Riders on the Storm

Adventure Journals

Midnight. A time of peace, reflection, and quiet. But I had been having trouble finding that peace. Mostly due to the snores and other strange noises coming from the elf's bed. (Quiet elf my horns!) Any attempt to sleep came to an end with the heavy pounding on our door. My hand automatically reached for Blood Drinker. A messenger from Air Marshal Drimsby -- a merchant galley was coming in late. We were to man our drakkar and escort her into the city.

Within the hour, our group, with Karl and Yorlk, had manned the Tree Skimmer. Along with two other drakkars we sailed into the night. I noticed as we flew the waxing moon in a clear sky -- a good night for a fight. About half an hour later we came upon a sight like none I had ever seen. A stone-hulled ship ringed with lights making its way through the air -- the Obsidian Flyer. The other escorts took up positions on the left and right, while the Tree Skimmer took point above the Flyer. Mica and I stood in the bow, hoping that our night vision would give us some additional warning. THe others took position along the sides.

At first all went well. I even began to hope as I saw the lights of Travar that I would soon be back in bed with only Rensil's snoring to keep me awake. Alas, it was not to be. Of a sudden, both Mica and I noticed, about ten feet in front of the prow and sitting cross legged in the open air, a human form. Then we recognized the glowing red eyes of the "Dream Stalker."

"You do seem to have a knack for showing up when you're least wanted," he said. Mica and Tomas engaged him in talk, but all I could feel was my rage burn bright at this being that had ripped through my mind and resurrected the horrors of my dying village. My mind was filled such with these thoughts that I did not even see Tomas throw an ephemeral bolt at the Dream Stalker. When next I was aware, he was gone and three horror constructs were coming straight at us!

I had expected to attack the creatures with my crossbow (which is why I had practiced with the cussed thing), but the things were having none of that, moving much faster than I had expected. Two peeled off while the third was upon Mica before I could even loose a single bolt. I dropped the crossbow and drew Blood Drinker, striking at the beast. I would have had more effect hacking at a tree! With my next swing I struck at a wing with similar unfavorable results. The creature appeared to be trying to burn Mica, but he's too tough for that. I was told later that Tomas had struck it with several spells not seeming to affect it. Silar was also hitting it with his flaming arrows. Perhaps we did cause it problems as it pulled away and darted from sight under the hull.

I took the brief respite to see what was going on elsewhere. The other two creatures were burning the sails, rigging, and wheelhouse of the Flyer, which appeared to be going down.

My attention snapped back to our ship when I heard a yell from Silar as he stumbled over the side, a rope attached to himself (I later learned he was attempting to swing under our ship to attack the beast). Seconds later, Mica also jumped after him. Dora was, I think, put off by their actions, as she started to pull up on Silar's rope only to hear his yell to leave him be.

Again, I looked around. The other two creatures were still attacking the Flyer, while the beast that had attacked us was not to be seen -- my friends must have been battling it under the hull. I could not allow them to fight unassisted so -- as much as I hated it -- I tied myself off and over the side I went! We three hanging fools tried to drive off the beast, which was burning our hull, with no effect. Before long our hull was aflame, the creature flew off, and we found ourselves under a fast falling ship.

Tomas told me later that at this point Dora grabbed the tiller, yelling at Karl and Yorlk to "Pull those damn fools up" while she brought the ship down in one piece.

The results of our night's adventure: the Obsidian Flyer destroyed with much loss of life, our own ship downed, and the group much banged up. There was no good news.

We all awoke late the next morning (the 24th of Mawag). At breakfast we all spoke, and came to a consensus that we were up against more than we could handle by ourselves. Mica and Rensil decided to search for a Beastmaster, hoping for help from that quarter. Silar went in search of an Elementalist for the same end. Tomas went to the library, and Dora visited the Ambassador. I wondered why three of the four ships lost had belonged to one merchant, Jaliact Merris, a rock brother. I went to learn what I could of this person and his dealings.

That evening at supper we found that we had met with little or nothing to show for the day's efforts. Neither Mica, Rensil, Tomas, or Silar had found any help against the beasts. Dora, on the other hand, seemed set to abandon us, returning to Throal. How I miss the steady Bearclaw. The only plan we could come up with was to explore south of the city, where it seemed the creatures retreated to.

Morning brought a message the Drimsby wanted to speak with us. When we reached his office, he showed us a note from a person calling himself Tyranisis of the Thunder Mountains. The creatures -- called "rakken" -- could be stopped. In an old windling kaer, located in a peak called The Spire, was a book called the Tome of Banishment.

Drimsby wanted us to fetch the book. We would be paid 500 silver, up front 250. Would we go?

With almost no discussion we agreed. I left the office with my silver, went to the market, purchased a new shield, a healing potion, and spent the rest of the day in meditation. My melee skills would need to be honed if I was to weather these next days!

Ulm Curvehorn