Journal Entry — 07 Jevar’Kiev 174 — Big Sticks & Boogie Men
By Nyneva
“As I sit here, upon a bluff, encamping for the night, I shall write a few notes to remember the near death experience and the healing powers bestowed by great Benyar to me, that allowed us to live to tell the tale.” Nyneva announced to her companions, Fletch and Sondra.
Earlier that day, the three, along with the feisty Doreen, had set out to do a little scouting about and to see if they could find the road less travelled.
“We came to the ogre cave from which we had earlier looted and killed ogres and bears and remembered the path nearby which we had not followed. This time, we decided it was a good idea. In order to be quick about it, we took our animals, and Kailan’s horse, Nick looked like he wanted a walk as well. Since Kailan was still healing from the last bout or whatever that lazy fellow does, we thought we’d exercise his horse for him as good companions are wont to do.”
Nyneva looked up at the sky and over towards Sondra who’s breathing was belabored. She stopped to make her companion more comfortable, giving her some cool water which she had bade Doaks to bring. They had been through a lot together that day. Skeletons, Mummies, Naked stone women, a spikey trap, near drowning and invisible water eels.
“We came upon a cave and into it, Sondra and I walked. Except that it was not a cave but something pretending to be and into its damp and squelchy mouth we had walked. I had managed to get out before the maw closed but Sondra did not and we three, Fletch, Doreen and I, killed it dead barely in time to free her. There had been a less fortunate soul inside who had some nifty stuff which we shared among ourselves and even Doreen for she was brave and worthy. Benyar is guiding her, I feel that she will prove her worth.We took parts of the cave chameleon for magical items use later.
Leaving Doreen outside of the cave to stay with the animals we went inside and mapped the mine. There was nary a thing to be found but dead ends. Until we came upon a poor unfortunate soul, long dead, who was hung to the side of the cave by a shiny spear. While the skeleton was brittle, this spear was looking untarnished and beautiful. I took it for my own, knowing that it was a gift from Benyar to me.
We moved further until we came to a wall broken down and what appeared to be a burial chamber. We have since found that it was the antechamber and once we set foot inside, three skeletons rose from the three sarcophagi. Benyar turned two and we managed to make the last one useless enough to never rise again. Making our way to the door, we opened it and went through but were too careless and fell into a trap. Luckily, we had good reflexes and were not terribly harmed. Making a bridge from wood we had discovered earlier, we traversed the trap easily and moved down towards what was the most fascinating experience we have had since we came together.”
The sun was beginning to set and Nyneva quickened her pace of writing as she was becoming sleepy herself. She checked on Fletch and found him snoring happily.
“The next part went so quickly it is hard to remember the order of things. There was so much that went on and the three of us came together so well in battle it was as though we were three fingers but one glove: the Gauntlet of Benyar.
We first came upon two statues each in an alcove across from each other, each are named: Truth and Anger. It was then that I remembered that I had made no will. This time, we checked for traps. There were an endless stream of darts which we discovered were about knee high. Eventually, we would have to get the wood we used for the bridge to cover them but that comes later. For now we crawl under the trap and get to a large stone sarcophagus. At this point, we reckoned it was a fair bet this fellow had been pretty important if there had been guardians and such.
When we got the heavy and I do mean HEAVY cover off, everything happened at once. Or at least it seemed to feel that way. First we heard a miserably loud thud which we knew closed off our escape. Then, the stones in the hallway suddenly sprouted naked women and so did the stone from the sarcophagus lid. Three guardian golems of some sort, I guess, which was fine for me but Fletch can’t seem to keep his JohnThomas tamed and is easily distracted. Each of us took our shots and though I nearly had the last one under control, Sondra had to step in for the final kill. Most of the time, I appreciate Sondra’s skills, this time I wasn’t so happy. I was so close to having done it all myself.
To reward me, she later had me put myself in peril to save her. But I’m skipping around.”
The distant setting sun highlighted the horizon in shades of purples and orange, somewhat, thought Nyneva ruefully, the bruises she’d sustained that nobody but herself could heal.
“It was at that point or something near it that we decided we’d about had enough and I was then convinced that we then had to retrieve the gold. Oh yes, there was gold. In the sarcophagus was laying gold coins about the remains. The remains itself, of some long and revered ruler of the region, wore a toque and two bracers of gold. I was reluctant to remove them, but the others were convinced we would get a great reward and so we did remove the bracers. I refused to remove the torque but again, I was convinced that it was not dishonorable to rob a grave. This last bit of greed was our undoing as there was suddenly the sound of water, which we took to be coming from the trap.”
And then it got weird, she thought to herself, but then when doesn’t it?
“Fletch devised the plan to which is simple. We use Sonya’s silk rope, which we have managed through some very tricky manouvering that went something like this: go back, get wood, put over dart holes, stand under grate and shoot arrow up with silk rope tied to the end of it…one end of the rope is now tied to the grate the other is looped around the tree and then thrown back down for us to heave the grate away from the edge which we manage with a great deal of difficulty..and all while the water begins to rise. As we had already contacted Doakes, he was there when we needed him, guided quickly by me with the help of Benyar and clear thinking.
As the water begins to fill the sarcophagus, another click is heard. We cannot see what happens until Sondra gets bitten. Then, it became a race to get out. Sondra refused, though she was nearly dead from her injuries, to go up after Fletch. I had barely been hurt during this battle so I was the logical choice to go last. This did not happen. When I got to the top, I had to go back down again, heal Sondra, tie the rope around her and stay to be bitten until we could get her up ahead of me.
And then we were free… on the top of a bluff with no way to get down. This is where I sit, telling my tale on this paper and now I must sleep for tomorrow will present new challenges.”
Nyneva put the stylus and slightly soggy paper back into her backpack and leaned back, covering herself with the bedroll and blanket that Dumbarton had brought for them. She looked up at the stars and sighed thinking to herself that perhaps in another life she will be in charge of a great star ship in a magnificent star fleet and with that bit of fancy flight she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
