Grohin's secret book

[Black Cat]

[SIZE=18]The Clawed Path[/SIZE]


Act II, scene 1: The Call

I answered the call from Jennara. A book was stolen from a secret place !!
9 drows, including a powerful mage did it... 4 were killed and we learnt that 2 (1?) were killed later in the mountains (Thunder Peaks).

On a whim, I asked Jennara about what the book looks like, just to know what we were looking for... and...

I was a bit surprised to learn that it looked just like the book I saw in the hands of Kenson. And I fear it is the exact same book, though I don't know how this is possible. Maybe it is another, a copy or another part of the same thing, I don't know... but...

Jennara wants the stolen book back, it's wards and seals intact... and from what I remember about that rituals in the desert, the seals were indeed broken... or at least something happened that makes me think so.

I didn't tell anything to Jennara but that I saw a book with the same description (a thick leather volume, with an engraving/picture of a claw [ animal or ... other]) on the front cover. and that she might seek Gilshem if she wanted more informations, as I made a promise not to reveal what happened in the desert.

This does not bode well... what is this book, what is the Clawed Path? Who is really Kenson... why did he need that book... what exactly happened in the desert?

Act II, scene 2: The Chase

We found a lead... we went to Krandor to search for Ruben Wintersby, aknowledge specialist on the Author of the book... well he wasn't home but some found a note mentionning a guy named Kuhtal. I asked a few question to the guard about this Ruben and something got into my head that he was Kenson. Something the guard said I guess... about tripping on a chicken but more likely when I asked how Ruben was adressing the guard (he had said he didn't really know Ruben)... 'Old Friend'.

The Note pointed to Hurm so we went there and while some searched the town me, Pyyran, Varka and some others went to the Inn... and stumbled on the one we were looking for... things got tense between Kuhtal and Pyyran as it seems they have met before.. K. was the man that killed some celestial when the book was stolen and search for by pyyran and others.

Well, K. wanted safe passage and a closed mouth from Pyyran in exchange for info... but as we couldn't promise anything K. suddenly draw a knife and got it at me throat... things went from bad to worse... and as K. draw blood from me throat, I tried to headbutt backward and I got me throat sliced perfectly. K.'s bodyguard got killed, K. captured but some Rofies went for the guard and we were all held and questioned for a bit... which K. used to escape... more questioning ensued... and 4 days later we finally got away from Hurm... with interdiction to come back until the meeting between Saviar and Red Bear took place.

Act II, scene 3: The Spirit

I went with Gilshem back there again to the desert... he did it... but it didn' went as well as I had hoped. He managed to summon the spirit and to ask his questions. But something went wrong...

Gosh, I didn't thought it would be that hard... the worst was not being sure... it's the hardest thing to do, to have to kill a friend in cold blood.
All is well now though, The Spirit is back at rest and I managed to raise Gilshem... Vorax be praised. Gilshem didn't have time to tell me all nor did I had for telling him of the happenings in Hurm... but I hope he got some answers...

[Black Cat]

Assassins

Act 1, scene 1: Blood and Entrails

I and a few others are on the trail of an assassin, The Disembowler, or so we think he's called.

It started in Katherian with bits and pieces of gnome strewn all over the place, a pool of blood and entrails in the sewers, the report of a theft in some Branderbackian family of gnome, The Omerthrough and reports of strange movement through the streets and sewers at night.

The theft is probably what is most important in all this... a blade, powerful one too, as been stolen. It is reported that only a powerful person, or one with the right blood could use it and the most adequate seems to be this Disembowler.

[Black Cat]

Assassins

Act 1, scene 2: The Headless Body

Leringard. A bloodied hood is found in the fountain near the arms there. A trail of blood is followed and a body found... without its head. Signs of struggle and report of 2-3 people fighting. One of them might have been a guard that sailed to Vehl. The other probably is the body... who was/were the other remains to be discovered.

The head is found in the water by the docks... it is known by some of us... Jeran V... something. Not a too well liked person it seems... follower of the red dragon. Not much else is found, but Jeran wasn't wearing his usual clothes. Oh and his blood match the sample found on the theft site in Katherian... was he the thief, or a guard there... no one knows for sure... but we are inclined to believe he was the thief or at least helped him... for what it cost him.

Found his girl... or wife. Murieann... she's not too pleased (understandable) nor very helpful in this matter. We got together again in North Point to discuss all we know... which is in fact very little. And most of it are speculations...

The trail is turning cold, unless we can find something in Vehl... following that guard, if we can pick up the trail that is.

[Black Cat]

The Cast of Act III

- Tuhral Araljan: officer in the dragon army vs. Blood
- String: a mage in Blood's cadre of magi, probable 'inventor' of some kind of portal (dream or something like that)
- Ruben Wintersby- specialist on Tuhral. It's Kenson
- Kuhlat, merc working for Ruben/Kenson (where has he gone?)

- Jacchri and Dorena Abianca
- Angela, Alantha, Lin'da (the Three Sisters)
- Varka, Fenrir, Grohin and Beli (The dwarves)
- Storold and Mylindra
- Jennara (The Silent one)
- Malor, Ferrit and Talmorn
- Gunther (Comic relief (when the dwaves are sober)  and meatshield (When the dwarves are sober too) )

Clues?

Reference to Claw: (Clawed Path) as told by Gilshem:
- many tribes use claws symbol for weapon - for what use this info is.
- Vampire in North Point (The Clawed Shadow)
Marc Wylven, high priest of Aeridin fought it? Presumed dead as is the Vampire (at least banished) - seemed irrelevant to the problem at hand
- Claws: troops belonging to the Dragons in the first dragon war between blood and them
- Corathite cult 360-340 before the Cataclysm. Monastery (the Nest of Claws) near Dalanthar... burnt by orcs around 334 BC.

- Dream portal
- The path

[Black Cat]

Returns of the Lumbral.

(Act I=The Desert and the Giants)
(Act II=The Chase for the Book)

Act III, scene 1: Commitment

We found Kenson at last. He was hiding in Highpass Fort. But it seems there was more to his action than what I believe at first.

It WAS him who has the book Jennara was after, but as Gilshem told me, Kenson used it to further some noble goal (or so he believes, and I think he's right). I still not fully trust Kenson (or rather Ruben Wintersby), not after the trick he played in the desert when we helped him acquire the knowledge to understand the book.

It's a journal of a famous officer in the Dragon's army of old. It allows, or shows the path to become a claw... some kind of powerful warrior of sorts.

It seems Kenson did follow that path as he needed the strength to face what he did and what is coming... so what is coming really?

Well Dragons are back or will be soon and new wars loom on the horizon, but this time we don't have Sinthar to face the dragon. Hell, some of us help in his demise. And there is no one strong enough to unite the people behind one banner to face the dragons.

Kenson plan is to free the Lumbral from their banishement... The Lumbral? Well others call them The Council. It seems they were responsible for Sinthar banishement... I'll need to pick up a bit on the history of the thing.

Problem is... we don't really have a clue as to how to achieve this... some of us find some notes from one of Sinthar Magi's cadre, one called String. It talks about death and the soul path, and about dreams, not much very useful.

Some of us wanted to follow the path, but it has been ruled out... so now we are a bit clueless and are going back to Corsain... to the Aragenite library. Hope we can find more information on String and the way she and/or Sinthar managed to pull the trick of always being first and in force where the dragon armies attacked.

It has been decided that we will keep this secret as this knowledge must not fall into the wrong hands.

[Black Cat]

//Harlas//

We found a lead... we went to Krandor to search for Ruben Wintersby, aknowledge specialist on the Author of the book... well he wasn't home but some found a note mentionning a guy named Kuhtal. I asked a few question to the guard about this Ruben and something got into my head that he was Kenson. Something the guard said I guess... about tripping on a chicken but more likely when I asked how Ruben was adressing the guard (he had said he didn't really know Ruben)... 'Old Friend'.

The Note pointed to Hurm so we went there and while some searched the town me, Pyyran, Varka and some others went to the Inn... and stumbled on the one we were looking for... things got tense between Kuhtal and Pyyran as it seems they have met before.. K. was the man that killed some celestial when the book was stolen and search for by pyyran and others.

Well, K. wanted safe passage and a closed mouth from Pyyran in exchange for info... but as we couldn't promise anything K. suddenly draw a knife and got it at me throat... things went from bad to worse... and as K. draw blood from me throat, I tried to headbutt backward and I got me throat sliced perfectly. K.'s bodyguard got killed, K. captured but some Rofies went for the guard and we were all held and questioned for a bit... which K. used to escape... more questioning ensued... and 4 days later we finally got away from Hurm... with interdiction to come back until the meeting between Saviar and Red Bear took place.

I went with Gilshem back there again... he did it... but it didn' went as well as I had hoped.

Gosh, I didn't thought it would be that hard... the worst was not being sure... all is well though... Vorax be praised. Gilshem didn't have time to tell me all nor did I had for telling him of the happenings in Hurm... but I hope he got some answers...

[Black Cat]

//RL date : Sun Jun 3
//Conversation between Varka and Grohin about 'The Path’

Act III, Interlude 1: Varka and Grohin

Varka:   well Grohin..did ye 'ave some toime to talk..dere be thin's
   on me moind..oi be needin some spirituak guidens
Grohin:   sure... ahm always der ifn ya need me.... *laughs* if ya can
   find me dat is
Varka:   oi already found ye...ye bugger..*laughs*
Grenna:   well..oi wont disturb ya
Grohin:   *laughs*
Grohin:   les' get ta Corax lake den, da weather be bedder over der
Grenna:   seems imertant fer ya ta be speakin wit gohin here
Grenna:   see ya soon
Grenna:   *grins
Varka:   kin-lass it wont be dat long.. Even a warlords needs da
   guidens of da church..everyone does
Grohin:   Farewell... Vorax be wit ya
Grenna:   oim tinkin we need anudder aprty here soon master varka
Varka:   sure
Grenna:   dats a hint ifn ya didnt na get it
Grohin:   An' don' waste dose nuts *grins*
Grenna:   *laughs
Varka:   a wha?
Grenna:   nay... oi wont
Varka:   oohh nauw oi git it
Grenna:   dwarf war party
Grohin:   Drinkin' an' bashing contest
Grenna:   *laughs
Grenna:   dey foinally got da inn fixed from da last one
Varka:   until later lassie..and say "aye" to Dalan fer me
Grohin:   But we moigh try da giant... instead ov da oxen
Grenna:   aye
Varka:   Aye.
Grenna:   now dat would be fun
Grenna:   and oi will
Grohin:   *waves*
Grenna:   safe travels to yer
Varka:   Fare thee well!

...

Varka:   'ere..dat be foin
Grohin:   *nods*
Varka:   ye git any tinder?
Varka:   ooh noice...
Grohin:   der ya go *laughs*
Varka:   *sit*
Grohin:   So... wha' was it wit da 'Path'?
Varka:   ye know we had a short talk wit Ruben. About dat "Path of
   da dreamers"
Varka:   And he showed us wha' had 'appened to 'im... oi mean da change.
Varka:   de claw and fur thing.
Grohin:   Aye... but it be noting ta do wit dreamers unless ya be meanin' da
   shapechangers.
Varka:   *finds a twick nearby, takes it and sticks it into the fire*
Grohin:   But... go on.
Varka:   Oi mean de part where "one" could change. Become different.
Varka:   dats was de path of da Claw roight?
Grohin:   *nods* aye, dat it be.
Varka:   and dats nay anythin wit da dreamers to do. Roight?
Grohin:   I don't tink so... as ah un'erstand it... da dream stuff has ta do wit
   da String fellow and da way ta get to da Lumbral
Varka:   and String was on dat path? Being an immortal?
Grohin:   But ah tink Jacchri an' oders did have dreams about da path...
   some sort ov callin'. But ya bedder ask him about dat part.
Grohin:   Nah... String was workin' fer Sinthar.
Varka:   *looks in his note and rewirites a few things*
Grohin:   Da path ov da claws was used bah a general ov da dragon's army.
Grohin:   one name' Tuhral Araljan
Varka:   aye... oi had changed da names of dose two
Grohin:   As ah un'erstan' he be usin' da path ta create da best ov da best foighters.
Varka:   Da thin' is... Oi 'ave thought of it, bu' nay come to a conclusion yet *fumbles
   with his stick in the fire still*. Ah know some be thinkin' of da path as well
Grohin:   *nods slightly*
Varka:   Accordin' to da learnings of Vorax, de easy path is never de roight path...
Grohin:   *nods* but in dis case der be no easy path. Takin' da Claw' path is sometin
   dangerous... an' probably deadly... nay takin' it moigh be as hard an' deadly
Varka:   Power an' greed is nay da way, may it be fer one self...Sacrefoise fer odders
   may be, may it be fer de greater cause and picture
Varka:   Proist of Vorax. Dat Path, was we donno wha it will bring in da end...oi am
   speculatin cause..
Varka:   Oim worried may oi take it - da de beast ye become in da end.. It will control
   oneself and nay de odder way around
Varka:   And dat it can 'arm de ones around ye...ye know wha oi mean?
Grohin:   *nods*
Varka:   Oim nay dwarf wit nay woife and younglings... Oi used de path of Vorax and
   de Axe as oi never wanted a weakness...
Varka:   a weakness dat me foe could use...
Grohin:   *Nods slightly* But ya 'ave responsabilities fer Bloody Gate. Wha' will happen
   ov 'em if ya lose yerself in da path... or come out change'
Varka:   bu' nauw... nauw oi am *considers shortly* A symbol fer Bloody Gate...
   Somethin' dat makes me "bond" fer 3000 dwarves..
Varka:   *nods* das why oi went to yem, Grohin *grins*
Varka:   *sit*
Grohin:   Ah tink ah cannae say nay or yay... fer ya... I 'ave ta come ta yer own
   decision. But ah wuld advoise fer nay takin' da path. Der is ta many risks... an'
   nay sure ting. Ya don' enter da battle blindly... it be always best ta 'now da
   enemy foirst
Varka:   bu' do you think dat Jacchri sees dis as well? He 'as a wofe and choildren as
   well?...Oi donno if ye saw 'is face, bu' oi tell ye oi know he be struggling
Grohin:   *nods* I tink so ta... but den it be our duty ta help him see all soide ov da
   ting... so he be 'nowin' wer he is goin'. Ah 'now he be a woise man... ahm sure...
   well ah hope he can make da roig' decision
Varka:   oi am most sure oi wouldnt take da path. Bu' do you think oi could 'elp Jacchri,
   may he choose to take it? and doie in battles against 'im?... It would be an
   'onour to fought such a manificant warrior... may he become one. Cause oi
   dont believe he will make it 'imself
Grohin:   Ah don' tink it work loike dat... ya moigh foigh' agains' him or agains' oders...
   but ahm sure ya both be alone on da path. An' ya moigh both nay come out.
   Kenson did... but nay one ov his men survived
Varka:   To be a da first to fall against such a beast of strenght and power.. Da battle
   would be short bu' he would be a foe dat wouldnt loose da moral in da battlle
   from start to end... oi can almost see it fer me... may he choose dat solution
Varka:   *sit*
Varka:   *throws the stick into the fire*
Varka:   you believe... you believe that oi moight be able to block "de call"? and 'elp
   Jacchri some of de way?
Varka:   wit de "inner" strenght and rage oi be given by Vorax?
Grohin:   Ah don' 'now... but I doubt it. Once ya set foot on da path... yer on it... an' der
   be nay turnin' back... so if ya both follow it... only one if any can come back.
   But ah tink ya can help him before he be enterin' da path
Grohin:   If dat is his choice. Cause in da end... it all come dauwn ta yer personal
   choosin'.
Varka:   dat path... is dere some special ploice where it begins? *seems confused* oi
   thought it was somethin ye "ticked" in ye moind
Grohin:   Ah don' 'now, but ah guess da start be somewhere in da mountains by
   Highpass.
Grohin:   Ruben sure 'nows 'ow ta start on it
Varka:   *nods a few times* oi will ask 'im
Grohin:   But ya shuld ask yerself... Do ah really need more power? Wha' will it cost me?
   Is it worth it in da end?
Varka:   oi 'ave asked dat meself hundreads of toimes... and dis wha oi 'ave
Grohin:   Ah personally tink it be nay worth it, we are all stron' already... more dan most
   already. We moigh nay be stron' enough ta foigh' da dragons... but ah tink we
   be stron' enough ta help Ruben on wha' he be plannin'
Varka:   In less dan 3 years Milara will go crazy and 'e will destroy Bloody Gate..We
   can nae stop 'im, unless we do somethin risky...
Grohin:   *nods*
Varka:   so on one soide oi 'ave de chance maybe...maybe to do somethin' about it,
   bu' witout knowin' if it will 'elp
Grohin:   We moigh' nay be able ta stop him nauw... or den, wit da strength we 'ave
   roigh nauw... but tink about wha' we be tryin' ta achieve.
Varka:   on de odder woise... oi can only pray dat a mirical comes to aid us..
Varka:   oi know... Maybe da 'elp wit Ruben will be fruitfull..maybe nay
Grohin:   Goin' on da Path yerself... moigh help ya... but yer still goin' ta be just one...
   agains' 'ow many? An' maybe a few friends will be nay more cause ya moigh
   have had ta kill 'em
Grohin:   Let me tell ya sometin ah have nay told anyone. Havin' ta kill a friend... even if
   ya 'now it be fer da best... is nay easy.
Varka:   *nods a few times - but clearly varka still consider it*... me friends and 300
   dwarves are at stake fer me 'ere.
Varka:   *nods a few times to grohin understanding it*
Grohin:   An' da best is da enemy of both good an' better.
Grohin:   *sighs* ah really hope da mad one don' do sometin stupid... but den... he be
   Varka *grins to himself*

//to be continued

[Black Cat]

Act III, scene 2: Clueless?

We went to Western Gate on Corsain to look for more informations on this dream thing... Lin'da asked the Priest of Aragen for information, but all she got (due to the wrong questions asked?) was stuff about Astral Locks... these have to do with the Clawed Path... not with String or the portable portal...

Since String journal as been destroy or is inaccessible, since the dream stuff seems to be farfetched (Storold sent a letters but the answer is far from helpful.. but maybe we can still look in this direction).. we are a bit at a deadend... where to look now... who to ask questions?

People have joined us.. Treana, Krys... and people have left, and they might probably be missed. Me and Gilshem went back to Highpass, for Gilshem wanted to speak with Ruben. But I came back alone to Western Gate... I think Gilshem needed to go and see Nola as he heard she been sick.

Well... back to Western Gate only to learn that we are going back to Highpass... go figure... Oh and people have been spying on us... Mercenaries it seem... who hired them, for what purpose, what do they know? No idea.... we are clueless on most questions.

Act III, scene 3: The Chase is on!

The chase is on... we are followed and spied upon. We took a ship to Audiria to get back to Highpass... to speak with Ruben again, even though we don't have much news to tell him. We were followed by two other, fast ships ... and were attacked by drakes.

On the way to highpass, we got ambushed on three occasions... and I fell... in the first one... Goblins, human mercenaries and.... one or maybe two drakes. The Mercenaries seemed to have been well paid... but didn't had any markings or anything that might have given us a clue as to whom they were... the Goblins on the other hand all had a bloody knife painted on there shield.... we learn later from Ruben that they might have been from Corsain... not really a surprise.

Ruben is quite angry... for one thing we haven't really found any new clues... and he believe we have attracted the attention of the dragons... have we? I'm not sure... I'm not sure it's the dragons... though that is plausible... and I'm not sure that we are responsible... or at least not entirely... The effects of the path in the mountains is starting to show on the inhabitants of Highpass and several have left already.

And what of the drows that stole the book in the first place? Ruben believe he is the only one to know or remember about Araljan... or the Lumbral... but it is obviously not the case or so I believe... maybe the dragons fear the Lumbrals... and have decided to act... maybe someone else don't want their returns... who? Milara? Someone else? Varka seems to have an idea, but he didn't want to speak up.

Anyway... now Ruben is leaving Highpass... and he said it might dampen a bit the activity of the beasts outside the fort... But we are still at a loss for what to do... Do we go after those that followed and attacked us? Not a very good idea. Do we go and ask that Ozzy? Maybe... but we need to find someone who knows about the Lumbral... or about their banishment... Ozzlo's library, as suggested by Jacchri? Hmm... unlikely or so Ruben believes...

I tried to find someone that would have been there at the trial of Bloodstone and his cursing of the Lumbral... but Ruben knew of no one. 2500 years is a long way... even for some notes or books to survived... Well we must hurry, but at the same time be cautious of where we tread... less we trample the tail of a dragon... Ruben has lost much of his faith in us and.... well I must say he is not to blame for that... I cannot say we showed supreme mastery in this affair so far.

[Black Cat]

Act III, scene 4: Fleeing

After Ruben left Highpass, we stayed a bit behind to discuss our next steps. A new member joined our merry band, a lass name Lalaith. She brought knowledge and informations on the Lumbral. So we listen to her and what she had to say... but...

Noises from upstairs... an attack?

We came out of our quiet room, only to find the innkeeper dead... and five mercenaries waiting for us. We dispatched them easy enough, but then... the inn was surrounded by foes... those goblins again and more mercenaries we could hope to defeat... and they put the inn on fire too.. time to flee.

Lalaith seems to have some strange abilities, but they enabled us to escape the attackers, though not for long, as a shadow dropped on us... the Drake again. Time to run too, but where?... The forest, Prantz? Well we fled towards the Sinister forest, at least we managed to get some cover... but they set up an embuscade in the Black Hills... where I and many fell. But we got away towards Vale... and Jacchri allow us to use a portal there back to Mistone and the temple of Rofirein in Vehl

[Black Cat]

Act IV, scene 1: New information

Reus, the high justiciar in the temple in Vehl told us a bit about the Lumbral, and Blood's trial. About what happen... as far as one can make it from the few rumors and accounts of that. But he said to go ask a man, Ruben Wintersby... ah ah go figure.


Lalaith told us some other things too, about String devices. They do exist, but are hidden and locked away.
But she wanted to see Ruben herself and talk to him. So we left the temple in small groups as to not attract too much attention. It seemed to have worked and we each reached Ruben's house in Krandor.

He was a bit annoyed and angry at us for not bringing him good news, but he was quite interested to hear what Lalaith had to say. At least it seems now we have a path to follow... the problem is how to find the start of it?
We are going after String's device, as it seems that that portal might be the way into freeing the Lumbral.

[Black Cat]

Act IV, scene 2: Fight Back?

Right, as we were leaving Ruben, we stopped in the woods to discuss a bit what to do next. Lala's brother catch up with us there and told us more about the Lumbral. Also, the time might have come to fight back our pursuers.

We heard shrieks and such... seemed like the drake found us again. But Lala's brother seem to be a fine archer and he managed to bring the beast down for us to finish...

Also Jenna is more and more upset about Ruben not willing to give the book back and she left for sometimes... but things seems to have been to solved for now.

After the attack, Jenna join with us again and brought Ruben along, as he seem to think he'll be safer with us... not sure about this but he might be right. But we decided to move to somewhere safer as we heard more sounds of our enemies... towards the mountains near the desert... not sure if it was a good idea, and will never know. Ruben heard about us talking about the Shifter and him being related to the Lumbral and he rushed off to his tower, only to find the area around it crawling with goblins and mercenaries and another drakes... a fight followed in which we lost Beli and Lalaith. But we defeated the lot of them, even killing another drake.

Ruben is quite shocked by what he saw... and he realized that maybe he might need us more than what he thought. He seem a bit mollified now... but time will tell and we are now turning towards that strange tower on the outskirts of Krandor, hopefully to talk with this Shifter.... but the question now is... What to ask him? He'll probably not be too welcoming nor will he share much of his time with us I bet... so we must know what to ask him beforehand and makes sure our questions hit the mark good and straight.

[Black Cat]

Act IV, scene 3: The Shifter

We knocked on the door... and he did appear. The Shifter. Looking like a shade, a shade of what he once was, kin to the Lumbral or so we think. The questions have been asked and answers given.

We now have a path to follow, a path into darkness deep underground somewhere around Huangjin. That is where we are heading now...

...but wait...

Sallaron and a few others, those we know who are 'working' for our enemy, show up by the tower as we were leaving. What they were doing there, Vorax knows. But Beli talked to them... and apparently convinced them not to work against us... for now.

A few others also joined us on our new path... a few that we think we might have need for. Quillem, a priest of Beryl, Acacea and Katrien, both are Bards I think.

The path lay before us, fraught with dangers most certainly... but also full of hope. At last we got a lead on where to find String's devices... and hopefully these in turn will help achieve or ultimate goal.

[Black Cat]

Act V, scene 1: Down we go
 
 We found the cave and we went down, fighting drows as we went, until we reached some statues with missing eyes and some trap...
 
 Now the true tests are begining. Each one of us seem to have to face them on their own.
 
 The Wood Door:
 
 A dying tree, and a feeling that it is life itself dying, rotting away. What would you do?
 
 I give my own life to save the tree.
 
 Sacrifice and Selflessness
 
 The Stone Door:
 
 A dead body, a throne and darkness behind?
 
 I look at the body, even touch it.
 
 Then it rose and starts attaking, what you do?
 
 I fight //as Grohin was unable to hurt it... the next step was easy *grins*// Some might put it to rest, but then it would rose again, and again... or so I was told.
 
 
 What then?
 
 Walk into the darkness... as Lalaith put it later... A uncertain death later over certain death now, anytime.
 
 Death and the unkown - Fear not what you don't know, what you do know is much worse - Wisdom
 
 The Steel door:
 
 Hordes of diseased people storm a castle's gates defended by a few soldier, where do you stand?
 
 At first? I watch... feeling pity for those dying people, but then there was just one soldiers left... I tried to understand, to talk... but still they were coming, and soon none was left between this mad crowd and the people in the castle. So I stood where the last soldier was and brace myself...
 
 Dedication - Duty - Resolve
 
 
 And so the tests where passed, but many failed, only a handfull remains to walk the path. Shall we the fallen again? I hope.
 
 Me, Acacea, Lalaith, Alantha and Quillwem are the five. Will we be able to succeed? I will not stop now, not after walking so far and for so long. Or duty to the world and to our fallen comrade is to go on... time will come soon enough to mourn them.
 
 4 statues with a missing eye... 1 found it again. 3 remains. Behind each door was a stone found... 3 stones to replace 3 eyes. How do we go back to the statues? Are there still tests before us?
 
 The Cage of White Light and the Fiend
 
 I'm not sure what to make of this last trial... but what we did was not right and we almost failed... I'm the most luck dwarves ever, and that might have save the day... I was only badly scorched by the light, but I survived... though If it was not for Vorax, I might have starved to death down there. My beliefs and my hunger, made me do something people might have called stupid or crazy... but hey, I'm a dwarf. After teasing the fiend and waiting for what felt like ages, I decided that dying for dying, at least I could do it with honor and glory and stepped into the cage...
 
 That is when the fiend vanished and the cage opened... so simple, and Alantha almost did it too, but fiend can be quite confusing.
 
 maybe Courage or stupidity... hmm maybe Faith... I don't really know

[Black Cat]

Act V, scene 2: Back Home
 
 As I picked the last stone, Korynn, the guardian of this place appeared before me. She asked me if she should relinquish her duty to me or kill me... at which I answered that I thought she has done her duty well and that she could end it now, and that besides... I wouldn't quite like the second solution.
 
 But passing the tests wasn't really enough she said... she wanted to know why we were looking for String's device. So I answered her truthfully, that we were trying to free The Council, the Lumbral and that we thought the device might help us... She wanted me to show her... so she touch my forehead and plunge into me... I can't really explain what happened, but this is the closest I can get... anyway I think she look at my mind... and she saw everything... I didn't try to hide anything as there was nothing I could be ashamed of, my life has been spent in the way of Vorax, in duty and honor.
 
 She seemed to be content with what she saw... and finally led me to the device. Then she warned me not to go alone... of course I wouldn't... and when I asked if she knew how to use the device, she just said I would soon know and confirmed what the Shifter said. Then she touched the orb... and so did I.. and me and the others were transported to my home, as it was what I pictured in my mind.
 
 Home... it has been a long time it seems since I last saw it. I think it was almost half a year, perhaps a bit less... but several months nonetheless. And I believe I'll have to leave it again very soon... for what I carry, I won't be able to carry too long unnoticed. The shifter said he would hide our track to the mountain but that he couldn't do it after that... so I guess, I'll need to be ready... time for me to call my kin.
 
 Time to take the last path... another one that leads into darkness. The foul darkness of the mountain of Madness, Milara's domain. For it was there that the orb was last used... and it was there we were told to bring it again.

[Black Cat]

Act V, scene 3: The Final Path

After much discussion, Jennara went to speak with Ruben, while we waited for them in The Weary Traveller.

Ruben came afterall. And we set off to the Mountains of Madness.

As we neared the Wolfswood, we were attack by drakes... and a bloody Dragon. All were killed and I took a tooth from the dragon... one of the smallest tho'... but still a heavy one.

As we neared the mountains, the orb began to warm... and as we reached Skull Hill, it became so hot, it burned... and it began to glow. I put it down on some platform, and put my hand on it, asking Lalaith to the same. Somehow I knew what to do and how to do it. I opened the path and let Lalaith guide me to the right place... the way was open. Now it was for Lalaith to call them... and we believe they came...

Though Milara came to stopped us. Varka launch himself at the drow, followed by the others. I stayed behind tho' knowing I wasn't ready to face Milara. I kept watch on Lalaith. But then things went from bad to worse... and many died... so I enter the fray... and died with the others, fighting.

But just as I went down, I felt a cold wave surge out of the tunnel. Then as I woke up by the bindstone, a ring was in my hand. I went to the Weary Traveller to see if the others were there too. And they were. All of them, but Lalaith and Varka.

Lalaith appeared later but died as she came out of her shadow, carrying Quill. I managed to raised her tho'. And she told us the drow were able to follow her even in the shadow. But she also told us that the Lumbral thanked her... so I guess we were successfull.

Varka appeared a bit later too, alive.

A few questions remains. Milara seem to have tipped Ruben... why? What did he want with the orb... or the Lumbral... or even with Ruben?

Now, only one thing remains to be done...

[Black Cat]

Act V, scene 4: Korynn

The orb is now spent. The Lucindites want to study it, but Grohin knows his duty. He let them look at the orb for a bit, but then grew impatient and the talks heated up. Well not only the talk, as some strange things came up from the floor and attacked us. Hot things too... no idea what they were, or why they came. But it brought sense into the Lucidintes head... and we started on the journey back to the mountains.

After a few dead drows, we reached the lake again, and Korynn was waiting for us there. She was pleased to see me and that I brought the orb back. She was a bit surprised to learn we fought Milara and still came back to her. She will have to move the entry to the vault now, and change the trials. But it is better like that.

We found a ring, each one of us. A strange ring... quite powerful. But there is something about it that makes me uneasy, a dark, shadow feeling about it. I'll try not to use it... and only in the direst situtation.

This quest is now done. Time will tell of its consequences.

The End