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Jarvyk Entry 17
6 Flocktime, 592 CY (after the battle with Lerrius)
In the aftermath of the battle with Lerrius, which ended with what sounded like the excruciating death of our gnomish foe, questions began to fill my mind. The bloody grime of death has a way of simplifying these moments of brash destruction. It is likely this little fellow’s fall was caused as much by malicious enchantment as it was by Greyjek. Unfortunately, we will likely never know the truth. Perhaps methods of subdual are in order for future encounters. It would not hurt to broach the subject, I am sure.
With the clearing at relative silence, Kort and Karamus set about the task of robbing the dead. It is a despicable task in most situations but a necessary evil in our business. Although I usually refrain from logging these actions herein, this particular instance struck home. I must always remember that the needs of good in the fight against evil require certain levels of moral flexibility. I ask Clanggedin each day for the guidance to know the necessary from the wanton. He has given me proper guidance before in these matters, and assures me that possessions of those engaged in evil are best annexed by the good among us. Wresting power from evil is the primary defense of good.
Having finished our duty in the blood soaked clearing, and with Bransen’s directing enchantment removed, we pressed forward blindly towards the temple of Tlanextic; following the old path. If some evil is afoot here we owe the town, and Kan’ti, a thorough investigation. Our deadly interjection into their affairs requires, I believe, the most diligent investigation we can muster.
The path proved more direct than I had imagined. We arrived at what must be the temple within perhaps an hour. Two guards stood at the partially intact portal and demanded our names / purpose, as one might expect. Then something strange happened. One guard retreated to the temple, spoke with someone, then returned and granted us passage. No search was done, no weapons confiscated, it was an odd feeling given our rather obvious intentions.
Within the temple was a pyramid of sorts, speckled by light from a decaying ceiling and laden with flowers that maintained their sweet aroma. Tlanextic lay at the top of that pyramid, confidently surveying his area. The beast was magnificent in its glittering glory. It was, however, pure evil. I thought to myself the immortal words of a long forgotten highwayman, “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Kort heard my concern, and then I did my best to cover the detection. Stepping forward, and using my most respectful tone, Kan’ti was introduced with the very real purpose of his quest. I was personally interested in the abilities of our new companion. If he could successfully parlay with this evil impostor, as I had come to suspect, his skill would be proven.
In the end, all words would fall fallow. Kort’s impetuousness, which has saved the company many times I am told, strode boldly into the room and asserted our shared suspicion. He told the great serpent that we were not fooled by its visage, to which it responded with physical disgust. Ashton, having been in the company of Kort for too long I fear, loosed yet again an impetuous fireball. With one flick of the wrist, and a brief incantation, all negotiations would die.
It was then that we noticed the alcoves at each side of the chamber. There were four on each side, eight in total, one for each of the charging gargoyles. In an instant we were under the gnashing slashing assault of the great winged denizens. Only Ashton caught sight of the approaching challenge. The behir, a large many-legged devourer of assorted things, scuttled towards us from the opposite end of the room.
The snake beast set blistering light upon Ashton from on high, in retaliation for the fireball one would assume. The attack struck Ashton deeply. With a blink, we each set to our tasks. Those with range took that advantage, as did those with powers to conceal and protect. I stuck with the impetuousness of the day and launched myself into the maw of the scuttling beast while Kort bound for the stairs and the impostor to which it would lead.
Tlanextic, I later heard, bested Kort’s will and sent him away from the battle. Bransen, with little else to occupy his time, noticed the change and quickly dismissed the bewitchment. I was cutting my way through the belly of our new friend while this was occurring. It was a dirty vile task, but it had to be done. Others would not survive as I could, trapped in the belly of this creature.
Karamus had, perhaps, the best showing. His blades struck true and deep into our many-legged foe. It was his skill that thwarted the creature and so protected the group. Ashton too had great feats of heroism in the felling of Tlanextic. His magic confounded the bestial impostor to its ultimate demise.
There were missteps in the battle, surely, but each was met with quick reaction and all survived. In truth, the gargoyles proved as challenging as the other, more apt, foes. Their numbers proved powerful and their claws sharp. It was a team effort that won the day and all were needed in the roles they played. My only concern now is that our reputation will begin to precede us even further, and make more deadly the path towards salvation of our respectively endangered goals.
Further searching revealed, in addition to many riches, a great and terrible loss. Kan’ti’s mentor, the object of his quest, appeared to be heaped into the corner of an antechamber like so much refuse. The body was beyond recognition but a trinket revealed the necessary clue. It was a bitterness that we did not need. The coming days may prove otherwise, but this moment had all the trappings of a great low-point in our travels.
Clangeddin deliver unto us the path of righteousness and the undoing of our foes. Let all our tasks be as mighty as they are holy and let not the derisive intentions of evil usurpers stray us from the necessary battles ahead. Trickery is among us, and here to stay I fear. If it can be revealed, show us the way. If it cannot, make haste with the retribution it deserves.
With the temple clear and free of excess treasure, we head back to town and to the fate that awaits us all. It seems reasonable that these simple folk could react very poorly to news of their fallen idol. We must be convincing in our discussion of these events and hope that truth wins out in the end.