The Silent Wood (Part III)

Leven's Journal

December 1
After spending an uneasy night in the company of Henwen we struck off into the woods for the Great Barrow once again. The day passed quickly, with only the sound of the brush and a thin coating of snow crunching underfoot. However our peace was soon to be interrupted by evil!

In the late afternoon he heard the horrid hooves of the horseman galloping through the forest. However, this time we were prepared. Erune placed down circles which kept out the unholy undead and we waited. The horesman's mount reared at the edge of the circle, throwing him to the ground, and before he could get up and do anything Dolensiwe showered him with arrows while Revegelance blasted him with a massive column or air against the very tree he has appeared through. Twice. With the second blast the horseman dissipated into the air with a sould riveting shriek. Though I was not able to partipate, it was nice not to sully my hands with evil.

December 2
Early in the morning we came to the edge of the forest. There was a massive blackened clearing wiht a spot of green in the middle. The Barrow. The place was obviously rife with evil - I knew this a soon as I clasped my eyes upon it.

We set out across the Barrow, and shortly afterwars we were attacked by a ghostly spectre. We eventually discovered that it could not harm us directly, but its moanign and screeching were unnerving - especially to some members of our party who ran off in blind terror. Namely Dolensiwe. Of course. In any case as the ghost howled we were beset by skeletons who pulled their unholy formed up from the very earth! We made handy work of them, until we were attacked by a shadow and again by the horseman! Apparently we didn't not sufficiently destroy him the first time. As the horseman galloped up, Erune (in bear form) threw himself under the horse, sending the horseman flying again - where Tully, Erune and I quickly finished him off - yet again. Revegelance had a harder time with the shadow, who significantly weakend him, but he was victorious against it.

After the battle Dolensiwe returned, claiming she was checking out another area, and we set off for the Barrow again, at a quick pace. When we arrived we found a stinking pool at its base. Some of use were hurt by the previous encounter with evil, so we decided to rest on the green grass of the Barrow.

December 2 - Later
After our brief respite we have discovered many things! How wicked are the ways of evil men, and how twisted are their plans.

The horseman appeared to us again as we rested. I was on watch, since I had emerged from our previous battle uncathed. However, the horseman did not attack. Tully did attack him, but after they dissapeared behind the barrow the horseman returned, and we later discovered that Tully had run off. Perhaps overcome with the horseman's fear, but perhaps not (given what we have discovered).

We were able to discern that the horsemans body and head lay at the bottom of the stagnant pool. This was due to a vision of Revegelance's and Erune conversing with the horsemans horse (which I still think was a waste of time). We spent some time trying to figure out how to get the bodies out, when Revegelance realized he could simply vaporize the lake! Six minutes later the stagnant pool was dry and there was a cloud a foul smelling gas surrounding us. Sure enough, we found the body and head. Once they were re-united an amazing thing occured. The horesman disspaeared, but then reformed with a head.

He then told us that he was Virgil Twiceblessed and was here on a mission to destroy an ancient Druidic artifact! Not only that, but he was murded by Endle! The same Endle who sent us to destroy the horesman and elves! His evil way sicken me! But righteousness will prevail! In any case, the horesman agreed to help us in assualting Endle and the town if we can only destroy whatever force is keeping him out of Remard. There is also a strange clue. The horesman once had a cat named Frederick - the same name as the evil stick in Henwens possesion. This is a very strange omen indeed!

Later, Erune transformed himself into an Eagle and set about searching for Tully. Apparently she is a very talented woodswoman, for he was unable to find any sign of her.

Upon his return we descended into the Barrow. It has proven to be a frustrating, endless maze of winding tunnels going up and down. I think we are utterly lost, but Erune has fastidiously mapping our way and seems to think he knows where we are. The barrow is full of traps and undead horrors. We have just finished slaying another pair of them and are now at another dead end. We are taking a short rest here, and I am taking the opportunity to pen this entry before the attacks of more fiends drive the details from my mind.

People

Virgil Twiceblessed

• The headless horesman
  
• Came from over the mountains
• Serves Lanithar, the god of valiant deeds
• Says that he came to Remard to find and destroy an ancient druidic artifact, but was betrayed and killed by Endle
• He is cursed to ghostly form until his quest to destroy the artifact and Endle are complete
• This is now much easier since he now has a head and thus his sanity back

Gloryhoof

• Vrigils heroic steed
• Killed along with her master
• Eaten by the villagers of Remard
  

Heroic Quotes

"That Tully is an amazing woodswoman!" - Erune
"Hey! I can just evaporate the lake! It will take six minutes." - Revegelance
"Theres none over there." - Dolensiwe
"Hmmm, it seems to be a mentally challenged ghost." - Robyn
"Lets call this wight Mary-Kate and this one Ashley." - Jon

Adventure Names

"You can't skinnydip in a vaporized lake / All horses go to heaven... except Gloryhoof" - bryan
"Eagle Eye" - jon
"Who ya gonna call?" - robert
"Mary Kate & Ashley" - robyn

Legends and Lore

They say that those foolish enough to cross the Icerock pass in the winter will be devoured by the fearsome wolves that live there - if they don't freeze to death first.

Statistics

Playing Date: June 5, 2005
Enemies Vanquished: 9 skeletons, 1 headless horseman (twice), 5 wights - 15 total
Dreams Dreamt: 2
Food Consumed: Pepsi, Blue Raspberry Pop, Ravioli, Goo, Pie