The Journal of Sevrid the Red

I made my way to the Keep, seeking the records of the guard, hoping that I might discover when the current troubles began. My search revealed that while there had always been some, there had been a significant increase in trouble starting six months previously.

I returned with this knowledge, meanwhile my companions had learned of House Mirti, a family of merchants who were misliked by the people of the keep. Deciding we needed more information, Veera decided to question Ned about any newcomers to the Keep and the Mirti family. He told us of the alchemist, Thermin, and his family who had recently joined the community, and mentioned that the Mirtis were the second most powerful family in the Keep after the Durans.

Still feeling that we needed more information, my companions and I cast about. We attempted to question other villagers, but they had no information beyond what we gleaned from Ned.

After some frustration, I hit upon an idea; surely someone know as the Red Lady must be fond of that color, either in her clothes, surroundings or both. A trip to the merchants, and some time spent questioning them revealed that Thermin and Dervald Mirti had recently purchased a significant amount of red cloth, supposedly to make hangings for Thermin's new bed.

Armed with this knowledge, Veera decided to pay a late night visit to Thermin's shop and home. During her search of the shop, she came upon a scroll, containing a message to Thermin from some unknown individual, speaking of an obelisk in a clearing in the woods, which would be the site of a portal, which would allow easier access to attack the Keep.

We were unanimous in our decision to find this obelisk and close the portal. However, before leaving we decided to leave the scroll in the keeping of Toring, along with an explanation of our findings. Not entirely trusting of Toring, Veera also left word with Rurik, a smith and priest of Moradin. Rurik mentioned that the obelisk clearing was a well known site in the Tallwood, avoided as a dangerous and unchancey place.

Armed with this final piece of information, and fully rested and recovered from our meetings with the kobolds, we set off down the trail which Rurik claimed would lead us to the obelisk.

We were nearing our final destination when we were suddenly beset by bandits. They announced their presence with a round of crossbow bolts, and a magical blast from their leader. After their initial attack they offered us our lives in exchange for our weapons and gold. A foolish move on their part as only a foll stops to talk after battle is joined.

As they flanked us on both sides of the trail, we were forced to split up and charge our foes. While Kravaxsaar dealt with the bandit leader, the rest of us turned toward the crossbowmen. Ia and Martouk began casting magic against the two to the left, and Veera and I rushed those on the right. Unfortunately for me, I was unable to contact my chosen target, and was soon attacked from both sides at once. My foes were lucky, and I was down on the ground, attempting to keep my blood in my veins.

Veera drove them back, eventually killing one, while Ia and Martouk soon finished off their chosen targets. Ia came to my aid casting a healing spell that had me back on my feet. Kravaxsaar killed the leader and the last bandit turned to flee.

Now back on my feet, I was able to chase him dow, and with the help of the others we prevented his escape.

After a brief rest to loot the bodies and tend our wounds, we resumed our hike to the obelisk.

Again we were ambushed! This time wolves and some things no longer wolves appeared from the trees to attack our group. A quick rush had me and Kravaxsaar down on the ground where we each received a savage mauling. Fortunately we were able to quickly regain our feet, and fend off the beasts while our companions held off the rest.

While savage and dangerous if they could surround or pull down their prey, these beasts proved no match for our steel and magic, and we made short work of them. Again it was necessary for us to halt a short while to gather our strength and tend our injured; but we were shortly on our way again.

Finally, we came to the clearing with the obelisk, which was surrounded by a ring of standing stones. Although we did not see any obvious danger, we were very cautious as we approached. A good thing, as suddenly a host of the undead appeared from nowhere, surrounding the obelisk.

We quickly joined battle, and found that most of the undead were easily dispatched. One, noticeably different, proved to be more difficult. In fact, it's visage was so shocking as to stager those caught unaware.

Martouk quickly disposed of the majority of the undead by casting a ball of flame in their midst, while the rest of us set to with a will. Withing seconds all the undead were disposed of except the frightening one, and one or two more. We were anticipating a quick victory and congratulating ourselves, when more undead blinked into existence.

Dismayed and realizing we had a tough battle on our hands, we set to with a will. Realizing that the majority of our foes were more nuisance than threat, we concentrated our efforts on the most threatening. This proved a sound strategy, and we were able to quickly dispatch this foe with no losses of our own. Once this threat was dealt with the lesser creatures were easily dealt with.

Two kobolds used slings to throw some sort of glue at the surprised guards, quickly immobilizing them. I made my decision, and the blood began to sing in my veins as I drew my axe and answered the call to battle!

As the townsfolk scattered I discovered that I was not alone! From other points in the market square, four stout souls were advancing on the kobolds. As the farthest back I was able to observe my fellow defenders: A Dragonborn, a Teifling, a Dwarf and an Eladrin. All were doughty warriors and between us we made quick work of our foe.

After the fight, we gathered to question the wagon driver. He, a farmer named Ned, claimed that the kobolds had attacked his farm, seizing his family as hostages to secure his cooperation in their plan to attack the Keep. As we discussed this situation, troops from Bold Brigade arrived, led my Sir Henry.

Sir Henry, fearing more kobold attacks, refused to allow any of his men to return to Ned's farm. My comrades in the battle and I offered our services in their stead. With Sir Henry's promise of recompense for our time, we boarded Ned's wagon for the journey to his farm.

As we made our way to Ned's, we introduced ourselves. My companions were Veera, a Dwarven female cook, quick with her knives; Martouk, an Eladrin male sage, an adept in the ways of magic; Kravaxsaar, a Dragonborn male warrior, a champion of the Raven Queen; and Iya, a Teifling female healer, a holy pilgrim. A diverse group, my training led me to believe our skills would complement each other in battle, it remained to be seen if we could work together.

We discovered the farm sacked and abandoned, Ned's family nowhere to be found. A search of the area revealed he kobolds' tracks, which in turn lead us to their den, a cave in the abandoned quarry to the west of the Keep. Eager to meet our prey while the setting sun still trapped them in their den, we quickly entered the cave.

Just inside we entered a long chamber, and found our path blocked by a pair of koboldes and a pair of lizard-like guard animals. Veera, the nimblest of our group quickly rushed to engage the guards, an action which nearly lead to her downfall, as the kobolds triggered a hidden trap, unleashing a rock-fall which knocked Veera from her feet.

I was unable to advance through the falling rocks, and could only call to Veera, exhorting her to shrug off her injuries and continue into battle. Meanwhile Iya called healing from her god. Between us, we soon had Veera on her feet and back in the fight.

Kobolds are not skilled engineers, as evidenced by the quick end to the rockfall, to the obvious consternation of the guards. Once the danger of the rockfall was lifted, my companions and I were able to advance and again make quick work of our foes.

Once past the outer guards we entered a large chamber, obviously the living area for the kobolds den. Among the scattered piles of goods, were many kobolds who immediately began throwing javelins at us. Here Martouk showed his might, using his magic to dispatch the kobolds at long range, while the rest of us kept him safe. At one point he dispatched all the kobold reinforcements with a single ball of flame.

Sheer numbers proved a decided benefit for the kobolds though, and we were a tired and bloody group when we moved to enter the next chamber. We found ourselves in another large chamber. This time there were no piles of crates and bundles, instead parallel lines of torches along each wall shed a smoky light to the room. At the far end was an altar and Ned's missing kin. Between us and them lay a large number of kobolds, a priest of some sort and a living statue!

Now it was my turn to make a mistake. Fearing another trap, I left the support of my comrades, moving alone along one side of the room to engage our foes. I quickly found myself surrounded, and hard pressed. The silver lining to my situation was that I had drawn off enough of the kobolds to allow my comrades to quickly overwhelm the priest's remaining defenders. In the end, with generous support from Iya, our healer, I was able to hold out long enough for the others to come to my aid.

Unfortunately, we could not slay the living statue, and it made it's escape through a hole in the roof of the room.