D&D Journals [Cynde] Plague and Penitence

Day 301

Good news! The boat is operational again and we're sailing! A lot has happened today. First, Aria and Cora are fine. They woke up, and thanks to Aria, our wounds are mostly healed. On top of that, Tordek is back! At least, his mind is. His body is still a corpse filled with insects, and he still eats flesh...actually, I'm doubtful that he's truly in control of his body.

When he first began speaking earlier, back when we were still trying to fix the boat and decide on our next course of action, we were all shocked! But our excitement quickly dissolved when he began feasting on the dead Goblins, one of which turned out to be alive and tried to flee. Thankfully, Cora dispatched it with a quick crossbow bolt to the head. But then Tordek went back to feasting, and it truly was disgusting watching him tear into the raw flesh of the dead bodies.

While he ate, he explained how he came to be in the future. Apparently, after I leaped from the airship (thanks to the cruel Hive Mind) he attempted to pilot it or something (honestly, it was all so confusing, so I am trying to recall as best I can). Anyway, the ship was crashing, and a group of fairies performed some spell that propelled him into the future where he discovered the world had been overrun with undead. He met an illusionist that explained how the undead situation had been an accident, that the illusionist had designed some elaborate scheme to appease Loki. Initially, the undead plague was false and only meant to scare people into the catacombs, where the illusionist had placed portals to Pandemonium. The illusionist had hired a Drow to cast necromantic magic to solidify the ruse, so I suppose that's where the plague truly began, I think...I'm not sure, it was difficult to listen while Tordek chewed the bloody scraps of Goblin flesh. He also mentioned something about speaking with a Chronomancer, who projected his ethereal form back in time to speak with us in the Gnome facility.

However, he's unsure how he actually managed to return to his body, or how his body became undead in the first place. Then he suggest that we might have sparked the outbreak of undead when we had escaped the facility. I mean, it could be possible. There were several undead beings left "alive" when we escaped through the hole in the wall. If that's the case, then...

We cannot dwell on that, we have to focus on curing this plague. We've discussed and agreed on a plan, and for the first time since I have joined this group (or what's left of it) I feel...in control.

We managed to repair the ship and are now en route to some golden palace where we hope to speak with Astilabor, the dragon god that rules over this realm. Actually, we've learned a lot about this place, thanks to Benzul and Detulio (the squirrel—I hope I'm spelling his name correctly). This realm is where Astilabor hoards all the treasures she finds. Initially, Benzul suggested searching for some items that could aid us, but we rejected this idea. Aria said she's been trapped in this realm ever since she "accidentally" stole some gems from the last time we were here. We don't want to anger Astilabor, that's for sure.

We're hoping she'll be at this golden palace that Detulio has directed us toward, and we're really hoping she'll help us find a way to enter Pandemonium for the orb of knowledge, and that the orb will tell us how to correct the plague. The last time we asked her how to enter Pandemonium for the orb, she said it was impossible, but Cora revealed a secret that the Hive Mind had forced her to keep from us.

She explained that, after she leaped from the airship (back when we had defeated Benzul) she had landed in spiderwebs. Then her ethereal form was projected into Pandemonium by some spider god. While there, she found the orb of knowledge but was pulled out before she could take it. That was when Aria had saved Cora and I from being eaten by the Formians.

My goodness...I can't believe I'm saying such things! Before I met this group, my life consisted of wandering the forest and surviving on whatever plants I could forage and animals I could strike down with my arrows. My only notable adventures had been dealing with Goblins. I had never thought I would accomplish anything more than that.

The kinds of things I've experienced with this group are what attracted me to the life my former mentor, Rheillor, had led. While he healed at our home, he shared tales the likes of fairytales. He had battled incredible beasts, narrowly escaped the grips of death multiple times, and traveled across lands unimaginable to my ignorant mind. He was a true hero.

And I failed him.

I hadn't been there when he needed me most. Whatever had killed him must have been powerful or incredibly stealthy. I should have been there. But what could I have done, even if I had been? Rheillor was a great man, a compassionate, stern man. He had taken me from my sheltered life and shown me a world I had only dreamed about. I owe it to Rheillor to find the orb of knowledge and do everything in my power to cure the plague. It's what Rheillor would do. He was a hero. I am not, but I'll do my best anyway.