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Ashton Entry 3
We took stock of our situation after the massive hippo-like beasts thoroughly trounced us. We agreed that we should rest so that Bransen and I could recover our arcane (and despite his vehement objection of it) divine spells. Night never came on this hellish plane. It was discomforting sleeping under a starless flaming sky, but it had to be done, I had to recover my abilities.
We awoke earlier than I would have liked, but dallying in this realm longer than desired would most certainly be lethal. We continued on our way to the Cathedral of Feathers wondering what awaited us. The trek stretched on and the area still discomforted me, I wondered how the others felt. Everyone seems uncomfortable here, Jarvyk is obviously unnerved by the amount of sheer evil here, and I can’t say I’m not in agreement.
We carried on and before we could accommodate an “end of day” Karamus halted us in forewarning of a creature ahead. We readied ourselves and approached the beast. It was large, I thought I recognized it, demon naturally, but I am not learned enough to figure it out immediately… I will have to study further. The beast did not fare well against us as we swarmed it and it was forced to teleport itself away from us.
We decided it was once again time for a rest, to recuperate and recover. This unchanging plane is monstrous, my sleep is saturated with nightmares of my father. I wake and see flames, I then close my eyes and think it a dream, surely I cannot wake to flames. But I am constantly proven wrong as the sky here is pure fire, and when I open my eyes again I am greeted by the unwholesome sight once more, confirming my hideous dreams.
We move silently, I cannot think of much to say, all of my thoughts are of returning to the Prime and back to my quest to save Evane. I keep looking to Jarvyk’s pack, knowing that within rests the first key to revivification. I can picture it glowing, the small bristles of the feather radiating light, but any time I actually cast my gaze upon it it is dull. Some sacrifice must be made to awaken it… I know not what I will have to sacrifice, but I know I will happily do it.
My thoughts of Evane and the Phoenix Heart filled my head as we continued on. Before long we were alerted to figures ahead. I could not see them but apparently there were three. We once again braced ourselves for battle and watched the sky upon which they apparently traveled. I used my gifts to gather Jarvyk aloft and we were gifted with speed by our demonic ally. As the demons closed we realized that to outrun them was futile so we waited. Suddenly Kaurophon began to mutter that the creatures approaching were called vrock, and that they were performing a dance… But before he could finish a flash of realization flooded his hideous face and he screamed a command to “RUN!”
I believe he made a valid point as Jarvyk swooped down and lifted me and carried me off on wings of magic. As we fled the creatures landed and caught Kort and Kaurophon within the mighty blast that issued forth. The two were staggered in pain as we wheeled about and began to head back to our attackers. Battle issued forth, I let fly with bolts of energy, a low level spell, but effective nonetheless. Kaurophon used scrolls offensively sending sickening bursts at the beasts, but to no avail. The creatures natural resistance to magic thwarted the both of us various times, but we persisted.
Jarvyk held his own, fighting the demon in mid-flight with his elder blade. We fought down two of the three demons as the third fled for its safety. Once again we bested the monsters of this realm as the two fell to us. We have become a rather formidable fighting force. It had taken a while, and lots of combat and trials, but we seemed to be accelerating toward a serious force to be reckoned with. I am finding a severe distaste for the demons here though seeing that they all seem to share some level of magical resistance.
We continued on for two more “nights” of barely sleeping, and reliving my dreams of why I quest. Only to wake to a walking nightmare as we traverse this horrible plane. We had to pass quietly through a portion of the Ossius Forest before finally reaching the Cathedral of Feathers. A formerly beautiful Celestial construction now broken and collapsing on this horrid plane.
Elias the drunken monk decided that he would force the doors. He swaggered up the large steps and asked some questions to which Kaurophon muttered simple answers to. I paid little attention, too occupied with the sight before me, the fallen beauty of the building. I was oddly reminded of Evane, so much beauty fallen to corruption. It took a few of us aiding Elias forcing the door to get it open. Elias then strode in and stopped, we joined him inside the room and I noticed the open roof and a pit in the floor. Elias wandered off and before we could continue a mass of webbing surrounded us and a bolt of electrical force flew through all of us.
The pain was excruciating as my teeth clenched and I focused on getting my bearings. We managed to force our way further into the room to take part in combat with a pair of driders. Bransen made short work of one, banishing it from the plane. I could only chuckle to myself wondering where the creature could have ended up. Bransen then aided me with my wounds as another electric storm took flight just before the final drider was descended upon and sent to its afterlife.
We took to searching the room and the body of the half spider-half elf uncovering a number of useful items. A scroll was among it’s belongings and I took it into my hands and read it. Something about a wish, or a least wish. Odd… I had never heard of this before. I studied the scroll and realized the absolute potential of this spell. This was something I would have to definitely incorporate into my repertoire. We looked around and realized that soon we must head further in.