Entry 14 – Sunday, Wealsun 2, Common Year 613

Today’s recourse was to head out and harry more of the Flinds by serving as a perimeter guard to Fitzgerald Keep. It would likely behoove us to enlist the aid of some of the other would-be adventurers that have trickled into town. One of those of note was a brute that stands about twenty-one hands tall and looks to weigh about 30 stone. Another was a female elf that has a spark of intelligence but the look of someone desperately trying to conceal their past. Cylix seemed to have the same idea as I allowed him to handle their recruitment. In the end we also took on a female halfling that was traveling with the other two. She seemed to eye the women of the party more then the men. Interesting.

After acquiring a horse large enough to accommodate the goliath that went simply by the name Kron, we set out to patrolling. It was not long before Jackson came across signs of Flinds. He stalked off ahead into the woods followed by Cylix and the female elf that mysteriously went by Lady. They returned a few moments later, Lady carrying a Flind bow, arrows, and a sword, which she gave to Kron. Apparently the puppies were now aware of our presence. We made camp a few miles east in a quite defendable meadow. I spoke briefly to Shandala telling her to not be too shocked at anything she should see me do henceforth. I can hardly wait to taste their blood upon my scythe once again.

Entry 15 – Moonday, Wealsun 3, Common Year 613

That night I was awakened by Crystina who informed us all that “dog-men” were approaching; at least that was what her pet owl had “told” her. Crystina’s abilities were proving to be as useful as they were odd.

We quickly began to set the stage to turn the would-be ambush into something to our advantage. Looking directly at Shandala, I began chanting a prayer for protection, followed by bestowing a blessing upon everyone. Cylix climbed a tree, positioning himself to have cover while he readied his bow. At the last moment, before the first arrows struck our camp, I conjured a fog that surrounded us all and commanded everyone to move to its edge so that they could peer out, but the enemy could not peer in.

The sound of startled Flinds pierced the wilderness as a mass of them was entangled by plant-life, another well-placed spell from Crystina. In that same instant the sound of Cylix’s chanting and bark splintering echoed overhead as he cast one of his spells and the Flinds became aware of his presence.

I remained in the fog steeling my resolve and focusing myself inward. I was going to show them all who I really was this day. I walked briskly through the fog with purpose toward the sound of battle passing Shandala, eyes stark with what could only be terror. I chuckled and moved on and as luck would have it, there lie four sleeping Flinds in my path, lives ripe for the picking. I chanted as I worked my blade deftly offering them up in sacrifice and basking in the heart’s-blood. During the process both Lady and Kron fell to the advance of the canines. I myself took a well place arrow in my side but was too swept away in the rush of it all to really notice any pain. I stood covered in gore, pulling the arrow free, and faced three Flinds, scythe at the ready. With a smile I lustfully grasped onto the Power and quickly healed any damage the arrow may have caused. The Flinds approached warily.

It wasn’t long before I had dispatched one of them and gained another. I began to draw them toward the sound of battle behind me, and stole a glance at Grunter, Crystina, and someone new. The other was male of average build and it was not long before I saw him chanting, which revealed him as a cleric of some sort. I would worry about that later though. Delving once again into that rushing torrent, I used the Power to “step” to where Lady lay bleeding and again to heal her wounds. One of the Flinds broke away to pursue me, but the other two remained with the dwarf; Grunter seemed to have a way with insults that held their attention.

After deftly lopping the head off a Flind that was left wobbly-legged, the other that was considering advancing on me instead turned tail and ran. He was later brought down by of all things a rock from a sling from one of the newcomers that I could now take into consideration. Both men had a roguish look to them, but then again, most folks in this region seemed to carry that desperate look. That was good; desperate men would be easily swayed to join us for a little coin, and they had proven their usefulness. In any event, if they proved too desperate, I would have no qualms adding their lives to the ever-growing list of those I have taken.

I quickly cut the heads from the Flind corpses and then the noses from those heads to fill a sack that would later be delivered to the Captain of the guard at Fitzgerald Keep; there were 18 in all. The bodies were then stacked in a large pile after Grunter had deftly removed all discernable valuables and packed the horses. All in all it was a very bloody affair. After delivering the noses upon reaching town, I took my leave of the others, stripped off my armor, and fell sound asleep. The sweet smell of death permeated the room. It very comfortingly reminded me of the sept that had raised me; it was like coming home!