Editing Journal - The Hunt for Kellerot (section)

==Encounter with the Elvradhil==

Falcor started to check the wall on our left for runes behind the lizard's mud, but just as he finished clearing it a stocky humanoid figure stepped out of the wall! Although well built, the figure was relatively short... about my height; he carried an axe in each hand, looking like he might use them. He said confidently: "Declare yourself!" in common.

Falcor carefully said: "I am sorry, I did not mean to trespass". The response was more blunt: "You are in Tadhcandhilan - declare yourself or die"!

Falcor was unwilling to announce ourselves to an unknown entity, but the Elvradhil was unafraid to introduce himself; he was Nadik Draksaron, Capla Praes Ardroc, although that meant little to us. In return we introduced ourselves, although he seemed unimpressed, especially with me! Well, until he asked about our affinity with rock... I replied that I was of the soil not the rock, and he asked if I was a soil walker. I answered that I was, and he asked me to prove it. I placed my hand inside the mud on the wall nearest me, moving it along and out again without effort. Seeing this he softened a little and the challenge became more of a conversation. He was surprised by Falcor's claims to be of Maladan, saying that he should know of his people in that region. Falcor brought him up to speed on the political situation there, as he seemed to be displaced in time. He then asked Falcor (well it was more of a statement): "You have met the goddess? I see her on you, you know." During the conversation we were joined by two others of his kin, all looking ready for a fight.

Nadik also asked if we were the ones that had been liberating their home, which we quickly confirmed that we were. They were reluctantly grateful, although they seemed to be confident that they could claim it for themselves. They were most shocked, and upset, to learn that the obelisk was broken. They called it the "Carmanak Anhil", and were surprised as it was apparently the most powerful of Karmana's bones. They had been away for perhaps hundreds of years, in a sanctuary called "Praes Ardroc" ("Guarded Dwelling with the Light of the Gods in the Darkness Underground" roughly translated).

When I talked of having been touched by Karmana, one of them stepped forward to assess me. He was perhaps a priest? After a moment he turned and confirmed that I spoke the truth to Nadik (as if I would lie to them), which seemed to satisfy him. He then warned us that the "Ma'altroc" would be returning to cleanse the place and nothing that was not of the rock would be left alive. The Ma'altroc seemed to translate as some kind of "holy darkness underground" according to Arad.

Falcor asked about the verses we had found, and once we had spoken some of the words to prove we knew their content,  they confirmed that the father of one of them had shaped the words (although the words themselves came from Karmana). He was kind enough to tell us the last stanza that we had not found:

(related to the colour blue)

::''Her Beauty divine''
::''Our one true queen''
::''Disfigured and shamed''
::''She must share her love’s cull''

A fourth Elvradhil appeared, seeking Nadik's attention, his son (Torbar), although Nadik appeared mildly annoyed to be disturbed. Torbar said: "Forgive me my Lord, the Ma'altroc are stirring, do we move?" and he responded: "Yes, at first light as agreed!" at which Torbar faded back into the rock. Apparently he was a bit excitable, a youthful trait.

He asked a favour of Arad, of the Caphalon Draklac, saying that when he claimed his birthright (if it was indeed his) then he would encounter more Elvradhil. He asked that Arad tell them that Tadhcandhilan had need of its warriors. Then he turned to Falcor, similarly asking that if he returned to Maladan then would he seek out the Elvradhil? The bulk of his people reside in the Dragon's Teeth mountains in that region, and he asked if he would pass on the same message.

Nadik also noticed Arad's hammer and questioned him about it. Arad demonstrated that he could command it, and Nadik reached into a pouch and pulled out a sapphire, flicking it at Arad saying "then this is yours". The gem flew unerringly into one of the slots on the hammer as Nadik explained that Malek had left it with them. Arad thanked him, but he dismissed the words, saying that he had merely returned it to its owner. Falcor's interest was piqued, and he asked about his armour (which had still not reappeared). Nadik, without emotion, swung his axe at Falcor! Falcor held his breath and closed his eyes, hoping that Nadik knew what he was doing. A dark image formed in his head, but then an Elvradhil lord appeared and snarled at the darkness, forcing it to retreat. Falcor snapped back to consciousness to find the axe just poised on his chest, touching his armour that had reappeared. Falcor dropped to one knee, thanking him and saying that he was at their service. Nadik offered Falcor his hand and said: "I think you misunderstand my lord, it is we who are at your service"!

He commented that Falcor seemed to be missing a few bits! Then he said that the helmet was close... here in Tadhcandhilan somewhere! Apparently he was also missing a sword, something that Falcor seemed to be aware of, although he had no idea what had become of it. Then he seemed to decide that it was time to part, although he said that it had been an auspicious meeting, and he wished that he could offer the hospitality of their halls, but gestured around and said that "these are all I have". Arad offered his wineskin for him to drink from, taking the silver goblet and pouring wine into it. Nadik did not know what wine was! He was interested, though, and liked it. They all agreed that it was good, and he asked if he could take the wineskin to his shamans to study, which Arad agreed to. In a moment they stepped back and disappeared into the rock.

Coming back to normality, Falcor took the lantern to replace his lost one, filling it with the oil. I swapped my empty waterskin gladly for Arad's full one, taking a long drink, which allowed him to fill mine from the wine cask. Whilst we were undisturbed for a few minutes, Arad called on the Creator to heal many of our wounds, for which we were all grateful.

When we were ready to move again, I opened the other door to find a sleeping quarter with a cot bed on a lion's pelt. A brass-bound wooden chest, padlocked, also stood in the room. We searched the bed and under the pelt for any key to fit the lock, and when I lifted the pelt I discovered a small chest hidden in a niche. I opened it to find five belts with electrum buckles & pearls, 50 silver pieces, a prismatic kaleidoscope, and an electrum arm band. The chest released a clear gas when opened, but thankfully it didn't seem to affect me or Falcor.

I passed the money to Arad, who had remained in the previous room, and the belts and kaleidoscope to Falcor, keeping the arm band. Falcor forced the lock on the other chest, but broke the dagger (it was just one he had scavenged from the lizards) doing so. The large chest proved to be mostly empty, with just a single leather bag in the bottom containing some copper pieces. It was probably a decoy for the hidden treasure we had already discovered.

Arad moved back to the corridor, checking for movement, and heard some faint noises from the east. He beckoned us forward, and we all advanced down the corridor until we reached another door on our left. I checked it for traps and opened it with Falcor ready for any trouble. Behind it was a small room with a simple wooden table and chair, a wooden bowl atop the table. A single bed with a wooden chest at its foot stood to the left against the wall, and a door was set in the wall to the right. I opened the chest, finding fairly plain clothes, a dagger, and a money pouch with some gold inside.

I turned my attention to the door, which was not locked, hearing some activity beyond it. When Falcor was ready I swung it open, revealing an occupied barracks. It reeked of rank lizard... well whatever their equivalent of sweat was... musk? It was occupied by a dozen or so warriors, several turning to see why the door had opened! Falcor said "stand still!" (aimed at me I think, rather than the lizards), then he spoke a strange word and fog filled the room so thickly that I could not see beyond the door any more. Falcor then ran away! He headed back towards Arad, leaving me by the door. Making a quick assessment of the risk, I quietly closed the door and locked it again!

I was just in time, as there was a pounding and rattling on the door shortly afterwards! I joined the others, and Arad noticed that the lizards were coming around towards us from another door farther on. He stepped out and loosed a couple of arrows, hitting with one, but not enough to slay the creature. Falcor charged past Arad towards the lizards in the corridor, he tried to shout something back to me, but I was distracted by the door that I'd locked crashing open almost in my face. I was confronted by two lizards, just emerging out of the fog that was still filling the room. I shouted that they were through, and Arad replied that he was coming to help, running up to my side so that we could hold them at the door.

Falcor cut the lizard that Arad had hurt down, but was hit by a swinging morning star by the one next to it. He turned on that, stabbing it and then cutting its leg, and it collapsed quickly. More lizards were coming out of the fog into the corridor, though. I managed to draw my sword and slash at my attackers, but the cut didn't penetrate their armour. To make matters worse we heard the sound of iron bars being bashed back down corridor... presumably the big lumbering lizards were still trying to get to us! I stabbed one of the lizards, and Arad landed a blow on the other one, but they just seemed to get angrier. Arad was hit by a return blow, but I just managed to duck under a similar swing and its morning star smashed into the wall beside me.

A horrible crashing and tinkling sound echoed down the corridor, suggesting that the iron bars had given way - we were in danger of being surrounded! I finished off one lizard with a slash, and Arad shouted at me to go back to help Falcor as he managed to land another blow, staggering the other lizard. Another lizard came charging out of the fog to take the fallen lizard's place, but tripped and fell over the body of its companion at my feet. Arad finished off the standing one with a hammer blow, then stabbed his sword into the prone one. I thrust down into it with both weapons; the short sword slid off its scales, but the long sword did the trick and it wouldn't be getting up. I rushed back to the corridor, looking for any threat from the direction of the iron bars, but didn't see anything.

One of the lizards attacking Falcor seemed bigger than the others, barging its way forward to challenge him. Falcor stabbed it solidly in its gut as it pushed past another lizard, and although he was slashed by its sword in return it was only a glancing blow and he was able to finish it off with a powerful strike to its side. Arad jogged up to help Falcor as I hid in the corridor, waiting for any threat emerging to the rear. Falcor was still fighting the lizards in the corridor, landing another good blow on one of them, but some of them at the rear seemed a bit worried by the death of their leader... they quickly retreated into the room, slamming the door behind them!

Arad joined the fight, smashing his hammer in between one lizard's legs, forcing it to double up slightly. Dirty bastard! I liked it! Falcor cleaved another lizard's neck, almost separating its head from its shoulders and leaving only one more in the fight. Falcor stabbed it and it went down, but there was no rest as two more lizards charged at me from the other entrance. I shouted a warning, but Falcor and Arad were already on their way back. Falcor slashed at one ineffectually, but kept going past me - he had seen that the large turtle lizard things were closing on us from behind!

Arad struck at one, landing a hit on its rear and causing it to spin around. I slashed the other one near me, getting hit by a morning star in return. I think it was worse off, though. Arad followed up his attack, thrusting his sword into the chest of the one that had spun around, killing it instantly. Arad showed some of his Elvrabor grace (it happens sometimes), dancing forward and bringing his hammer down on the one I had hurt, killing that as well. Another lizard had been following them towards us, but he quickly changed his mind and ran back, slamming that door closed too. We seemed to be scaring them now.

Falcor shouted a warning about the heavy lizards, so I sheathed my swords and drew my bow, Arad doing the same. The big lizards broke into a lumbering run towards Falcor, but still really slowly (even by my standards). We formed a firing line near a curve in the corridor, but most of our arrows bounced off the carapaces harmlessly. Falcor's second shot did manage to penetrate somewhere softer, but the creature shrugged it off. We backed off, and I changed back to swords, saying that we could outpace them if we wanted, or surround them if we drew them back. The others were too busy trying to find a weak spot, though. Falcor and Arad managed to do damage with an arrow each into the hurt creature, and it stopped in pain, letting the other ones pass it. Falcor tried dipping an arrow in poison, but missed with his shot.

We kept backing down the corridor, with me checking to the fore as the others kept firing to the rear. Still most of the shots kept pinging off their armoured scales, with perhaps one arrow from Falcor doing any damage at all. Eventually they got close enough for one to stab its trident at Arad, so I turned to assist him, engaging one in melee. It was, unsurprisingly really difficult to penetrate their scales and do any real damage, though. I was scraped by a trident thrust, but not badly. Also, the injured one that had stopped seemed to have healed its wounds somehow. I finally managed to find a weak spot and do some damage, although it wasn't enough to slow it down, I did manage to twist so that its trident scraped across my armour without penetrating this time.

Falcor clanged one of his weapons against an opponent's trident, trying to trap it, but the turtle thing was too strong and ripped it back out. Arad landed a hit, drawing blood, then deliberately cut at its arm with his sword causing it to drop its weapon as its arm hung uselessly by its side. I was able to follow up my first blow in the same area, stabbing deeply and causing blood to spurt out... but still it kept coming! Arad also followed up with a good blow, and now there was blood leaking from multiple wounds on one of the creatures, but still they wouldn't stop. These things were tough!

Arad struck with his hammer, and the blow rang out against its carapace, but didn't appear to harm it. Falcor stabbed into a soft spot, drawing blood. I feinted with my short sword, tapping on its carapace, then closed in and thrust my sword with all my strength into the weak spot I had managed to penetrate earlier, finally killing one... but there were still four more! Falcor landed another blow, but these things were really sturdy and it still didn't go down. One of the turtles lumbered straight into me, bashing me to the floor and nearly overpowering me, but I managed to wriggle to the side and keep hold of my weapons. Falcor stepped across and tried to stab it, drawing blood with his dagger. I forced my way to my feet, somewhat farther back than I was before. Arad set about the one he was fighting, making no progress with his hammer but also stabbing it with his sword; now he knew where to aim, he was able to finish it off.

Falcor had been wearing down his attacker, and now was able to kill it with a precisely placed strike. I stabbed the one that had charged me, and it fell too, so now there was just the one left. It was set upon by Arad and Falcor, both able to outmaneuver it now it was alone, and they did not take long in finishing it between them. We checked both ways down the corridor, but could not see nothing there. Finally I was able to slump against the wall, sheathing my weapons and saying: "Phew, that was tough"! Falcor was breathing hard, but replied curtly: "Yes, they were hard to hit."

We discussed what to do about the lizards that seemed to have hunkered down in the barracks nearby, but decided it would be better to move on quickly. Arad called for us to wait a moment as he tended to our wounds. He prayed to the Creator, but again felt the overwhelming darkness... this time it was just for a moment, but then the light of the Creator filled his mind with a powerful voice saying: "No!" and the darkness instantly receded. Arad could feel the Creator standing over him (figuratively anyway) and protecting him, and thankfully his prayers were answered and many of our wounds were healed.

Now feeling somewhat restored, we jogged along now familiar corridors back to the former throne room, but found that the doors were now closed. We were sure that they had been open when we left, so we were cautious. I listened carefully and then pulled one of the doors open with Arad and Falcor ready behind me. We saw two lizards stood either side of the empty throne, snapping quickly alert as the door opened. Falcor sprinted in towards the one on the right, at full charge, and Arad did the same but heading towards the one on the left. The lizards were so shocked that they almost fell backwards, and that might have actually saved them as all of Falcor and Arad's weapons cut the air just in front of them harmlessly. I caught up at a charge, managing to land the first blow, then Falcor cut deeply into the other one. They recovered their sense and retaliated, with Arad taking a nasty blow from the first one's morning star, and Falcor taking a glancing blow from the other. That was their one and only chance, though, as Arad finished off the one I had hurt, and Falcor absolutely slaughtered the other one with strong blows.

With no other threat apparent, I continued forward to where the trapdoor was, opening it as before. Falcor prepared a lantern, shedding some light down the dark hole and I climbed down the iron railings set in the wall. At the bottom was a relatively crude tunnel, although wide, and the others climbed down without incident. We started moving cautiously down the tunnel, which twisted to the right, and suddenly an Elvradhil popped his head out of the wall, grinning and saying: "You guys are doing great! Wish we could join you!" I asked: "Are you not allowed?" to which he responded: "Ahhh... the Capla says it's a holy place, blah blah. We're with you though!" He slipped back into the wall and we continued.

The tunnel twisted back left again and shortly reached a twenty foot shaft leading up, again with iron rungs in the wall and a trapdoor above. I climbed to the top and located a similar mechanism to open it, giving a thumbs up to the others below. Arad prepared his bow to cover us and Falcor climbed up just below me. When we were set I activated the trapdoor and it opened to reveal a small room with a door to our left and a short hallway ahead of us with another door at the end. The room was lit by torches on the walls and was a well appointed sleeping quarters. An ornate bed with rugs and cushions took up much of the space, with a small table next to where we entered from, a cupboard against the wall, and an iron chest in the corner. It was also unoccupied.

I climbed into the room and moved to check the chest first. There was a needle trap set on it, which I set about disabling as the others joined me in the room. With the trap out of the way, I unlocked it with my picks and opened it finding: six sets of leather straps and belts with gold and pearls, a gold inlaid gem studded scabbard with dagger, a leather bag with about a hundred gold pieces, a small flask of perfumed oil, and a jade figurine of an aggressive looking lizard warrior. Falcor checked the wardrobe, which had a single ornate robe, red with gold thread, and Falcor donned it to look a bit more impressive (well, a bit more dressed anyway).

Falcor approached the door at the far end, hearing something behind it so he indicated for us to be quiet. Instead I went to the door at the side and eased it open to reveal another smallish room with a door at the far end. Again, it was fairly well appointed, the dominating feature being a circular table of polished wood in the centre with four fine chairs around it. There was decorative silver on the table, a piece of parchment that was held open by a large winged helm. The wings of the helm were dragonlike and the metal had an unusual sheen much like Falcor's armour.  Could it really be this easy to find? The last thing was a large upholstered reclining chair in the corner, but Falcor was fixated on the helm - the dragon helm we were seeking! Falcor and I both moved to the table as Arad covered the other door. I took a look at the parchment, leaving Falcor to don the helm, and it worryingly suggested that the lizards had influenced the Snake Clan of the Saloroc to help the Black Hand Clan take over from the "Tigers" (not one we had come across) in Kraldar's name.

With his new robe and winged helm, Falcor did look impressive I had to admit. Thankfully nobody had delusions of grandeur and hunting more lizards, agreeing instead to return the way we came quietly. As we returned through the tunnel the Elvradhil appeared again, this time bowing before Falcor, saying: "My Lord I greatly look forward to fighting alongside you again." Falcor responded with: "I look forward to fighting with you also!", while Arad asked whether there was anything else we should look for in this place. The response I suspect was not quite what he was looking for: "The glory of battle and death?!" We were not convinced.

There was something else of value here, of course, and we made our way back to the armoury and started to load up with as much of the weapons grade metal ingots as possible. As we were doing this Nadik climbed out of the floor and asked what we were doing. Falcor explained our intent, and I apologised in case it was his as we would not want to steal from our friends. He was indifferent to it, though, and instead offered to transport the "unclean" metal to Malek's temple for us. Well that would certainly saves us from carrying them! We were very grateful, but he simply said that he was glad to do some service for the Dragon Lord. He also said that he looked forward to welcoming Falcor to their halls one day under better circumstances.

Falcor took the opportunity to ask about the powers of his mind and how they were affected here. Apparently the foe had seeded some of the area with natural creatures that fed off powers of the mind, but also warned that it was a thin place where the boundaries of the world were stretched. Without the Carmanac Anhil and our Mother's power, the dark powers may have exploited the thinness of the place. He said that the holy place would need healing by the Elvradhil before our Mother could dominate once more. After that he showily sank into the floor out of sight... nice. The chests full of metal followed shortly afterwards, again sinking out of sight.

We decided to spend no more time underground, leaving the lizards to their fate and the place to the Elvradhil. When we exited by the door we had entered by some time before, it was afternoon. Now how were we to get back to the other island? I wondered whether Custor was still watching, and after a moment's concentration the others seemed to think that he was. Falcor tried some arm movements and hand gestures, but I wasn't sure the message was getting through so I wrote "please send boat" in the sand. After that we climbed the hill to the old watchtower to wait. I took the time to pray to Karmana at the obelisk again, then (now that we were out of the "thin place") used the crown to heal Arad and Falcor. After that we just sat and watched the sun set.

We set camp, and I took the first watch, followed by Falcor, and then Arad until dawn. It was Arad, then, that felt the hillside vibrate subtly as the obelisk sank slowly back into the the earth. He woke us in case something was going to happen, and it did, although it did no harm. The slowly smoking fire in the tower was quickly extinguished as the whole tower melted like ice and sank into the ground. Just a few minutes later a new tower started to emerge, growing out of the ground over about a quarter of an hour. It was fully intact and formed out of stone, stopping in place to become a perfect copy of Custor's tower. The only difference was that there was no woodwork or glass, just the stone. After this the vibrations lessened and faded until about a half hour later we could feel nothing.