Journal - The Heart of Karmana
A Plea for Help
Protection of Karmana stronger than ever, so nothing likely to arrive magically that shouldn't be here. Human line in east static according to Elvrabor, but fortifying and settling, at least 3 legions. Evil pall over Saloroc homeland. Boat arrives one day with Elvrabor... but this time have two Elvrahum with them! One carries carved bone staff and other wearing carved bone ornaments... Elvradrak? They have come to see us out.
Bow to Falcor, saying that they need him desperately - calling him Lord. Confused that Falcor doesn't recognise him (quite old). Asks, but touches him, and says that his soul is incomplete - has not yet been reborn. The time is soon to relight the Forge. He is the only one that can help, though. The dead have invaded the heart of Karmana - no others can hope to rid the place of the dead and ever leave again.
Hinar Raksen Olgarron (Olgarron) is the one that knew Falcor. Hinar Lonack Akallan other one. Talk of Falum's Tapestry - any power that aligns with the six points will suffice to mitigate risk, so do that and transport ourselves to their island (they cannot come with us). City behind us - a fortress first, then a city it seemed; concentric rings, battlements, deep walls. Pillared building in the centre, holy to the Elvrahum. We are not welcome there apparently - only their folk.
Hot, despite the snowy mountains above us. About halfway up to coll when we see figures on ridge above, maybe a mile away. Head towards them, four humanoids, blend in to surroundings when they dip below the skyline. About half a mile away when this happens and quickly lose sight of them. Then something angular occasionally sticking over edge - something else there.
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.