The Journal of Klaugraquene

[jjkolb]

This evening as I entered Fort Valensk to meet Jennara and Berdin for a bit of exploring in the High Moors, I saw a familiar face:  my dear friend Weston!  It has been a long time (many months?) since I had seen him last.  It was good to get reacquainted, and I am happy to write that he has not changed a bit.  It will be a pleasure to have him around again.

Also, Ketzia joined us as she was recently released from jail—it seems she was wrongfully incarcerated.  

Now, the five of us entered the High Moors.  After several battles with lizardfolk we finally made it close to the cave that contains platinum.  All we had to do was fight our way through a large group of trolls, some of which used magic.  The plan, however, was not successful.  The trolls proved too formidable and Ketzia and Weston fell in the battle.  We decided not to go on but to live to fight another day.  We learned from our mistakes and the trolls will see us again soon…

[jjkolb]

The time has come for me to return to the site of my family’s estate, which now lies in ruins.  Before I do, I find it necessary to document in this journal how I came to be the man I am today.  

I am the only son of Fencig Dragonbane. My family’s wealth was accumulated through generations of Dragonbane men answering the call to quests.  My father added to these riches but did not want me to follow in his footsteps.  Perhaps because I was the only son and heir, my father wanted to protect me from harm.  I was pampered my whole life and provided with anything I asked for in hopes that it would dissuade me from a life of adventure. But as I matured, I wanted to earn my own way in the world. I went on my first adventure at age 18 with my childhood companions. The adventure was simple enough, more exploring than action, but it lasted for months. I returned home to a ransacked castle to find everyone within slaughtered and all things of value stolen.

I spent some months in self-pity, wandering the nearby countryside doing odd jobs to achieve sustenance.  After that, I decided to find out who was the cause of my parents’ death.  I became a member of a local mercenary group in hopes of overhearing anything related to that fateful day.  It was while with this group that I learned how to fight with a longsword and to understand the unlawful mind.  Although the activities of the mercenaries sickened me, I maintained the ruse.  When I was given my share of money, I would secretly give most of it to the downtrodden, keeping just enough for my survival.  Many months passed and I followed every lead but ultimately was unable to determine who or what the culprit was.  

On one evening, our group came across an old man sitting by the roadside.  He was well dressed, thus it was assumed he was wealthy, and being old, an easy target.  We surrounded the man and insisted that he turn over all of his valuables.  When he refused, we attacked him.  The old man slew everyone except me, whom he merely disarmed.

“Do you know why I have spared your life?” the man asked me.

“No”, was my reply, my head bowed in shame.

“Because I know who you are.  I know you are the last of the Dragonbanes.  I know you have selfishly wallowed in self-pity.  I know you have joined this pathetic band in order to uncover the mystery of the attack on your home.  And I know that you are much better than this.  A long time have I watched you.  You are strong and adequate with a sword—but you are misguided.  With my tutelage and Toran’s divine grace, you have the potential to become much more.”

“Toran?!  Bah!  Where were he and the other gods when my home was destroyed and my parents were murdered?”

“The gods are always there.  It is up to us to seek them out.”

I accepted the man’s offer and spent the next few years in intense training, both physically and spiritually.  The days were spent laboring and in combat training—not only the proper use of a longsword, but defense with a shield.  I suffered many superficial wounds and as a result of this, learned how to field dress my wounds.  The nights were spent in meditation and prayer.  I received daily instruction on ethics and philosophy, detailing every nuance of the paladin's ethos. I was taught the virtues of loyalty, duty, vigilance, courtesy, honor, valor, truth, and humility.  The training included a daily routine of physical exercise. Wearing full armor, I would hike up a mountainside while carrying bags of sand. With a weight secured to my back, I would swim the length of a lake. I scaled walls, climbed ropes, and ran for miles in full armor.  I was sent by my master (whose name was never revealed to me) on quests to test my character, such as plucking a feather from a harpy.  Most importantly, I would on occasion accompany my master in battle and fight at his side.  During these excursions, I would observe my master and note every subtle detail.

I was taught how to maintain equipment in first-class condition. I kept my master’s shield and armor polished and free of corrosion. Dents were tapped out, scratches were buffed clean, and tarnishes were refinished. Blades were straightened, hardened by fire, then resharpened on grindstones.  Saddles, boots, belts, and other leather items were to be oiled and polished.  Clothing, too, received meticulous attention. I hand-washed my garments in cold water, squeezing (rather than wringing) them out before hanging them in the sun to dry.  

Since my social skills had deteriorated during my time with the mercenaries, I was reminded on how to handle myself in social situations.  I was to shake hands with men and bow to women.  I was reminded on how to eat observing proper table manners.  I relearned my grooming skills.  I was re-educated on how to write and speak eloquently.

Finally one morning, my master woke me and said, “The time has come for you to prove to me that you are ready.  You must best me in armed combat.”

“Master, I cannot hope to best you.  And even if I could, out of respect, I do not dare try,” was my reply.

“It is not up to you.  The time comes in every master-apprentice relationship where the apprentice outperforms the master.  It will be for Toran to decide.”

At this, we saluted each other and engaged.  The fight lasted a great deal of time, and the advantage turned back and forth between us.  We were both to the point of exhaustion when I finally found the opening I fought so hard for.  I disarmed my master and held the point of my blunted sword at my master’s throat.  “Yield,” I said between gasping breaths.

The master stared into my eyes, “I can teach you no more.  Toran has spoken.  You are ready to spread His word and make your way in this world—alone.”

I lowered my sword, which suddenly felt much heavier.

The master, now standing, continued, “Now kneel before me and recite the code you committed to memory.”

I fell to my knees and though exhausted physically and mentally, recited the lines:

“I, Klaugraquene Dragonbane, do hereby pledge to honor the strictures of paladinhood and promise by my faith to be loyal to the Holy Church of Toran, maintaining my devotion against all persons without deception or forethought. Further, I vow to promote and uphold the principles of honor, truth, loyalty, duty, and vigilance and to solemnly and faithfully follow the edicts of my church and my master. I take this pledge freely, without coercion or expectation of reward, sworn by my hand and in blessed memory of those who have given their lives to this noble cause.”

My master tapped both of my shoulders with his sword and in a proud voice said, “Rise, Klaugraquene Dragonbane, Paladin of Toran.”

I rose and we embraced.  After cleaning ourselves up, we ate and retired for the night.  When I arose, I found that my master, and all of his important belongings, was gone.  A note was left on the dining table:

“My dear Klaug,
   It was an honor for me to teach you in the ways of paladinhood.  You have succeeded where others have failed.  Remember all that I have taught you, for the time will come for you to pass this knowledge to another.  Know that I am and will always be proud of you, as your father would have been, I am sure.  Do not try to find me, for you will not succeed.  Go forth in Toran’s name and spread His righteousness.”

I gathered my few belongings and whatever provisions were left for me.  I walked to the door, opened it, and stepped across the threshold.

Since then, I have vowed to right the wrong and find those responsible for my family's death. On many occasions I have risked my life to help those in need and usually refused rewards, keeping only what I needed to get by. All excess goes to the church in hopes that such tithes will aid me in my life quest.

[jjkolb]

The following is the account of my return to the Dragonbane manor:


As I write this, my companions and I are resting in what used to be the kitchen of my family manor.  I will now document the events that lead up to how we got here.  My account will be brief as my time will be short.




Entry 1:
I met Gulnyr and Weston in Point Harbor and, after exchanging pleasantries, we left for Stone to purchase healing potions, for the journey was to be dangerous.  We then made our way to Casterly Castle where we found a half elf male named Aaron.  It seems that Aaron’s father served my family as a manservant.  Aaron had run away from his father and thus was spared his father’s fate.  Aaron mentioned that he spoke with a miner near the cave outside the site of my family’s manor.  We met the man who gave us information vital to our cause.  We learned that rock dragons were responsible for the destruction of my home, and that they are currently nesting there.  Many adventurers have tried to loot the remains of the manor but have all died.  We moved on toward the site and noticed enormous shapes, the rock dragons we assumed, crawling up the hill to the ruins.  With much trepidation, we ventured forward.
 
After a long climb, we reached the entrance.  After slaying a few harpies flying about, we went in.  My heart sank as I was reminded of the destruction.  Time has not been kind and all sorts of vermin have taken up residence here.  The grand entrance, the receiving area, the dining hall, all destroyed.  We were attacked by large numbers of spiders of all sorts, some quite deadly.  Both Weston and Gulnyr fell while fighting them.  Only through the grace of Toran were they able to return.  After fighting wave after wave of spiders, we made it to the kitchen where we found the spiders’ entrance, a hole in the floor previously used for a drain.  We barricaded the hole and decided to rest.  We will decide our next course of action when we are refreshed.
 
Entry 2:
As we could not find another path, we removed the barricade and climbed down the hole.  It led to what must have been the furnace room, with several hallways leading out.  We followed a hall that led to several rooms.  In the first room we found many webs and cocoons.  But more interesting, Gulnyr noticed a strange glowing vial with a dragon head stopper.  Weston tried to determine its properties but was unsuccessful, and the vial actually exploded, causing us minor harm.  The next room was much like the first, including the vial.  This time, Weston tried other methods and even picked up the vial.  When he did, he appeared to fall in a trance and walked out of the room towards the hole that we climbed down.  While in this trance he destroyed the ladder with a spell, thereby cutting off our escape route.  He came to his senses then and did not remember the time he was in the trance. 
 
We entered the final room, but this time I touched the vial.  As I did, the ground shook and to our surprise, the visage of my grandfather appeared!  He told me to reclaim our name by slaying the great dragon and gave me a spear and the family’s oldest heirloom, a ring.  Rejuvenated, we followed the hallway and discovered the nest of the spider queen.  It was a hard fought battle with many large and deadly spiders, but we eventually killed them all.  I wonder if this essentially clears the home of spiders.  In the next hallway we found a ladder that led up to the guest quarters.  We rested and opened the door.  To our surprise there were mounds of sludge (that Weston told me later was pudding) waiting to attack us.  Formidable were these puddings for one actually slew me.  However, while in the nothingness, I sensed the presence of my grandfather and I was brought back! 
 
As more and more puddings bubbled up from the floor, we entered another room, my father’s study.  The room was much larger than I remember it, thus I came to the conclusion that father must have had some ‘divider’ separating the room.  There was a portal in there that must have been hidden by the divider.  We used the portal and were transported to an area that I had never seen before.  Unlike the rest of the manor, this area seemed to be untouched from looters, or dragons and spiders for that matter.  It was longer than it was wide and we moved ahead.  There were several traps here that were set off.  Thank Toran that they caused only minor damage to us.  We ended up in what appears to be a library (and our present location as I write this).  On one wall there is a tapestry with all the names of my forefathers.  There was a book lying open on the floor that appeared to have some sort of magical protection on it.  However, I was able to pick up the book without harm.  I believe this was due to the fact that I am wearing the family ring.  The book is actually a diary and included passages written by my grandfather.  He described a battle with a great dragon and gave a clue as to how to defeat it.  Seems I must thrust the spear into its throat.  In the book was a map that showed the location of the dragon, in a cave on a hill through a nearby forest.
 
We have decided to rest here and plan our next course of action.
 
Entry 3:
I have failed…
 
We found the hidden cave.  The dragons apparently have lizardmen under their control for we were beset by them upon entering.  There were traps around every corner.  What was worse is that we were being corralled to the dragons.  The lizardmen were blocking our paths with fires so we were forced to confront them.  We were able to slay one of them—by my guess it was a youngling.  However, when we confronted another dragon, it killed us.  We, or more appropriately I, decided that we should charge the beast.  This turned out to be a most unwise decision.  The dragon had traps laid in its lair and we tripped them.  After that, it was only a matter of time before it killed us all.
 
The deaths of Gulnyr and Weston weigh heavy on my conscience.  These brave souls sought to aid me and I led them to their doom.  And I have disgraced the Dragonbane name.  My grandfather killed several of these creatures and I could manage to slay only one.  Now I fear avenging the death of my parents, and restoring the Dragonbane name will never come to pass.  What is the most damning is knowing that these creatures still infest my homeland and I cannot go back.  This failure will tax my soul for a great deal of time, and I may never recover…

[jjkolb]

The weeks following my failure to avenge my parents’ deaths have been spent in solitude. I had no urge to face the world and had lost the will to fight evil. That was until Toran spoke to me in a dream. He told me not to despair, that I would have another chance to face the “dragons”. I awoke to renewed hope. I quickly sought out to find better equipment, which I did through a man named Bjoernsen (who apparently had been magically turned into an orc). My new longsword glows with the holy light of Toran so that my enemies will feel fear. My new armor is made of iron and feels much stronger.
  I met Jennara in Hlint and after a bit of conversation, we found that we both had been charged by the Sielwood witch to retrieve the eyestalk of a beholder. We agreed to seek this out together. On our way through Fort Llast, we met Berdin. What fortune! He too was asked by the witch to retrieve the eyestalk.
  We found a cave in the Swordrust Mountains that was rumored to house several beholders. We prepared ourselves and entered. As we delved deeper into the caverns we encountered several smaller floating eyes, a large group of earth elementals, and even a number of umber hulks. Eventually, we found the main lair of the elementals. Sadly, the gaze of what I would call the master beholder struck Berdin down. Jennara and I were able to resist their magic and defeat them. I cut off an eyestalk and we left. Eventually, we made it to the home of the witch and, to our surprise, Berdin was there. I gave the witch the eyestalk and she gave us each a reward for our efforts.
  This adventure did much to embolden me. I needed to feel Toran’s strength in me and to purge the land of evil again. I feel that although I failed at my family quest, I am a better person for it, and I shall return to my homeland better prepared to fight the monsters within.

[jjkolb]

My faith was tested and my faith wavered. A woman, Elanna, was held by an unknown force and called out to Toran for aid. My path to her was blocked by a wall of energy that burned hotter than any fire I have seen. My initial instinct was to ignore the barrier and run to her, to pull her from whatever bound her. But fear stopped me. Not fear for my life, for I would have gladly exchanged mine for hers, but fear that crossing the barrier would kill me and thus ending any hope of my rescuing her. After several minutes of indecision, I felt a pull from my holy symbol tugging me toward Elanna. That sign from Toran compelled me to cross the barrier. With some trepidation, I stepped through the wall and felt the burn—not as hot as I would have thought, but a different kind of burn, one that I have not felt before. Now that I have had time to reflect on my actions, I have come to the conclusion that this fire (which left me badly burned) was punishment for my lack of faith. Had I listened to my initial instinct, I would have been spared the burn. Once through the barrier I reached for Elanna who told me to “wrap myself in my faith and break the chains” that held her. I was not certain what she meant and in the confusion, I was carried across the barrier by Brisbane. My crossing the barrier caused it to vanish and I was able to rescue Elanna.
  Thankfully, the healers at the temple in Ft. Llast were able to heal my burns.
  Although I failed this test, I know now to trust my instincts and that if my choices are the right ones, Toran will protect me from harm.

[jjkolb]

I was part of a group charged with rescuing a man named Brac, who had been abducted by Blood’s forces.  He possessed information that if revealed to Blood would be devastating to our cause.  If we were unable to safely recover him, we were charged to end his life (which I was determined to avoid).  I was a member of the rescue party while others remained behind to guard the ship that brought us from Lorindar.  The path to the village where Brac was held was perilous indeed.  At one point, while sizing up a group of Blood’s forces standing in our way, my eyes focused on one particular man that seemed different than the rest.  It was then that I heard some of our party whisper that this man was Blood himself!  He soon disappeared and the fight was on.  There were several such skirmishes along the way and I fell on three occasions.  The soul mother took another piece in one such death.
  Finally, we reached the village and dispatched the forces guarding Brac, which included the most formidable demon I have encountered.  We found Brac in a hut, escorted him back to the ship, and set sail back to Lorindar.  We were attacked several times while aboard the ship, and I fell in battle yet again.
   This was an operation that I will not soon forget.  We accomplished the mission and rescued Brac before Blood knew just what he held.  However, I fell in battle several times and cannot help feeling that I let my companions down.  Not only did I subject them to harm and possible death, but I caused them to use their powers to resurrect me. 
   I will spend the next several days in prayer to Toran to give me peace.  

[jjkolb]

I and others had the delight of meeting one Corius Brambleburr, curator of a museum that displays items of a bizarre nature. He receives anonymous notes that indicate where such items may be found. We have located two of these items: a set of bandages that wound rather than heal and boots that infuse the wearer with the power of charming others. However, both items apparently corrupt the owners, and as such, our attempts to confiscate the items resulted in their deaths. It took several days of prayer and fasting to be at peace with our actions.
  I have seen Jennara from time to time in Pranzis. When I have been able to, I have joined her and Cole Norseman in various quests. On one occasion we, with the help from others, went on a mining expedition in the fens west of Velensk. We were able to mine enough platinum for a set of armor. I have been in contact with Master Bluntaxe, asking for his help in crafting this armor for me.
  Aside from that, my time has been largely spent conditioning both mind and body. The years are starting to catch up with me. I find that I get winded easier, if only slightly so. Still, this means that I must expand my training regimen. I will still work on strength, but increase my time spent on endurance exercises. I will not let an adversary have an opportunity for an easy strike because I am tired.