Editing Journal - Death on Karmana (section)

==Swamp Under Evil Control That Nobody in Their Right Mind Would Just, Like, LEAVE==

Falcor warned that the creatures were likely being controlled by an evil mind, despite being just animals that would normally follow their instincts. He conjured a pattern of lights, catching three within it, their bodies twisting as they seemed to chase the lights around them. One, though, ignored the lights and pressed its attack, somehow missing despite Falcor basically dancing around in front of it. That wasn't it, though, as sparks crackled around them causing Falcor some pain. I moved behind it to defend him, slicing rapidly until it fell from the air and lay dead. We had no time to get away, though, as four more approached rapidly - these split into pairs, each pair trying to attack one of us. Again, despite not landing a direct hit, an explosion of electricity erupted around me to cause me some pain. Falcor conjured a web that captured a couple, so we just had one each to fight.

I cut down the one nearest me and Falcor moved closer before conjuring a spray of light that caused the other to drop unconscious, at least temporarily. Taking the opportunity we ran, trying to put some distance between us and the creatures before any recovered. After a minute or so I looked back to check for pursuit, but instead saw a spider appear and start eating the incapacitated flying creature. The thing was huge - bigger than them! Falcor got a stitch and has to stop, so I stood guard and watched more of the spiders appear, helping themselves to the creatures Falcor had conveniently trapped in a web for them.

Just as Falcor felt sufficiently recovered to continue, a bunch of lizards walking on their hind legs came swarming at me, scraping with their claws and occasionally getting past my armour. There was a snake-like warrior behind the lizards, so Falcor moved around to engage them as I kept the others busy. I skewered one lizard as Falcor struck repeated blows until the snake thing was eventually worn down and collapsed into a writhing death. I had managed to kill another lizard in the same time, so there were just two left, and Falcor engaged them from behind. They didn't last long, but before we could relax the bushes near Falcor started reaching out to grab at his legs; thankfully he was able to jump away just in time so we moved on quickly.

The undergrowth was getting more dense now, so we moved more cautiously and first heard, then saw some activity within a stand of trees ahead. As I drew closer I felt a strong connection with the shaman within; he was drawing the power of Prensiss, a snake God, to provide protection to those within the circle. I warned Falcor, especially as I was not sure I could approach at all, and at best I would be detected even if invisible. I could see that Prensiss ruled over a swamp realm, and it was the stone circle at the centre of the trees that formed a connection, but I could also feel Karmana's forge weakening the link.

We backed off, needing to make a plan in relative safety. I raised my strength, once again feeling Falcor enhance the effect, with the intent of literally grabbing the staff and running with it as Falcor tried to cover from a distance. We approached again, with Falcor going ahead to provide an initial distraction with a fireball. I watched as he finished the incantation... but nothing happened! Whatever the protection was it prevented the spell from impacting. Falcor could see a shimmer as some kind of shield absorbed his dweomer, just at the edge of the trees. He could see that they were sacrificing a lizard on the altar inside, presumably to receive another boon from Prensiss. Falcor tried to dispel the magical barrier, and with a crack the stone altar was broken in two! Falcor shared an emotional connection with Karmana, saying that it was her that destroyed the protective shield. I was surprised because he had always seemed devoted to Milada, but he confirmed it was Karmana that had aided him this time. The shaman sagged visibly backwards within the circle, then started shouting in alarm.

Falcor responded to my obvious question even before I asked it, mentally shouting &quot;go&quot;! I used the power to shift myself directly into the circle next to the Shaman and ripped the staff from his hand despite his efforts to hold onto it. I felt a bit vulnerable being in their midst, though! As if to reinforce this point, I got slashed nastily by his snake-like bodyguard before I could move. Falcor finally dropped the fireball, killing a bunch of lizards and one of the snakes to even things up a little. I turned an run, having to wrest the staff from the shaman's hands again as he tried to regain it, and headed towards Falcor. I was hit again as I left, although not as badly, but I couldn't risk stopping and getting surrounded. I passed Falcor, who had been engaged but not hurt, and he shouted to keep running. He started fighting, taking some damage, but buying me time to get away from some of them.

Falcor used the same dweomer I had to escape, appearing ahead of me, and a blade was turned by my armour as I kept running towards where he had appeared ahead of me. I managed to get a lead on them and Falcor launched magic missiles at the nearest. This might have helped as I began to extend my lead and eventually we started to slow as it appeared we had escaped. We kept moving of course, only starting to relax once we reached an area resembling more natural forest. We stopped to rest and Falcor used his helm's powers to investigate the staff; it could certainly be useful, but did not seem powerful enough to control a dragon fully. We decided that we would need to warn the Red Skulls that they might face an undead invasion once we (hopefully) were able to kill the Sarn, so we kept heading east.

Darkness was falling as we came in sight of a road, and we crossed before looking for somewhere sheltered to rest. The night passed quietly, although we could hear traffic using the road in the morning. We kept out of sight, though, taking time to meditate and eat. Falcor had set some snares that yielded meat so we ate quite well. After lunch, Falcor deliberately made the fire smokey to attract some attention and we waited. After a while we heard movement in the undergrowth and Falcor hailed whoever was there. He received a halting response in Common that asked who was there. Falcor used a false name, but claimed to be a friend of the Red Skulls. This seemed to go down well, and a couple of Saloroc emerged, hunters by the look of it and carrying a good catch - a boar no less! Falcor showed them a wolf pelt marked with a red skull that seemed to impress them and they became much more friendly.

Falcor explained that he was a friend to &quot;Relak&quot;, who was with a human village to the north. They seemed to know the name, and explained that we should travel to &quot;Zak Rechpvork&quot; to the north of this island, as it was the fortress of the Red Skulls. There we should seem &quot;Grindak&quot;, the clan chief, if we had news that the clan should know. Then talk turned to hunting, which Falcor was proficient at but I was interested in. We hunted boar at dusk with them, and Falcor was able to bring one down. We ate well that night indeed. We traveled north as directed, using darkness to cross open areas, but managing to reach Zak Rechpvork the next day.

We were able to meet with Grindak, so Falcor had made an impression. This was partly explained when he showed that he was wearing armour gifted by one of Falcor's friends, and was clearly pleased with this gift. Falcor gave him the warning, and he seemed to understand the importance. He said that they would not leave this place, but would prepare. He actually seemed to relish the idea that the balance of power might be reset in the region. He gave us a scroll that he said would identify us as allies of the Red Skulls in case we needed safe passage or aid. While we had time in the city we asked about some of the wider region, particularly farther west. There was a city called &quot;Zak Krastoom&quot; on the next island in the chain, and that served as a gateway (via a bridge) to &quot;Krasgord&quot;, the City of Beauty just to its north. He said that it was known as a wondrous place, and that any trade had to go through Zak Krastoom because those deemed not worthy (in prettiness I guess?) could not enter the city of Beauty. It was held as a special place and was not controlled by the Black Hand, but was still held by the Tigers the last they knew.