The Journal of Fliver - Windling Illusionist

https://earthdawn.forumotion.com/t132-aar-025-return-to-ironbark-kaer-2a

I met several new friends Obogo, Bethor, and Zalph in Tent City outside of Travar. Obogo had recently been to the Servos Jungle where various Adepts have been keeping an eye upon a giant Ironwood tree that they think might be a functioning windling kaer. They think the kaer might be under the influence of a horror, as the last group that was there communicated with a mute windling who said she was this years sacrifice to be cast out of the kaer. I did some research and believe the kaer might be suffering under the attentions of a Dispairthought, a terrible horror which delights is suffering.

We resolved to scout the area around the kaer and see if we could locate the horrors lair. We traveled to the Servos Jungle and made our way to the Ironbark tree. It was surrounded by Kue which we were informed have been known to attack anybody who got too near the kaer. Using the tree as a base, we started a search pattern. The search was dangerous and we were set upon by a creature called a Pangolus and several poisonous snakes. Obogo got pretty banged up. Next we walked right into the web of a giant spider. This time Bethor got pretty banged up, and was indeed near death. We had to rest for several hours after that fight.

We continued to explore, looking for the lair, and found a likely looking cave just before sunset. I flew up above the canopy of the trees to get a bearing upon the Ironbark tree. The Giant tree was by far the tallest in this section of the forest, raising hundreds of feet higher. The lair was about 2 hours flight NW of the Ironbark. Since it was dark we decided to make camp for the night. Bright and early the next morning we entered the cave and were promptly attacked by krillworms (we had heard them, but assumed they were bats up there). After killing 3 or 4 the rest fled.

Penetrating deeper into the cave we came upon a spectral figure of a windling that seemed to invite us to dance with her. I accepted the challenge, but the the wild and violent moves of the dance quickly over-strained me and I fell to the ground with a severely strained wing. When that happened the others quickly attacked the dancing figure, which turned out to be a fearsome fighter that was very hard to hit since it did not seem to be totally there. However by ganging up upon it we eventually overwhelmed it.

We are now fairly confident that this is the cave that holds the dispairthought, but since we quail at the thought of facing such a horror we decided to go back to town and declare that we have successfully located the lair.

Upon returning to town I trained up to circle two. I also bought a riding goat and saddle. I have named the goat "Nanny" and she gives delicious milk.

https://earthdawn.forumotion.com/t153-aar-027-hunting-the-horror-of-ironbark-kaer

As soon as our last expedition to the Servos brought back word of the location of the suspected Dispairthought lair, Krel An immediately organized an expedition to slay the horror. Moore, Poolate, and myself enthusiastically agreed to accompany him. Moore is a Weaponsmith, with many surprising Versatility talents. Krel An is a Trollish savage warrior Beastmaster, Poolate is a very friendly windling of a minor Discipline I had never heard of called a "Warden". He trains animals. He brought with him a Boar, and a goat named Reginald to do his fighting. I also had my new riding goat "Nanny", but I try to keep her in the back and out of combat. Getting to the jungle and finding the lair again involved difficulties only in navigation. It seems like it was hardly any time at all before we once again stood at the mouth of the cave.

Our previous reconnaissance stood us in good stead, as I was able to warn the others of the Krillworm colony in the outer cavern. Previously we had only slain 3 before the rest fled, and the colony seemed almost back up to full strength already, This time Moore tried to befriend one, but the colony attacked and this time we slew over half, so hopefully the colony will be much slower to recover. They did however do a fair amount of damage to several of us.

We finished exploring the upper level of the caves and found only a shaft leading down. Those who need such things had not brought enough rope to climb down or to lower the animals, so Moore went out and fashioned a crude ladder with which man and beast were able to clamber down. No sooner had we assembled at the bottom of the shaft and ventured forward than we were assaulted by 3 stingers. This was a brutal fight as the stingers were dangerous and had a very deadly poison. Fortunately, the goat Reginald was the only one poisoned, and a swiftly applied poultice saved it's life. It did however require Reginald to retire for the remainder of the day. Only one of the stingers had been slain, the other two were merely driven away.

I had regaled the others of tales of my encounter with the Spectral Dancer in the upper levels of this cavern, so when another spectral dancer appeared, we knew what it was. Poolate decided to dance with it. During the dance he used his Conversation talent to attempt to sooth it's loneliness. He was making good success, but when it looked like he was about to pass out from the rigors of the dance I attempted to cut in, attempting to make an excellent First Impression. I am glad to say I was successful and we laid the poor wracked spirit to rest.

Poolate was almost unconscious, and several others had been very beaten up by the Stingers, so the decision was made to retire from the cave and rest for the night. The rest was successful, except at dawn the next morning we were attacked by a pride of 7 or 8 Troajin. They attacked several of us, but is was our poor goats that took the brunt of the attack. Reginald was rendered unconscious and one started to drag it away. Moore charged the two Troajin that attempted to pounce upon Nanny, and Nanny bolted away at top speed, one of the Troajin in hot pursuit. I was up at the absolute limit of my Ethereal Bolt range shooting down. When there were only two Troajin left alive attacking the camp, I flew off to attack the Troajin chasing Nanny, while Moore, Krel An and Poolate concentrated their attacks upon the beast attempting to drag Reginald away. We sure do love our goats, ignoring the deadly predators that are attacking us in order to reserve our attacks for the ones attacking our mounts.

By the time the Troajin had been dealt with, almost everybody was wounded again. However we ate breakfast, did our karma rituals, and headed back into the kaer. The krilworms were still circumspect of us, and allowed us unmolested passage, however we had to back the stingers a 2nd time. Again they were both driven away without slaying any more of them. By this time we were in little better condition than we had been last night, however we rested only briefly before pressing on.

It was not long past the place where we had encountered the Spectral Dancer the day before that we reached the lair of the Dispairthought. It was an ugly and repulsive creature, and I can not bear to let my mind dwell upon the encounter. Suffice it to say that we slew it. We plan soon to return to the Ironbark Kaer to inform the residents that their long ordeal is over. I am ashamed to say that I felt most ineffective during this mission. My Monstrous mantel spells seemed weak and short-lasting. My Ethereal Bolts puny. I have resolved to learn new spells and increase my talents.