called three-steps who was very interested in us. He even stuck around to give us a tour through the market and led us to the place the captain recommended. There were also others, Genasi I think they were called? A mix of Genie from the Plane of air and the locals. They seemed to be blue and.... wispy? I'm not sure how to describe it. Urso seemed to be in his element at any rate, trying to grab hold of everyones tails and play with their fur.... Bain had to 'relieve' him of walking privileges again!!
We spent most of our time shopping. Three-Steps showed us around the market streets, amidst ongoing glances and questions from the locals about why we didnt have any fur. We tried the local food and Mysty decided to buy an entire crate of a strong drink they made there. Ended up trying to get Lem to carry it but didnt pan out very well. Bain and Bogg dropped into what looked like a potion shop for a while and I watched a Tabaxi painting a scene of the city for a little bit. Even picked up one for Hoop.
As relaxing as our day was, our night was the opposite. Seems even places like this have their share of activity.
While drinking in the inn (Regis Dormis, or "Reggies Dorms" as I told Urso) we heard a scream from outside, somewhere nearby. We all rushed out and looked for where it came from. What we found was a man dying.... Mysty rushed in to try and save him just as an arrow came out of nowhere and finished him off. I turned and saw the figure of someone in a nearby roof, turn and jump off! We headed over to chase them down while Lem and Mysty stayed behind but the person managed to get away, using some kind if wingsuit. We did see something like it in town but didnt realise this is what is was.
When we got back, Mysty and Lemwere being questioned by the local guards. It obviously didnt look good, the new people in tow being found with a dead body but we managed to make our case and they let us go. Later on, Mysty told us he found a note on the body, signed from someone called Gordio, mentioning a meeting.
Urso disappeared off downstairs to talk to the inn owner (who he was convinced was called Reggie). From what Bogg said, after he went to look for him, he was trying to say he was looking for his dad, Gordio.... for a kid who doesnt seem able to read, he sure is devious. Especially since they found there is a pretty notorious guy by the same name who owns a club in town, which we naturally decided to visit.
We find the club and can hear the loud rhythmic drumming from inside, but we were stopped by another large minotaur on the door, wanting a fee to enter. Mysty paid up and disappeared in but the rest of us got held up by Bogg and Urso trying (and failing) to sneak in. When we eventually got in, we saw what all the noise was…. The place was crazy! So many people dancing and drinking. There were drummers in each corner of the place, playing huge drums in a fast rhythmic pattern. We spotted Mysty already seeming to reach a decision with the barman about getting to see the boss. He decides to take Bain and me in, so long as we leave our weapons. I managed to convince him I had a bad knee and keep my staff at least though, not that it mattered in the end… Bogg also managed to get in.
We were led through a curtain to a private area with a huge desk and high chair behind it. In the chair was an Aarokocra, another Seagull like Ekani, except he had an eye patch and was some expensive looking clothes. I didn’t really trust him from the off set but it was a lead for us to follow…. Mysty did his normal and tried talking through but wasn’t getting anywhere so I stepped in and also got nowhere….. Then Bogg crept out from Bain's clothes(?) and started talking gibberish to him, but he seemed to get and responded in gibberish…. Me and Bain ended up just watching confused while they seemed to talk about fruits…
Suddenly Bogg starts ushering us outside, picking up Urso still questioning Lem about his fingers on the way.
When we get outside, he tells us we now have a job, to clear out a 'Guardian' from the club owners new house so he can get to something inside? It all seems very shady…. But we agreed to at least go and check things out to see what the deal is with this house. I Don't trust this Aarakocra… The fact his name was on the letter we found ties him to the murder, (I'm still not sure why Myst didn’t tell the guards about that….) and then his whole…. Energy? Was just very off… As we left, the bouncer from outside came over to us to give us a key to the house. At least it looks like he actually bought the house.
The house itself was one of the large ones with the singing wind holes in but was all shuttered up. Before we could actually make a plan of action, Urso was at the door already knocking loudly but there was no answer. We decided to head in and start looking around but the place looked like it hadn't been lived in for a long time…. Sheets over all the furniture, dust everywhere. Then we found a trap door in a cupboard, leading to a basement where this guardian was supposed to be. Once Again, before we could come up with a plan, Myst makes the decision to go ahead without us, turning invisible so we cant even stop him… at this point, we may as well follow, so we did.
The basement was one large room, lined with suits of armour, weapons and large paintings covering the bare walls. We all sneak in and get a good look around, still no sign of Mysty. That is until Bain came tumbling in, making a racket. That seemed to alert the guardian who suddenly showed up…
It started with a howling of wind, until a small twisting gust of wind, visible for the dust it picked up, started to form and grow up into one of the suits of armour, filling and controlling its form like a man made of wind! I would love to have had the time to draw it, I've seen a few ghosts already but not a sentient wind. It wasn't going to give us the chance however as it picked up a flail and started heading over to us.
The ensuing fight got a bit hectic. For my part, I stayed back near the entrance using my new Longbow to chip away at it, while Bain did what Bain does best and went in to smash things. Mysty shouted from wherever he was that the wind armour was trying to talk to us but all we could hear was the wind it was kicking up. It wouldv'e been nice to try and see if we could talk to it but it was already too late. Once Bain took a Flail hit from it, he stood up in some kind of rage and launched himself at it. I'm starting to think 'Phil' has something going on there…. I only ever see that Rage when he gets hurt using that thing….
Urso rushed in to help Bain after throwing these magical darts (they look like childish fish drawings?), while Lem joined the melee as well. Myst appeared and decided to help us take it down in the end too, seeing there was no stopping Bain… it wasn’t long before Bain finished it off, taking the helmet clean off the suit of armour, dissipating the winds and leaving us in silence.
We decided not to follow up with the Aarakocra from the club. Instead, we took what we could from the basement and left, returning to Regie's place (I can't help but call it that now too!). I don’t imagine he was very happy with that decision but we left for a home a few days later so he never really had the opportunity to do much about it…. Hopefully I wont run into him next time I come back here. There was another one of those winged suits of Leather armour in the basement I managed to get hold of. It’s a bit cumbersome for me but I'm wondering if I can't get a new set of clothes made to match it that will allow me to move still. I'm not used to wearing armour. Bogg managed to nab me a few of the larger paintings too! I might keep one and give it to Hoop for the room, along with the small one I bought in the market.
Overall, Hoop was pretty bored with the journey to Za'Suul…. Not surprising for a few days at sea though. They were very interested in the Tabaxi though! Neither of us had seen one before, let alone an entire city of them before. I managed to get an old decorative suit of armour from the basement of the large house for the collection too which they seemed happy with.
When we got back into Port Ffirst though, a Fighting Pit had opened up! Thought it'd be a good opportunity to earn a little more money, maybe see if I can get those custom cloths made up. I have an idea for a new weapon I'd like to get made too… I entered my name anyway and made a little bit of money, maybe enough for some new gear. I heard of a Smith in Daring Heights who is supposed to be really good so tomorrow I'm heading off there to see him about this new Sword…. I decided to take a little wager with Hoop about the fighting pit though, I was confident I could win all my fights…. Turns out I was wrong. Now I've had to alter my design of the sword to include their name… Honestly, I don't mind, but they seem happy with themselves about it.
by Anthony Reynolds
Prancing in the Moonlight
(3rd journal entry of Markas Virnala)
Another Adventure!!!!
Hoop and I were having drinks downstairs with Bain, Bogg, Yvonna and Doddil when... a muscular child entered the bar....
Urso, a very young Halfling. He looks like hes been living rough. Long messy and matted hair, dirty torn clothes. We see some young kids around town sometimes so this was all fairly normal. What was strange was he looked like a miniature body builder! To top it off, he drank the milk in the bar! It's more solid than liquid!
Around the same time, another halfling entered, this one clearly an adult. Laurel had a flowery headband and a scarf covered most of her face but there was a bright red showing under the headband. Honestly, we thought Urso was her child to start with but they just conveniently showed up together.
Jed pointed out a new job poster on the door for us to follow, and the the 2x halfling seemed interesting enough to keep up with us. Honestly, I'm glad they did.
Someone called Igor had a break-in 2 days ago and wanted help getting to the bottom of it. Honestly, walking to this guys house should have been a simple ordeal, but on the way we learned Yvonna Carries an assortment of small animals at all times, sailors apparently are quite partial to trying to adopt squirrels and Urso is quite adept at building game traps on the fly. That's of course not accounting for Bain basically adopting Urso, who in turn immediately starts to mimic his new father figure.
Igor turned out to be a centaur living in a tree. This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to come across leaving the monastery.
It was a sad story when we arrived though. Igor was a careful, almost timid character but helps out on the docks so is generally well liked. He came home 2 days ago to find his house torn apart and his friends (Fey sprites I think he called them?) Had been.... torn apart. Bitten and clawed to death. Our makeshift detective group had our first case.
The killing of the sprites was a messy affair bit otherwise the only think taken was some Wolfsbane, not a common herb, that can be used in potions, poisons and some magical applications. We spent some time looking around but didnt find anything else definitive, until Doddil pointed out some foot prints and Laurel actually managed to talk with some small birds who said they saw a woman enter the house while Igor was out. The foot prints where animal but seemed to switch to human.... that with some loose fur found around and the injuries Igor's friends had suffered, we started to have some suspicions about the killer...
We traced the steps towards town, where they end by a small brewery, with a sign saying they were closed. 2x ladies, a gnome and a halfling, were inside cleaning up a large mess. Once we mentioned the previous robbery and that "Bogg and Co., detective agency" were looking into it, they opened up, saying they had just been burgled themselves... the brewery was trashed but all that was taken was some alchemy supplies and fragrant oils. When we questioned them, they did recognise the woman we were looking for, and told us of a prominent scar on her face and neck.
We agreed it was sounding like a curse. Someone who was trying to free themselves of a problem.... the deaths of the Sprites may have been an unfortunate accident.... without any other leads other than this mystery woman, we head into town to the local wizard for help.
"The Urso & Co., detective agency" introduced ourselves to Ernetta Jones, the wizard in town running a shop called 'Pretty Parchments and all things arcane'. It was a fascinating shop but she seemed a little too interested in Hoop for my liking.... Hoop of course was just looking for a good time! Bogg managed to set off an alarm but it looks like he talked his way out of it.... he really does remind me of Hugo.... Urso meanwhile is thoroughly emulating Bain, to the point that Bain is trying to reign him in! Did not expect to see so much restraint there! It was quite funny to see Bain take away Urso's walking privileges and carrying him for a while.
Ernetta also knew the woman, seeing her a few days ago, looking for the means to make a cure for Lycanthropy, confirming our suspicions. We of course had to pay for the privilege and then for a location spell but we finally got a hard lead on where to find this person, out in the swamps outside town. Laurel confirmed tonight was a full moon so if we were going to do something about this, it needed to be soon. We agreed that we would try to help if we could, considering they appeared to be trying to cure themselves anyway.... Bain was just happy to be fighting a werewolf.
So we ventured out and eventually found a campsite. The swamp was an awful place... the air so thick and soupy... I was having trouble breathing most of the time. Maybe I should see a cleric for some help? Anyway.... we tried to sneak up but something happened, a branch snapped maybe? Instead of us sneaking up on it, we came face to face with it....
What stood before us was a huge grey wolf like creature.... I'd never seen a werewolf before but I can see why people tell horror stories about them.... its face was still stained with blood and its matted fur showed off its muscular frame.
Urso surprised us by suddenly flinging a small ball of fire at the beast.... only to miss and start a fire instead. Things get a little hazy after this.... I remember attacking with the others Nd being surrounded by fire and ice.... Laurel transformed into an animal and summoned a beam of light from the sky.... I do remember shoving the creature back, tripping it over Laurel into a burning Bush (thanks to Urso!).
The next thing I remember though is waking up on the floor. Laurel was back up and the werewolf was asleep. My clothes were covered in blood and hanging off of me. Yvonna was also now looking.... hairy? They had been infected with the lycanthropy after being bitten while I had apparently nearly been cut in 2 by the beasts claws.... this is the second time I've nearly died here. I am thankful that Laurel was here this time but I think I need to start thinking of someway to better protect myself....
Anyway, we surrounded the sleeping werewolf and collective beat it into submission. We didnt want to kill it but try to contain it. Laurel managed to restrain it while we finished the cure they were making. I felt confident I got it right so we split to mixture between Yvonna and the werewolf. Thankfully, it looks like we were.... Yvonna returned to normal and we watched as the werewolf slowly transformed back into the pale woman.
In the end, we opted to leave the woman in the care of Igor. It felt wrong taking her to that authorities... she had killed and stolen but I believe she never intended to kill anyone and she was trying to cure herself....now she wasnt a werewolf, she shouldn't be a danger anymore and Igor is a kind person. He was suffering the loss of his friends but I think he will still help her.... I hope anyway..... he seemed happy with our efforts, paying us more than I originally expected to get. The 2x ladies from the brewery gave us a small reward each as well for solving the case and returning their alchemy kit.
Now I have some more funds, I should probably replace these tattered clothes. I might try to find something for Hoop as well. I'm sure they'll be happy with Werewolf fur but finding something shiny cant hurt. I've also managed to get hold of some Wolfsbane for myself now as well. Might come in handy.
Thoughtful Presents
(2nd Entry from the journal of Markas Virnala)
I've decided to keep up this journal now. Maybe not daily, some days are still a bit slow but it might be useful to keep track of what goes on here...
I've been staying in Port Ffirst for around a week now, following my initial arrival and the whole ghosts under the sea thing. It's been fairly quiet since though. New people are showing up still while others seem to be passing through. Honestly I was getting a little bored until I found a notice from the owner of a bar in the nicer side of town called the Flourished Hook. Apparently his brother had brought some items back from his travels and wanted some volunteers to help assess them.... not really adventurous sounding, I know but i was getting bored sitting in the seedy bar of old town. Now it's over and and done with, it's actually funny thinking back how monotonous it seemed this morning.
This was my first time really coming into the newer side of town and everything looks.... expensive. I mean the bar had a huge doorway, ornate decorations, velvet curtains. VELVET CURTAINS! My room barely has a solid floor!!!!
Much like my first adventure, there was an interesting mix of people here.
The first I noticed was Bain, this time missing his friend Bogg (apparently he was off doing something about bagpipes?) It was nice to have a familiar face. I knew he was handy in a fight and the opportunity to work again was a good one. Hes very straight forward and likes to hit things but sometimes that's all you need. Our time together seems to be paying off since we now have our own unique handshake (I am absolutely going to show this off to Bogg)
Bain was being classic Bain and 'enforcing' his friendship on what looked like a walking corpse carrying a huge shield. Kaliel, a very serious and... sickly looking human carrying a huge shield. He was with a teifling called Nikja. She looked quite intimidating at first (purple skin, white hair and armour that looked a bit like feathers) but she actually seemed very sweet. Clumsy, but sweet. Kaliel comes across as a man of strong principles and has a strong reverence for his faith (and seeing him call on it in a fight, I'm starting to understand why he does!). I think he is mentoring Nikja and offers her lots of advice and insight, meanwhile she seems to almost worship him, even putting her own safety on the line trying to protect him.
Then we had two newer faces in town. I know I've only here a week or so as well but even I can spot the new people. They seem to miss a certain... something. Like a grimy look you seem to get hanging around in old town....
The first was yvonna, A gnome who's apparently been sleeping rough in the woods outside of town. The second was another human, a red head called Edward. I think hes a wizard but not like I've seen before... we had a few used to stop by the monastery before I left but they didn't really seem anything like Edward....
And then there is G'Lorth.... we heard him first, a high pitched kind if blubbering I can only describe like flatulence. Then we saw a large purple frog come running round the corner playing a trumpet (the noise we heard), followed by 4 other frogs carrying a wooden bathtub. In the bathtub was as a gold coloured frog doing this strange delicate wave as if he is waving to crowds of fans around him. I should point, it was only us there....
G'Lorth is unlike anyone I have ever met. I think he believes he is actually famous or something. Any situation that arises he is 'in charge'. Any idea or solution is 'his idea'. Constantly referred to us as 'his associates'....Honestly, he is a very accomplished fighter and uses a similar fighting style to my own, but i think its his ego and the idea of being adored that stops him becoming a danger to everyone around him
Anyway, the door eventually opens and flustered man with a strange accent let's us in. He wasn't making much sense but Kaliel managed to get him to the point: his brother had returned from a trip from some islands and caves to the south and brought back a hoard of items, many of which were magical. They had hired a local wizard to identify most of them but there was three in particular they wanted our help with: A chest, a compass and a plate.
This is, however, where things got interesting.... we were told the brother was impatient to get these checked and took it upon himself to look at them. As a result, the brother was now "acting strange" and had become violent. He has been locked up ever since as a result. Meanwhile, the chest had seemed to take someone.... no idea how or where but they were gone. Our task was to get the brother back in one piece and learn what we can about these objects in the meantime.
We found Voros barricaded in the basement. The guards on the door wouldn't even entertain helping us. Bain ended up removing all the piles furniture after I tried (and failed). We posted up on the door, ready to open and defend ourselves when Yvonna decided to look through the keyhole.... just as Voros kicked his way out. There as a brief struggle before he moved his way through going straight for Kaliel and actually managed to jam a dagger into his shoulder, just as Kaliel cast a spell to hold him in place.
Then things started to get weird.
We watched as two ghostly forms leaked out of him, leaving his body to fall to the floor and we were faced with another Minotaur ghost and another frog like G'Lorth. They tried the same possession trick as last time but everyone managed to hold their own. Edward used some kind of magic to make a hand try grab one of the ghosts underwear before telling us they were immune to bullying? I'm still not really sure what that's supposed to mean.... Nikja and Kaliel used magic I've never seen before that the ghosts really seemed to hate.
All in all the fight was short lived but we did get a good look at everyone's capabilities. Yvonna also seems to be a monk, like G'Lorth and me, however I think the frog has an ace up his sleeve we don't... as he hit Voros when he first attacked us, it was almost as if his veins suddenly started to throb and change colour.... if I run into G'Lorth again, I think I'll avoid getting into a fist fight with him. Kaliel and Nikja both use magic that seems to drive off the undead, but our later fight shows there is much more to it than this, and Edward's style of magic seems to be based around pranks of a sort....he is an odd fellow but I'm not sure what else he has up his sleeve yet. Nikja checked out Voros and found the compass on him but I didn't catch what Edward said about it.
[Scribbled at side of page] MORE GHOSTS! Is every job with Bain going to be involve ghosts!? Maybe we should start our own business busting them...also, why minotaurs???
Kaliel was pretty focused on getting the 'objectives' dealt with so took the unconscious Voros back upstairs with Bain and Nikja (Nikja actually fell down the stairs once or twice... she really is clumsy), meanwhile G'Lorth and I checked out the room he came from. Thinking back on it now, I think G must've known about the plate. He asked me to help him reach it but just as I was about to grab it I saw it had a face. A FACE! More than that, it was actually talking to us.
Hoop, as we found it liked to be called, I think was just a bit bored being stuck on the shelf. They were very keen to talk with us but didn't know much about the ghosts and mentioned Soros and Voros were only asking Hoop to reveal their secrets (I asked if they would prefer he or she. Hoop replied they are simply everything). Otherwise Hoop spoke of a room and a previous owner called Kresht, then the face wiped away and was replaced with a view of a room with chairs, shelves and a fire place.
G'Lorth pulled his signature move and convinced me to touch the plate. Lucky for me Hoop seemed to like me and let me. As I did, my hand went through and I could feel the warmth of the fire inside. I continued and eventually find myself IN the room! The others just watched from outside, like looking through a window but Hoop didn't seem to be able to hear me inside the room. There was a lot in there and I haven't been back yet to check it out but I did see an assortment of weapons and books in there.
I climbed back out and decided to take Hoop with me. They are far too interesting to leave on a shelf like that. Plus they really seem to miss their previous owner. I'm thinking if I take Hoop, they wont be so bored and maybe I can even find Kresht again. When Kaliel came back down, he seemed annoyed I touched Hoop, let alone actually climbed into Hoop.
With one brother rescued and two artefacts retrieved, we headed upstairs to the chest that 'took' people. What we found was an open chest in an empty room. I stayed back, holding Hoop up to give them a view of what's going on while the others checked it out and the chest just opened and into nothingness... just seemingly a black pit.... the group decided, since I had already been through one dimensional portal today, I should try jumping in (I wasn't impressed) but before we could do much a huge chain whipped out, grabbed Edward and pulled him in. The next thing I knew we were rushing across the room and jumping in ourselves.
Everything went black then suddenly I hit a hard floor, looked up and saw a huge red humanoid creature, draped in chains with one leading off holding onto.... another creature that looked exactly the same, only in a panic. It seems Edward is also able to change his form.
The others (excluding Yvonna) soon followed me in and we began a tough battle with the thing. Everything happened so fast I cant even remember everything straight, it's like flashes in my mind. G'Lorth punching and dodging.... Bain cutting down with his huge sword.... Kaliel turned into an Angel. AN ANGEL!!!
It was crazy....
We managed to beat down what we later heard was a chain devil? There was a couple of monstrous looking dogs turn up as well but they didn't last too long without the Devil. Then out of nowhere, Yvonna falls into the cave, missing the entire ordeal....
We now found ourselves stuck in this cave. We spent some time looking around but the only thing we really came across was a strange circle with 4 pillars around it. There was some experimenting around it to get it to work but none of it really made much sense to me. Once the magic users in our group worked it out it, opened a portal back into the room.
Kaliel wasn't very happy accepting one of the magical items we were promised but seemed to cave when everyone else still wanted to. Either way this is where we split up and went our separate ways again. For myself, I decided to give Hoop a tour of old town before heading back to my room. They like to talk a lot, but I like Hoop so far.
Heartache Point
(1st Entry from The Journal of Markas Virnala)
It's been a tiring journey across the sea for the last few months but it has been made a little easier by my new travelling companions…. Very interesting people! When I left the Monastery I never expected the world to be so colourful and vibrant!
Two in particular I have started to develop a friendship with; Ekani, A large birdman who looks remarkably like a seagull, and Fraeser (pronounced Freezer… I have questioned him at length about this spelling and pronunciation but he seems adamant), a Turtle man! This new land will be a new adventure for the three of us so we have agreed to stick together, at least to begin with.
We arrived in what the locals call 'Old Town' and the three of us were pointed to a rundown bar/tavern…. Honestly, I'm not sure it could truly be called either. The place had a god awful smell and seemed to be being held up with its own grime. The cost of the journey here however took up most of the coin I had put together so we opted to stay here, at least until we make ourselves some money. It's been almost a week since we stayed here now and I'm sure my clothes still smell of the place….
It was here we stumbled our way into my first adventure!
The room we found ourselves in was full of the salty sailors, drowning their earning away, similar to those we sailed with on the way here. The proprietor of the place was an old retired sailor, by the name of Jedd. I don’t think I have ever seen someone so….. Well, decayed! He was missing most of his teeth, was doubled over with a curved spine to the point of almost being folded in half and seemed to be covered in the same grime that covered everything else here, yet the people there seemed to respect him (to a degree at least)
Of particular interest around the room where what turned out to be our fellow adventurers;
Baine, A towering Half-Orc weillding a massive sword and long black braids. A loud character but friendly enough, especially once he's had a few drinks in him.
Bogg, A halfling in a tatty cloak, travelling with Baine. The pair seem to know each other well and bounce off of each other a lot. He rather reminds me of Hugo from back in the Monastery….
Maturin, Another Half-Elf (honestly, I was relieved to see another Half-Elf so soon into this journey). He seems to have a history being a sailor of some sort.
Dóddil, A Dwarf with blue skin and a seemingly cold feel around him (Honestly, I thought he was seriously ill when I first saw him….)
The night wore on; a mix of drinking, shouting and stories. Stories of Lost ships, Mermaids, Giant sea turtles (apparently a distant cousin of Fraeser's by the name of Fridge), bloody ghosts and lost treasures…. I enjoyed the stories but some were clearly not true…. Ekani shared a drink with Baine that looked… questionable. I'm sure it was this drink that led to Baine violently throwing up outside while his smaller companion held his long braids out of the way (the pair really are inseparable).
The shenanigans aside, the night eventually led to what I had been looking for; Adventure!
'Seaweed' Stefan, a strange looking man with pale skin and 2x small horns interrupted a story Jedd was telling and shared his story of a lost treasure, a princess of air(?) who went missing and her lost love, hinting at ghosts, mystery and riches squirreled away in some forbidden place….
Needless to say we all were interested and when he offered us the opportunity to earn some money, we collectively agreed to sail with him for this 'forbidden' place, enticing another Halfling captain in the Bar (Nuvros) to take us there. And so we had our destination. An area of dead sea Stefan called Heartache Point.
We met in the morning at the old town docks, somewhat delayed by Fraeser trying to 'check-out' of our lodgings. We gathered together and Stefan showed us how he could help us during this trip. I thought he looked odd before. He pulled down part of his shirt and revealed a series of green marking covering his body. He asked us to hold hands and he began to do… something! All I noticed was the green markings over his body begin to shift and change, grow and shrink as a strange feeling took over us, almost like a choking at first. He had gifted us the ability to breath water!
We set off, Nuvros assigning us jobs to get the ship sailing. Dóddil, Bogg and myself managed to avoid the draft somehow so I spent most of my time over the few days at sea teaching Bogg how to swear in Elvish. We did however get the night watch quite often as a result.
Everything seemed to be going a bit slow until one night on watch. We generally had our 'routes' to patrol but stopped occasionally for a chat and a laugh. Shortly after one stop, I heard a noise from Dóddil and turned to see a ghostly figure, the same race as Stefan staring me in the eyes. Suddenly there was a rush as it flew straight at me. I could the thing try to invade my mind but I managed to fight it off, only for it to then vanish.
I turned to see everyone else on deck having a similar ordeal. Stefan and Bogg, managed to fight them off as well but we saw Nuvros and Dóddil jump overboard! The alarm was raised and the others came up from their bunks below deck. Another spirit appeared up on the crow's nest.
Stefan seemed to teleport up there with a splash of water around him and tried to fight it, while the others fired their spells and arrows up from the deck. Not being a ranged fighter kept myself ready for another attack on the deck. (those dancing lessons mum forced me to do as a child finally paying off, pivoting around on the deck!). Of all the steps taken to stop this spirit, the one that still strikes me most is Maturin suddenly stopping his attack and asking if the spirit wanted to play cards! To his credit, the thing did seem to be considering it, until Baine fired an arrow through its ghostly body.
We saw Stefan be possessed by the spirit on the crow's nest before he just leaped over board. There was still no sign of Dóddil and Nuvros. We waited a little while and when it seemed nothing was happening, a few of us jumped in to give chase, thanks to Stefan's water breathing. Bogg & Maturin opted to remain with ship but joined us a little later, when we didn’t return.
We swam through the murky water, only able to follow them by the occasional flashes of the spirits as they moved through the water, popping in and out of site. Fraeser was now clearly in his element, easily outpacing us in the water. We swam past large rocks and came to a series of wrecks, arranged in a semi-circle around a larger, older looking wreck. We followed the spirit into one of the closer wrecks and spotted our missing companions, as well as nearly a dozen of the spirits. We were surrounded.
As it turns out, the spirits didn’t want to hurt us but ask for our help. The one talking explained he had come to see seeking his brother but has wrecked here and could not leave until he had freed his brother. His brother was also a spirit, nearby, but was stuck here for some reason and he could not find him. Dóddil remembered Stefan's story and asked about the princess (Kilara? I can never remember) After some thought, the spirit remembered that this princess was a woman his brother was looking for. It seemed, the only way to help them was to go ahead with our plan anyway. Nuvros headed back to the ship, while the rest of us agreed to check out this wreck in the centre, the spirits seemed unable to reach themselves for some reason.
We swam over. Bogg and Maturin had caught up with us during our talk so we were all together again. Myself and Bogg opted go into the wreck and look around while the others scoped it the exterior. We worked our way through the decks and found a shut door. As I opened it, Bogg covering me with his bow, we saw a room with treasure chests and a Large sword & Shield.
Unfortunately, my memory stops here. From what I have been told, the spirit of the woman of the story appeared behind Bogg and let out an unearthly scream, assaulting our psyches. I had been rendered unconscious immediately and awoke a little later, having been revived by Ekani. I pushed myself off the ceiling of the treasure room and saw the others engaging the wraith.
It was a tough fight. Our attempts at driving it off seemed almost useless as the thing simply pulled itself back together again and again, all the while a terrible cold creeping into our bones as ice started to form in the water around us. Bogg was knocked out but I managed to get him stabilised before returning to the wraith. A flurry sword swipes, brown fire from Ekani, arrows and bolts, one with a playing card on it (Maturin, again!) and my own punches and swings of the staff and still the thing attacked us. We were in bad shape but finally, a breakthrough. With Baine and Maturin slicing at the spirit and Dóddil piercing holes in its form with his crossbow, it began to slow down. Ekani fire off another burst of fire towards it and as it shifted just in time out of his way, I saw my chance and brought my staff down on it as hard as I could. A terrible scream rang out as the thing finally dissipated, defeated.
Battered and tired, we searched the ship. Maturin went off to explore the rest of the ship while we gathered around the treasure room. Baine, holding Bogg to his chest wrapped in his cloak, tried to pull a fast one over us and keep everything for himself. Thankfully, he listened to Dóddil and agreed to split everything evenly still. Ekani looked like he was ready to fight Baine over it but I think all of us were too tired for that. Baine opted to keep the sword for himself, which makes sense given he seemed well suited to using it, meanwhile Fraeser took the shield. With them both on him now he looks like his entire shell is just shields!
We went back to look for the spirits but that had all gone, leaving a small box with some gold in it where we left them. We split this among us too. Dóddil spent some time looking among the other wrecks but returned near enough empty handed. It was only now we realised no-one had seen Stefan since we started making our way to the centre wreck. Bastard must have looted the remaining wrecks while we did the heavy lifting! He was long gone by the time we realised… I doubt we will see him again anytime soon.
And so we set off back home, to Port Ffirst, my first adventure in this new land coming to an end. We met with Nuvros and set sail back. Fraeser seems happy with his new shield, Maturin is wearing a necklace I'm sure he never had on the way here and Baine is over the moon with his new sword. During the first night on the way back, I'm sure I could hear him talking to it…. Maybe it's just me. He told us he has decided to call it Phil anyway.
We're a day away from Port now. I suppose we will go our own ways once back, but I'm happy the months getting here are seeming worthwhile and I'm sure I'll run into everyone again sometime. I have a little more money now so I can think about getting myself set up a bit better. I can't help but wonder what will come next.
[Scribbled at the bottom of the page]
I have yet to find out why Ekani's fire is brown… or why he has a tiny turtle skull for that matter! He seems to use it as a kind of focus but given we travelled here with Fraeser, the whole thing seems a bit morbid to me.
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