ObsidianPortal

The book is approximately 300 pages, most of which are blank.  The exterior is a dark red leather bound by a natural leather trap with bronze buckle.  The handwriting within is large and looping and is magically devoid of flaws, as are the perfectly white pages themselves.

21 Oct, 2 RoT, 0 ASP (anno secundum penetrallis)

While traveling down the king's road toward my destination, the city of Taluvous, I crossed paths with a fierce dragonborn warrior named Gravendarr and a holy warrior wielding a rather large axe who went by some strange name, but who I've come to call Osco. As we were all unfamiliar with the land, and each man appeared trustworthy, we set forth toward Taluvous together. The city should have been bustling with cheer as autumn was upon us, but we entered the walls and found not a soul. In the town center we heard the unmistakable sound of a great crowd and approached with caution. In the center of the square we could see a woman was bound to a statue, wood piled at her feet. At this time a man I later learned was Clouden, Reagent of the city, issued a proclomation that this woman was to be executed for crimes against the town. The wood was lit but this was no ordinary witch burning. As the flames grew the woman cried out in madness and anger apparently calling upon some unseen force. What followed was chaos, the fire began to change and an opalescent fog issued from it, or the woman, I could not be certain as I stood at the outskirts of the crowd. Next the woman gestured with her hand and at once a wave of force seemed to push outwards, knocking everyone to the ground except, curiously, me. Instead, I felt the amulet I've carried for years, which has always been frigid to the touch, warm for the first time, to the point which it was painful on my bare skin.

note to self: at next convenience, obtain text on the nature of magically created fog, its effects and possible countermeasures.

What followed is difficult to retell. Many of the commoners in the crowds began to transform into various monstrous forms. The knights which previously stood watch over the execution now moved quickly to evacuate those unaffected from the square. My companions and I were set upon by these monstrosities and were aided by a knightly woman, whom I now know as Ellethe. My companions proved my previous confidence in them in the fight that followed, as we dispatched the foul beings with relative ease. When the last fell, we were preparing to leave this strange place when we were stopped by none other than the king and his staff. We were invited to lodge at his keep, to discuss the events in the city square and our part in them. On our way to the keep I was approached by a man called Aben, who introduced himself as a merchant of things and expressed curiosity at my apparent immunity to the woman's magic. I asked him to meet with us later to discuss these happenings. Over dinner we conversed with the king, Thander, Clouden the Steward and Gairhard the Captain of Ellethe's Order of the Shield. The meal was enjoyable until our good friend Gravendarr became impatient with the king and was ejected from the table for some of his remarks. From there, dealings tapered off and each in turn retired for the night.
To my surprise I returned to my room to find Darr suspiciously eyeing a halfling, who quickly introduced himself as Ransom. According to his tale, he too had been invited to the keep after heroically slaying some monsters still left in the city. After making introductions to the rest of the party, we retired for the night but were awoken in short order by screaming from Ransom. His screams were in fact, a blessing in disguise as they alerted us to assassins standing over each of our beds! A fight ensued and we once again emerged victorious. Soon after the king appeared, offering his apologies and new rooms to sleep in. After a nights rest we awoke to find Aben waiting to send us from the castle, "for our own protection", through some dangerous labyrinth. We were gifted clothes, papers bearing the mark of the king, and tasked with investigating the ruins in which the Witch was captured. I will write further when the opportunity arises, for now, we set off into the underbelly of Taluvous.

22 Oct, 2 RoT, 0 ASP

I will attempt to write chronologically despite our circumstance.

Our group was ushered into a dark tunnel beneath the keep.  Behind us the door was closed and presumably sealed as we heard the unmistakable sound of heavy objects being shifted on the opposite side.  With no choice now but to press forward we moved down this tunnel until it was less and less crafted stone and eventually we happened upon natural coridors and a large cavernous room.  The far side lay in shadow but to the right was a bridge that looked as though its last passenger might not have made it across succesfully.  We carefully traveresed the narrow edges of the cavern where a small ledge allowed us to move.  At the opposite side were two entryways, one of which was guarded by human skulls.  Had I not been in the company of several strong and curageous adventurers I likely would not have attempted this route but we pressed on.  At the end of another long tunnel we found a subterranian outpost of some kind, and in the first room we encountered several goblins.  After dispatching them we continued on a logical path through the corridors of the complex.  Ransom alerted us to sounds of movement in a room above a trap door and despite Osco's trepidation we decided to press onward despite these enemies.  After a quick plan was layed out we opened the door but got no reaction.  Our enemies were apparently ready to strike should we attempt to move through the trap door.  After some moments waiting I decided action was necessary and caused the disembodied heads of one of our previous adversaries to be magik'd through the trap door.  The reaction we were waiting for came soon after this as the head was struck and it exploded into a fine mist. "Bugbears" was all Ransom could stammer as he ran past me.  Our plan worked well and we dispatched both without much trouble.  Only after slaying both succesfully did we notice Aben at the end of a hall, shutting the door and locking it.  It was clear from the sound of his voice that he was displeased to see us alive but I was preoccupied with the approaching sound of many footsteps.  What followed was a desperate attempt to escape an army of goblins and bugbears – we ran back the way we came and attempted to hide in a dark tunnel.  Our persuers however were not quick to call off the hunt and we were forced to flee into unknown territory.  We came out of this tunnel to find ourselves facing an ominous curtain, but with no choices open to us we went through to find a chamber with a dark, mysterious portal.  Still being persued by bugbears, I began to frantically search for some means of escape other than a black hole of apparent doom.  Our searches only led to further problems though as Ransom encountered a switch-plate which began some summoning ritual.  At this point Aben appeared in a balcony above and again taunted us.  He was glad that we faced imminent destruction and it was clear at this point Aben was no friend, but rather a power hungry sorcerer of some kind.  With the bugbears now upon us and Ransom trapped within an energy field we had no other options.  Ellethe was the first to go, muttering something about Bahamut as she leapt into the darkness.  I saw Ransom wink out of existance just as Darr grabbed hold and yanked me through the portal.  What heppened next I do not know but Osco must have also entered as he was alive but shaken when we awoke in a field of wheat.

At this moment Osco is attempting to revive Ellethe who appears to be unconcious.  Darr has set up watch and I have taken this moment to write my thoughts.  I must remember to study in depth the nature and function of magical portals when next I find a library of useful size. 

I will write further when opportunity arises.

Late Summer, approximately one year since previous entry

I am writing now from the study of Sarn, a man of magic, intellect and indeed some mystery.  I have just completed studying and mastering the use of several spells procured from a book in Sarn's possession, as well as one shared by Oskilar.  I now have both the knowledge and components to invoke several powerful spells.

Much has happened since last writing.  Upon investigating the smoke, noted in previous entry, we found an apparent farming village which came under attack by goblinoid creatures bearing the Mark of the Raven Queen.  Osco tells me these marks are counterfeit, likely designed to spread confusion and sow hatred amongst the local peoples against true worshippers.  We do not yet fully understand the purpose of these marks, but we have encountered several others bearing the symbol.

After doing battle with several goblinoids in the village and driving off their leader (note to self: at next opportunity I must study the anatomy of goblinoid arms and if possible get a closer look at the blackened arm of the goblin leader) we set out north along the river adjacent to the village.  After some travel we came upon a fishing village on the edge of a lake, the source of the river.  After informing the villagers we were urged to inform Lord Markhaven of Barley Keep of what we had witnessed and our defeat of the goblins.  After an uneventful night we were faried across the lake by a young man who directed us up a steep, winding mountain road.  At the top was Barley Keep, a truly remarkable castle.  The castle is quite grand and imposing but this alone is not what I find intrigueing.  No, apparently the keep is Dwarven, but I've never seen nor heard of any Dwarven stronghold built outside the mountains.  The inside of the castle was just as grand as the exterior, like nothing I have ever seen in my life.  I found myself scrutinizing the expert stonework which kept such a structure standing, and have concluded that only the finest Dwarven stonehewer would be capable of constructing such a place.

It had been a long time since last I tasted Three Falls Ale and so I was eager to proceed with our business with the lord of this keep.  Our party eventually met with him and information was exchanged.  We were invited to dine with Markhaven in the evening and with several hours to do as we pleased, I took my time exploring the castle, taking in a pint at the Tavern and searching for a library, unsuccesfuly I might add.

Dinner was enjoyable, as we were treated to every variety of Ale and guided by no less than the brewmaster himself.  Festivities were unforunately cut short though as guests not seated at the headtable became violently ill.  As I rushed to administer aid the people first collapsed, apparently dead, and then awoke in a state of undeath.  A battle ensued as the vicious undead were bent on destroying the living and when the last of them had been dealt with we set about investigating the scene.  The ale served to these tables had apparently been tampered with, poisoned and this lead us to investigate the brewery from which the keg had been delivered.  Inside another body was discovered, murdered with a cruel dagger.  Further investigation led us to find a secret passage which lead from inside the brewery to just above the castle's Temple.  Unfortunately the trail ran cold here and we were unable to track down the culprit.  The murdered dwarf, it was discovered, bore the false mark of the Raven Queen we had found on the goblins and Sarn was adament that we make haste for the Fellwood and obtain an artifact which might allow us to commune with the dwarf's corpse.

Fellwood would have been our first destination the next morning had we not been informed that Markhaven planned to send a force of Barley Keep's guardsmen to seek out a rumoured goblin encampment, and much of the group felt that it was necessary that we scout ahead of this force.  After attending funeral ceremonies for the victims of the poisoned ale we set out on horseback in advance of Markhaven's militia. 

My horse, Wimpy, is a fine grey steed whom reminds me of the pony I raised as a child.  It was a great comfort to once more be on horseback and I spent much of the journey reminiscing.  Wimpy especially likes it when I magic his grass into various colors and flavors and I believe the other's horses were jealous.

We headed into the mountains as we approached the location we expected to see a goblinoid camp and as we climbed, it came into view.  The camp, however, appeared to be far larger and better organized than the Lord had anticipated.  With only a half day before our planned rendevous with the militia, we decided on a plan of sabotage and reconnaissance.  It was decided that Corvin would sneak into the camp from the far side and attempt to procure any information he could.  Meanwhile the rest of our party would assault the perimeter of the camp and cause as much confusion and chaos as possible to make Corvin's job easier.  For the most part, this plan was executed without much trouble and we spent the next morning racing to the rendevous point to warn the militia that they were outmatched.  Corvin met us at the rendevous location and said that it was imperative we return to Barley Keep and inform Markhaven of the information he had gathered.