The Journal of Belnor

We managed to survive a night in this wretched cave system. Seems our decision to rely on Trask through the night was wise. Nothing disturbed us. Lucky for us, as the day unfolded as a very strenuous time, and it is not over yet. I am spending a few moments now to record our triumph over a major foe and the events that led to it.

Upon waking we explored the corridor and hall outside our makeshift bedchamber. Both ended abruptly with no apparent way out, although I did find a hidden button within the wall of the short hallway. We could hear something react to its activation, but we have yet to determine just what it was. We then decided to investigate the slide room to check out the other three doors.

Upon peeking in a few of the vile little creatures that lured me into the trap were seen. We shut the door, developed a decent plan of attack and Trask, now his original size, put boot to door. Nothing happened. I quickly realized the mistake, the door opened toward us and Trask had booted it against its own frame. I flung the door open and we raced in, but it appears that these small critters are also very fast, as the second or so that passed between the kick and the rush in was all they needed to vanish.

A few depressing moments later we looked to the East door. It was wooden and slightly opened. Upon further inspection we found it to lead to a truly immense room. A fire pit sat in its center and once more a large statue of Asmodeus stood before it. Hand outstretched, but this time a chest rested in it's palm. Trask replaced his magic bracelets and grew back to an enormous size, for a dwarf at least. It is worth noting that while in this form I feel no urge to poke fun at Trask's size. Maybe it is just that he is not small anymore, or maybe it is because he is so big! Once Trask had grown he hoisted down the chest and opened it to reveal what the demon had presented us with. A trove of ornate weapons, one that suited each of us, filled the chest. Strange writing covered them, but I was able to put my knowledge of the vile Asmodeus to use, and decipher the text. Each weapon bore a name. I refuse to put those names to page for fear of the repercussions that might ensue, but know that the names reflect that of infernal origins. They are perfectly crafted, unlike anything I have seen before. All save Corbin took up these new arms. Trask tried to take that which seemed Corbin's weapon, but the cursed thing seared the flesh of his hand. Corbin tossed the flail into the offering fire before the statue.

That is when the gates of Hell seemed to open. The fire within the pit roared upward as it consumed the weapon. Seconds later a voice like that of grating stone filled the room.

"Who dares to destroy my gift!" it shouted.

I was paralyzed with fear as I realized that the very demon lord himself had embodied the statue. The huge hand of the statue slammed into Trask, smashing him into the cavern wall. If not for Corbin's quick mind and feet, Galvin and I would have shared that fate. He drug us from the area of the living statue before it could close on us. With distance my fear faded. I rushed to Trask's side as Corbin harried the creature. Thor granted a powerful influx of lifeforce to Trask, saving the dwarves life and healing his every wound. With Trask back in fighting form we rushed the statue as Corbin was forced to withdraw from the fight. Our new infernal weapons seemed to cleave and smash into the incarnation of this devil with unexpected force and quickly reduced it to a pile of rubble.

Now as we catch our breath I contemplate the consequences of keeping a weapon with, what seems to be obvious, evil origins. I think though that Thor would agree, when your enemy hands you a weapon that can be used so effectively against him, only a fool would avoid it's use based on morality. We shall see if I am correct. Time for us to get moving again. There is still much more to explore and the book awaits.

This day is finally coming to an end. It has been a long yet rewarding day. Sleep calls to me, but I will take a few moments to record our adventure to date.

The others finished with their questioning of the orc we subdued. During the interrogation, of which I understood not a word, I happened to notice a small, shadowy figure in the hall, beckoning to me. I decided not to interupt the questioning, I had no wish to miss any information that may be provided. Instead I kept a close eye on the figure until they finished up. The end of the conversation came soon enough as I was informed of the information and deal struck with the creature. We would be leaving the miserable orc alive, Trask decided that unconcious but alive was best and planted a heavy boot in the orc's face. Good night for creature, and perhaps a stuffed nose in the morning.

With that out of the way I turned my attention to the little beastie in the hall. It seemed to want me to follow, but I informed my companions of its presence. All I could determine was its size, 2 to 3 feet in height, but Trask was able to use those dwarven eyes of his to make out more detail. By his description I assumed the creature to be a kobold, or maybe a goblin. Seems my studies on dungeon dwelling denizens could use some brushing up.

After a brief moment I decided to approach the fellow. For a moment I thought he would be in my grasp and then I felt the floor give way completely. It seemed I hung suspended for a moment before the world turned into a gut wrenching, high speed slide into the darkness. I could hear Galvin cry out in surprise as well. Soon the feel of the slide on my back vanished and a feeling of weightlessness slipped over me. Unfortunately it was not to last very long as something slammed into me causing my very breath to flee from my body.

When the room stopped spinning, and the air finally returned to my body, I stood to find myself standing among a vast pile of bones from what could only be one thing, Stirge. Soon the reason for the weightless sensation became apparent. a gaping hole stood in the wall behind me some 30-40 feet up. It seems I owe my life to the hundreds of stirge that lost theirs to provide a cushion for the fall.

Withing moments Trask sailed out of the hole, head first he soared out in a graceful arc with arms stretched out before him. Corbin followed before Trask ever hit the ground. They landed in quick succession in a jumbled mass of metal, limbs and crushed bone. They also escaped serious injury.

The good news was that we had found a way to the level that Telnoch was reported to be currently inhabiting. The bad news, we had lost a trail back to the entrance of the mountain and the portal. There was no use in trying to scale the wall let alone make our way back up the slide. We would have to find another way out when the time came.

A quick look around revealed doors leading in all directions. To the north a stone door we found to be locked. The west a wooden door, unlocked. We looked no further and opened the unlocked door. It lead us into a hall with a door on our right, a short hall to the left with no apparent exits and a corridor straight ahead. We opened the door to the right and Trask became excited. Lighting a torch revealed the reason. A skeleton lie draped over the top of a moderately sized chest. Trask rushed in, oblivious to any danger, and flung the body of the chest to reveal a lock. We thought for a moment about how to gain access and I decided to end it with a well placed blow from my hammer, which shattered the old lock. Trask wasted no time in opening the box. One copper coin. Or so we thought. Trask found, accidentally, a false bottom and a few more coins. That was not the treasure the box hid though. Trask hurriedly placed to bracelets on his arms, and that is when the unlikely, but not quite impossible happened. Trask instantly doubled in size right before our eyes.

I have to say the sudden change caught me off guard, but not so much as it did Trask. The huge dwarf stood speechless before us. That marks the first time I have seen our small, well large now, companion in such a state.

We decided to pack it in for the night. Trask is now leaning against the door we entered through, snoring in his sleep. It is interesting to note that the small fellows snoring has at least doubled in volume since he grew. Corbin and Galvin also sleep as best they can. I will join them soon as we are confident that Trask's new bulk on the door will protect us through the night. What tomorrow brings is for Thor to determine, I just pray that it is not more than we can handle.

I have but precious few moments to write. So I will attempt to use this time to record what has further transpired.

After passing through the portal, which seems no more than an extravagant entry to the cave system beyond, we encountered a door. Delfin studied the doorway for a few moments and declared it safe. We carefully opened it to reveal a large room with a firepit in its center and a tall statue at the far end. Two figured stood before it. This group seemed to be looking to me for guidance at that moment and I asked that Delfin approach the figures from the safety of the shadows and report back. Delfin was a good choice as it turns out. He made his way there and back unnoticed. He reported that the two figured seemed to be entranced in some manner.

We decided to approach. Before we made it to them I noticed that the statue depicted the demon Asmodeus. This is starting to become a theme that I am not comfortable with in the least. The two figures turned out to be adventures who had come before us through the portal. One a warrior by the name of Erwin and the other a priest of St. Cuthbert by the name of Corbin Graves. After a short conversation we decided to join forces and continue on, but only after Trask unceremoniously began to dismantle the statue. The very mountain shook as Trask broke the arm from the vile idol.

Delfin had scouted out the two other doors in the room and guided us in the direction he felt best to follow. Corbin began the preachy nature of conversation that I can only blame upon his Master's superiority complex. I have little patience for the sound of it. Thor prefers to preach through actions, not flowery words. But that is an aside, for now.

We soon encountered a desk. I know, a desk is not normally something I would call an encounter either, but this desk was not of the ordinary variety it seems. When I approached the desk I was transported to a dark unknown corridor. I thought this was a very bad spot to be in at first, but very soon Galvin appeared at my side. Such a loyal friend Galvin has turned out to be. He did not think twice before rushing in to see what had befallen me. Soon all the members of our makeshift party arrived. We headed down the hall and encountered a desk. Yes, yes, we were surely as confused as you my friend. Trask had seen enough of this and rushed right in to the desk and, as could only be expected, vanished! I headed back down the hall to meet him, but he had not appeared. When I headed back I found, to my confusion, that Trask was in the room. I was told he entered the room from the corridor across from the desk.

We soon discovered that the transportation magic of the desk was exhausted. Galvin discovered a small disk in a drawer and I picked it up. I also opened another drawer to reveal what turned out to be a very talkative, and sensitive, piece of paper. When spoken to script magically appears on it's surface. The paper and I had a short conversation that revealed to me that the disk was in fact a key.

We decided to leave this infernal desk in search of the door the key would open. We found it rather quickly, however there was much more to it than simply using the key to open the door.

The door stood in the center of the room, near no wall. A panel with disk shaped indentations in it floated in the air next to the door. Five indentations there were. I inserted the first disk we discovered and there were the sounds of a mechanism behind the door, but nothing further. From here there were three exits, a corridor to the East, a door to the North and a set of double doors to the West.

I decided to investigate the double doors while Trask investigated the other exits. Trask found that the corridor to the East turned Northward and ended in a door that stood ajar, while Delfin found that the door to the North was lock, but the sounds of a fire could be heard beyond it. At the West door we could hear the sounds of snoring. I had a feeling of foreboding at the thought of leaving a sleeping enemy behind us which could awaken at any moment and pressed my argument to the group. Eventually it was decided that we make our way into the room beyond. What we found was eight sleeping orcs, which were immediately awakened by the sound of the door. We attacked immediately. Corbin shouted something in a language I could not begin to understand and the orcs jumped up and rushed to the foot of each of their cots! I did not know what had happened, but I was not about to look a horse in the mouth. Hmmm, perhaps a bad phrase to use considering recent events. Realizing that we could learn something from this evil brood I ordered that one be spared and laid into our foes. Aside from a misplaced blow, I must be sure there are no hard feeling between Trask and I, it really was an accident that landed my hammer in his face, the battle ended well. Corbin secured a live orc for us to question. That is what those that can speak the beastly language of the orcs are doing now.

Certainly we have a decision before us now. Which way to go from here. Back to the doors we have scouted, or onward through this room in the direction the last of the orcs attempted to flee. Perhaps the decision will be easier made after the interrogation.

Ahh it seems they have finished. I must go now. More later, Thor willing.

A week now since first I met Galvin. That was fast. Anyway, Galvin's watch proved uneventful, however the cow did continue to talk all night long. Strange that is, I will pray on it this evening. Not wanting to spend another night in this cursed town we headed out in search of the portal. The mountains it is rumored to be near proved to be quite a march. It took as all morning and part of the afternoon to arrive here. The portal seems to be embedded in the mountainside. It is purple and glittering. Definitely some strange magic happening here.

Hmmm. I just threw a rock into the portal and it vanished with a strange sound. No one seems to eager to step in and while I am not one to avoid danger, I can't blame them in this. Maybe a few more tests.

By Thor's bearded goats! Delfin and Trask each tried a test of their own moments ago, and each with dramatic, yet not promising results. Both rope and arrow were cleanly sliced where it met the portal.

Trask, crazy Dwarf that he is, disregarded the test result and stepped into the portal. He may be insane, but I cannot let him go at this alone. May Thor protect me as I step into the unknown. With any luck I will write more later. Here we go!

As agreed, I met with Galvin this morning at the Hooksnout. After grabbing an ale from Smitty we took a seat at a table and began to plan out our journey. Within moments an Elf, yes an Elf, made his way to the table. I have had little dealing with this mysterious race over my years, but he seemed amiable enough and we welcomed him on our quest. Smitty overheard our destination, and rather than trying to dissuade us, he told us of a carriage that could be hired for the journey, but for price of 5 gold! I was ready to walk on my knees all the way to Tagbar before giving away a months wages for a ride, but our new Elven companion offed to fork over the coin. I am not one to argue with the generosity of others.

Just as we prepared to stand a Dwarf of small stature made his way to the table. I know, I know, Dwarf of small stature sounds a bit redundant, but I tell you now, this burly bearded fellow was short even for a Dwarf! He stood next to the table trying to look stalwart I think, but as I could only see him from the nose up due to the tables height I could not really tell. When asked if he could be ready to head out soon he downed an entire mug of ale in a single swallow and reached up to slam it down on the table. I told you, he is short. I almost mistook him for a wide, bearded Halfling!

We gathered our equipment and headed to the carriage. I must admit that the journey was not nearly as hard as a march, but I will have a sore backside for the next day or so. Those benches were hard. We arrived in Tagbar to see that the news we had received was not far off. People and animals alike hardly looked aware of their surroundings. The sounds from the tavern we stopped next to seemed merry though. We entered and found that people of all castes were mingling in this small crowd. Galvin, Delfin and I found an empty table while Trask, the short Dwarf (I am sorry to obsess on his size, but by Thor I have never seen the like!) headed to the bar to get us all a drink.

Everyone seemed a buzz about a portal that had opened recently near town, and everyone seemed to think it led to or contained something completely different. One story did catch my ear though. An old man was speaking of a book inside the portal. I stood as Trask returned to the table with enough ale for an army! I took one of the three or four pushed my way and headed for the old man.

As it turns out this old man is completely insane! I could get no rational information from him, but Galvin would not be so easily deterred from trying to get information from him. I think that it was a waste of time for the most part, but we did follow the old coot back to his tower. Seems he knew Silverwind. The only thing we really walked away from him with was the name of the book, The Book of Sorrows, and a twig. Why Galvin wants to keep that I have no idea.

By then the day had wasted to night and we decided not to try to find the portal in the dark. We asked for rooms at the JabbaJaw, strange name for a tavern, but found that all the rooms were booked. We were offered the common room. That did not sound very comfortable to me and I asked after a barn or stable we could use. At least we might find a little hay to bed down on.

Ahh, I might mention that Silverwind did speak of a darkelf by the name of Telnoch that mentioned to him that he would use the Book of Sorrows to summon Asmodeus. These may be insane ramblings, but with the darkelf in the mines and the altar to Asmodeus, there may be something to it. Probably not though, what are the odds.

Once we arrived at the barn we found a horse and cow occupied the area, both were rather sickly, glad I did not bring Bifrost, but did not seem to pose a threat. I lied down to get some sleep and was soon out. Trask woke me sooner than I expected and started rambling about a cow, with half a face, that he had tried to milk. I know, crazy! I don't know that letting shorty come along was altogether wise. We checked out his story and would you believe that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the cow, who Trask claimed was now laughing at him. For reasons beyond all reason, Trask took to milking the cow. He claimed that the milk was blood. The little fella seemed to have lost his mind and threw the milk against the barn wall. It was, of course, just milk.

We headed back to the barn and tried to get more sleep, but Trask was still extremely confused and claimed that the horse was now laughing at him. I tried to force him to bed, but he would have none of it. Suddenly the horse did rear and in the commotion Delfin believed he heard someone run from the barn, although saw nothing to confirm it. Galvin seemed to think it might be something with an invisibility enchantment cast upon them. I decided to take my watch at the entrance to the barn just in case. That is where I still sit now, listening to the stupid cow, who has not stopped it's incessant mooing all night. It is now time for Galvin to relieve me so I can get some much needed rest. I hope his watch is not so maddening as mine.