Cedric’s Journal- 17th day of Winter Finding – Year of Four Dragons

The tale as told by campfires and hearths of Eamonvale, a tale of one of their own:

Exhausted from their long march, Cedric and his companions trudged through the forest. Suddenly, before them, a radiant woman appeared. All but wild Iorweth were entranced by her beauty. The Cursed One approached her proclaiming false adoration, but his evil taint offended, and she smote their vision.

Like a wounded beast, The Druid lashed out against his own kind, this avatar of Rhiannon. But before nature’s might, all were helpless. And so humbled, she sent them on a quest. “Return my cauldron from that fowl witch Griznak the Corruptor, and I may return your Prince’s humanity.”

On that fateful day, Cedric knew his path. He pledged his heart to Daladon and Rhiannon, and he knew he would return to serve this Lady Of The Lake, to worship The Wild Woman as her servant. Oh, for shame to have one’s heart broken so early in life.

As all quests begin, this one began with a journey. In the night a mighty snow had fallen, a trial to test their devotion. The heroes marched up and across the valley, Cedric finding the quickest way but, nonetheless, a very hard, cold way. Their toes froze, and their fingers burned from ice, yet the hardy heroes continued.

To the Scarp, to the Scarp, they silently trudged. Cedric led them through the snows and dim stormy twilight. And at that Scarp, where days before they had witnessed such carnage and death, they sought how to ascend into the hell they knew waited above. They waited the night, not to slip on those treacherous stones in the dark, and the day came, clear, bright, and cold. The clean snow and brilliant sun hiding the evil so close by.

Up the cliffs they ascended, following a path only a goat or a ranger could see, they carefully made their way up the wind-blown path. They slipped on the icy stones, feet sliding off the narrow trail into the emptiness of a long fall and a sudden stop, but Cedric led them true. To the old dwarven ruins, the corrupted monastery, the home of that foul lady, Grisnac the Corruptor

Silently, Cedric crept through the rocks and trees, finding the lay of the land. Seeing that it was clear, Cedric signalled the attack. And a mighty attack, with swords, sorcery, and magical beasts, Cedric and his companions cut through the beastman garrison.

And so the band continued, through the halls of the old monastery, until they faced the vile Griznak and her hellish minions. And they slayed the beasts and Griznak herself, finding the cauldron, and prepared to return to the Lady of the Lake.