Cedric
Tales of Cedric
- Tales of Cedric – Respite
- Tales of Cedric – Corruptions
- Tales of Cedric – Of Two Ladies
- Tales of Cedric – at the Balean Nakt Skald
- Tales of Cedric – on the Path to Skull Point
Journal of Cedric, often called Cedric the lazy
8th day of Winter Finding
Priestess calling for Wolf’s Winter. Snow falling and staying on ground already. Lake already frozen on shade side. Word is harvest was modest – not bad, but not good. Should be good market for hunting if new king doesn’t tax to death.
Tonight prepare for ritual with that moonstruck Dyffyd. Is he touched by gods or just touched?
9th day of Winter Finding
Ritual went okay. Dyffyd Kinewatcher may be a shepherd, but he is a real chosen one of Demeter.
After ritual we met strange outlanders. Part of Sir Trousdale’s retinue. Something happened last night, but they are very quiet about it.
They look pretty rich. Their leader, Finch, is a real charmer. They hired me as a guide for 1 gold per day. Should be easy work. Hope he tips well.
9 day – noon
Finch is bastard son of Caradoc. Heard speculate he involved in death of king Daha. Doesn’t seem quite capable of it, but he should pay well to keep things quiet.
9 day – night
I write by firelight of the burning gates of Skull Hill Keep. The fools wanted to come here in winter at night. The IDIOTS. Been attacked by foul bird-men creatures. Nearly devoured by slug creature they call Carrion-Crawler. Madness.
10 day of Winter Finding
ALMOST READY JUST LEAVE THEM HERE. They decide enter keep. More bird-men and loathe magic bird-womeneerie call Harpies. Horrid songs, they nearly killed me but for grace of Demeter. Remember to make offering
Look into history of keep. Found hall with skeletons seated round a table. Poisoned banquet?
Spoke too soon about Dyffyd. He both touched by Demeter and touched in the head for joining this group so enthusiastically. I must be touched as well.
Camping in the keep. Several birdmen have run downstairs, but have set guards. At least out of the cold.
11 day Winter Finding (I think)
We have made camp in the hall of some vile sorcerer we chased from the keep. And we need to recover. The group is near death from creatures. It seems that we will stay here for several days. At least the beast had some food.
Finch is also a sorcerer. And he’s a cheapskate. He has yet to pay me the gold for guiding them here, and he talks of denying me a share of the booty we have found. A pile of gold, a chest of silver, a gem, I have never seen such wealth. Perhaps I will stay around for a while. If I can gather a thousand gold, I can retire.
12 day Winter Finding
There is no time, yet I must write it down before I forget. We have marched halfway cross the valley through this early snow. The idiots don’t know to stay warm during the winter.
I am wrong about Finch – he may be our next prince, though we shall see how Caradoc, his father, fairs. Together, we fought a Dragon!. Crom piss on us, we faced a sickly, tiny, terrifying, flame breathing, sharp taloned Dragon. Daladon preserve us, but we killed that dragon with a strange sword the likes of which I have never seen before.
13 day Winter Finding
We have marched almost to the edge of the vale, heading to the scarp under Balean Nakt. We faced an ogre named Berg, whom Finch enchanted – what power. I like Stephan – so brave, so powerful. But he frightens me a bit – just slit the beast’s throat.
Tonight we rest with Volder and his wife Lema, and we ate dinner with a dragon, Xan. Two dragons in one week! Bel either smiles on us or snickers at us, but somehow I am still alive.
Volder has warned us of his cousin, the gnome Finn. Must be warry. And Sandra The Fox, overthrown by Brandoch may be active again. Remember to tell the village.
15 day Winter Finding
It is morning. More snow, so early. I wonder if all of the orchards were harvested.
We have defeated Bargle, that sorcerer of Skull Keep. Who knew he was there? But only with the unwitting help of the Beastmen of Balean Nakt. They may yet seek revenge.
Mother will be pleased that I rescued Jeb. I haven’t seen him since New Years. Bargle was selling Jeb to the Beastmen, but he is safe. Perhaps Mother will stop nagging me.
We have found the king, Prince Caradoc. But he is cursed. There is talk that the Lady of the Lake can help him, but he makes me nervous. I should leave now. This is too dangerous.
I have never seen such money – jeweled rings and gold. More money then most see in a lifetime I have won in a day. Oh my head, how is it still attached to my shoulders.
17 day Winter Finding
By the gods, she is the incarnation of Rhianon herself.
Pure beauty, heart of forest
Lady divine, see my longing.
Cleanse my heart, show my path.
Teach me the mysterious wisdom.
But we have been cast from her grace. Why would Iorweth attack her, a fellow being of the primal nature force? What shameful folly. Finch plans to speak with her tomorrow. I will guide him, for they have been blinded by her grace.
20 day Winter Finding
More snow, but finally I am warm again. We camp with Lamdamon, and he has brought us much needed supplies.
The Lady needs her cauldron, which was stolen. So we will kill Grisnac the Corrupter and return the sacred relic to her.
25 day Winter Finding
Yet more snow. So cold, it feels like Winterdark already. Oh Wild one, hear my prayers. May I find grace as my lord did on his quest .
27 day Winter Finding
Tomorrow, we assault the keep of the Corrupter. Iorweth is a strange one – but he found us an ally, Blackpelt, chief of the mountain wolves. Today we have common cause, but in the spring I may need to hunt them down. The flocks can not withstand the culling, not after this winter.
29 day Winter Finding
We took the garrison on the surface. Blackpelt’s aid was greatly appreciated, but he left us as soon as that task was done. The beastmen woodsmen are very strong. What god do they worship? Surely Daladon does not smile on them.
I think one of them killed me. I don’t remember much. They were so strong. My friends were falling under the beast woodsmen arrows, and some spirit possessed me. I snuck up the tower to hunt them, but . There was a light and warmth all around. But I heard the screams and yells of my friends. Then I awoke. Iorweth actually looked a little concerned.
Despite the pain, I continued down into the monastery. I will have nightmares – the demon alter and the floating brain. And that poor man corrupted into a beastman. I feel sick.
6 day of Jól
We have arrived at the lake. Stephan is gone, taken by Stygoth, the sickly dragon. And we have met his brother, a strange man with an odd blood lust to kill his own. Though if what Marquis says is true, and brother Kinewatcher vouches for it, maybe Stephan was not our friend.
All this hard march, the dreams have haunted me. The laughing Grisnac, the strange handless arms on the alter.
Marquis demands that we find his brother, so that they can fight. Finch thinks we can rescue Stephan. So everyone wants to go off into the swamp They are all mad.
9 day of Jól
We are in the swamp. We are in the wormspawn swamp. Finch and Marquis keep arguing about Stephan. By Daladon, shut up already.
10 day of Jól
So many days of nothing, then today. We found Stygoth slaughtering a band of gnolls. When he was done with them, we somehow managed to chase him off. According to some of the survivors, the gnolls are serving the witchqueen, so Stygoth is not working for her. Strange.
More strange – a fey deathmage. In all the stories, the Fey fight the Beast, but this one has joined it. Even more strange, we fought, but we didn’t fight. Finch left back for the lake immediately after that battle. I hope he arrives safely.
Got to go. Twill is calling us to the fire for a discussion. I wish he would shut up – something will hear us and come after us.
14 day of Jól
I must have said it a dozen times – sheep and chickens have more sense than we do. Like uncle Obi-diah says, “Who’s the bigger fool, ...” We’re heading back to the lake, finally. But with our tail between our legs. The witchqueen’s army sent us packing.
I hate magic. Some spell got us on the bridge – we all went running silly. I pissed my breeches, so I have to smell myself along with Iorweth. Can’t really tell with him.
18 day of Jól
So nice to swim. In midwinter, swimming! Thank all the gods of kindness and decency. And the idiots don’t even need me to hunt – there are apples and turnips and beans and onions and grapes and squash all still growing by the lake. Thank Demeter she sent Dyffyd – if I had to listen to Twill whine any more about finding something to eat, I’d roast him up. And Marquis, says he grew up on a ranch, but he acts like cityfolk.
23 day of Jól
The scar in my belly is fading. wow. I started making a bow. It’s turning out pretty nice. I’ve been looking at the bows I got from the dogface woodsmen. I polished them up nice. I can’t really pull those bows, but I think I can make one. I wonder who would buy such a mighty bow? Ceardic Fletcher sells to the king’s archers. Stoneplitter’s mercs might want some bows.
29 day of Jól
That was brisk. I left the lake to find a deer for Jóltide. This white lined reversable cloak from Lamdamon works great. Prayers offered, ritual of thanks given, Daladon and Rhiannon bless us on this darkest time. Bad omen – new moon on Jóltide.
Twill agreed to roast the beast. He’ll probably try to use his myrric harmonica to magically turn the spit.
30 day of Jól
King Undermountain, have mercy on us and resmith the sun.
Warm our hearts, sweet Mother, and keep the hearths burning bright
Oh great Bull, rout our enemies, drive them from our lands.
Lonely Wanderer, scout the borderlands for their return.
The Beast has come and brought the Darkness.
Oh Lords, hear our cries and save your servants.
1 day of Winterdark
An ill omen – new moon on Jóltide. Great evil is afoot. This morning the others also complained of the cold that touched our sactuary last night. Not even our blessed lady can protect us.
6 day of Winterdark
Went out again. I took Ieds to go rabbit hunting.
I forgot to mention Ieds. In the swamp we were attacked by lizardmen. I prayed for help from the Wild Lady, whose quest we followed, and she sent Ieds. Nice hawk. Not too bright, but a nice hawk. Damn shitbeak likes to bite, though.
10 day of Winterdark
Ah, this is the life. My bow is almost done. I’ve even made some arrows. The Full Moon comes, and Caradoc will be relieved of his curse. Then we will march to the city, and he will claim the thrown. Maybe I should ask Dyffyd what the Mother thinks of this happenstance, as the tales of Stephan’s cruelty have shocked me.