Dear chronicle
01/21/1390 (Iceday!)
Well we finally we made it. We finally made it to the northwest corner of the Highlands. I thought we would never get here! Just as we had planned, we all met in Bastok Markets. Headed north into Gustaberg, across Zeikt Creek (beautiful view!) and then Aulgung Pass. And that's when the real challenge started. I lead the group… well in the regards I walked in front of everyone. I had my Earth Spirit on guard duty with me.
The Quadav, I think, I could keep them at a distance. Gobbies, though, well that's different. I do really like this little group. I hope I can get them to the Dunes for some serious training! So there's Sprocket and his pal Kagekiyo (a smartypants automaton), Ironhound, Melco Belco and his wife Jariri and Vantae Black. I'm sure we cam find more folk in the Dunes.
The rocky terrain of the Highlands are so prominent, lovely to this Mithra. High stone walls surrounding the Highlands on nearly all sides. Vaasha stands in the northwest corner of the Highlands region, near the Elvaan guards keeping vigil. She leans on her staff as she smiles faintly, her tail swaying slowly back and forth. As she stands she sees a few adventurers passing by, all heading to the Dunes. And as they pass, she watches to ensure they aren't being chased. A cool breeze draws across the terrain, she brings her free hand to one of her ears.
"Van?" She says, looking up a little. She hears a woman's voice in her ear, the voice coming through the Linkpearl.
'We're here, V. About to head over the ridge.' Vaasha nods and lowers her hand
"We'll be here!" She looks to her Earth Spirit partner, it moving back and forth slowly as the whole of its stone body pulses.
Now Vaasha sees the small group, Sprocket waving enthusiastically (his automaton mirroring the motion). Ironhound's heavy armor shimmers in the gentle sunlight. He's the Paladin, and he is powerful. Sprocket, as mentioned, has an automaton for a partner so that makes Sprocket a Puppetmaster. Vantae's dark robes sway as she moves, she is a Black Mage. Her art is destruction, and she enjoys being that sort of artist.
Ironhound's armor clanks lightly as they near Vaasha, and she motions for them to follow.
"Okay!" She exclaims excitedly.
"Right this way to the Valkurm Dunes! A land filled with all sorts of gobbies, ghosts, elementals and bad!" 'We've all been here before, Vaasha.' Vantae says in a low tone. Sprocket nods in agreement (and so does Kagekiyo) and speaks
'Yeeeeah but never as a group! C'mon sourpuss it'll be fun!' He nudges Vantae's shoulder playfully, and she utters
'I will drop a meteor on you, Sprocket.' And in response Sprocket laughs lightly
'A meteor of loooove!' The group rolls their eyes collectively as they continue on. Vaasha motions them on, and then points to the oncoming gate.
"Okay let's find more adventurers!" She is first through the gate, but she doesn't appear in the sandy Dunes as she should have…
Darkness.
Enshrouded in darkness, confusion takes over the Mithra's mind. She takes a step back and holds her staff to her chest with both hands. Her tail flicks left to right with irritation, her ears flattened to her head. Eyes wide, she can see very well in darkness. She can't quite make out things, she doesn't know exactly what she is seeing. Her nose wrinkles as she breathes in the putrid air, she feels herself gagging. Sometimes it's not good having enhanced senses, and this is one of those times.
Okay, Vaasha. Get it together here. Figure out your surroundings first. Slowing her breathing, she actually tries to hold her breath in brief pauses. Holding her staff in both hands still she holds it up a bit before her. The crystal starts to flicker with a soft white glow, and she then brings it back to her. Gently she blows on it, and the glow gains strength. Now she holds her staff up to get a better look. And she wishes she hadn't. A soft whine emits from her throat and she hugs her staff back to her fearfully. So many Humes… so many… automatons? Are those automatons? Mutilated… so many beyond help… Her eyes slam shut and she tries to gather herself. She's never been in a place like this. So many dead. So much chaos. So helpless.
One of her ears perk up as she hears something in the awful silence. A Hume… he sounds like he's in pain. On instinct she holds her staff in that direction to get better lighting, and she calls out.
"Hello? Hello is someone there?" Sharp eyes focus on movement, and she lets out a short cry as she sees it. A Hume alright, but not a man. A boy, at best. But he…
"Altana help me.." Vaasha whispers as her mind starts to put it all together. It looks like a Qutrub.. an undead she once encountered in Arrapago Reef. But it's definitely Hume…
And it's trying to make its way to her. She has some distance from it still, but she feels herself take a step back.
"Ironhound" she whispers, looking left to right and back.
"Sprock… Vantae.." her tone is a whisper still, a plea for help from her friends. But they aren't here. She doesn't know where they are. She doesn't know where she is. She doesn't know what this is. What all of this chaos is. Why was there a bloodbath here? Her logic tells her the Humes fought the automatons she sees, but what about the undead thing coming for her? What happened..
Her mind lingers on the chaos before her, and then a soft whisper in the back of her mind. A whisper reminding her that while Ironhound, Sprocket (and Kagekiyo) and Vantae aren't here… she isn't alone. She is never alone to face adversity.
Her hands spread out to her sides, her softly glowing staff still in her right hand. Wisps of white and blue electricity start to dance along her body and then her arms. Her voice comes forth in a soft tone.
"Whispered secrets of a shattered age… I summon you now…" her arms move in a circular motion and then meet in front of her drawn back. Her hands thrust forward as a glowing mystic array forms on the ground in front of her.
"Renew this sage!" Out of the middle of the array a small blue glowing creatures leaps out with a soft squeal. It lands in front of Vaasha, facing the 'undead' thing. It prances towards the hissing parka wearing thing and then leaps up. It's head nods to it as it spins in the air, the ruby on it's forehead flashing a moment. Carbuncle (the summoned creature) uses a healing spell on it and lands. Carbuncle gallops back towards Vaasha to stand at her side, coming up to about her waist. And they both stare as nothing happens. Vaasha's eyes wide and she takes another step back, Carbuncle stepping in front of her. Carbuncle lowers itself on its front paws, it's multiple tails flicking back and forth.