{Ash} The Temple of Eternity

After rescuing Mistress Battleshy from her prison our merry band had the misfortune of traversing the rest of Baron Andern’s dungeon.

Lost in the sprawling catacombs we discovered a forgotten tome written in the archaic tongue of Al’Kitan.  Desperate to be free of the subterranean nightmare I stowed the book in my pack for later study.

Finally free of Andern’s keep we made our way to the Red Knight’s camp.  As previously stated the Red Knight is rumoured to be a champion of Varenna and shows considerable skill in battle.  He saw through our ruse as we attempted to infiltrate his camp.  Upon reflection I suspect he merely indulged us, so he could get a measure of us.  The fight was bloody, hard and exhausting.  Luckily he showed us ‘mercy’ and let us leave his camp unmolested, although I know our lives were meant as a warning to others seeking to challenge him.

After returning to The Mire I entrenched myself in the library to translate the mysterious book.  The Mire’s library is thankfully a comprehensive collection of books, otherwise this task would have been nigh on impossible (even with my linguistic talents). The book detailed the works of one Profion Damodus; master artificer, grand designer and herald of the gods.  Damodus’ master project was the Temple of Eternity - a great temple dedicated to each of the gods.  It alluded to a weapon known as the ‘Profion Box’ or the ‘Chest of Profion’ which was said to give someone the powers of a god.  Such power, in the right hands, would certainly help in the war.  Such information was tantalising to The Mire as they have found the Red Knight’s movements… challenging.
 
Grand Master Sarrill tasked us with finding the Box and returning it to The Mire.  The Temple’s exact location was not disclosed but the book directed us north to Berrak, as it detailed the nations who sent labour to help Damodus with his work.  So we packed up and headed north.

I write this as we are travelling; I believe we are to arrive in the Hobgoblin nation in two days or so if we keep up this pace, then presumably onto the Temple. 

 I only hope the Temple lies in disuse, upon further reading ancient documents revealed that the workers sent never returned home.

{Ash} Some time has passed.

A lot has happened since I last committed my thoughts to paper - namely the further loss of travelling companions, the addition of new ones and our ‘introduction’ to the Red Knight.

They say the Red Knight is a champion Varenna as she has been known to select a mortal to bestow her patronage upon.  Whatever or whoever he truly is is hard to say.  The only certainty is his prowess in battle and revelry in bloodshed.  When confronting him we were sent home with our tails between our legs like some Ebon cur.  It pains me to admit we must grow stronger if we are to fight him again.  So we are to return weary and dejected to The Mire.

Master Lae’den got captured on a mission to an enemy keep to gather information on the Red Knight.  He went to investigate an overhead passage of the dungeons but he never found his way out of the labyrinthine prison.  We did see him again – captured by the Red Knight and in chains. We hope to free him but who knows what evil may befall him.  However, it was in those very dungeons we met our newest travelling companion.

Our new companion Mistress Brenna Battleshy is a well mannered and patient soul.  She has a stubborn and self righteous attitude – I believe this comes from her previous path as a priestess of Varenna.  I have never met one who serves the Bloody Mistress that is not full of self importance and obstinate.  Yet her moods are tempered by her new calling as a holy cleric of Ginley.  Despite not knowing Haldor or I terribly long she throws herself willingly into battle & bestows Ginley’s gifts upon us freely.  

I know she often views some of my beliefs…  Distasteful.  We came to blows over the treatment of a prisoner; she disapproved of my methods of obtaining information. Oh well, I will know to hide them better next time.  In spite of myself I feel like I am developing a fondness for Brenna and her pompous flustering.  Of course I would certainly not tell her as I enjoy our coolly polite conversations.

The name Dranon Magnir is known to some collectors of history. My own patron told me he lived as a bard, doing much as bards do today – travelling, singing, storytelling.  We found an effigy mound and upon instruction we made our way inside.  As expected it was filled with trappings of Dranon’s life and his resting place.  As expected with my liege lord nothing is ever as it seems – the Fae being such… whimsical people.  The skeleton resting on the altar came to life and has been following us ever since.  Dranon is certainly an amiable travelling companion as he is unable to talk.  Fortunately for us he joined the party before Roug’ left meaning we were not left at too great a disadvantage.

The druid and the rogue just left us one night never to be seen again. I can only assume they had more pressing matters to attend to or perhaps they grew weary of our quest.  No matter it came to a point where they started becoming more of a hindrance than a help.  Ailsa started refusing to fight with us and Roug’ grew more selfish as the journey continued.  In spite of their actions I wish them no ill.