The beggining - El Inicio
El húmedo bosque de las afueras de la ciudad libre de Calistenia fue testigo de su primera evocación. Bajo la espesura de su follaje alzó sus manos y pronunció aquellas palabras prohibidas por su instructor. La violácea fosforescencia se desprendió de sus manos con violencia. El poder fluyó sin control y lo expulsó hacia atrás con fuerza, arrastrándolo por el pedregoso suelo hasta una pequeña elevación del terreno. Lo desmayó el golpe antes de que la fosforescencia en sus manos se disipara, en el delirio producto de la contusión un resplandor se fijó en sus ojos. La niebla del bosque se espesó y una leve lluvia irrumpió en el ambiente. Luces azuladas se elevaron al cielo, ahora oscuro, y se posaron cual estrellas. Su visión se agudizó y proyectó sobre el bosque, atravesó las montañas y fue más allá de la cascada de plata. Vió los árboles del jardín de luz. Vió las musas de las artes. Vio la montaña invertida coronada con la diana de plata. Vió su rostro.
La Promesa
El camino oscuro sobre los márgenes del corazón del mundo tomó muchas vidas de la compañía que hace meses escapó de Hasti Laatus. Seres oscuros y desafíos propios de la caverna profunda obstaculizaron el camino hacia la promesa. Sin conocer el rumbo, el descontento comenzaba a cundir entre el grupo. Las drapas de Orgald trataban de sostener la moral pero contra el hambre y la fatiga la tarea era por demás difícil. La oscuridad le susurraba a cada uno de ellos, sus vientos de desesperación los encerraban. Los roces no tardaron en llegar y junto con ellos las preguntas asomaron: “¿Por qué accedimos a esta promesa? ¿Por qué no nos quedamos en el templo de Kidris?”
En uno de los infinitos túneles o caminos de las profundidades, el grupo se encontró caminando sobre un pequeño río, hacia alguna dirección. El paisaje de rocas, tierra y corrientes húmedas no ayudaba a luchar contra las semillas de odio que la oscuridad trataba de instalar en sus mentes y corazones.
//Creo, que fueron nuestros corazones los que nos mantuvieron con firmeza. Nuestra mente ya estaba en sus últimos momentos// - confió Ganric tiempo después.
En el momento de mayor desesperación, el joven Derwick interrumpió las mentes de sus compañeros. ¡Miren! – Exclamó. Y señaló el lado izquierdo del camino. Ganric, ganó en iniciativa y se acercó. Ya sin luchar contra el campo antimagia, pudo aumentar la intensidad de su luz mágica con facilidad. Subió sobre unas rocas y estiró su mano y la pasó sobre la piedra debido a que unos pequeños puntos de brillo muy tenue le llamaron la atención. El hallazgo iluminó la cara de todos. La esperanza incluso en el corazón más oscuro floreció. Glodin, se adelantó junto a Garnic. ¡Como no pude verlo! – confesó arrodillandose. Rezó a sus dioses mirando hacia arriba. Rezó a Altiof.
Mientras tanto Ganric conjuró un viento débil para correr la tierra que cubría la extraña figura, el reflejo de la luz inundó de inmediato el pequeño espacio y todos pudieron apreciar de igual forma aquello que se presentó ante ellos. De color negro carbonífero y vetas marrones y rojizas un enano guardián inmóvil se erguía ante el grupo confundiéndose con la piedra. La estatua del enano guerrero yacía indemne. En sus manos tenía un hacha de batalla y a sus pies como una prolongación de la propia caverna un escudo de oro que reflejaba la luz de Ganric. La erosión de la caverna no había podido mellar el trabajo enano. La barba y el rudo aspecto de la estatua se conservaban como si el mismo Altiof hubiese solicitado hacerla ese día. La mirada del enano parecía clavarse en los ojos de Yuser. Esta se adelantó y puso una mano sobre el hombro de Glodin. Con lágrimas en los ojos miró a todos y dijo: “¡Este es un guardián de las puertas enanas, Torfat Escudo de Oro. Por aquí es el camino que nos llevará a Glorkral!”.
Yuser, dijo Sigfrid, en honor a mis maestros, te reafirmo mi promesa. Liberaremos a Glorkral de la maldición.
¡No esperemos más entonces! ¡Agradezcamos a nuestros dioses esta brillante señal! Y encaminemos a cumplir la promesa realizada. Así dijo Glodín poniéndose de pie y omando la mano de Yuser subieron las escaleras que protegía el enano.
Los paladines hablaron de la gesta que estaban por realizar infundiendo ánimo en sus compañeros. La esperanza los envolvió a todos a medida que subían las escaleras que protegía el enano con su escudo brillante. Incluso Ceredan se permitió disfrutar de esa emoción. Y en su interior agradeció al enano de escudo de oro por darles otra oportunidad. Y se repitió para sus adentros. “Quizá pueda tener otra oportunidad. Otro camino. Otra oportunidad. ¡Si!”. Y con una sonrisa en su rostro dijo “gracias” en palabras arcanas cuando pasó cerca de la estatua. Ralminiarrak lo escuchó. Comprendió, se acercó y le dijo: “Ceredan, creo que se me ocurrió como cocinar el murciélago de caverna de otra forma, me parece que en vez de poner ese polvo de musgos cuando está hirviendo debería probar….”. Ceredan lo miró, y pensó “otra oportunidad para mí”, le sonrió y por primera vez lo escuchó. Ganric fue el último en subir. Y con él se fue la luz.
El escudo siguió brillando.
The dark path over the fringes of the heart of the world took many lives from the company that escaped from Hasti Laatus months ago. Dark beings and challenges from the deep cavern stood in the way of the promise. Without knowing the course, discontent began to spread among the group. Orgald's drapes tried to maintain morale but against hunger and fatigue the task was extremely difficult. The darkness whispered to each of them, its winds of despair enclosing them. The frictions were not long in coming and along with them the questions arose: “Why did we agree to this promise? Why don't we stay at the Kidris temple?"In one of the endless tunnels or paths of the deep, the group found themselves walking over a small river, heading in some direction. The landscape of rocks, dirt, and wet streams didn't help fight the seeds of hatred that the dark tried to plant in their minds and hearts.//I think, it was our hearts that kept us strong. Our mind was already in its last moments// - Ganric confided some time later.
In the moment of greatest despair, young Derwick interrupted the minds of his companions. Look! – He exclaimed. And he pointed to the left side of the road. Ganric, gained initiative and approached. No longer fighting the anti-magic field, he was able to increase the intensity of his magic light with ease. He climbed over some rocks and reached out his hand and passed it over the stone because a few small points of very faint brightness caught his attention. The discovery lit up everyone's face. Hope even in the darkest heart blossomed. Glodin stepped forward beside Garnic. How could I not see it! – He confessed kneeling down. He prayed to the gods of him looking up. He prayed to Altiof.
Meanwhile Ganric conjured a weak wind to blow away the earth that covered the strange figure, the reflection of the light immediately flooded the small space and everyone could appreciate what was presented to them in the same way. Carboniferous black in color with brown and reddish streaks, a motionless guardian dwarf stood before the group, blending into the stone. The statue of the dwarf warrior lay unscathed. In his hands was a battle ax and at his feet, like an extension of the cavern itself, a golden shield that reflected Ganric's light. The erosion of the cavern had not been able to dent the dwarven work. The statue's beard and rough appearance were preserved as if Altiof himself had requested to make it that day. The dwarf's gaze seemed to lock onto Yuser's eyes. This she stepped forward and put a hand on Glodin's shoulder. With tears in her eyes she looked at everyone and said, "This is a dwarven gatekeeper, Torfat Goldshield. This is the path that will lead us to Glorkral!"
- Yuser, Sigfrid said, in honor of my teachers, I reaffirm my promise to you. We will free Glorkral from the curse.
- Let's not wait any longer then! Let us thank our gods for this brilliant sign! And let's move to fulfill the promise made. So said Glodin, standing up and holding Yuser's hand, they went up the stairs that the dwarf protected.
The paladins spoke of the feat they were about to accomplish, inspiring encouragement in their companions. Hope enveloped them all as they climbed the stairs that the dwarf protected with his glowing shield. Even Ceredan allowed himself to bask in that excitement. And inside of him he thanked the gold-shielded dwarf for giving them another chance. And he repeated to himself. “Maybe he can get another chance. Another way. Another chance. Yes!". And with a smile on his face he said "thank you" in arcane words as he passed by the statue. Ralminiarrak listened to him. He understood, approached her and said: "Ceredan, I think it occurred to me how to cook the cave bat in another way, it seems to me that instead of putting that moss powder when it is boiling I should try...". Ceredan looked at him, and thought “another chance for me”, she smiled at him and for the first time she heard him. Ganric was the last to go up. And with him went the light.
The shield continued to glow.
Yuser, dijo Sigfrid, en honor a mis maestros, te reafirmo mi promesa. Liberaremos a Glorkral de la maldición.
¡No esperemos más entonces! ¡Agradezcamos a nuestros dioses esta brillante señal! Y encaminemos a cumplir la promesa realizada. Así dijo Glodín poniéndose de pie y omando la mano de Yuser subieron las escaleras que protegía el enano.
Encuentro con el Imperio de Kas
En el camino de la oscuridad...luchamos contra un grupo de drow de la Casa de Kas. Los integrantes de este grupo llevaban un símbolo de 3 ojos rojos marcado en sus vestimentas. Con ellos, arrastraban a un humanoide.
Combatimos con valor, la Compañía Audaz se impuso. Liberamos al prisionero, su nombre era Ily al tiempo que capturamos - creemos a la sacerdotisa del grupo - Yazraena. Sin saberlo Glodin flaquea en su camino de paladín y comienza a usar para protegerse un escudo con el emblema de Lolth. Ily, cuenta que su morada queda en Ojos de Roca, una ciudad de Tierra de Lagartos, la cual suponemos que queda en dirección oeste, donde se ubicarían las fronteras de los dominios del Imperio de Kas.
Luego de descansar, continuamos por el sinuoso sendero oscuro y nos topamos con Rag-Tag, una especie de halfling que nos lleva a su colonia donde tratamos de hacernos amigos. Ante las habilidades demostradas por el elfo Ralminiarrak, no sólo lo llamaron el Gran Mago, sino que nos pidieron que nos encarguemos de la Tejedora. Al derrotarla y volver, durante las celebraciones, Yazraena con quién había construido una relación Ralmin, envenena a todos los miembros de la comunidad porque los veía como una amenaza. En castigo, realizamos un juicio con el cual se decide dejar a Yazraena encerrada en el laberinto de la tejedora con apenas una daga.
Shevareth
Communication among many members of the Company had improved thanks not only to many days of wandering but due to the contingencies which demanded from them to understand each other. The step to the balcony made them bend over a deep pit, maybe the deepest they had ever seen till then, from the terrace on which they stood they could stare at a couple of platforms that connected each other through its sides thanks to a couple of tiny salient that enabled to resume the walking standing on a small corridor with many old rungs, some of which were natural rock, others, manufacture. They all stared at each other doubtfully, feeling unable to overcome that obstacle. Lighted up by weak torches and longing for the use of magic banned then by the whopping anti-magic field, they did not decide what to do till Nippur, who stepped forward on the salient protrusion. Not everyone could stick his head out and behold the deed the monk was performing and to many, it was undoubtedly better not to do it. Nippur, unminding his step, lost control, slipped, and fell into the void.
The company was petrified for a couple of instants due to the sudden event. Unable to help it, doubts about resuming the march were raised. Debate broke out gradually. Many didn´t feel like facing that kind of obstacle, but the truth is that the fear of holt made them react to face the challenge for days before them was the city of Hasti Laatus whose slave traders were still after them. The following attempt they made with ropes set to prevent them from falling. Slowly they made it from one balcony to another, probing their technique efficiently. Through every single opening they made it hard and with fear, they found arches in passages with diverse inscriptions about past deeds, prayers, or mentions of Raymur. Trying to crack one of them, Dazin activated a trap which explosion cast him into an endless gorge. Another member of the group fell into the jaws of the insatiable abyss. The passages, besides being full of traps, were rustically decorated. In one of the rooms, there were statues of Mereth and Raymur. Other carpets had designs of Raymur and his saint on them. Through one of the lowest balconies, they made out a wide room with many torches. They went across the last balconies dodging many traps and hardships before they decided to enter one of the rooms not overseeing the gadgets they found in their ways such as a font or exorcism representations.
After roaming they made it to an illuminated vast chamber. Walking around the place they found eleven cells from which one of them suggested having been forced. Before they opened it they checked the other side of the room on which there was an altar. To get to it they surrounded a pit in which there was a horrible creature they preferred to avoid. They walked carefully and came to the other corner. An altar to Raymur was there, the god of healing. Doing some research they found a false bottom under one of the altar’s millstones where there were scrolls and books. Many of them were written in what seemed to be an elfish language known as drow. Ralminiarrak read one of the pages to try to understand that unknown language.
Finally, they opened a cell door which to their surprise, was a creature inside. A humanoid figure, three meters tall appeared as long as they approached the torch at the end of the cave. The sulfur smell on the walls was unbearable and among other stinking smells, they turned the room sickening. The pale light let the figure be seen. His narrow and flat face with prominent cheekbones betrayed his nature. It was a devil. His back members, four hands and the front ones like goat legs, were held by what looked like heavy silver chains. But his mouth was free.
-Welcome adventurers- hissed he. With every word, he said some sulfur smell seemed to emerge. Before our sight, he shook his black copper brown hips.
-Who are you?- asked Glodin, while he held his weapon.
-Every question has its price- said the devil with a dark smile that let a sort of mark on his tongue be seen that they weren´t able to identify due to the lack of distance and light.
The need for information that could enable them to know where they were and what to do among other worries, made many decide to enter the cell and talk to the creature, even against all reservations Ralminiarrak had about it when he told everyone regarding the creature´s nature, Logokron´s. Many members of the company, disregarding the warnings, dared to enter the cell and have their own questions answered. Those were Sarali, Bongun, Ceredan, Siegfried and Ralminiarrak. They all left the gathering disturbed, feeling dizzy and about to throw up, except for the wizard who said that despite not having agreed on anything with the devil, his name had been told to him: Shevareth. Bongun, collecting himself took a look at Yuserd and she smiled back at him. – I´m familiar with the path Yuserd, I know how to get to Grokral!- The dwarf lady´s excitement was evident in her damp eyes while she wept tears of joy. Bongun showed everyone which path to take to leave that tunnel´s net.



