Journal Entry
The beginning of this journal starts with a betrayal.
The Darkened Fog
Before we even discovered the egg, we were forced on a path into the swamps of Migen. I never wished to step foot into those drow-infested waters again, but our quest to find the nine items forced our hands. We were quick to find a guide and even quicker to find ourselves in the tight grip of some sort of shadow that had been plaguing the drow community there since an odd fog set in. We had little trouble reaching the main settlement, but even when we arrived we discovered a sickness had spread among the people there. In addition, the head drow there was in possession of the boots, and her request was to solve the plague.
So of course, it wasn't like we had a choice.
---
We travelled off, to the supposed source of the fog, and reached a church... Or a temple of some sort. I've never been one called to worship. We chanced venturing inside, and I feel it was more than just for shelter- for when we reached the basement we saw a nest of eggs. Dragon eggs.
Along with that, we encountered a black dragon, acid dripping from it's great maw and it's very presence enough to send us running. But somehow we managed to defeat it, a joint effort from everyone save the Thief, and saved one of the eggs that would later grant me, and us, Cassandra.
There was also some kind of runic device, according to what Papan tells me- that Fenrir was able to dispose of easily enough. It all seemed so simple, the fog vanished, we had a new egg, and when we travelled back we were treated as heroes. They gave us the boots as promised, and fed and sheltered us. If only we knew to appreciate the simplicity then.
Where Loyalties Lie
As we travelled out of the dank swamps and into Albion again, we found a caravan that would take us to our next destination. But only one night into the trip, and I was woken by a great trembling of the earth- a blood chilling roar filling the crisp night air. We were immediately on our feet (save for Fenrir, he seems to be able to sleep rather well) and I went to speak with the head of the caravan.
I came to discover the source of this frightening turn was indeed, Styx himself. Our simple trip to Iana had also run to a grinding halt when she informed me that they were heading back south- our destination far up north. And if that all wasn't bad enough, she "warned" me about a travelling group that was plotting to steal the nine items.
Us. The thief with the purple cloak, a bard with a sharp mouth, a woman with a horse, two mages, and an ex-hunter.
We quickly packed up and said our goodbyes to the caravan, finding a train to travel by instead after the Thief decided it would be good to disguise us as old travelling companions. I recieved the name "Ghaith"
Who we managed to meet that very same train ride.
Apparently, they knew each other. Ghaith is the leader of the Knights of the Sun, and he was not very impressed when I gave him his own name in return to his questioning. We were found out, but after convincing him to talk to us, we managed to get him on our side.
---
What I write now I have to steady my hand and make an effort not to tear this book with my frustration. That thief tricked us. That dirty, son of a devil, heartless bastard- ran.
We didn't know what to do. We were lost, we had no more purpose. Without the Thief to hold us together there was truly no more purpose to be together. But, Ghaith managed to remind us of our goal. Of Styx. Of finding the nine items. So we resolved to meet Fenrir's and Papan's old mentor, Kar Felin- who was apparently in some trouble of his own.
Origins and Truths
When we reached the heart of Iana, Anopeos, we met a sick old man that apparently was responsible for the chaining of Styx. Some promise to some god had ensured his ever lasting life, but apparently now, since breaking that promise and Styx was looming- so was his death. Fenrir and Papan didn't seem worried at first, their sarcasm front and foremost. But something about how he spoke seemed to affect them more than I had previously seen.
However, they requested to be left alone with him to talk about something in their past. Without much protest, due to my own desires to learn more about the egg in my possession, I left and busied myself in the library. I still do not know what they spoke of.
---
It ended up being perfectly timed, however, and as soon as I had found the section on dragon colours I noticed the egg starting to radiate heat. Running to a quiet corner, I sat, staring at the egg in my lap as I heard a faint tapping. I cannot deny my excitement, I was absolutely enthralled.
A small yellow head finally cracked through, large eyes staring up at me. She was quick to break through the rest of the shell, little Cassandra. Of course, that was after biting into my finger and refusing to let go- however, with a little convincing, she let go and decided to start testing out those tiny lungs of hers instead. But she's remarkably intelligent- as dragons are I've read- and listened to me the first time, curling up in the crook of my arm and allowing me to go back to studying more about her.
Cassandra Hveldiri Rileya. My small bronze wyrmling companion.
She filled my heart with a joy I had not felt in a long time.
---
When I finished that night, studying, checking out a book on draconic, and feeding Cas, I thought it would be simple enough to get a night's rest then determine where to go in the morning. I was not allowed such luxuries however, and as soon as I returned to Kar Felin's room, I discovered that the Theif had returned while I was away.
He had already injured Papan, Fenrir looking absolutely living, and just... something about him wrong.
Or maybe he just finally wasn't pretending any longer. He wanted the map, and specifically, the cloak. He kept referring to a Client, and ending this world to create a disruption in time itself. He had also poisoned Kar Felin.
In a standoff and facing the imminent death of the key to Styx's binding, we had to give him the map in exchange for a vial of antidote. The old magic user had thought ahead, however, and apparently what we gave that Thief was a trick, and we still had in our possession the true map. Given another startle, we set off with barely any hesitation save transcribing the map and burning the original.
And then we went after the cloak ourselves.
Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire
Our venture into the next dungeon has already been a trial. We crossed the thick ice to reach the island that apparently was cause for much trouble when Papan and Fenrir were studying here. Something about students not returning, screams, and old dares.
And within the first hour, we discovered a sort of... "sweet roll trap" along with a room full of alchemic components. There was a key, covered in amber, and we were supposed to discover a mix that would melt the amber away.
Fenrir preferred to blow them all up.
With a little healing and the corrosive powers from my Warhammer, we did manage to get the key from the amber, if a bit bent in half. We left that room, and after a bit more exploring we discovered a library of every rogue cultist. Both of them seemed please enough with that room- however the next we ventured into was the opposite of that.
One, a center door in a three way split- contained almost puzzle-like pieces. Spike pits covered squares in both the floor and ceiling. We exited that room in favour of an easier one. However, I just managed to get stuck in the place's incinerate room and almost got burnt to a crisp. I managed to get out, of course, but now we still need to retrieve the cloak, find out just what this bent key is for, and not die in the process.
I can only hope we do it all in time.