[Unglaublich Verwustung]

Notes from a halfling's diary:

Was hanging around the inn today,. looking for something to do, You know the way it is, some days nothing happens, others it's all go. The Greeter was there again, and this time she was muttering under her breath, something..something...help me. So, what's a girl to do, help another. Too right!

Anyhoo, she asked me if I could go visit a friend of hers, who apparently had some information for her. Now, I don't normally do courier jobs, but the morning was quiet, seemed straightforward but, for a little added frisson, the job was on the Haunted Isle. That had to be a little intersting at least. So, I agreed, and off I went.

The trip to Haunted Isle was as uneventful as always, undead lurking everywhere as usual, no real problem, them I can handle with a shield in one hand and my trusty whip in the other, you should watch the bones fly! So, worked my way through the crowds, like a busy day down the mall in a January sale, no problem for a girl.

And then I found out where I had to go. Yep, the mausoleum in the cemetery. That's right, the one with a LOT of undead, now that wasn't fun at all, first I got crowded but then I got even. But, boy, did my arms ache after that session. So, eventually, I dived through the door and slammed it shut behind me - the undead aren't smart, shut a door and they can't even figure out the handle.

So, down through this seriously spooky mausoleum; gods, can't the undead do decor? Lots of drowned corpses hanging out down there, so more work for the whip-hand. Finally, I get through and into a wide open space, and there he is, Jostamorfel, not giving a hand as I fight my way through, typical male! You'd think some people don't want the job done. Anyway, I mention the courier job, he waffles on for a while, blah blah, gives me the package to deliver. Job done, thinks I.

Oh, but then it turns out he doesn't want to be alive..um...undead anymore, so I kindly offered to kill him off. Ooops, way above my abilities; apparently he wants to be dead but isn't going down without a fight - go figure. So, he throws several Harms (at me), slaps some major league hits (also on me), - that's me, dead as they come. Note, resurrection is good, being dead is no fun at all. Further note, Greater Sanctuary is our friend. Threw that on, snuck around collecting some goodies, got the hell out of there! Some people, no bloody gratitude!

Oh, and the captain was exceedingly hostile when I got back to the ship, thanked my lucky stars that I could sneak into the cabin and stow away. And I've never noticed before that when I get on the ship the hidden trapdoor faces the dock, but when in the sea it faces the bow. Weird.

And the carpenter, and the greeter. Everyone is a little arsey just cause I tried to kill their friend AFTER he asked me to!

Okay, lesson learned - do NOT try to kill the vampire, even if he asks nicely!

Under the circumstances, I snuck off for a coffee and a bite of lunch.

So, gave the package to the Greeter lady and now I've been sent to find this abandoned estate and look for this big bad undead dude. Can I just mention that this is getting quite creepy...

Finally found the estate after a great deal of searching - thanks Greeter, mark it on my map, but that ain't no use until I actually visit the relevant area, now is it? Of course it was just about the last place I checked, my exercise regime today has been just fabulous.

Handily, I have the key (how did she get that?). Got into the estate, and then it turns out just about every other door leads me back out into the Dockward; this isn't an estate, this is a maze. And there're skellies and zombies hanging around all over the place. I opt to sneak for a while; discretion; it really is the way forward. And there he is, Ortez. The name is a bit of a giveaway, Ortez the Undead! I guess the undead don't do subtlety. And he even has an assistant, his own personal Igor.

Oh, crap! I needed back-up, and not the kind you can hire in the inn, nor in the first few levels of the Underdark. This is heavy-duty territory. The day was not going well. Threw on GS (again - it really is a girl's best friend), snuck out as they all look confused. Hells, I don't even know where to get the kind of henchmen I need for this, it was time to go shopping for a scroll or two, I reckoned.

Shopping completed, back in the estate, it's a no go! I got wiped. I got wiped by the assistant while Ortez just stood back and laughed. So I hit him, too. And got wiped. Again.

And then I had a thought. I'd seen this guy lurking back in the inn, didn't look like a henchman but honestly, I wished he was. He was bloody ENORMOUS! I mean, like the biggest guy you've ever seen and then some. Okay, I know that I'm a halfling which distorts my view somewhat but he was something else. You've probably met Krung? Well Krung comes up to his shoulder..maybe. So, I trawl back to the inn, butter him up. Turns out his name is Nosuil, or some such, I couldn't spell it, let alone pronounce it, but he was game for a party so who cares. And you should have seen the two longswords slung over his shoulder, they just shone, some weird, unearthly light. And when he held them, one in each hand, sizewise they just looked like a couple of standard shortswords. Really, some kind of man-mountain this one.

But, back to the point, I tried to lead the way, him striding along beside me. I ran, he strolled, but strolled with style and really, really long strides! But then, in the estate it was something to behold. I was still using my Greater Sanctuary, they still scared me after the last time in there, but he just waded in. I have never, ever seen anything quite like it. There was no pause, no break in his swing, he swept aside the crowds of undead like ripe corn - and then came up against the two bad guys.

Ortez's assistant went down so fast I couldn't believe it, Nosuil handled him the way OA had handled me - short, brutal and unstoppable. That put a smile on my face, but I was still worried about Ortez himself - now, don't get me wrong, I'm no coward but this whole thing was out of my league, possibly not even in the same planet - so I stuck to hiding in the shadows! And watched. These two, it was like, you know, immovable meets unstoppable. They stood and traded blows for a minute or two but you could see that Ortez was losing ground on it, and then, suddenly, it was all over.

I have no idea what Nosuil did, I didn't even see the blow, he was so fast; but one minute Ortez was looking slightly winded, a few cuts showing and then he was down and dead! He hit the floor like a sack of grain. Strictly speaking more like two sacks. When I looked there was just this massive wound, from his shoulder to his groin; it wasn't just a critical wound, but truly devastating! I am SO glad that Nosuil was on my side, it was beautiful to watch but scary too, Who'd have thought such a big man could be so fast, and somehow graceful, in a fight. And then he shrugged, asked if I was okay, and said he was heading back for a beer.

Each to their own, I say.

Anyway, I searched the bodies, swiped their weapons, and headed back to the Inn. Not a lot more to say, really, job done, had a quick chat with the Greeter - now a couple of surprises came out of that one but I'm sworn to secrecy on those. And I looked for Nosuil to offer him a drink, but he wasn't to be seen - probably off sowing his own brand of destruction somewhere. I guess I just owe him one. Here's to you, big guy, cheers!


Róta'Ung
Neverwinter
18th Uktar, 1375 DR