Musings of the Priestess of the Monolith

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

*Syclya is sitting in Starberks, jotting things in her journal*

Entry 29

Well that thing was right. I can't talk to anyone, or even write about what happened without the aldiciÃ³nMay stÃºpidaeway kicking in. I guess I can say it was a pleasant tea party with a tiefling. On a positive note... I guess.... Intet is able to understand me... we had a really long talk... it was nice to have someone who didn't look at me like I've totally flipped out.

ohh.. here he comes.. I'll write more later...

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 30

I almost forgot to mention how sweet Curu was....He helped me get some jink for arrows. Ooof her can carry an awful lot! Made Timo really happy.

So anywho... after Intet found me in Starberks, we decided to go for a walk It didn't start off so well... we ran into some bandits and had to come back to the outpost and ask Tish for help. But we set out again and quickly got lost in the sands. We came upon a pretty oasis, turned out to be not so pretty. Found one of those tendril plants in the middle of it. I had fallen asleep, so Intet wound up taking care of it himself, his magics are really getting stronger. While we were deciding what to do next, the cutest puppy came up. He danced around us barking, I offered him some fried swarmer as a snack, the poor little fellow was starving. After showing some initial hesitation, Intet warmed up to him too. He was such a rambunctious little pup and barked so much, I decided we would call him Barky... the little guy seemed to really like it he wagged his tail and ran around all excited like. Intent thought that we needed to thing of a new name, but I think he eventually agreed with me that Barky was perfect. So, Barky joined us on our walk and we continued to wander the lost sands. We did have to rescue Barky when he fell into a pit that was full of, I can only assume by the webs, spiders. Intet carried him out. Barky was so cute when we found a swarmer pit... he rounded them up so that it was easier to protect ourselves. Then we came to the section of the sands full of bugs.. beetle types, but much stronger than the ones near the outpost. It was soon apparent that we would be overcome if we didn't move fast..... I was healing and healing, but for every bite that was healed three more came. Then the most amazing thing... Barky started to get the bugs attention, he herded them away from us so that we could escape! We ran away, I heard Barky barking in the distance, but I didn't dare go after him, that would be certain death. After that, we fell into the murky chasm. I said prayers that made the Zombies explode... Intet set them on fire...(his magic grows stronger ever day) we climbed out, I think we were near the outpost... more bandits... Oh Monolith, I really hate bandits. Intet was felled, so I prayed for invisibility with the last of my strength (I was pretty banged up too) and prayed that Monolith bring us home. Tish patched up Intet and I went to pray, thanking Monolith for brings us home safely and that Barky was ok.

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 31

BARKY IS SAFE!!

I am so happy... I was sitting by the fire and I heard something off in the distance. I got up to investigate, but so did Renolin, Elidor and Keaira... Just outside the gate there he was. Barky danced in the little circles of excitement that he does. Yipping and Yapping... I was so happy to see him. But Renolin was scared of him. He's too little to be ascared of! Anyhow, she shot him with an arrow or two and bit her then ran off into the sands. I told her that I would probably bite her too if she shot me with one of her arrows. I couldn't follow his trail... the sands kicked up over the path that he had taken. I couldn't put into words that Barky was the first person I had a happy bond with, who didn't care if my words came out in jibberish, who protected me unconditionally. She only know the bits and pieces that I've told her... Right now, so much is going on that Barky was truly a bright spot in my life.

So then it started raining marmalade, then acid.. then a dead cow appeared on Monolith which was then blown up by lightning... very strange... But the bright spot was that Barky came back. he jumped up into my arms and I petted him and soothed him and gave him swarmer snacks. A kitty came to the out post too.... Ori bonded with it and named it killer. (Barky was terrified of Killer) . Curu woke up from his nap and decided that Barky was just a puppy, nothing more. Curu talked (?) to Barky, he came from a home with a white fence... the poor little thing is stuck on this layer like the rest of us... Curu offered to take care of Barky and promised to bring him to the outpost often for visits.

After a bit, Elidor suggested a trip to Pain, so Ori changed clothes, I did too, Amanya came and so did Iria the girl who thinks that shes trapped in a dream... but thats another story dear Journal, I need to go pray for a bit.

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 32

Why in the heck do I bother trying to disguise myself going to the Bastion.... those that care can see right through the disguise.

The proposition that was offered is a trick... I know that in my heart, but there is a little girl at stake.... on the other hand... my whole existence... Monolith is at stake too. The choice that I face will either affect only a few, or many hundreds. He has offered to bring 1000 followers to Monolith... in exchange to be my deal broker and church builder. In my heart I'm fearful of what he will do to my religion, he doesn't believe in Monolith, but he wants me to name him High Priest... he says that as a leader he doesn't need to believe... I am so inclined to turn him down outright... the religion of Monolith will grow on its own... it has... but he holds the life of the little girl in his hands. He showed my companion a ring, but gave us no other proof that she is alive and well.... I fear that he is just another slave trader and that he wants to use the power of Monolith to his own ends... To me Monolith is a symbol of life and healing and freedom... I came back to the outpost and started praying for guidance... I've made a promise to myself to survive on my prayers alone until I have come to a solution that will satisfy my soul and my conscience...

I see now that I can not survive in this place without pissing people off. I don't wish to be hunted for the rest of my existence, nor do I wish to live with myself if my actions will cost the life of a little girl. My companion is under the assumption that if false worshipers come to Monolith that they will be smited or struck down. I would really like to believe that.... but I have never seen Monolith NOT heal someone that came to Monolith for healing. Its not that I don't want to see new worshipers... but I'd rather see them come to Monolith because their heart calls them, not because some awful mean person told them to because he had the power to do so. I wish I knew how to really put my feelings into words... He that wants me to make this deal he struck a note of fear in my heart...

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

*Syclya sits on top of the gate, looking down at the Starberks on her right and out on the plains to her left. Leaning against the wall he take out her journal and writes. Those who know her might notice that her eyes seem to reflect happiness that hasn't been seen in them in quite a while8

Entry 33

It seems like forever since I've written dear journal, perhaps it has been, but in reality, its only been a couple of days. Theres been much going through my mind and I've kindof needed to sort it out for a bit, before bringing it to life in my words.

I should start with Killer... the little cat thats been hanging around the outpost...Somehow it doesn't surprise me that he wasn't what he seemed. Turns out that he's a wyrmling who was turned into a cat by the same hag who cursed Tinto... Killer let us to where she lived (Elidor, Ori and Green Beard) Sure enough, it was the same hag...she was able to direct us where to look for the next piece of the dinnerware set... If we managed to succeed she would turn Killer back into a dragon... (Turns out his actual name is Iskradeth). We followed her directions through the lost plains and found the portal. Stepping through it, we found ourselves in a village frozen in time. Champions of Torm were frozen in battle with a tribe of bandits. we passed all of them and found the bandit leader... Green Beard had the wonderful idea of disarming the bandits nearest us... we pulled their weapons from their grip and then time seemed to unfreeze... we were quickly attacked, but with some of our attackers (by no means all of them) using their bare hands we eventually succeeded in thwarting their attacks. Poor Green Beard was felled, Ori carefully picked up his body and Elidor managed to retrieve the plate. All of the sudden the world around us started to crumble... we had to swim back to the portal... and at first,I thought I wouldn't make it... the water tried sucking me in... I fought the water and kicked out and eventually was able to swim across and dive through the portal before it closed. We came out and there she was... that hag... since we retrieved the plate, she had to keep her word and release Iskradeth from being trapped in a cats body. We still need to find the rest of the set to be truly free of her... I took Green Beard from Ori and asked Monolith to return me to the Outpost. Between Monolith and Tish, Green Beard was returned to his self ..he went off to the garden for a much needed rest.

I prayed for a bit and I saw that Ori and Elidor returned safely. I went back to my prayers and when I next looked up... there was Zyon... his clothes were in rags, covered in dirt but he was alive! I let out a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding in.... I have been so worried about him, then there was that odd letter... I wasn't sure if he was really ok or not. I hugged him and we went to the garden to talk. Keaira followed us, but that was a good thing as it turns out. She was able to translate what I was saying to him. Turns out though, he was under a similar curse... well similar in that it was from the same person at least... Something in his curse prevented him of talking about the demon at all without being put in excruciating pain. He has learned a new technique to calm himself. He chants now, it's actually a very pretty sounding chant. Keaira left us and we spoke for a bit... I payed some healing prayers over him and went out to thank Monolith that he was ok. After he cleaned up a bit, he came out and joined us at Monolith.

A hunter of sorts came into the post for Talva... they disappeared in a cloud of darkness. Not long after the fey that had promised to look for information for Keaira showed up. She had found where the ritual was being held and she led us there....

We followed her to the shadow plane where we were met with much resistance. At one time or another I think all of us were knocked out by the fierce warriors protecting the ritual. With a great deal of assistance from Xaoca's followers we were able to get to where the ritual was being held. Even now, I'm not sure exactly how we did it, but we were able to stop the ritual. All I remember was shoot a quiver of arrows, heal as much as I could.. reload and repeat.... I prayed a lot, I know that... I called on Monolith and prayed all my prayers... as I already wrote, we won. We found Xaoca at the bottom of what I can only guess would be an ancient fighting ring, built of stone sunk into the earth. Once we reached her the magic that seemed to be holding her faded, I helped her up and noticed that Talva was lying at the bottom as well. I guess that Elidor carried her up... Xaoca casted a spell that destroyed the rest of the people in the pit.

Afterwards, she called each of us forward. From Zyon, she removed the curse of the Fiend and removed his taint from something that Zyon held. She released Raist from his curse as well, and took his skin from Talva and returned him to wholeness (err, well however whole a shadling can be), to Curu she granted strength, to Keaira she gave a wand, and to me she gave her memories and lifted my curse.... I can speak normally again. Elidor got Talva.
Then the ground seemed to swell up around us and we were back at Monolith. I wandered off to have a long talk with Zyon. It was really good to have my best friend back ... I hadn't realized how much I missed him, between being wary of him because I knew of the fiend to him being missing for so long... we had a good long talk and made up. Thank Monolith that my mate and I are reunited.

I'm still pondering Xaoca's memories, perhaps I'll share them with you someday journal, but for now, I wish to savor them a little longer, but I will tell you that she has led an amazing existence. I should return to my prayers now, theres still that other matter that I should worry about....

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 34

I've been wandering the mountains more and more... they seem to be calling me. I went for a walk with Intet and showed him my meditation spot away from Monolith at the top of the waterfall. We met all sorts of creatures.... big black wolfs and worgs and goblins, yet at the same time we found breathtaking sights. Theres one river that we found up there that seemed to burn like acid does.. I guess thats an area that needs to be explored further. On the cliffs where the wind and storms attack... into a tree and finding slugs that are so desperate for food that they eat the lesser ones.

Up there exploring last night... I peeked into the bandit cave... the door inside was wide open and the trap was gone. I prayed to Monolith for invisibility and followed the signs of fighting that I heard from inside. I found Tinto and Oriel fighting a vrock.... knowing from past experiences that my arrows can't hit it, I healed them to the best of my ability so that they could continue to defeat it. Studying the others that are good at opening stuck lock, I've learned a trick or two and was able to help unlock the prison cells and help set the captives free. We continued on.... there was one spot where I couldn't run back and shoot arrows fast enough... Tinto was able to heal me before something too bad happened. Ori did fall to a band of the fighters that ganged up on her.... Thank Monolith tho, I found some scrolls and was able to help her back to her feet. We continued on our way... The mage was dispatched, they said that Keaira had been there before us and weakened her. Pressing on.... with mind protections and elemental shields in place... we went to the dragon... The others were able to slay her, while I kept her busy picking arrows out. Freed a couple of more slaves, found some awful spiders and then we headed back to the outpost.

We were chatting and Xaoca and the Drowned one came up in conversation.... Tintos swarm went all haywire... first coming towards me, then Ori then towards Keaira... they backed off of us and went for Billy... well the outpost guards put a stop to that. Tinto was felled. Ori took him into the Temple and prayed for a bit to no avail... (I guess Torm doesn't care for Tinto much) Then I tried... with Monolith's blessings we were able to revive him. (Somehow, I'm pretty sure that he wasn't too happy about that.... He didn't come out and say so... just a feeling that I have).

I returned to my prayers for the evening, and something stuck a chord in me.... I have to work a bit more at being sneaky, because sometimes running just isn't enough... perhaps as my prayers grow in strength I will learn more about hiding... just a thought, I don't know where this one will lead me... but I won't find out unless I practice at it.

Back to my prayers now.... I still have that man in Pain to think about...

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 35

How strange it is ... to have gone from no memories to being flooded with memories.... many of them not my own. She granted me only the memories that she chose to share.... but, with a life that so far has spanned a few melennia, thats still a lot.

I've found myself getting lost in them.... turning them over and over in my mind, savoring them, sometimes it seems that I get so lost in them that they overtake me. I wish I knew how to describe it. I've come to crave them tho, I've learned so much, and I just see myself soaking up more of the wisdom that I gain from them.

I heard the fiend last night in the outpost.... I never saw him, but I'm sure that somehow he possessed Billy... fireballs... not a nice spell...

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 36

The memories sometimes are so overpowering, they take me over and I'm not so sure what to do about it. It's strange.... when the archer or the dwarf take over... I seem to have memories of myself, I'm not so sure how to describe it.

Poor Billy has been kidnapped by the fiend. Trapped in a gem. The Cursed Billy has been out to toss fireballs around and even to summon his mum from hell. (the Fiend is still a wee bit upset with me, for my role in foiling his plans over that book and getting Zyon and Raist out of his curses).

Rutterkin Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 81

Entry 37

Things have been quiet of late. I really need to work on my turning prayers. Tinto asked me to accompany him hunting at some tower up in the mountains. The undead there are very, very strong... Monoliths blessings don't even seem to scare the undead up there. Speaking of Tinto, he has been odder than usual of late, muttering to himself, almost as if he's arguing with himself, or with his swarm. The swarm goes haywire whenever I heal him in battle. I'm not so sure what to think about that. I payed to Monolith to aid him in finding guidance with whatever is vexing his conscious, we'll see what happens with that.

I've been exploring the mountain some more... I'm starting to fell that I can find my way around up there now.