Journal - The Heart of Karmana

A Plea for Help

The protection of Karmana was stronger than ever within the archipelago, so nothing was likely to arrive magically that shouldn't be here, and we knew that it was hard to reach by ship from the outside. The Imperial presence in the east was static according to Elvrabor, but they were busy fortifying and settling into farming to sustain themselves, and there were at least three legions within the region. There was an evil pall over the Saloroc homeland, and the few boats that left brought bedraggled, half-starved people. We spent the time training and learning more about the region, but Falcor was keen to relight the Forge when he felt ready.

Before we had the chance, though, a boat arrived from the Elvrabor carrying some unusual visitors - two of the Elvrahum. They were similar to Garrett but a little smaller and much older. One carried a carved bone staff, and the other wore bone encircling his head. There was definitely a theme, but I didn't sense death about them. They had come seeking us specifically, and approached Falcor first, bowing before him. The one with the staff addressed him as "Lord", and said that they needed him desperately. He seemed confused when Falcor didn't recognise him, and asked if he could touch his shoulder. Falcor agreed, and he did so, pausing for a moment, and then stepped back, saying that he didn't realise that Falcor's soul was incomplete - that he hadn't yet been reborn. He recognised that the time would be soon to relight the Forge, and hesitated to distract him from this task, but he was the only one that could help them.

He introduced himself as Olgarron, although the other spoke up at that, saying "Hinar Raksen Olgarron", which the older man waved away. The second one was Hinar Lonack Akallan. They said that the dead had invaded the Heart of Karmana, and that no others could hope to rid the place of the dead and ever leave again. Falcor's soul was free to travel there and back, and one born of the dead with no soul should be able to leave as well, or so he said. They would drain power from Karmana directly, so the matter was urgent. Falcor spoke of the tapestry, which the new arrivals called "Falum's Tapestry", and said that they would return in time but we should go as quickly as possible. With only two of us to stand on the right points, though, we needed some dweomer to balance the journey, but we had enough to do so safely, and transported ourselves to the island in the north, at a point that they indicated for us.

There were snow-capped mountains before us, but it was still warm and there seemed to be places we could pass through them below the snow line. I looked behind and I could see a great, fortified city that must be the home of the Elvrahum. It was clearly meant to be a fortress first and a place to live second, with concentric rings of walls, which were deep in their blunt construction and lined with battlements. There was a pillared building in the centre, which seemed to be holy to the Elvrahum. We had been warned that we were not welcome there, as only the Elvrahum could enter. We started our trek up the side of the mountains, which was hot work but otherwise pleasant.

About halfway up to the coll we meant to pass through, we saw some figures on ridge above us, maybe a mile away. We couldn't make out any details, so we headed towards them, making out four humanoids as we drew closer. They stepped off the horizon and quickly blended into the surroundings so that we lost sight of them. When we were a few hundred yards away we saw something angular occasionally sticking up over the edge - there was something else up there... something big.

Falcor uses stoneskin on me, so I use nondetection on him. When we get closer, we discover a bloody big, evil looking spider in the coll we were heading for, with another beyond sucking life from Karmana. Falcor looses arrow at that one, but passes through harmlessly. Falcor loosed another, but this time a different kind of arrow and it struck true... and it disappeared completely!

Turn to scan, seeking evil... 2 archers loose arrows, both striking me! New armour from Sarn holds, though, and they don't penetrate. Falcor looses second arrow and the other spider disappears as well! Two more come at me true, one gets past armour but stoneskin saves me. They flip hoods up and disappear, although Falcor tracks one of them with difficulty, putting two arrows into them.

I sense great evil to north, approaching... but cannot see anything. Warn Falcor and he casts... splatter of glittering dust against an invisible wall and I get the sense the evil is slowing near it. Close up, either side and step through. Fucked instantly - such a positive aura here that I feel almost completely drained and sink to floor. Definitely transitioned to another place.

Quickly let Falcor know how bad I am. Reach for pot and slap on some ointment to help, and Falcor helps me too. Start to notice that I am drawing from the place. Tall, dark creature in front of Falcor, mostly corporeal but not completely. Falcor tells me that creature is being controlled and wants to be free, but only way is Falcor killing it! Then attacks and one massive hand connects heavily, staggering him.

I call on my benefactor to dispel evil, moving around to touch it. Instantly changed - relaxes and sinks to knees before Falcor. Witch has released him - only a guardian here, but controlled by another. Fears to approach the heart again because could be controlled again. Points towards the massive canyon we can now see where the heart must be. At the centre of the canyon is where we will find the heart. From what he says, it is almost certainly Ilianna. The bitch. Cannot come here, otherwise could not leave, but stands in the doorway.

Will seek to remove others around the edges, but would not approach heart. We head in towards the canyon. Movement within the canyon, but nothing else on the mountain side. Sense of intrusion, as this feels like somewhere that people come for a funeral. I can feel Falcor reacting to the place too, and seems angered by the activity below. Falcor transforms into dragon - clearly angry and impatient. I climb on, gripping stave of the planes in one hand and he launches off the edge, heading for the centre of the canyon, at least ten miles from here.

Get closer and see a hexagon of obelisks with glowing, golden Elvradrak prone within them. Rays, like lightning, shooting out from Elvradrak into planes that are gateways into other worlds in between each obelisk pair. Five heavy flying things, anti-dragon beasts, and three floating shades near the centre.