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Ashton Entry 2
It’s been a while since I decided to log our journeys, I have been rather preoccupied with my own thoughts. But this morning we awoke in the back of a cave to the sounds of a beast outside. I was rather confused since we had ended up in the dessert and I couldn’t fathom where this noise other than the wind could be coming from. Apparently Karamus had scouted ahead and the others were preparing themselves for war.
I readied my thoughts and my spells and followed the others up and out of the cave in which we had slept. Upon emergence of the room I noted that the roaring beast was actually a very large, very hung-over, half-orc by the name of Elias. He had this odd tattoo on his arm of a skull with a smoldering eye. He seemed disoriented and we all made our introductions. Apparently he was from Cauldron… or at least was last drunk there.
We took a minute to gather our bearings and the bickering began on whether we should leave for Cauldron during the day or upon arrival of night. We retreated within the chamber once again to avoid the dessert heat. During our rest we were once again interrupted, this time it was actual hostiles though. A slough of extra-planar beasts waltzed into our resting place and started up a fight with our heavy warriors and the monk.
The fight carried on until a cloaked figure came within and banished the Abyssal beasts before us. I instantly distrusted this man, but he obviously wanted to talk first and trade blows second. He introduced himself as Kaurophon and recognized us as the Silver Phoenix. He then came forth with a rather interesting proposition. He could provide us with a way home… if we would aid him in a quest on another plane.
There was a test on the Abyssal plane of Occipitus, apparently the former ruler had fallen and now there was a test to become the new ruler. Apparently if we agreed to aid Kaurophon in his test then we would be gifted with a scroll of Plane Shift to land us back home. Jarvyk noticed the man’s evil soul and called it to attention. Kaurophan admitted to his demon heritage and exposed his hideous visage.
His skin was that of maggot flesh, his mouth a jagged gash from ear to ear, atop which red eyes glowed with hate. Something bulged under his cloak and curved talons for hands stretched and flexed. My heart leapt at the hopes of learning what I could from him. Perhaps he had learned something of use to me, something of the Phoenix Heart or of my father.
We determined that we should rest for the evening before our decided travel to Occipitus. I was granted a scroll of Plane Shift and sat with Kaurophon. I asked him if he had any information on the Phoenix Heart, and any word of my father. He had neither, I was disappointed in this, but cannot help that he had not really heard much of either.
The next morning we readied ourselves for our trip to the hellish Abyssal plane. We gathered and were instantly found in our new destination. I squinted into the red-hued light. A nightmarish realm stretched out before us. The ground squished underfoot like raw flesh, the appearance of boils and coarse hair-like shrubbery jutted from the disgusting terrain. I looked to the sky and the sight of flames overhead instead of blue made me dizzy for a moment.
This place, I imagine, is probably one of the many my father taught me of. Perhaps some of my learning of the Abyssal and Infernal planes and languages will come in handy. In the distance a massive smoking skull sat amid what looked to be jutting bones. The landscape around us appeared as though a colossus had fallen and formed this place.
Kaurophon abruptly interrupted our acclimation and informed us that the Ossius Forest was the last place we wanted to go. I looked to the direction he motioned to and noted that it was indeed the bone like structures jutting from the ground. I was intrigued by the bone like structure, but if the native of this plane claims it to be overly dangerous then I will agree with him. He then determined that our next destination was a place called The Cathedral of Feathers. Some place formerly of Celestia which was somehow overlapped into Occipitus.
I took a moment to investigate a few of the boils to see how much like real flesh this place is. Kaurophon informed me to beware as their internal fluids were highly caustic and not to be tested. I backed away and it was time to be off.
We began our journey and followed Kaurophon through the hideous terrain before we noticed some very massive creatures headed toward us in the distance. Lumbering and slow, I figured that these things could not be much of a challenge. I didn’t even recognize them. We managed to engage them and before long we were proven wrong. These things were as big as a house and apparently their entire body was made of stomach. Kort, Jarvyk, and Bransen rushed in to fight our way through and were noted to fall ill. I had been feeling some intensification in my blood recently and began to wish for aid, something large and powerful to join me in my fight.
Before long a rhinoceros stood before me and my first reaction was to have it charge the creatures. This magic was not of my fathers bent. I can only assume it came from my mothers side of the family. I watched in horror as the beast neared it’s target and instantly staggered in it’s tracks and began retching up the contents of it’s stomach. I began to realize the usefulness of non-living companions as they cannot fall ill or suffer ill effects like this one.
No, I cannot let myself fall to the evil habits of my father, I cannot allow myself to succumb to the temptation to desecrate those who once lived just to make my life easier. As I tried to keep my mind on the combat I noticed that Kort had called for the retreat and I have to admit, I agreed. It’s hard to disagree with the dwarf. While surly and seemingly juvenile at times, I must admit that his knowledge and experience of battle has served us well in the past as our figurehead.
We fled as fast as we could. Bransen seemed to near sacrifice himself for the aid of others. He seems quite mad, illogical, and unlearned. However I can’t argue with his crafty spellcasting and seemingly absolute confidence in his inability to die. That coupled with his caring nature makes me enjoy his company, despite him calling himself a sorcerer…
Kaurophon plucked Bransen and the mischievous (and undeniably crafty) cansin from the fray to my relief. We fled for our lives as fast as we could away from the beasts. Kaurophon unveiling his hideous leathery wings and taking off. I agreed with his plan and granted myself flight and away we went. We finally found ourself far enough from the beasts to rest. It was time to recuperate and plan for future encounters like that.