19th Day of Greenview, Year of the Scarab -- I have much to write about this night. Dagmaer has been avenged. House Skryme has been crippled. Chantico's plot has been foiled. This morning I left the small village where three stood against and army. After Dagmaer's death, I watched and learned the intricacies of the mining camp, waiting until nightfall to hatch a scheme of my own. Sonin merely looted the temple while I stood vigilant atop the roof of Isis' Shrine, may Isis condemn his soul to the dungeons of Ma'ip.
Knowing I would not likely get another chance, I left my post just before dusk to scrounge up a meager morsel. As I gathered my food, I heard a strange thumping sound coming from near the back. Investigating, I found an emissary of House Ker, the provincial noble house. While this may not seem strange, the mere fact that the emissary was a kobold should most certainly surprise you. It took a bit of time, but I have seen how House Skryme treats the inhuman and I trusted him enough to allow him to stay.
I immediately gather my food and returned to my post to eat and wait. At nightfall I carefully timed my strike, unleashing a shadow bolt into the rocks just as a miner's pick struck the ground. This began the cave-in and I struck again, two more times, to ensure that the passageway they had uncovered was sufficiently buried again. To prevent the miners' escape, I place a simple carpet of adhesion on the area. In aiding House Skryme, they aided Chantico. Their sentence was death. Only their gods may judge them now. Though it seemed like a good idea at the time, Morden, the kobold emissary, aided me, tossing a satchel of warded hymnals into the midst of the already chaotic scene. When triggered, it compounded the troubles, but also gave away the fact that this was no mere cave-in.
The army mobilized and we realized that the town would need to be cleared. While Morden warded the area, I evacuated the townspeople, splitting them into two groups to better escape between the three smaller enemy encampments, sending priests with each one. A rendezvous was set five miles to the north. Once both groups were safely beyond the range of the archers, I turned back toward the town, leaving Sonin with the refugees. It was then that I encountered more of Chantico's mad minions. They were dispatched quickly, though not without seriously wounding myself. Ignoring the pangs of pain, I continued toward the town.
I was stunned to see such barbarism, even from humans. The town and temple were aflame. I did my best, charging between the groups of archers and running through town, extinguishing as many of the fires as I could. Just as I reached the edge of town, I was struck down by an arrow and all went black.
When I awoke, I was crammed into a tiny cage in to back of a cart. I eventually worked my way free, much to the annoyance of the wizard Blaine and the Skryme noblewoman, Elaine. I was apparently able to touch a nerve with Blaine as I told him just how pathetic his plan was. But he needed me alive. One of these days, that kind of thing is going to get me killed. Later, Raxis, the ogre lieutenant of House Skryme, spoke with me at length as I ate the small meal he brought. Apparently, they didn't trust me to eat alone. Although the conversation did have its advantages, it seems Raxis is not as pleased with Lord Skryme as I had once believed. He later aided me in escaping on my oath that I would keep whatever was beneath the Temple of Isis out of Skryme's hands. From the encampment I went back to the scene of the mining, waiting until it was complete and only a small detachment of guards remained. Quickly subduing them, I walked slowly down the hallway to a door that reeked of magic, primarily defenses against intruders. Seeing a small post, I was reminded of the small Dwarven statue my group received from Averlus. I sought Morden out quickly and met with him at the door.
Nothing could have prepared me for what was inside: a crypt of hundreds of dwarves, some the pallbearers of legendary rune weapons, seven in all. I wrapped most of them in cloth to prevent their discovery. One I kept for myself, a lesser weapon in the form of a staff. One is in possession of Morden, weapon called Flameheart and a claymore. A third is in possession of an 8000-year old dwarf, bent on destroying the humans inhabiting the Empire of Sin. This dwarf is like none I've ever encountered, nearly indestructible and covered in strange sigils. I was unable to convince him not to harm anyone (though I must admit I was more than willing to allow him to attack and destroy the Skryme camp). Realizing the Raxis was still in the camp, I began to attempt to locate him.
When I found him, was arguing with Blaine. After making myself known, Blaine was struck down and Raxis dragged him off toward the center of camp, with me close behind. He confronted Skryme with proof straight from Blaine's mouth. Elaine was obviously in on the plot to start the war with Tarldet because she attempted to slowly back away. I stopped her and was forced to fight again. Again I went down, but was revived somehow, I believe by one of the rune weapons that were in my pack. Taking advantage of the element of surprise, I struck a blow from behind, dropping Elaine like a sack of rocks. Raxis and Aleran, Skryme's general, remained stuck to the ground due to my magic and Skryme was not faring well. Stunned by the apparent death of his daughter, I offered him a simple choice: surrender or die. He chose to die. Morden cleaved the bastard in half at the waist while my staff crushed his head like a melon.
Meanwhile, the freed Dwarf continued his rampage, finally flying off in the direction of the ley line; most likely to recoup his strength. For now, it was quiet. I met with Raxis one final time before he departed. Elaine an Aleran will both be going back to House Skryme once they are healed and I'm a bit richer. All funds for a good cause, I suppose, particularly since Morden forced me to relinquish the rune weapons, with the exception of my newfound staff, to House Ker. It was found on their land after all. I only hope they keep the legends away from the Middle Kingdoms.
With Sonin returning to Arcadia and Morden returning to House Ker, it leaves only me to put an end to the Dwarf's rampage. How I will accomplish this feat is beyond my capabilities for the moment. But I'll find a way. At least he'll be easy to track. Just follow the path of carnage.
