Iss' Diary 3

Before we could even leave the room, we were attacked by a ghostly woman, shrieking bloody murder and I must admit I was scared of it. My clan takes precautions against the dead rising, we believe in a restful death and to see such apparitions feels wrong, cursed, and mad.
Eldur attacked her however, and it seemed that his cursed blade worked against the creature even if only for a moment. Yet again the creature shrieked and this time I could feel it echo through the halls of my soul, I fell to it but it was such a pained, hopeless shriek. How could I not?
It entered my mind, and I couldn’t shake it off until I raised my axe against my allies, they did the same and for some fortune we all missed. I am not ashamed to admit that I despise when they are in my mind, I abhor such tactics. Once there were many voices inside my mind, a champion they said had to know how to fight against these methods and I didn’t fail always but someday I could feel them twisting and turning inside my head, controlling the free will of my being.
No one should be inside my head, not only it is an ugly place it is also a private place.
Eldur attacked once more and this time against me as gentle as a man of his personality could, he slapped me to snap me out of my memories and it seemed to work. I wanted to skin him alive for touching me, but my bark was all that, I had no intention to hurt him. He is a strange beast, and a stranger man but I do have some fondness for him. Back at the courtyard we saw scaffolding that could get us closer to the upper-level windows, I suggested that perhaps someone light should climb it but Mirik reminded us of Ola and sent the lizard creature instead. She is an adorable yet effective companion, perhaps I should have brought my cats with me. I can’t do what Mirik can, but they certainly would add to the party. (Please ignore this I am simply missing my cats).
Ola did recon while I took a look around, there was remnants of a broken bridge and an outhouse that doesn’t seem to be in the best conditions. Hopefully, we were in the right place, after all the time is the essence of this particular mission. I had no desire to walk about like this is a nice stroll. The very life of our captain and our ship may depend on our speed. I am snapped out of my thoughts with the sound of the glass breaking, I looked up to see Eldur placing Ola inside the building through the broken glass. It was crass yet effective. Inside the building Eldur took lead and I followed him, the more he tried to climb the further he got pushed back, in the end yet another ghost appeared to scream about two deaths and inform us of our impending doom. Eldur climbed up once more to go and fight it, rest of us close behind.
Little beyond the stairs there was a road block that looked man made, who were was there before us tried desperately to keep something or someone out. Eldur and I passed these barricade with ease but when I tried to help Alma she got stuck. I didn’t wish to apply even more force lest I yank her arms clean out, I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her even by accident, so I looked for other methods to help.
In the end Alma was safe, the ghost killed as far as we knew. Looking around the room we found ourselves in, all I could see was the dishevelled state. Eldur found a map of the mire and few pages of diaries which he passed onto Alma. Together we read the diary entries and deduced that the last entry was made about four days ago, someone was alive then and perhaps they are alive still? (Note: Eldur spoke to himself yet again, possibly to the mind behind the sword, this worries me, and I might speak to Alma about it soon.)
Upstairs looked less like a mess but still lived-in, almost as though whatever destroyed everything else did not touch this room. I counted four footlockers, and as we went through them, I found some clothes my size. Downside of being a front-line fighter is that clothes do not last too long, I know how to sew but I am not a seamstress. These new clothes will serve me well. I noticed that like me, Eldur also pocketed some items, mainly some coins in small change. I asked if he was willing to share but he played dumb, I don’t care much for the money, but I did slapped him at the back of his hand albeit in a playful manner, though the agile beast dodged my attempts.
Laughter died on my lips as I sensed the most vile presence within me, this feeling of dread and unhappiness was not unfamiliar to me, but this feeling seemed inorganic to me, as if something else was willing me to feel such things and once again I found myself in a state of rage for, yet another made a home inside my head.
I found some comfort in Alma’s pendent, to have yet another cleric of Ioun brings me such joy and calmness, I have big hopes for her, and I know that the mistress showed her to me for a reason. May the Mistress guide us, for I know the road ahead (not just here) will be treacherous.
Creature upstairs called himself Dread Pirate Roberts which sounds like the first name he could think of at the pirate school. Despite his silly little name and monologue, still he gave me feelings of terror and dread, but I was stronger and will stay so for my companions.
Dispatching of Mr. Roberts was easier than the previous monsters we fought, once I got over these inorganic feelings, I was able to deal a great many blows to him, but it was Mirik and her flames that saw to the end of Mr. Roberts’ saga.
I hope this was the end of his saga.
Before his death he screamed at us and informed us that we would never inf his orb, this orb we believe is the key to reigniting the lighthouse. My companions tried to understand the mechanism of the beacon while I took a gander out the windows and spotted a cave like structure? A shadow more like but growing up on mountains, I have seen my fair share of nooks and crannies. As a child I would hide my valuables under the floorboards or bury them, and my friends and I had a cave of our own. I believe that the key, the orb, the flame whatever we need to light this lighthouse is hidden in there.
Before I could tell my companions however, I noticed the change in Eldur. He was speaking to himself once more, and I am not sure how to put this since I have no evidence of his lies or secrecy, but I simply know in my bones that he is bargaining with the dark elf inside of him. I may not be a master manipulator, but I know when someone lies, I know when I am being made a fool. I pulled Alma back downstairs with me so that we could discuss my feelings in regard to this situation. I worried for him and I knew that so did Alma. We kept our discussion brief but at least we have the beginnings of a plan. I just hope that my oath does not impede me on this mission. I wish no harm on the Tabaxi but when I can, I will kill the dark elf that took over my companion. That sword should be destroyed, along with its master.
On our way back downstairs towards the caves we found yet another diary entry, and Eldur found a note as well. Small clues such as these will come in handy soon, I believe. Whoever wrote these may still be alive though I have no hope towards this. It was a massacre here, and no one will but the dead will come back to reclaim it. Mother always told us not to laugh at the discomfort and failures of others, many think us as barbarians, but our people are kind, and they see value in each soul. Still, I found myself laughing as the Tabaxi fell into the water and struggled to make it across the way.
Unlike him, I crossed the remnants of the bridge with elegance and grace. That joy too did not last long, the undead surrounded us and I killed several of them as did my companions. Quickly we dispatched them back to their afterlife, but what impressed me the most was Valspira.
Her fireball was most impressive from the outside, and I do not look forward to being at the end of one ever again. I told as much to her of course. I am appreciating her more after witnessing her potential, the woman I thought to be a liability proved that she was a boon to have. In an instant she killed so many, it was most impressive. Once I told her of my opinion and we high fived, Eldur and I wandered off a bit and he found a chest in good condition. Inside there was clothes (a hat and a beautiful coat) which I acquired, a gold ring and leather armour that Eldur kept for himself, a scroll case that went to Alma, and finally a peculiar folding spear that I also acquired. I will ask that Alma take a look at it once there is time. For now we marched towards the cave…