[shamrock_uk]

Longsword it is [img]smile.gif[/img] Changes to the game are an upgrade of Saerileth from v3 to v5 and the specialization of my ranger to an archer as detailed in another thread.

Part 1 of the next journal entry is below and I have notes taken for part 2. I would normally wait and give you the whole entry, but it's taken me a good two or three hours to write this much and I have a party to go to now. Seeing as you've had to wait so long, I thought that half might be better than nothing! Unfortunately, the screenshots for part 1 seem to have been lost in the move between Windows installations, but I have plenty taken for part 2 [img]smile.gif[/img]

Without further ado and many apologies for the delay:


30 Mirtul, 1369 Part 1

I am in a black mood. Utterly foul in fact. The day started so well: we arrived in Imnesvale in sunshine and morning mist, and were sent by Minister Lloyd to find out who was responsible for the deaths that have been plaguing the town. He's a good man at heart, if a little overwhelmed by events beyond his control. He does his best to keep order and calm the townsfolk though and should be commended for it. Having heard that some ogres were responsible we headed off to their camp, but upon speaking to this surprisingly intelligent creature it became clear that he was not responsible, which Saerileth confirmed with a quick spell.

We decided to press on and find the ranger's cottage but found slightly more than we bargained for along the banks of a picturesque brook: a huge tiger. It was a magnificent beast; graceful and powerful. Restraining my companions and their weapons, I confidently strode forward, talking softly to it. As a fellow creature of nature, I told him, he had nothing to fear from me. Suffice it to say that the tiger was not impressed.

Yoshi, of course, found this all terribly amusing and could not contain his snickering. Saerileth on the other hand...well actually I'm not sure if she does have a sense of humour...she's always so serious! Certainly a good thing this time though, as she threw herself in front of me, taking a mighty swat by a paw on her shield that sent her tumbling. Obviously I'm forever doomed to empathise with nothing larger than a rat.

We found the cottage just around the bend. It looked nice enough, but a bit dark and stuffy for my tastes - it needs some larger windows! We found two pieces of the puzzle here - a journal by Merella, the ranger of this village, and an adventurer named Mazzy Fentan - both which mentioned a wolf pack as being responsible for the deaths. Without further ado we set out on the journey northward to the ruins mentioned.

After several hours we arrived at the ruins in the late afternoon. I could not believe my eyes! Instead of picturesque ruins set in an overgrown jungle of nature, we found horror. The sky is not visible as the whole area is covered in a suffocating shadow. The trees are twisted and gnarled and thick branches bar any passages that might exist. We had to hack our way through the undergrowth and the branches almost seemed to clutch at us as we passed.

Then things got even worse when animals emerged from the darkness. These were no ordinary animals however, but creatures of shadow: perversions of nature with a touch like the grave. My anger rose to new heights at the damage to nature present here and I stormed ahead of the party, stumbling across a cave with yet another infernal beast outside - a werewolf. Knowing that such magicks would be beyond such a creature as her, I followed her inside and she shed some light on the situation.

Anath told me that a Shade Lord is responsible for this damage, and I might have known too! Of all the things in this world that I detest, undead are right at the top of the list. The animals that attacked us were apparently the remnants of her pack, raised from beyond the grave. I needed little persuasion to join forces with her for an assault on the ruins.

Throwing caution to the wind in my rage, I ran through the forest toward the ruins and was immediately confronted by the twisted forms of shadow creatures. I threw myself into their midst, hacking and slashing at their hideous forms, cleansing this area of their taint. Yoshimo and Saerileth made for the large mirror and were busy carrying out Anath's shouted instructions before she succumbed to the claws of the shade beasts. When the alignment of the mirror was complete, the creatures nearby were destroyed by a bright light emanating from the crystal.

I fought my way slowly towards the sanctuary of that pillar but was struck from behind by a claw, sinking deep. A chill spread down my side and I found myself unable to move! Defenceless, the shadow creatures now had a free reign and all over my body I could feel their spiteful talons digging in. Around this point I felt my vision blurring as my body got colder and I resigned myself to my fate. At least I would die bravely! I could dimly see Yoshimo trying to fight his way through to me, but he was never going to make it. Saerileth cried out in anguish and I closed my eyes.

I was suddenly aware of a heat against one side of my cheek and then a great pulsing light, growing in intensity. Opening my eyes I saw a beautiful woman clad in armour who appeared to be lit by a golden glow. It was this glow that I had felt on my cheek, washing out and enveloping me, each wave pushing back the shadow creatures who recoiled in fear. An angel! I was on my way to the afterlife! Suddenly I was no longer held, and slumped to the dirt. Looking up desperately for another glimpse of divine radiance, both the angel and the glow were gone. There was only Saerileth standing over me, who must have fought her way to my side in the meantime. I tried to struggle to my feet, but was picked up my companions who carried me down into the dungeon below, away from the hostile forest.

[ 06-15-2005, 09:49 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]