My name is Caspian Durothil and Akhelbhen which means in elven ‘He whom Magic, Duty, and Honor Defines’ has become my new catch phrase and Ai Armiel Telere Maenen Hir ‘You Hold My Heart Forever’ which for now refers to my dear Sister Caspia who has never given up on me as well as in a courtly fashion to Hollyella Taletreader of whom I am not yet worthy. For while I am Akh'Faern ‘One of the Army of Art’ or a Wizard who has now pledged himself or Talas ‘Body / Soul / Self’ to Corellon Larethian I have a lot of work to catch up on in regards to my behavior as of late. I may never live up to the standards laid out by Paladin Brother Vashar in action, thought and deed after almost losing my life and hearing for the last time lies spew from my own mouth I was for the first time ashamed. I vowed right then and there to banish forever from my mind that which I had used for so long as a defense mechanism for my own immorality and embrace the code of the Seldarine.
I of course get ahead of myself for while I had survived the first incursion into the first Tomb of Undeath it was due to no actions of my own that I survived. Sadly it was due to near death and Valorous acts of a Human Paladin of Lathandar from Silverymoon named Alemore Lafor Telemose and my fellow Associates that I live to even continue this Journal. I owe them as well as two rescued Paladins one named Neil of Torm and the other Jarvis of Tyr a debt I may never be able to repay for between their actions and foolish ones I had taken my sanity was restored. I wish that I could say that it had been voices of the likes of which my Sister Caspia has heard but in my case it was almost seeing Arvandor and realizing that I was not living up to the honor of my House and far worse that my actions had lead not only myself but my Nys or Sister in the common tongue whom I loved astray as well. I realized that it was time to step up and stop acting like a Juvenile Ardavanshee and step and be the Akh'Faern I had been trained to be.
This part of my tale began with my mind set in the way I had perceived that my Tan or Brother who I adored would have approved. But if I have learned anything in what was to soon befall me it was that thinking that you are and knowing that you are can be quite different propositions. To continue we had entered what I shall call the first Tomb of the Shar Cult of Undeath for now to find a mystical puzzle upon a Giant’s skull. We were of course in a formation that I had designed but Donavan had walked forward to examine the mystical puzzle and instead of telling what he had found the activated which opened two doors one to our right and one to our left and we were suddenly engaged by the vile Undead.
We prevailed as we were prepared and trained enough in our individual and group skill to follow the tactics I had laid out for the most part which basically required that we focus our fire on as few enemies as possible whenever possible. I of course was not shy in the use of either my Wand of Magic Missiles or my magic in the form of bolt of fire. It had actually been necessary for while I noticed that Krolis seemed to enjoy breaking formation so did Invelous and Naiem but they I knew had the skill and ability to use their mobility to their advantage. To be honest Invelous who I had deemed the Survivor was quicker and more nimble than many Elves I had seen. With the aid of the Clerics and the Wand of Curing I had procured everyone was healed and we moved on.
With our first engagement a successful one which placed us one step ahead of our predecessors into the tomb we began to explore in earnest. To the right we found a trap that Invelous was unable to circumvent involving a swinging pendulum that carried with it a pronouncement of death to any who chose to cross. We were left with the option of traveling the left which Invelous confirmed that although similar to the passage on the left was far safer. It was then that we heard a voice calling out loudly from behind us claiming to be a Paladin of Lathander who had been sent by someone called Sedrick whom none of knew. It had caused Donavan to move to the rear of our formation to converse with him and Invelous to move back from the door he had confirmed was not trapped and unlocked. Our newest Associate who said he had been part of the former adventuring group to enter the tomb was named Alemore Lafor Telemose. After a few moment of discussion where he and Donavan both detected evil upon each other they both seemed to be come to an accord and Alemore of Lathander officially joined us and of course filled him in on our formations which I was glad to see as a Paladin he was used to order of the formations.
It seemed that while we were talking Krolis had grown impatient which I should have expected and the door in front of us opened and we encountered yet more Undead and this time as well as ones that could paralyze with a touch who to be honest I could not tell were Ghasts or Ghouls there was I am pretty sure a Ghast who hurled bolts of acid and balls of fire to confound and harm us. Now if that were not enough we were engaged at the same time from the rear by even more Undead of the Ghoul or Ghast variety. Finally last but not least there were also two Human Male Wizard or Sorcerers who joined in on the side of the Undead who also favored bolts of acid and balls of fire. It should not go unnoted that in the battle both Alemore and Bolora showed skill and bravery against our enemies that were truly worthy of song. At one point Alemore had called upon the power of Lathander even while encased in flame and destroyed a vile Undead. Less than a second later Bolora not to be outdone had suddenly become enraged and managed to defeat both wielders and yet another Undead all in the span of an instant. I am sure due to their valor and determination yet again we were victorious and we were able to heal and restore ourselves in order to continue. The battle had not gone without cost however for at a moment when Krolis was out of formation he had been overwhelmed by Undead and were it not for the sacrifice of his familiar he might not have survived luckily Invelous and Naiem had been prepared and had not abandoned their posts and he survived. I of course had wondered as members of our band had lost levels against what must have been a Wight if we should turn back but it was soon to find out we were not alone.
Now what did I mean by not alone well what I mean was that while I had searched the Undead and the Human bodies I found two items of interest or actually three but only two that had immediate baring it would seem. On two of the Undead I had found a medallion of silver which I recognized as a partially melted symbol of Mystra and on another I had found gold signet ring emblazed with the symbol of Torm. I had also confirmed a Shar connection of some kind as the undead wielder of magic had in its possession a bone symbol of Shar. Upon the two male Human wielders I had found only components and what amounted to 32 pieces of gold. I had figured them to be part of a cult and I advised that we leave restore ourselves and return refreshed lest we overextend ourselves. Donavan seem ready to agree when suddenly Arrol had called out that we could not turn back that we must push on for lives were in danger.
Now how had that happened actually well after a little comparing of the force within him to that of Lord Z and a more than subtle rebuke by Arrol we were able to confirm with Alemore that not all of his companions had survived the retreat from the tomb and not only that but he recognized the ring and the medallion as belonging to his former companions. With that being established it seemed that Donavan was on board with Arrol and we decided to push on in the hope that we might be able to save the lives of the two Paladins one each of Torm and Tyr that Alemore knew had been left behind as well perhaps a Priestess of Mystra. At the time I was concerned for my own welfare and that of my companions but in truth I should have been more concerned about saving those who stood with the light from facing torture at the hands of the darkness.
We had continued out journey within the tomb and sadly the powers of whatever spell was guiding Arrol was of no help in guiding us directly but eventually we arrived at another intersection that branched off to the right and the left with some kind of altar directly ahead and more vines that seemed to frequent the tomb. It was decided to move to the left first but to keep an eye on the right as before we had been attacked from behind once we had moved to far in one direction but before Invelous could barely relate to us that the door was safe and unlocked it was opened and bursts of sound blasted out at us confounding some and wounding all.
In the room we could see what amounted to a torture chamber filled with cells and inside the room were two Ghasts, a Human Male Archer and a Human Male Priest of Shar. It was a fierce battle made even more fierce by the door other room across the hall opening and yet another beautiful Priestess of Shar along with an Undead wielder and a Human Rogue. I will admit there were tough moments but there was also someone who stood up and bravely carried on his duties like a true Warrior-Cleric and that was Donavan the Brave who against literally every foe at one time or another trying to destroy him had not only saved the life of Alemore but aided at one point or another several others as well all the while holding off the attacks coming from the Shar Clerics and as I have said literally every enemy that could take a shot at him. Of course with Donavan moving like a spirit possessed by the power of Mystra herself of course we prevailed. By the Seldarine we even managed with the aid of Krolis managed to take the Archer captive.
I had taken to the task of searching and gathering the bodies of those defeated into a central location while Invelous, Donavan, Krolis and Arrol had free the two lost Paladins of Tyr and Torm. I had passed the Wand of Curing to Krolis while I had been searching three chests and the bodies of those slain including a beautiful former priestess of Shar. Around whose beautiful neck I found a necklace that was imbued with minor alteration magic and truthfully her beauty was such that I almost cried as I had thought what Shar must have taken from such a beautiful woman to have turned her. Among the others I located two black magical maces and finally gold coins which brought our nonmagical haul from this first tome at 399 gold of which 32 we had already found. We had also located three keys on in each chest for while there had been a Paladin in each room in the one we had first entered there was something else that just lay their as if in wait. I had once again spoke of withdrawing as the last battle had literally depleted almost all of my magic and much of the Clerics healing ability leaving us with the quickly depleting Wand of Curing which had been further diminished by Krolis in healing the Paladins. I had been slighted but not quite angered but I had tried to tell myself I was concerning myself about the Associates welfare when in truth I had only been thinking of myself much to my shame.
I had been overridden for once again Arrol who seemed possessed informed us we must push on for the Priestess of Mystra was still somewhere within this tomb. Once again I had thought really why could the spell that seemed to be guiding him not make it just a little bit easier. I mean some of us had not even been involved in the darkness that had overshadowed them. Then again who was I kidding I had been complacent and perhaps borderline sinister in my effort to save my own skin and still profit from the whole encounter. Sadly I of all people should have known better and looking back it only I had been willing to do something about it I might have even been able to have saved many of the lives that had been lost for while greed was not my weakness mine was pleasure and the pleasure of acquiring more magic in all of its forms had almost cost me dearly.
I had been willing at the time although reluctant to continue on but alas a coalition had suddenly formed between the Paladins including Alemore, Krolis, Arrol and Naiem to destroy a vile evil creature that was still locked up in one of the cells for which we had a key. I will admit to my sorry and salvation that I did not convince Donavan and Invelous who chose to stand apart with me to face this evil as a unit for it had truly been laying in wait to be released and when it was it could not wait to cry havoc and set loose the dogs of war. I have to admit while I have often heard tales of evil I had never seen a more vile and Anilessa or nefarious creature as the Wight that they unleashed from that cage. I am not ashamed to admit as it had called out “Dinner” and I heard screams and howls from where Donavan, Invelous and I had stood apart I will swear while it was not a vision at the time it seemed like a foregone conclusion that that creature was coming for me and I was scared.
It was a shameful moment but one that was key to finally freeing me of a burden I have borne for decades. For while Donavan ran forward to aid the Associates as Invelous and I stayed behind suddenly the Wight had suddenly made its way out of the room and move behind Donavan and proceeding to attack him. I had looked at the Survivor Invelous and told myself that as I had been taught discretion was sometimes the better part of valor. I had thought had I not just told Donavan before he had rushed forward that a Paladins duty was to protect others and sometimes die so that others may live. Honestly if I had spoken those words around my Tan Vashar I would been lucky had he only slapped some sense into me. As it was Invelous and I ran for the entrance leaving our companions to face the evil that they had unleashed.
Why had I believed that I could out run the darkness instead of facing it matters not but my hubris knew no bounds and I had even taken the time to cast magic to decrease my size and transform into an Avariel or winged elf in my belief that I would be able to out maneuver the creature. I was of course wrong and my miscalculation almost cost me my life. When the creature had caught me I was desperate and part of me the darkness that lives in my soul tried to make a deal with the creature. Looking back at it there had been times even recently in the company of Donavan when he was not the Brave but the Destroyer and Arrol the former minion of Lord Z when if it would have saved my own life I would have casually taken the lives of any one of the Associates. In the past such actions had been considered but I had never been actually faced with or made to make such a choice.
Such was not the case when facing what could only be described as Wight Monk of incredible skill who caught me with ease and grappled me. I had made him an offer to serve him if he let me live to even aid him in defeating my companions. I will never forget his next words His breath foul and his voice filled dry yet firm he said “You will serve me alright as my minion forever!” It was in the moment that something inside me broke or shall I say was finally freed for suddenly my entire life flashed before my eyes and I saw all of my actions for what they had really been and what I had allowed myself to become and I screamed a cry of anguish and pain but mostly of failure. I fought with all that I had left and I know not how they did it but somehow the Associates came to my rescue and I awoke to Donavan standing above me holding the Wand of Curing and Alemore laying nearby being seen to by Krolis barely alive while the Anilessa Undead Wight finally laid to rest and destroyed.
I was healed and Alemore would be next and I knew what Arrol would say that we still needed to push on. It was also obvious that while we still needed to recover Invelous ever the Survivor and while Alemore had given his shield to Jarvis and we had loaned one of the magical maces to Neil and the other to Invelous fully equipped or Arrol had said we must continue. I had told Donavan that my higher level spells had been depleted and all of our wielders both magical and holy needed to rest to restore ourselves. He had seemed to consider my words but then I was made to eat my own words for Arrol had countered and told us that we could not turn back now for the Priestess of Mystra was still within this tome and without aid she would surly die.
It is often said that there is never any rest for the righteous and the words of Arrol had been what I had needed to hear to snap me out of my sudden melancholy for while when asked why I had ran I had lied and spoke of a vision I knew the truth I had ran to save my own skin. The time I knew had come to step up and while I might have my own issues with trust I would consider them all Athkaraye or friends of the Elves and act accordingly and while in the past and even recently I had not followed the code of the Seldarine and while I had always observed the ways of all the Seldarine I bid my former patron Erevan Ilesere the Trickster while asking his forgiveness and pledged myself to the patron of House Durothil and that of the Sun and Star Elves The Protector and Creator of the Elves Corellon Larethian. I of course had spoken the words aloud in Seldruin ancient tongue of my people while mentally I said goodbye to the path of the Rogue and prepared myself for the eventual way of the Warrior and eventually the path that my O’Su or Father had always hoped for my Nys Caspia and I, that of an Eldritch Knight. We had been inside this tome less than two hours and we had prevailed and more importantly we had all survived I would call that a victory and a good first step on the path to Valor and Glory I am sure my Tan Vashar would agree and somehow I just knew that my Nys Caspia had already gotten the message.
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