15th Day of Harkan Moon

This group of strangers has made my life particularly difficult.

Time is moving too fast for me to process. And this sapling in my arm impedes my thoughts. I had made that deal with that Ancient Oak, but I did not anticipate that the spore it gave me would be so invasive.

I hardly have had time to think about it.

The lake, the lake was strange and cold. It seems so long ago now. I do not fully understand what happened there. Tron did not like. The others were affected by some strange power source. But then we moved on. Even faster.

Up to the mountain, to the top, to the Old Oak.

I did not realise I was in the presence of such old power. I could feel it resonating with the natural world, but I did not know. When I cut the bark from its side it reacted in a way, I didn’t think possible. It attacked with a greater force than I thought something so slow could. Those shambling piles of vegetation were out for my blood.

I must never underestimate the old.

I gave it back some of my skin. The flesh of my flesh. And it gave me this… sapling. Looking at it now. It is alive. Thinking, sensing perhaps. But alive I can feel it inside my mind at times, I suppose it is not alone in there. Its short stem and single leaf are subtle and move easily, independently. It will even move to avoid my touch. Perhaps I will learn to communicate with it so that it can hug close to my skin when needed. Or maybe, one is of a benefit to me.

I need time to study it.

The things that happened under the tree I cannot understand. A cult, perhaps. But. To who? They bore the symbol of V. But he did not have worshipers…

Then, this ancient horror inside my mind. He was here too. In some form.

Many things to contemplate, but not now. For now. I must rest.

And examine the new samples I have collected. I would like to practice alchemy, I think. I am sure that Owl Bear eyes can be used for something.

11th Day of Harkan Moon

As was suspected the mountain was treacherous. The storm came in fast. Even Tron struggled against the wind. Had I not found a small alcove covered by the snow we would have frozen.

They had blue lips. All of them. They were going to die out there but fire and a little mental persuasion kept them going. They were willing to give up some of their most useful items to burn to keep the fire going, hardy folk. Huddled in the small cave we spent the night in close proximity. Watching torches and oil-soaked ropes burn.

We should carry some wood for burning.

Last night I thought we would die. But, by sunrise, the storm had passed and the crisp clear air gave us an unclouded view of The Valley below. From up there, it looked peaceful, calming, an almost adventurous place for us to explore. The Glass Lake glistened so, I am sure we could have seen our reflections in it. On the far side of the lake lay The Dark Wood, an ominous smear in the freshly dropped snow.

The march down was quick. Even The Girl had a spring in her step. The sun can bring positive energy

But the Lake changed that. As we stood on the shore it gave an eerie presence. A power beneath the surface. Tron did not like it. He said he heard screams and horrific sounds coming from below but Tron is a monster. His perceptions can be distorted. The Bird and The God Botherer heard something different. Some loving memory from their past.

I do not like this.

We have camped in from lakes shoreline amongst the trees. The others can still hear to the lake calling them to it. Like moths to a flame.

Trondryll wants me to call him Tron. He is very strange. He has still not shown me his true form.

Very strange.

The emblem on the cultists carry still eludes me and The Little One continues to cook in his own pot. And not offer his food.

The night is dark and I have the late watch.

9th Day of Harkan Moon

It's a spider and crow and it still hasn't shown itself to me.

They left Sharbles at the inn a week ago and brought The Girl and her Parent with us. This is good. Escorting Sharbles would have bored me. Now, we hunt cultists that seem to be followers of a blood drinker. They attacked the inn, Dabney, to get The Girl for sacrifice to the Red Moon. This Red Moon troubles me. The Old One, He has spoken of this but I do not recall what it is.

The God Botherer gave a medallion he took from one of the cultists, it is intriguing.

It looks like primitive ideation of a blood drinker. These cultists think that a vampyre is something to be worshipped, a god perhaps. Humans are so weak, they will give their lives over to anything more powerful than are without consideration of what their new overlord will do. Not understanding the full extent a vampyre's capability, what it is that vampyres actually do, that the vampyre is a beast and it needs to be destroyed.

I know the emblem on this medallion but I cannot put my finger on what it is or where it is from. Read in an old book, perhaps. Or one of my old master's coven? That would be most beneficial.

I need a library.

My new companions have not yet mentioned my new follower however, I am sure The Bird has picked up on its presence.  Trondryll talks constantly into my mind. If he is not anxious he is angry. He is here to help, apparently, but will not tell me why he has been sent to me. He is mad, but I believe he will become quite the ally in my journey.

Tomorrow, we climb Eagles Peak in search of the cultists. The mountain is covered in ice and a storm approaches. We are working off of a crudely drawn map, headed for Devil's Mouth. A hole in the side of a mountain on the other side of The Valley. If only they had kept one alive. I could have interrogated it and found where they are from and what his emblem. For all their lawful actions I believe their lust for murder outweighs they hunger for knowledge. I suppose having a squad of killers is not all bad.

I fear for The Girl and her Parent. This mountain will be treacherous and the Valley is said to be filled with strangeness. The Parent carries a spear but I am sure he does not know how to use it. He will be a hindrance, not a help. I am sure The God Botherer and The Bird will not let harm come to The Girl or her Parent. I will focus on this cult.

Still yet to eat The Little One's food.

3rd Day of the Harkan Moon

The night was cold, but the inn was warm. The beer was good. Tasted good. Felt good. Too much beer.

My head hurts.

It's watching me.

He sent this creature to me. To aid me. But there will be a trade-off. There is always a trade-off with Him. He will ask me to do something. But that is fine.

It's fine.

It's watching me while I write, I'm sure.

It said its name is Trondryll. It hasn't shown itself to me yet. But has asked lots of questions. Said It used to live in the hells. Then It's creator made a deal with Him. Now It's here to help me. I will be cautious.

I will not introduce It to my new companions, yet. My new companions are serious. And strange.

The God Botherer is unrelenting. He will be difficult to friend. He is strong in body and in faith. But his judgement of law blinds him to the possibilities that exist. However, he is powerful. Whatever new god he follows gives him great potency. He will be an ally. The undead destroyer.

The Little One is quiet. But deadly. He watches. Everything.

The Bird is brave. Disciplined. They have an inner strength that seems unnatural yet I feel no strangeness about it. Trained and in control. She will be the fist of fury to aid in the slaughter of the blood drinkers. However, she does seem young, like me.

I have been on the road a long time since I left Carnparlel. Alone. Alone for a long time. These companions are difficult for me. But they are also good. I do enjoy their talk and banter. I want to eat The Little One's food. He cooks from his own pot, every night.

My head is sore. I drank too much. I do this when I am nervous. And in a strange place. Lord Sharbles was here when we arrived. They say they must escort him. This does not interest me. He is like the master and his friends. Rich and does not understand what he is doing.

He irritated me. I do not wish to escort him. But he is why they are here. Perhaps when I go out there they will have something else for us to do. For Sharbles will be no fun.

My head still hurts.

I think It has moved.

The dreams I had last night were challenging. They seemed to last for an age. I saw a huge tree that glowed with a purple light. It hung over a cliff face. As I approached it began to fade until the tree was completely gone and I could look out over the edge. Looking down I saw waves crashing violently against the rocks below. Looking ahead, a vast ocean with immense waves that writhed with life. Serpents and water beasts broke the surface revealing their monstrous slimy forms. Then He rose from the depths. Hundreds of chains above the water. His wings stretching out blocking the sun, casting a shadow over the ocean. His tentacled maw spoke to me. Words I know that I know already but I could not understand what I head. Yet, in my mind they made sense. They were a promise of power and a reminder of repayment. Those words were streaming forward into my mind as he rose and the shadow crept towards me. The darkness of the shadow moved ever faster. My heart began to race. I woke with a bellowing scream when the shadow reached me. My scream was filled with the lightning force of my ancestors.

I burned the roof.

My head still hurts.

There is a black spider crawling up my leg.

The Journals of Kedror the Black

What follows are the journal entries of Kedror the Black's fouth diary.

Kedror, a black scaled dragonborn, hunts for his former master. A vampire.

He has made a deal with a powerful entity in order to reach his goal. However, madness and illness of mind has begun to settle over him. This madness will not be the only cost of the deal he has made.

Kedror's previous journals have yet to be recovered.

What is known of his life before these entries can be pieced together from this journal but it is fragmented and difficult comprehend. But it appears that he was a slave and served for a wealthy vampire in his early years until that vampire disappeared. Leaving the castle in disarray. Somewhere between the vampire leaving and this journal he made his deal.

His madness becomes sickening as this journal continues.

Please read with care.