Journal - The Hunt for Kellerot

Elvramar Island

There was a rough path leading up to the ruined tower, infrequently used but I could see that it had been used recently. A group had gone up the hill and then returned dragging something, which was presumably me as that's where I had awoken. We could just, if we strained to see, make out the tip of an obelisk near to the tower above us. That would make sense if I was transported there by Karmana. We decided to head up towards this area, just to our east we reckoned.

Falcor led the way with Arad following and then I was behind. They were still wary, with bows drawn, but I just looked around, enjoying the walk. There was a sail almost on the horizon to the west, and a fishing boat to the south of where we were, but no immediate sign of trouble. It was dry and warm and we reached the area unopposed. What was left of the tower looked like Custor's, but it was significantly damaged (damage that looked to have occurred a long time ago). About half had collapsed between the north west and south east with only the south west quarter at full height still. There was no obvious signs of life as we approached. It did smell, we noticed as we neared, very strongly of bat guano.

The obelisk looked as if it had thrust out from the earth very recently, judging by the disturbed soil, and was a green quartz. Falcor walked up and touched the obelisk and the same "see-saw" symbol appeared as it had on the obelisk in the village. He invited me to try the same, not knowing that I was itching to try to commune with Karmana again, having felt her loving embrace once before. The obelisk was my best chance of doing so, and I knelt down to touch the earth before moving my hands onto the obelisk, reaching out with my mind for the thought, or perhaps the emotion, of Karmana. Almost at once I was overwhelmed once more with energy and love, having succeeded in connecting directly with her, it was like a rapturous joy.

I immediately pledged myself to her service and vowed to heal the damage done to her. I knew deep down that such an immense task was a lifetime commitment that might never be achieved, but at that moment I didn't care about difficulty or consequences; anything seemed possible. I, for a moment, thought that I should perhaps be worried about how my friends were reacting to my "absence", but the thought passed fleetingly as the energy flowed through me, and I tried to control it so that I was not overwhelmed in the way that I had been before.

I had been right about my friends, though, as they had seen my body collapse and were trying to revive me without success. I seemed to be staring into space blissfully and was completely unresponsive, smiling. Despite their efforts it was rather my own reluctant return to reality that eventually brought me to consciousness, having dragged my mind back to the here and now. Apparently a symbol had appeared while I was out, similar to Falcor's and also like the one on Arad's prayer book, but again at a different angle. I was more concerned with looking around me, finding that I was connected to Karmana (both the world and the Goddess) in a way that I had not been before. The world seemed more vibrant and alive, and I instinctively knew that I could connect with it and encourage it to change with me, although only in a limited way, after all... we were all part of Karmana and all connected.

Falcor snapped me out of my reverie with a warning - he had a sense that we were being watched, which he shared with Arad. Arad confirmed it - we were being scryed by someone or something! Suddenly a window in the world opened, unnaturally this time, with a small room visible on the other side that was filled with legionnaires. They wore a bull symbol on their shield and tunics, and quickly started charging through towards us. It was clear why when the portal promptly closed behind them, but we were not sure (yet) whether they were a threat to us.

Falcor stepped forward and shouted "Halt!" intending to speak with them. I stepped to the side, just behind him, wary of their intentions but not wanting to provoke a fight. Arad had his bow notched, trained on the leader. They moved into a defensive formation, in a line facing us, close together with shields and spears to the fore. Falcor stepped forward again, shouting: "State your business here"!

They kept advancing, although at a jog rather than a charge, but did not respond to Falcor at all. Still wary, but not wanting to allow them to engage us, I called for the first time on Karmana, reaching out to the plants all around us and focusing on their advance, asking that Karmana held them back in order to avoid bloodshed. It seemed natural, even though it seems strange to write about it now, that the plants came to life at their feet and grasped at them, trying to hold them in place. A couple were completely held, and even the others that were able to press on were slowed. No harm was done to them, though.

I moved forward to join Falcor, who was shouting: "We mean you no harm, put down your weapons." Arad flanked them, keeping his bow trained and splitting their attention. I flanked the other way as they struggled to break free into clear ground. Two reached the edge and immediately charged straight at Falcor. Arad managed to put an arrow into the chest of one as he ran forward, slowing him slightly and giving Falcor a target. Sure enough, Falcor danced to his right, slipping his dagger in to the side of the wounded man's shield and finishing him off. The spear of the other attacker scraped off his armour, but Falcor spun inside its reach and drove his sword into the thigh of the other one. The wounded man lost his balance and had to ground his shield to avoid falling, but that left him open to another arrow from Arad, which found its mark and he fell without even shouting out.

Two more broke free to attack Falcor again, who again found a weak spot with his dagger. I sprinted forward to join him, shouting at the foe to "stop fighting you fools". They didn't of course, seemingly fanatics of some kind, and Falcor was stabbed for the first time. He used the opening to attack rather than pulling back, cutting one deeply who then collapsed spurting blood. Arad charged forward, looking to tackle the other attacker to the ground, and managed to knock him to all fours and grapple him, forcing him to drop his spear.

Arad keeps him pinned as Falcor ties him up. I try to ask why they are attacking us, but tries to bite me.

Want to give them the chance to surrender, so surround plants and stand ready. Falcor telling them to surrender and lower their weapons as soon as they are free.

When the plants subside another portal appears and last two jump through. Left with the one prisoner.

Refuses to respond - strip and collect weapons and armour, but warn him that his life is in danger if he stays. Must go if he can.

Release him and let him run off behind tower. Then slowly make our way around tower to see what is there. Arad calls on Creator to heal Falcor and his own wounds. Then he and I split off to scout the tower quietly.

Stink is rancid. Obviously fell to ruin a long time ago, so fallen masonry covered in grass. Guano piled on every layer. Ground floor area is a thick, solid layer of guano. So smelly.

Arad wants to poke around in the shit. I baulk at this... not very keen! Dry retching as I get closer.

Arad digs in the shit, disgusting, eventually starts heaving I run in to save him but end up heaving as well! Falcor rescues us both, resisting the stink somehow.

Decide to burn guano off - use my oil and a flaming arrow to set it alight. Then await Elvramar arrival, with me hiding with cloak.