555/1/59.
Continuing East, trying to lose our pursuers. In the morning we saw a
scout patrol of Lapador, but they were too far for us to do anything
about. The patrol left and later a Lapador squad of 14 arrived. The
Lapadors wanted to come over and sniff us, to which Tev claimed that it
was the secret Lapador code for a sneak attack, just as he would have
done with his old pack. Since Tev was a dog, we sent him out to parlay.
He convinced the Lapadors to help us a bit in exchange for some food.
We gave them the food and the Lapadors did their best to mingle their
tracks with ours. The Lapadors told us about a Cave of Wisdom, though
they warned us that no one actually going into the cave had ever
returned. But we still decided to check it out.
Later on in the day, a bootmere approached us from the West. Bootmere
being highly dangerous beasts, Krelga and I shot it with arrows, to no
effect. Tev circled around it, but could not smell it. Nakaro went up
to it and threw rocks at it, which went through it. Throwing snow on it
did affect it, but everything else passed through the strange beastie.
Some experimentation revealed that it was following Nakaro, and would
eventually catch up to him. So Tev and Nakaro fled to the Cave of
Wisdom, Tev pulling Nakaro in the sled, and once there they tricked
talked to the being in the cave.
The being wanted an offering, which Nakaro provided. They found out
that the bootmere was attracted to Nakaro's Uranium, which he promptly
threw into the cave as the bootmere approached. The bootmere went in
and then all was quiet by the time the rest of us caught up. The being
in the cave refused to respond to us, so we settled in for the night.
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555/1/60. We
tried the cave once again, and the oracle was there again.
This time Tok talked to it, throwing in things like his helmet and
other useful items until we stopped him. The oracle did tell Tok to
learn esoterica and wear yellow. With a few more sacrifices it told us
that Diiman's Bane was in the Dungeons of Jarakelemot, the impenetrable
fortress upon the Lake of Fire known as Panno. By then we were out of
things to sacrifice so we left.
Still trekking east, we met a couple of Vikul farmers on Janers. But
these weren't Vikul farmers! These were treacherous rebel sympathizers,
who gave us supplies and money. They told us that this whole area was
full of Cold Empire patrols and that we could stay at hidden at their
village if we wished. But inaction didn't appeal to any of us (and the
rebels make my skin crawl), so we declined the gracious offer. They are
staying with us tonight.
555/1/61. In the morning the Vikul rebels spotted a Cavalry on patrol.
We set up an ambush and the Vikuls led the cavalrymen to us. The fight
was brief as they had no chance and we killed both of them. Now we have
two Janers and some extra armor, Tok taking a helmet to replace the one
he sacrificed. Now that we are fully stocked, with lots of money, and
even mounts, we are all in a festive mood and ready to take on the Cold
Empire.
I haven't dreamt anything in the last few days. I don't know what it
means. Maybe the Divine has nothing to show me. I doubt he has
abandoned me, but the silence is unnerving. It's surprising how
comforting the dreams and the Voice really were. Like knowing that
there is a plan for me and that I'm destined for something. Well, I
must remain steadfast in my goal if I am to remain worthy of His
attention. |