11. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

Still floating I smell something, mmmm, all of a sudden I am her again – awake and present. I watch as the others pile the loot into our various bags.

 

It seems no one noticed my episode, thankfully, or they probably wouldn’t let me finish of the coast. It was worth it as slew some cave fisher – such a pox on the serpents that live on this beautiful island. I really am liking this place alot, now its oppressive evil seems either gone or one with me – either way I no longer have any discomfort.

We found some more wrecks, these were empty, the childish apes jeer, thump and fling poo each time. So easily forgetting how previous wrecks found us treasure, understanding and taught us much. Ron had some issues on one boat so I decided to share my one and only super spell: heroism with him. He soon abolished the zombie menace.

We explore the top of the mountain and to my surprise there is nothing there. A rickety rope bridge indicates some nasty creature is probably in the ravine below, either through design or incidental good feeding grounds but none want to check it out. More depressingly there is one, just one last significant place to search – a high point, as broader and as green as the dryads home hill yet the others are impatient and will have none of it. Such a shame but I shall return.

After this we spend close to a week moving our charges, setting up a secure, non-infested camp, repairing the lighthouse and waiting for a ship. It amazes me how quickly it passed as none of the monkeys had issue with it. Yet it was so much longer than exploring the last high point would have been.

We are rescued despite rons attempts to insult and threaten the crew. He is so stupid at times its beyond belief. Dorian sees no need to say goodbye to the dryad, I fear he is no libertine just another asshole that needs to hurt others to temporarily fill the hole in his heart caused by never getting enough loving hugs as a child. He too was probably hugged like a toy and played with lovelessly like a accessory not as a person. And so mammalian problems propagate I suppose!

The arrival in the city is a great relief. Using my many skills I manage to find and then pawn all our assorted loot. I also go on a spending spree, with some help from Helga. Drawing on my vast array of knowledge I had some unique armour custom designed and made. I might just be a genius combining materials to create the first ever Mitheral Studded Darkleaf Leather Armour. With my custom shaped darkwood buckler at last I feel completely protected. Also as my seafaring days taught me – buoyant. Sometimes the witch seems a bit bizarre but she cannot be all bad helping me purchase this protection.

I also bought a Elysian Bronze Kukri, I love its golden colour and the rarity. You never see bronze or elysian bronze really. I know bronze was favoured by serpent folk of old in ages past for it doesn’t rust. It buoys my elder spirit as well as legend has it the elder titans of old crafted it. The paladin whined a bit, something about its bonuses vs magical beasts and monstrous humanoids being unpredictable. I found that rich considering he gets varying bonuses against evil, evil outsiders and dragons. Likely he is just jealous he lacks the creativity to forge ahead and break new ground. Ironic seeing it’s what humans are famous for among the races. It’s the one and only thing that explains their meteoric rise to supremacy. Perhaps poor breeding or jealous practices have cut  their lifeblood, either way it shall make our dominion easier.

The red mantis gave us a very good offer but it seems the paladin has issues. I would have thought their judge, jury, executioner ways would match his. Apparently not. He really is one of those creatures that manage to hold in his head convergent perspective at once despite them not working together.

I still find it ironic he refused ron his wish to have a cannibal woman to train and guide while constantly claiming ‘I am but an instrument of Iomedaes will’ surely he is just the slave of her? She approves of slavery so why not he?? He even says ‘It is not their choice. It is the will of Iomedae.’ So why cannot anothers will be dominant over a random sentient?

Also why use a butchering knife and approach menacingly to grab, grapple and hold them while stabbing them in the back? Surely facing them is better and using a weapon you better at that does fast large damage that obliterates. He really seems to revel in blood, power, pain and almost thief like attacks.

Maybe he really is guided by Asmodeus and just thinks its Iomede. Surely from what I have read of her she would not be so violent, impatient and domineering.

No great loss I managed to go to all the others we rescued and hear other proposals. The group seemed to appear at these meetings despite not thinking of making them and cut down any opportunities till they were backed into a corner with our last contact. So it seems we are working for the government. How ironic. At least they came in handy for a random rabid dog attack. So it’s of to Saventh-Yhi so I can learn the elder secrets and leave the empty shell of that long dead city as a testament to those who failed the world serpent before.