The battle continues

15^th December 356 AC

As Sir Dominic's armour cooled from the cowardly bolt I charged the draconian wizard alongside the courageous Starsong. Sadly the contemptible creature disappeared from sight before our blades found their home in its flesh. Brother Ithariel recognised the fiend as an Aurak draconian, having faced the wretched magic users in combat before. Unsure of what magiks were in play this time Starsong & myself became motionless as the trees around us, though the cretin never betrayed itself with sound.

After some moments trepidation Brother Ithariel took to action & began shepherding the valiant defenders of the cart to our own wagon, wielding shield on main arm & off. Believing these three to be the object of the criminal's intentions I withdrew from the fight to add my own shield to his defence and we pursued a guarded retreat.

Not long after Nedlog (the Triumphant?) began yelling the most heinous taunts, the details of which do not bear recording, Lady Azshauna took on a strange look. Almost immediately she drew a rod from within her robes & unleashed a barrage of unholy fire on Brother Ithariel & myself, as well as Sir Dominic. Despite the discomfort, we struggled on to evacuate the civilians while the Holy Brother whispered Great Kiri-Jolith's blessing of aid.

A swift pebble flung from the sling of Nedlog brought the elf back to her senses & she attempted to ignite the woodland in flames, though the effects of the mind control would seem to have temporarily impaired her magic. The kender and Starsong were both struck with yet another bolt of lightning while the Lady Azshauna struggled with her spells, though this did not stop Nedlog (the evidently durable) bounding brightly into the undergrowth.

Brother Ithariel & myself continued the withdrawal as Sir Dominic & Starsong finally came within striking distance of the Aurak, though the beast stepped through another frustrating portal.

Without warning Brother Ithariel dropped one of his shields and swung with mace at the wife of the merchant. I managed to parry his attacks but I was unable to disable him, Lady Azshauna moved the innocents away as we contested.

Unable to ascertain the location of the enemy Sir Dominic took advantage of the moment to investigate the human accomplices, finding tattoos of the Red Dragon-armies upon each of them.

A circle of fire immediately surrounded Ithariel, Azshauna & myself, as well as the three under our protection, further compounding my suspicion that this was no simple act of brigandry. The dauntless Brother Ithariel bent his will to dispel the flames about us, but the toll of combat both physical & spiritual was beginning to show on his countenance. Fortunately this act of spell-casting served only to reveal our foe's location.

Sir Dominic mounted his steed for the charge, while Nedlog succeeded a hit with a poisoned dart of some kind. Unfortunately Sir Dominic lives by the rules of Knight & Paladin both and so reaching the apparently unarmed draconian he chose to dismount and fight the cretin bare-fisted. I encountered many such knights during the war, many locked into the old fashioned way of thinking and most of them now dead. I must explain to him at some stage that the finer points of chivalry do not apply when facing a superior foe, or magic-users (both of which applied in this case). Needless to say, despite my misgivings, the combat began to swing in favour of the Chosen Warrior. That is until our dear kender decided to lend her aid by inexplicably attacking Sir Dominic with a grapple, he all the while continuing to pursue the creature's surrender.

Meanwhile we had reached our own wagon and the noble Ithariel very nearly secured his demise dispelling another Aurak lightning bolt while I struggled to load one of our heavy crossbows. As I brought tension to the weapon Lady Azshauna peppered the enemy with arrows before I sent a bolt to its jaw. The reprobate did have time to swallow a potion of healing at this point but soon after Starsong's axe cut it very nearly in half and the beast yielded. We proceeded to bind, gag & blind the prisoner so that it could be brought to the High Clerist's justice while Nedlog kindly unleashed another barrage of taunts & jeers, sending the draconian into such a fit of rage that it could think of nothing but thrashing madly at its bonds.

With all our foes vanquished we prepared to continue our journey. The attackers we left to the wolves and crows, though Sir Dominic was careful to collect a breastplate as evidence of the nature of our enemy. The merchant's guards on the other hand deserved a decent burial, so we placed their bodies, along with the prisoner, on their cart and hitched to our own. Sir Dominic took up the duty of driving & protecting the train, while I rode ahead in case the Aurak had more men waiting ahead on the road. With the extra load our horses struggled to maintain good pace trailing the two wagons but we covered what distance we could, stopping an hour after nightfall. Watches set, we ate a swift meal & then retired.

The journey begins, circle the wagons

15^th December 356 AC

We have completed one third of our journey, having set Palanthas to our backs yesterday at dawn. To this point our first day and night had been uneventful.

This morning Brother Ithariel prepared a hearty meal to set us on our way.

Some distance along the road we heard screams in the trees to our flank. Not wanting to blunder needlessly, the more stealthy ladies of the party drifted noiselessly into the undergrowth. Before they had crept far they discovered a clearing in which sat a covered cart surrounded by seven or eight dead warriors. Atop the cart were two brave souls mounting a final defence against their five remaining foes. Starsong came back into our sight to signal the situation before melting back into the trees.

Sir Dominic seemed somewhat unsure of the procedure for a cavalry charge in a wooded situation and hesitated to act. Whether or not I had pledged my sword to his cause, I was unwilling to see innocents slaughtered while we debated the best course of action. Without a moment's hesitation I donned my helmet, kicked my steed into a charge and couched a lance, following the broad swathe through which the wagon had been dragged and silently saluting my enemy as I rode. Brother Ithariel was on my horses heels and, sensing action, Sir Dominic was not far behind.

Upon hearing the pounding of our horses' hooves and bearing witness to the foes who were to fall upon them, the cowardly attackers threw themselves behind the cart while two hidden crossbowmen sprang from the long grass. Sir Dominic and myself obtained trophies in the form of heavy crossbow bolts, but our charge continued uninterrupted. Sadly, as we neared our enemy they threw themselves to their comrades behind the cart causing me to discard my now target-less lance and draw my favoured broadsword.

On facing a superior, mounted foe the gutless cowards began to attack our horses, injuring my mount and bringing Brother Ithariel's down on top of him. Perhaps, though, I was the more cowardly in failing to match my enemy on foot? I shall meditate on this.

Eventually I was forced to dismount as I was unwilling to see my steed fall to a brigand's blade. Sir Dominic followed suit and we proceeded to vanquish the unworthy foe.

Unworthy they may have been, but they were not unprepared or under armed. Upon first glance the attackers appeared to be attired in woodsmen's garb, but when our steel failed to meet flesh it became apparent that the rogues had in fact disguised breastplate and pauldron, another black mark. No level of armour, however, could defend against the attack of Nedlog the kender (who up to this point had been flinging stones with a marksman's skill). Skipping gleefully into the melee brandishing a small vial she smashed the unknown substance on the ground, enveloping herself, the enemy and ourselves in a vile cloud of noxious properties. The most hardy among us began instantly to gag with nausea, but the constitution of the two remaining robbers failed as they wretched uncontrollably. Braving the pestilent fumes for a short time longer myself and Brother Ithariel 'subdued' the two enemies who still stood (albeit barely).

As this action played out Lady Azshauna was attacked at the edge of the clearing by a hidden draconian, who bit her ferociously and fouled her breath. With the fortune of the blessed, Starsong witnessed the attack and was able to bring her bow to bear, wounding the abomination. With a hiss the creature vanished into a dark portal of its own creation.

We were given a few moments respite while we attended our wounds. Sir Dominic inquired of the health of the wagon's defenders, finding a man and women nicked & bruised and defending a young girl. Our elven sorceress put us all on guard before he could inquire further as she explained that she recognised the portal used by the draconian. Apparently it is called a 'dimension door' and it only allows travel of a hundred yards or so. As we all scoured the edge of the tree line for signs of movement Sir Dominic was hit in the back by an unseen bolt of lightning...

Introductions, Invitations & Procrastinations

12^th December 356 AC

Having been allocated rooms at the establishment shared by Sir Dominic and his companions, I decided to take the evening meal as opportunity to make my introductions and deliver invitations to the unlikely group.

We are to arrive at the High Clerist's Tower one week hence and so we determined to occupy ourselves productively before undertaking the three day ride. Brother Ithariel engaged me in a theological discussion for most of the evening (though, as is often the case with members of his most Holy Order, the line between theology and tactics is severely blurred).

13^th December 356 AC

Lady Azshauna, who hails from Qualinost, evidently shares the understanding of etiquette for which her race is famed. She has taken the Plainswoman, Starsong to the Palanthians’ best dress-making emporiums to find attire more suited to the solemn occasion they have been invited to. Though since the outbreak of war it is more common to see females on the fighting lines, I suspect even my most honourable superiors would baulk at the sight of the warrior-woman as she currently stands; axe et al.

I have used the time to prepare Sir Dominic for what is to come, drawing upon my own experiences as an Initiate of the Sword. By the rise of the White Moon this night Sir Dominic's mind had ne'er been sharper and his armour had ne'er shone so bright.

A dead wizard's task, and a dream

30^th November 356 AC

Today morning prayers were interrupted by a most unexpected circumstance. As our Order bowed their heads to Kiri-Jolith & Great Paladine the body of a near lifeless wizard or the Red appeared amongst our number. The poor wretch was battered & bloody, with a crucial wound to his abdomen. Medicinal assistance was swiftly summoned and I was forced to maintain discipline among the ranks while the clerics tended his wounds.

One of the holy brothers advised me that the mage had asked for me by name and so I attended him, though I could tell by his pallor that he drew his final breaths. Grasping my hand in his he passed me a scroll, demanding that I deliver it to Sir Dominic. I knew of no knight by that name but who am I to deny any man his dying wish, even one of questionable morality? Upon my acquiescence regarding this this task the wizard's soul was taken up by Holy Lunitari, may it find peace on that Red Moon.

My superiors were most insistent on reading the parchment bestowed upon me, but my honour required delivery to Sir Dominic and no other. My devotion to honour over the chain of command earned my arrest and two days of imprisonment & interrogation. Once it had been established that I was not an acquaintance the mage neither evil, nor good, I was released; the scroll, however, was not returned to me.

11^th December 356 AC

Since my last entry I have discovered that the neutral sorcerer who met his end in the High Clerist's Tower nearly a fortnight ago was named Horstman. Little else have I been allowed to discover, though I have been informed that Sir Dominic has arrived in Palanthas. I am to request his presence & escort him to the Knight's High Council for promotion to the Order of the Sword and for questioning, I have also been given invitations for his travelling party. These include Brother Ithariel of Kiri-Jolith, Lady Azshauna Mage of the Order of Law, Starsong of the Plains people, and Nedlog; a kender.

In this time I have also experienced a dream of such prescience that I feel I must record its details.

I found myself wandering an unfamiliar forest when I came upon a glade in which slept an elderly man, he was awakened by my footsteps. The venerable gentleman engaged me in idle banter before enquiring why my career appeared to have stalled. “Was it because I was waiting for my father to die?” he asked, “Or because my purpose had not yet been revealed?”

As I stumbled for an answer to questions that had been weighing heavily on my mind, he moved back to general chatter. This continued for a time until the conversation ran its course, leaving a silence between us.

I was preparing to leave when the old man asked if I knew what a deacon was. I have never been a devotee of the various faiths but the Knighthood requires a certain level of theological virtue & understanding.

“A Deacon” I replied “is one who acts as a servant of the church, so the elders may do their work.”

He added “You should become a Deacon for Sir Dominic, for he will require great assistance in the future.”

I protested that I was in fact higher in rank than Sir Dominic, my brother knight only being an Initiate of the Sword, the old man replied,

“Be that as it may, do not seek to be the elder in this case, for the burden is heavy. Assist him, and your purpose will be complete.”

And with that I awoke.

I do not pretend to know the source of this dream, though at no point did I sense evil intentions. Do the gods not, on occasion, communicate their wishes to the mortal realm through dreams? And is Sir Dominic not a Chosen Warrior of Paladine? Who better then to devote my attentions to than one whom the highest of all the gods has marked for service.

I shall fulfil my obligations to the Knighthood by delivering Sir Dominic to the Council as ordered, and once I have done so I shall discuss with him the purpose laid before my & offer him my shield.