Written by: I think this journal was written by Gary Norton, as it seems to be in his style. I don't remember much about Erik, though he seems to be a late arriving character who appeared just before the campaign ended. His journal takes place near Dorastor and many RQ veterans will recognize the events from the published Dorastor scenarios. Obviously, the journal is very literate for a barbarian hunter, but one can assume Erik dictated it to a Lhankor Mhy scribe who then cleaned up the diction and added his own vocabulary to the account.

This is the Journal of Erik, follower of Odayla and Initiate of the Hunt.

I came to Hazard Fort to find gainful employment. I hired onto a homestead but the owner died before I could get to know the area. Fortunately, a new prospective owner is being sent to the area. In the meantime, I am forced to help around the fort with ordinary labour.

Late Storm Season 1643:

Durnel, an Orlanth Initiate, has arrived to petition for ownership of the unoccupied homestead. He is accompanied by Talonspear, a Yelmalio Acolyte, two Ernalda Initiates, an "entertainer", and two other Orlanthi. I introduce myself to Durnel and offer my services.

We all go to dinner and meet several interesting characters, including an Orlanthi priest who reveres Bartnar the Plowman and dislikes Durnel, a person named Asa Windspear who welcomes Durnel, a Teelo Nori priestess who introduces herself and asks for donations, a man named Warford who is an ex-homesteader who was washed out by a flood and who offers his help to Durnel.

Talonspear donates a gold wheel to the Teelo Nori priestess and not to be outdone, Durnell donates 25 lunars. One of the Orlanthi named Boron also donates a wheel.

We are asked to investigate the disappearance of Andro and Barleman Kalf. They are from the Kalf homestead, the northernmost homestead in the Frog River Valley.

55 Storm:

We travel up the valley. The first night we stay at the Soderford Homestead. He and his brother, Linkam, are from Pavis badside. They are rough characters.

56 Storm:

We pass the other homesteads and arrive at the Kalf homestead. Saroon, the wife and mother, is there and is very monotone and depressed. Fodor Palebeak, a duck, is also at the stead. They give us what little information they have about the disappearance. Andro and Barleman went out hunting with their Alynx (Shadowcats). They may have gone hunting up the West River Valley. They would not have entered the Spider Woods or the Plateau. The Alynx returned without the men.

1 Sacred Time:

We set out to find the Kalfs. We plan to head west. Talonspear tries to get the alynxes to help. The eldest takes off following the trail. Boron uses his mobility magic to follow the alynx. We are led to the Kalf's campsite. We find remnants of clothing and gear. It appears they were attacked and attempted to defend themselves. Arrows lie at the edge of the Spider Woods about 100 yards away. There is enough blood to indicate that the Kalfs were killed at the camp and were then dragged into the Spider Woods.

We follow the trail into the woods, but it stops abruptly at the wood's edge. Evidently, the Kalfs were dragged up into the trees. The Spider Woods are full of Redwoods and Evergreens. Also, there are giant trees with 30 meter diameter trunks. We elect not to pursue into the woods, especially since the Kalfs are almost certainly dead.

On our return, we stop at Ranalf Homestead to warn them about what happened. They are also from Pavis but not from Badside. We have lunch with them and warn then about the danger of the Spider Woods.

That afternoon, we return to Kalf Homestead and present our evidence. Saroon is stoic but Palebeak breaks into tears.

2 Sacred Time:

We travel to Soderford. We stop at the Burison Homestead. They appear to be excellent farmers. We warn the Burisons and the Soderfords. The Burisons take the warning seriously while the Soderfords believe there is no danger.

3 Sacred Time:

We return to Hazard Fort and report to Berra. He says he will give a favourable report about us to Renekot.

11 Sacred Time:

Durnel's petition for the homestead has been granted. Along with the others, I join the clan. Durnel is invested as steadholder.

Sea Season 1644:

We head out to the homestead and begin to clean it up. Talonspear performs a Yelmalio ritual to bless our crops. Boron is sent to help out the Kalfs who are in serious danger of going under this year now that the two men are dead. We are able to eek out a subsistance existence in our own homestead.

The Soderfords are not very good farmers. They are always looking for help and handouts. The Ranalfs are hardworking but incompetant. The Burisons are friendly and busy. The Kalfs are having great difficulty, in spite of Boron's help. Boron attempts to romance their pretty daughter, but Saroon tries to get Boron to marry her and he backs off. I learn much about farming and tending sheep this season.

56 Sea:

A big festival is held at the Burison Stead. We meet some Argan Argar ducks at Hazard Fort.

18 Fire:

We hear the warning horn being blown at the Soderford Homestead. We head out into the night towards their homestead. When we arrive, we see that the house has been fired and is under attack by three scorpion men.

Talonspear, Durnel, and Endorna set up about 50 meters from the homestead. Another Odayla huntress and I set up about 20 meters behind them. Talonspear casts a spell that illuminates the entire area. The scorpion men charge while we fire arrows and cast spells at them. Talonspear demoralizes all of them with magic.

Endorna is attacked by one that has five tails and is eventually killed by it. Talonspear's scorpion man is killed by melee and disruption spells. Durnel is seriously injured by a mishap during combat.

During the fight, two more scoprion men show up. One is engaged by men from the homestead while the other engages me in an archery duel. We receive surprise aid from concealed bowmen from the other homesteads and kill the scorpion man that was duelling me. Meanwhile, many of the steaders are wounded or slain in the battle.

Eventually, the scorpion men try to flee. We are able to bring down one of them, but the other is able to escape. Endorna died during the battle while attempting to fight on the front lines. However, she is not a good fighter and should not have been placed there.

We bring the dead to Hazard Fort. The Soderford steadholder was killed early in the raid and is raised by the Orlanthi priest. The Teelo Nori priestess offers to raise Endorna. However, she fails the first time and cannot raise her until three days later.

We are rewarded with 10 lunars per killed scorpion man (40 lunars in total). We are promised favourable consideration by the windbag Orlanthi priest; he gives Durnel a miniature gold urn of Dara Happan design. We also sell the scorpion man armour for a lot of coins. Durnel uses a large portion of the money to purchase ring mail armour for me (though I doubt I will wear it much; it's just for emergencies).

25 Fire:

Jaileentra and I go out hunting together to fulfill our seasonal obligation to the Odayla cult. We spot a rare Lunar sable grazing nearby. Jaileentra casts a powerful multimissile spell and then I sneak closer to get a better shot. The sable notices me and Jaileentra fires her arrows and slays it. I begin the Peaceful Cut ceremony, taking most of the day, and successfully release the beast's spirit. Unfortunately, I fail to obtain the best meat with my clumsy butchering attempts. We do obtain the valuable horns of the Lunar sable.

30 Fire:

Boron and I head to the foothills north of Hazard Fort to join the Uroxi cult. We hope to use their magic in the coming battles against Chaos. Although initially wary of us, they prove to be friendly men and we tell stories and drink alcohol for much of the night. Their leader is Peacock, presumably a Storm Khan. All of the members have nicknames. They have patterned themselves after the Western Knights and call themselves the Mad Dog Templars.

I awaken to see that broos are in the camp. I roll aside just in time to avoid a broo's blow and spring to my feet. I yell out the alarm hoping to wake up Boron. All of my weapons and foci are gone, so I grab a burning branch out of the campfire to use as a club. Boron awakens and also grabs a branch. The broos clumsily attack us and miss. When we attack back, the broos reveal themselves to be disguised Uroxi who are testing us. We passed the test, proving our courage in the face of Chaos.

The next morning, Boron and I attempt to pass the ritual tests to join the cult. I pass only two of the five tests and am rejected. However, Boron passes the tests and is initiated into the Uroxi cult. He is not ready, however, to be admitted into their "knighthood".

42 Fire:

Berra Thangan comes to our homestead and wants to send us on a mission. Geri, a housekarl, has been accused of secret murder of Morial Treeweep. Geri had been visiting Morial's wife in private. Recently, Morial was found stabbed to death; his body was mutilated to prevent resurrection. The clan now has an obligation to try Geri for the death of Morial. Geri had been asking about Thunder Mountain and is believed to have gone to the peak of Thunder Mountain, where it is believed that one may talk to Orlanth directly.

Renekot specifically asked for us to perform this mission. Renekot wants Geri brought back to justice. Berra acknowledged that Geri may have been provoked. However, Geri must still face his trial for the good of the colony. Berra has made arrangements for the Burisons to tend our homestead while we are gone.

Durnel, Boron, Jaileentra, Alar, and I go after Geri (Talonspear has yet to return from his trip to Dara Happa). We find Geri's tracks easily and follow his trail up the river bed to the top of the plateau. Boron slips during his climb but catches himself and does not fall.

The plateau is a forest-covered flat land leading to a snow-tipped mountain. Normally, people avoid the plateau because of the Telmori that live there. We find evidence of other passage, but the tracks don't appear to be following Geri. The rocks on top of the plateau have been formed into unusual forms by the weather.

The visibility in the forest is limited to 10-20 meters by the trees and the mist. The treetops are covered in mist. We hear something large running through the underbrush towards us. We prepare ourselves for battle. The creature bursts into the clearing we are in...it is a slimedeer. It runs through the clearing and passes beyond. I am fast enough to shoot at it but I miss.

Slimedeer were best described by Farnhan in his Dorastor Journal. Slimedeer are remarkable creatures like deer with slick gray fur. The head is absent, leaving a red, open wound where the neck should be. The creature's sense organs are clumped willy-nilly in a putrid sack which hangs below this hole. An acid slime slops from this sack onto vegetation, reducing it in a matter of minutes to a fetid, runny mass. A tongue then protrudes from the dangling head sac and slurps up the wretched mess.

We hear another creature running through the underbrush in the same direction; it is following the slimedeer. We decide to dive for cover and avoid whatever is chasing the slimedeer. A large wolf explodes out into the clearing and skids to a halt. It sneers in our direction but backs away while growling. Something else can be heard approaching in haste.

We begin to retreat. The wolf magicks its teeth and charges to attack. Jaileentra and I fire arrows and then cast disruption magic at it. The wolf attacks Alar while Durnel moves in to attack the beast. Durnel hears the other creature approaching and warns Boron to watch out for it.

A werewolf enters the area. It is dressed in a loose-fitting cloak made of slimedeer leather. Behind the werewolf a hideous bubbling spirit forms and charges at Boron and engages him in spirit combat.

I enter the battle against the wolf, hitting it with my sword. Then Alar impales the wolf and kills it. Jaileentra hits the werewolf with an arrow, but while the arrow penetrates the protective magic it has, it fails to penetrate its skin.

Boron is largely helpless against the attacking spirit, even with the aid of Jaileentra's spirit blocking divine magic. Soon he is overcome and falls unconscious.

We are unable to affect the werewolf with any of our weapons. Durnel defends against the werewolf while the rest of us attack it with disruption magic. Only Jaileentra is effective, as she has two bound spirits to draw power from. Eventually, the werewolf is slain.

We search the werewolf and find a few minor items. Boron wakes up after an hour or so and says he feels fine.

We reach the foot of Thunder Mountain after four more hours of travel. At the fifth hour, we pass the treeline and enter snow. The trail is now easy to follow. The footprints begin by heading straight up towards the peak, but then turn off towards a valley. We follow to a depression filled with a glacier.

We see a partially visible object exposed in the ice. Durnel goes out on the ice and finds it is a sled-like object about forty percent buried. It is made of granite latticework with two big granite slabs. Each slab has a hexagonal panel with runes. Durnel attempts to feed the runes his soul force, but nothing happens.

We follow the footprints towards the peak. The trail gets rough and enters mist. We are forced to go on our hands and knees. We rope together for our safety. As we crawl, a booming voice calls out, "Come!"

Finally, we come out of the mist and see that we are on top of the mountain. The view is breathtaking and allows us to see a large portion of Glorantha.

The trail reaches the summit and enters a circle at the top, but Geri's footprints do not leave the circle. We enter the circle and a voice booms out, "You may ask one question each!"

We deliberate for some time over the questions we will ask and then proceed.

Jaileentra asks where Geri is. The voice answers, "He is in my house." We presume that means that Orlanth has taken him.

Alar asks, "What question should Durnel ask?" The voice answers, "One of his own choosing." Alar is also hit with a lightning blast to the chest that severely injures but does not kill him.

Durnel asks for a magical path to the Tower of Lead. The voice answers, "The only path to the foul Tower of Lead lies through the Spider Woods. The spiders can be appeased."

I ask how the spiders may be appeased. The voice answers, "Thou must leave gifts at the edge of the woods. When a female comes, thou must barter with her."

Boron asks how to retrieve the sword of Terrus Darkwind. The voice answers, "You must find where those who took it have fled."

The rumbling on the top of the mountain then moves off into the distance. We return down the mountain to the site of the granite sled. We spend a few hours and dig it out of the glacier and study the odd runes. Durnel tries to give more of his soul to the symbols on the posts, but his sacrifice is not accepted.

43 Fire:

We make it home safely. We tell the full story to Berra. He warns us that the Telmori may attack since we did not hide the remains of the dead. When we tell him about the wagon, he says the area was supposedly inhabited by an ancient race called the Feldichi. The Grey Sages will be going up to visit the sled.

Late Fire Season 1644:

Talonspear summons up a spirit that knows disruption magic, but instead there arrives a 10 meter tall golden man with a golden javelin. He is Uroshi, an ancient Dara Happan hero. He is technically a demon and is popular with the Shonassee.

Talonspear gives a portion of his soul to Uroshi and becomes the demon's worshipper. He offers access to Truespear and Shielding divine magic and the divine ability to Know Lies. The spells can be sacrificed for at any major temple of Yelm or Yelmalio. Also once in Talsonspear's lifetime, he will loan his golden javelin for one week to Talonspear from Fireday to Fireday. The golden javelin is very heavy and requires great strength to heft. It is almost indestructible and can be thrown 30 meters. It does divine damage and is even more potent against Darkness and Chaos creatures. If commanded in Pelorian by saying "Golden javelin of Uroshi, return to my hand", it will do so. It costs a portion of one's soul to summon the spear.

Uroshi's worshippers must remain chaste and utter no untruths to remain as initiates. Additionally, if the summoner of the Goldern Javelin tells a lie or is not chaste within one year after summoning the Javelin, then he will be attacked by Uroshi. Before leaving, Uroshi also teaches Endorna the disruption magic that Talonspear wanted in the first place.

Fire Season 1644:

We have another season of subsistence level existance. Durnel is not able to help out due to wounds from his battle against the Telmori. At the seasonal festival, we erect a small palisade around the Burison Homestead.

The Soderfalls have been improving their defenses since the attack, but are not letting the farming go by the wayside.

The Kalfs are falling further behind.

A seasonal influx of adventurers and scholars have come to the area. Tent Town is swelling with visitors.

Jaileentra and I sell our Lunar sable antlers for 600 silver coins each. I tithe ten percent to Odayla, pay to learn magic to speed my missiles and to slow my enemies, buy cuirbolli vambraces, and donate 16 silvers to the Teelo Nori priestess. I also pay Jaileentra back the 20 silvers I used to try and join the Uroxi. This leaves me 20 silvers for one more attempt at a later time.

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