Journal of Gats the swordsman

[Cvelle]

two years passed since Gats left home

                               ....


     I've arived at port Hempstead, it's bigger than i imagined and locals seem unusually friendly. Found first job yesterday, wasn't nobles asking for protection, it was clearing the sewers of some rats and monsters who made it their home. Not the adventure I had in mind but i guess its a start, I needed trues desperatly. It wasn't hard job and aside the smell everything quickly went back to normal. Second job was more suitable, i was to go into nearby kobold camp, take the magic stick from their chief and bring it to Hempstead's guard captain. I went back into the city to prepare myself, I have dealth with kobolds before and I was sure they won't give the stick willingly.

     While in town i met a woman named Sala Stonehill, she was powerfull priestess as I later found out. She told me where I can find kobold camp, and used her magic to make my sword burn with flame and armor ticker. She told me I should hurry as it won't last forever, so I thanked her and made haste. One hour later I arived at kobold's camp, but there were to many of them. After slaying few of them i had to get out or I'd be overrun. Luckily for me i met halfling by the name of Tod who proposed to help me with the task. With him and still under effect of Sala's magic we quickly dispatched rest of the kobolds and got the stick for the captain. I thanked Tod for his help and went back to find the Inn and place to sleep for the night.

     I think I'll stay here for a while, I need to replace my armour and try get myself new sword. Will look for more pay jobs tommorow.

[Cvelle]

I got hold of surroundings, I'm now visiting kobold alley regularly collecting aloe which i heard can sell for high price. I'm in need of trues so adventures will have to wait. I'm also getting better in combat with every kobold i slay in defence. I went north as far as to Hlint, and explored some of its surroundings. Nearly got myself killed by group of goblins in nearby cave, I'll remember to be carefull next time when i enter the unknown. I met lady merchant by the name of Ferrit, she told me that she will buy aloe once i gather full box, as well as any silk i have. I told her she has a dial and asked her for instructions to where to find silk. Not much after I was in silkwood forest fighting overgrown bugs and spiders. But it was worth it, not only am i getting better with sword, but every spool of silk i get i can sell for 100 trues. Hopefully soon I will have enough to buy myself some real sword and full plated armor.

[Cvelle]

I was on my daily routine of collecting aloe and silk yesterday when I met Tod. He was acompanied by female halfling named Keppli Quickhands. They were goint south to fort Vehl and asked me if I want to join. Ofcourse i wanted to join, plant gathering is not for me and I wanted to swing my sword again. I didn't know what they plan next untill we were there, when they told me they will hunt walking deads. I've never seen undead before but the thought of dead bodies trying to tear me apart was frightening. Altho I've seen Tod in fights and it looks like he knows what he is doing so i followed. It didn't take us long to find the undead, and we charged immidiatly after spoting them. As soon as i landed first hit i saw something was wrong, nothing happened. I continued slashing through the dead but it was as i did nothing. It just continued to move towards me as if nothing was happening. In the moment i was terryfied, how can i kill something thats already dead. I almost let the shield down when when big wolf jumped over me on zombie killing it. I jumped around not sure what's happening, Keppli and Tod were fighting on one side, and wolf was flanking the deads, soon it was over. When dust settled they explained to me that regular metals don't damage the undead and silver coated blades are needed. Why didn't they tell me that before i could have died there! After we rested and talked about it agian we decided we should go back. "Wolf name is Lythar" said Keppli when she saw i noticed wolf following us "he is friend of mine" she added. I was tired and said nothing, was i suppoused to talk with wolf.. ?

   Back at Hempstead we sat by the fire to rest. I was amaized by their ability earlier and even they had only short swords they managed to dispatch undead so easily. Key was their speed, they moved fast and attacked, qucikly jumping back out of opponent reach. I told Tod i can't move as fast as they can, but i can hit hard. He suggested me to get heavier weapon, and he had in mind just one such. I followed him to the bank where he took out huge axe from the vault, barely lifting it from the ground. He was just waiting for someone to give it to as he had no use for it, I took it and thanked him. They went on their way than, it was already late and i went back toward Inn to call it a day.

   Today i tried axe out, it is mighty weapon indead. But it is out of balance with it's blades a lot heavier than handle. I needed both hands to be able to swing it with full power, and bigger the radius i swing it and the more it spent moving the harder it would hit target. And i managed sometimes to swing so fast that I think i would cut smaller trees in half with that one strike. I already decided I will use it, who needs shield if i can end battle before enemy even reaches me. I will train more later and hope to be able to use it in battle soon.

[Cvelle]

I died and came back, but before going to details I have to write down what happened before.


   Today i've seen more of this land than in past two months since i've arrived. Started when i met priestess Sala and we talked about materials she needs and where can i get them. I mentioned I'm intrestied in trying weapon crafting myself, and she told me that I should know where to get all the ore and metal needed for practice. I didn't really know of many caves around and she generously offered to show me surroundings. I accepted ofcourse and we were traveling whole day, going to many places and she showed me different caves. Some we treaded into, some she wanted me to remember to never enter alone. I remembered where all of the caves are, in silkwood forest, one near goblim camp, one in the mountens of Ira and one in the desert. I've seen town of Haven, Spellgard, few other places and their surroundings. All was well and we managed to avoid combat always, untill we left last cave we've been in, one in desert.

Sun was starting to go down and we didn't notice some desert scorpions being too close. By the time we saw them we were spoted, and tried to run but couldn't outrun them on sand. One was getting really close to me and I had no option but to turn around, quickly realizing that was mistake. It was just to fast, impossible for me to hit it. As soon as it stinged me i felt my body is burning, 'poison' i thought. I was poisoned before but never felt like this, I almost started screaming in pain. I've panicked, tried to turn around and run but started to feel very weak and I think i collapsed there, can't remember if i even managed to call for help...   When i woke up sun still didn't set, but it was a lot darker so i was lying unconscius for a while. Sala was nearby treating her own wounds, she was injured as well. She told me i was killed back there, she was sorry for getting me into trouble and she used a lot of her energy and magic to revive me she said. I wasn't sure what to say, I thanked her but i still felt like something is wrong, as if i lost part of myself and can't ever get it back.

We went back to Sala's home in Haven. She showed me how to use teleport, and after I rested a bit and bidded fairwell i went trought it, instantly ariving at fort Wayfare. It was getting dark and i was on my way back to hempstead when i met strange women. She was all covered in her robe, wearing mask and some strange googles. Not a part of her skin could be seen. We just started conversation, when we were jumped by some rogue kobolds from the dark, i qucikly pulled axe out and slashed one in two, and the girl pulled couple of shortswords and moving very swiftly managed to get other two. I was amaized at how she moved with swords and she told me that is because she practiced only with the short ones, getting better with them and being able to use them better than other weapons. We talked a bit more and once she left realized i forgot to ask her name. Hope I'll meet her again, untll than I'll try to use my axe better than any other weapon.

[Cvelle]

I've trained with greataxe last several days, and it's not going well. It is just too imbalanced, if i don't rush to hit first i can't defend properly, sometimes after swing i feel like I'm being pulled by it and can't steady it. I'm thinking of changing my main weapon.

   Today I met women by the name of Ferrit, we spoke a bit and when i mentioned my problem she told me she is merchant for the famous Angel's guild and they have big shop in Hempstead. I was very intrested and accepted invitation to look trough their invertory, and see if there is some weapom i might want. Shop is really big and took me some time to find where they hold weapons, and it didn't took long for me to find what i wanted. The only weapon that could replace greataxe was greatsword. It is the biggest sword I've ever seen and I immidiatly knew that is the one I want to specialize with. It is made of iron, heavier than copper ones i used long ago but that is ok, I am a lot stronger now. I traded almost all materials I had for it but went out happy, i know i found my weapon of choice and i will try hard to use it better than any other weapon, no not even like that but better than any other man can use it, thats right.

[Cvelle]

It's been six months since my first arival at Hempstead...


   Training is going well, I've been working on my speed and can now strike twice as fast and still keep balance. I've also been venturing north into goblin's caves over past few days. There is a bounty on goblin leader's head, and several of us are clearing the caves going deeper every day. At first I didn't trust my companions, why should I they are goblins as well. But later It showed they are good to have around, with their wolf friends we make a strong group. There is also this strange guy talking about god all the time, his name is Matthias. When he doesn't pray he is quite usefull, using his healing and protective magic.

   Yesterday we knew we are near the goblin cheaf. We were already deep in caves and if it wasn't for the red light which iluminates whole cave we would probably be at complete dark. Little ones needed rest there and the cleric needed to pray, so we made small camp in naturally baricated tunnel and I stood guard along with one of the wolfs that acompanied us. After several hours later we were ready for final task. We had tactics ready, one of the goblins set some traps and soon after battle started. It was not as hard as I thought, wolves made distraction, half of goblins died from traps which one of my little friends set up, than we stormed in to finish the job. It was quickly over and we suffered only some light injuries. We took the throphy and hurried our way back out of the caves.

   Earlier today we finally got out, happy with task well done and ability to breath fresh air again. Reward was more than expected, total about of 3 thousends true coins. I plan on getting new armor as soon as tommorow, and getting back to my training after that.

[Cvelle]

Something unusual happened today. We were sitting by the druid's fire near Hlint, those two gobbo brothers, Mathias and that strange woman i met earlier, nameless one with hood and googles. We were having fun exchanging stories from battles, laughing and enjoying the evening. I told her of my acomplishments, the new sword, how I got faster and stronger and my training. She gave me couple of advices, told me if I am ever near fort Vehl to find her there she would sparr with me in Arena. I nodded and leaned back to the tree enjoying warmth of fire. It was pleasent for a while untill one woman and man came by. You could tell that those law obiding nobles will make trouble. Woman named Daniella, aperantly paladin, had a problem sharing the fire with goblins and insisted on them to leave. Ofcourse they won't leave, we were here first and camp didn't really belong to anyone. I tried to stay out, but they would argue so loud i couldn't rest in peace. I told them to either shut up or finish it already, talking and arguing does nothing except anoying everyone else. Well they didn't really care much, so I got up and made my way toward Hlint in hope to find quiet place to rest.

   Just few minutes later ground started shaking, earthquake I thought at first. But it felt strange, i turned around going back toward camp, to find few more people there. Mages by the look of their robes. Didn't even manage to ask what's going on when huge worm came out of the ground and started going on rampage destroying everything in the way. I am still not sure if that arguing and tension by the fire woke it, or was it something more behind it. Some rushed into battle, some stood by panicking. I put my helmet fast, grabbed sword hanlde and made ready to charge, when I saw two warriors that went before me were lying on the ground already. Not worth the risk I thought, took my bow out and kept distance while sending arrows toward monsters body. It was frightening for few moments but mages did whatever they do, and monster was soon lying dead on the ground. There were casaulties and apperantly soul mother managed to snatch part of someone.. nothing we can do about it anymore.

   Rest of the night went back to boring, some mages were discussing why and how all this happened. Too much complicated words and I didn't even understand half of what they said, nor did I care. It tried to kill us, we killed it and there's nothing more to it, Didn't want to risk more of those monsters apearing, and in need to rest I finally went back to Hlint.