Soldier’s Journal of Tavin Grimmane, Day 624
By Aaron Monroe
Even with all I have witnessed in my life, it was still a rather dreadful sight to see the fabled wyverns approaching in packs. Long whispered in tales to warn Lamekh children from wandering too far from their parents and the villages, these long-winged devil drakes were horrid creatures in the tales, with poison and wings powerful enough to lift a full human, let alone dwarf, far into the air to be devoured later. Yet they mostly remained rumor; we really had no knowledge of how many, if any, still existed, and any actual sightings declined since the scourge of the Revenarum. Yet knowledge of them remained, and Nothur and I were fairly certain the wyverns were the creatures approaching us. This was not good news, especially since there were many. It meant they were hungry and unafraid. We would most likely be attacked.
The wyverns continued circling at a distance though, so for now we cautiously waited to see if they would strike. We were weary from our mountain hiking the previous day, so the group agreed to set a watch order so we could all get a few hour of rest. Adoril and Marcus agreed to take first watch, along with Astrid, who did not require any rest as a sentient automaton. Astrid, although not a strong fighter, was proving to be an eager and invaluable member of the group in many other ways.
Rest did not last long. We had only began to arrange ourselves to lay down on the tough terrain when the alarm was called out that the wyverns were approaching, swooping from the north toward us. We had to grudgingly get up and prepare for an attack. I was tired, grumpy and in a particularly foul mood, so if we got attacked, these damned beats would surely pay. In the corner of my eye, I saw Vallen prepare a fireball.
As the wyverns approached, Vallen pulled up a fireball, and Adoril cast distant blow but missed. He concentrated and struck again, cleaving one in half out of the sky. If we were lucky, this would terrify the others and they would leave. I observed the skies and their behavior, and obviously they were unafraid and continuing their approach. We were unlucky…they were just too hungry. Not enough meat to hunt on the this side of the mountain most likely.
Yugao drew her shamshirs and was trying to activate some fear attack through a crazy, whirling blade dance. What is it with Yugao always doing some crazy dancing? Anyway, I wasn’t clear what she was doing or how effective it could be because the targets were still far away. Kai quick-drew an imbued arrow and shot one. That was two down of the three closest to us, but Nothur could see more were in the distance. Astrid was asked to take cover. These beasts were absurdly large and I didn’t want to be a sitting snack while waiting to ready my shield, so I activated my Ice armor and tried the Julralla pendant to make myself a more difficult target. I activated the strange magical amulet and noticed I was a blurry visage…useful, but I could also feel myself becoming weary. These defensive tactics would be useful in combat but took a lot of energy. I will need to be cautious in how I used them.
Before I knew it, however, the third one was downed. It was over relatively quickly. Vallen still had a fireball in his hand. Yet about six still could be seen at a distance, so we remained weary. Combat had taken less than a minute. I certainly knew we need to be cautious, and these things were imposing and poisonous…but somewhat disappointing as well. From the tales I had heard as a young dwarven lad, these beasts were supposed to be a terror to reckon with. Were the tales exaggerated…or had we just become that much more powerful that such threats for others were a mere inconvenience for us? Still, I shook the idea out of my head; it was okay to be a bit cocky, but still better to keep cautious.
The six wyverns continued circling at a distance, and we waited about a minute. Nothing. So we started to decide to resume the night watch order again so we could get some rest after 5 minutes had passed. Yugao, Astrid, and Kai took over watch. Almost immediately after some of us became settled, a warning was called out that they were approaching, so we begrudgingly got back up and prepared to ward off the attack. All of these things needed to be slaughtered if we were going to get any rest, most likely. Vallen, who shockingly had held onto a fireball all this time, threw it at one and immediately blew it out of the sky. Yugao resumed her strange shamshir dance. Kai quick drew a stun arrow and managed to hit one indirectly, stunning it so it fell down the side of the mountain. I threw my shield but missed; the target was still too far off.
Still wanting to continue the attack but not wanting the wyverns to get close, I managed to use one of the techniques I had been practicing with, and called upon the power of the Rhyehall axe runes to make my axe loyal, and threw it deep into a third one’s chest as it approached, heavily injuring it. From the back of my eye I saw three approaching from behind, with one landing near Marcus and Yugao. I was concerned. One bite from these things would cause serious trouble. I heard rumors their poison was extremely lethal, although Nothur and I were unclear from the legends how the wyvern poisoned their victims. Thankfully, I saw Marcus, in combat as in life, expertly dodge out of harm’s way. Kai shot another arrow but unfortunately missed. The wyvern was attempting to bite Marcus, but he was able to avoid the attacks and kill it with two sword jabs straight into its eyes.
Marie was using her deck of strange cards, and pulled out one. I had enough knowledge that the cards could be powerful, but they seemed to be hard to throw and could only be used short distances. I worried if a strong wind would blow the cards accidentally into one of us…would we be affected instead? She threw one; I think it had the image of two lovers being wed, but missed. I was curious what effect the card would have…but glad that I wasn’t about to find out.
The remaining wyverns were now around us and very fierce and aggressive. Nothur seemed to be struggling with one on his own. Yugao attacked one on the head with some flame attack, but the beast ignored it and jumped on top of Adoril, but Adoril’s incredible armor seemed to be able to prevent the beast from penetrating and doing any damage.
To my horror, I saw Nothur block a bite attempt by one, only for it to swipe at him with its tail. It seemed to have large, sharp barbs along the end of its tail which impaled his arm and broke off from the tail; could Nothur have been poisoned? If so, I knew he would need medical attention soon.
Wanting to end this, I went to attack the Wyvern from behind that was engaged with Adoril; it didn’t see me approach so I managed to sink my axe deep into its flesh, mortally wounding it. Only a couple of survivors left to finish off now. Then I heard a scream! I looked over just in time to see Vallen covered in flames…I was confused. I thought the wyverns did not have any flame breath and were unlike dragons in this regard. It took me a moment to realize that Vallen must have dropped the fireball and set himself ablaze, and Marie, who was standing nearby, was also singed. Vallen stumbled in his pain and fell over one of the sleds with our equipment, also starting to set it afire! Vallen, with help, managed to put himself out, while Kai threw a healing spell globule to heal everyone who had been injured. Unfortunately, while aiding our teammates, it also revitalized the one wyvern I had mortally wounded, which was now preparing to resume its attacks!
Everything was in chaos as a few tried to kill off the remaining threat while others were trying to continue with smothering the fires and protect the sled. Yugao did some impressive, but overtly unnecessary, leap onto the formerly wounded one’s back and stabbed it, before blinking away from damage. The creature seemed mildly hurt. Adoril, clearly as aggravated by everything as I was, just lifted his weapon and cut the thing in half…entirely! I was almost a bit terrified of the awesome display of brute force, but recovered quickly and threw my axe at the one still attacking Nothur, crippling its leg. Marie threw another of her cards, and almost immediately half the creature’s body, including its vital organs, became stone. The Wyvern fell over…we had finally killed off the last of the attacking beasts, for the moment at least.
Our party immediately turned to providing medical attention. Vallen had the last of the fires on his clothes put out by Kai, but his hair had been burned all off, as well as his eyebrows. He looked completely ridiculous. Poor Vallen. Between losing a few of his limbs, he old facial scars, and now his hair, he really has had a rough run of it lately.
Of more immediate concern was Nothur, who was stumbling around, beginning to suffer from the poison. Whole Nothur and I had some knowledge of wyverns, neither of us had any clear knowledge of the poison’s effects and potency or how to counteract the poison. Yugao, who seemed to have a good deal of knowledge and interest in poisons, attempted to help as well, but was also unable to identify how long the poison’s effects would last or how badly Nothur could be affected. Poison is tricky…its effects can vary greatly on the amount, natural potency, and area of the wound. Nothur’s injury was not insignificant, but it also wasn’t a deep stab. He would certainly feel great pain, this was at least known, but effects could range from a few minutes or hours of pain, or gradually increasing paralysis, or days of increasing sickness before death as his organs shut down. Thankfully, Elre had a spare potion that could cure poisons, which he selflessly used to cure Nothur.
Not willing to leave matters alone, our two resident mischievous trouble makers Marcus and Yugao were determined to investigate the poison’s properties and to see if they could use it. Despite my warnings to not mess around with poison, Marcus insisted on having his way and cut into one of the corpses. Similar to the cursed locket he put on last time that Marie had to rescue him from, I doubted he thought about the fact if the poison penetrated or even just touched his skin, or came in contact with his eyes at all, he could also be affected. After searching though its belly, he did come out with a few teeth on a string; the remnants of a crude necklace. I bluntly let him know my warning of how he could get poisoned, and a worried expression fell across his face. Yeah, Marcus didn’t think, as usual. At times, I wonder if he’s the smartest idiot I know or the most idiotic smart guy. Sometimes he has creatively brilliant ideas, and other times…not so much.
Yugao also did her investigation, considering using the poison on her weapons from cutting off part of the tail. I could imagine her tripping in battle doing one of her over the top leaps or flips and impaling herself with her own poisoned weapon, and was about to say so, when she had the insight to realize the poisonous properties would not hold in the tail after a few hours, so this idea would not work.
At this point, we were all too exhausted to come up with any more terrible ideas, so set up to finally get some rest. Other than nightmares from some in the group, and the rough terrain, we managed to get some rest and the night passed by uneventfully.
When we awoke, Marie was not moving. She was awake but appeared catatonic. This was…worrisome. Perhaps she had nightmares as well that didn’t go so well for her. A spell was cast to speak with a spirit guide who watched out for Marie, Reginald, who Vallen communicated with a few minutes. We could not discover any knowledge on who or what was controlling her, but did confirm her spirit was separated from her body and held captive. So she wasn’t dead, but she also wasn’t “here” with us.
Marcus came up with the bright idea to see if he could kiss her awake…which had no effect. I have no idea what Marcus was thinking. Marie and Marcus had no romantic connection, as far as I knew of, and the world typically did not work like in those childhood romance and adventure tales. If Marie could be recovered, I would need to let her know about this so she could hit Marcus in the groin…then again, better not. Might get us sent to the gauntlet. Or worse, she might decide she would have liked getting kissed by Marcus. Having the dysfunctional Elre-Sarafina love couple situation had been hilarious at times but also bothersome enough. Elre had definitely come out sufficiently hen-pecked from that relationship.
For the time being, we decided to redistribute the equipment amongst ourselves for carrying, and to use one of the sleds to transport Marie up the mountainside. Nothur and Adoril graciously agreed to take on most of the weight from the saddle bags, saddle, and other extra items. As we made progress, we began to hear screams toward the ridge of the mountain above. It did not take long for Nothur and I to recognize the sounds of goblins in combat. Goblins! Primitive, vile, violent, uncouth creatures without any civilization to speak of. They were lower and worse than rats. At least you could eat a rat if you were hungry; no one would bother to even touch a goblin, let alone want to be near one. They were legendary for smelling horrible. Yet Dwarves had not seen much of them in along time, and we were unsure if they still existed in significant numbers. Yet we had the misfortune to run into what sounded like a fairly large pack of them.
Before proceeding further, it was decided it was best if Kai used the Owl cloak to fly and scout ahead and get an idea of the terrain, how many goblins there were, and who or what they were fighting. If we are lucky, a path may be found to sneak by and avoid the horrid creatures altogether. So for now, Kai is out on her scouting, and I have finished updating my journal while we wait for the report. I hope we get some good news.