“Wonk  Wonk!!!”

 

“So that’s how you planned to do it all along.”  Valet stood feeding goji berries to Serina’s little pet, Blinky.  “I wondered how you were going to send your letter to Garain when none of us know where the rift has sent us.  Now I see:  Blinky will take the letter to Serina and Serina will forward it to the Temple.”

 

“Exactly.  Kord always provides.”  Said the Paladin.

 

“But how did you find him?”

 

“He delivered a note to Grizzlegar a few nights ago.  Since then, I’ve been leaving piles of goji berries around the spire.  I knew it was just a matter of time.”

 

“But…”

 

“As part of my training, I had to work with Master Namgibel in the stables.  He kept quite a few of these creatures, so I know they have a fondness for goji berries.  I developed quite a fondness myself, so I always keep some on my person.  As I said, Kord always provides.”

 

“Do you think he could deliver these as well?”  I quickly showed him the packet of letters to Menolly.

 

“I don’t see why not.  See he has a tiny pouch around his neck.  Anything you place inside of it instantly shrinks down to an almost weightless mass and it changes color to let Serina know there’s something inside it.”  I can only blame the lateness of the hour to explain why neither of us realized Blinky’s pouch could have been the answer to shrinking down the heart.  At any rate at that point it was still trapped in the cold fire.

 

I let Valet read the Numbilung letter.  Then he put it in the packet I was sending Menolly and placed all the letters in the pouch around Blinky’s neck.  The little creature flew up toward the ceiling and vanished.

 

“I wish we knew more about this Olu.”  I told the Paladin.

 

“From my studies at the Temple I remember he’s a fairly passive god.  He and his followers rarely involve themselves in the affairs of the living; it’s hard to say why they would resort to such a blatant act of vandalism.  Also we have to consider that this Numbilung creature is lying and only trying to curry favor with his friend the gold merchant.”

 

‘Still, we have the evidence of the defacement all over the spire and you can’t think it’s just a coincidence that the heart is trapped in cold fire.  I think it’s quite possible that something or someone else is active in this spire besides the vampires and whoever or whatever that is has co-opted at least one of the Olunese followers.”

 

“You shouldn’t cloud your mind with such speculation, Gerard.  Our main concern right now should be securing the Heart so we can take it out through the rift and back to the Temple.”

 

Since I knew that the Temple and the Mages were both claiming an interest in the Heart once we freed it from the rift (and even though I believed the Mages were the rightful owners), I decided it would be fruitless to argue with Valet on this point and changed the subject..

 

“I was fascinated to learn from your letter that you had bound Grizzle’s humanity to Pax…”

 

“Hey guys, you won’t believe what just happened!”  Jerro came running up to us from the direction of the Heart.  “I just cast Light on the Heart and it put out the Cold fire.  The Heart is free!”

 

“That’s wonderful news Jerro!”  Said Valet.

 

“Oh, for the love of Kord will you people please keep quiet!”  A sleepy Pax stumbled toward us rubbing her eyes.  “I finally get a chance to sleep and you guys just won’t shut up!”

 

“I’m so sorry for disturbing you, Lady Pax, but I suppose you heard Jerro has just brought us the best news!”

 

“Yeah, I heard, and now I suppose you want all of us to take the heart right this instant, and tromp back through these freaking catacombs so we make it back to the Temple before breakfast?”

 

“Actually, I just sent a message to Master Garion at the Temple.  Master Panril and the Mages should be here soon.  They may have a way to shrink the heart before we try to transport it.  In any event, we should all try to get more rest before they arrive.”

 

The cranky cleric left mumbling something under her breath. 

 

“Listen Valet.”  Said the wizard.  “I was wondering if you could do the same thing you were just talking to Gerard about.  Bind Yehia’s humanity to mine.”

 

“Well even if you’re willing to do that, I have to warn you, she may be too far gone.’

 

“Still, I’d like to try it.”

 

“Then I would be happy to do it for you.”

 

Jerro went to check on the Heart.

 

The Paladin and I exchanged niceties and parted ways, but as I was turning a corner I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Grizzlegar had approached Valet.  I couldn’t help myself; I had to listen in on their conversation:

 

“I need to have a word with you Bub.”

 

“Of course, what can I do for you?”

 

“I heard what you just said to Gerard and Jerro.  I want to know what you did to me and Pax!”

 

“During your marriage ceremony I bound your humanity to her.”

 

“And why did you do that?”

 

“If I hadn’t, there’s a good chance you would be a full vampire right now.”

 

“And what AM I now.  What does this mean for Pax and the babies?”

 

“For Pax and her babes things will pretty much continue as they were.  If, and Kord forbid it, they should die before we can bring your vampire side to bay; you shall become a full vampire with no hope.  But I tell you Master Shortenkord will do everything he can to eradicate your vampire curse.”

 

“Well I have to tell you, I don’t trust your Panril.”

 

“I don’t understand.  You seemed to have been moved by his words at the Temple and were ready to embrace the ways of Kord.”

 

“That was before I knew Panril had manipulated Gerard’s memories.  I can not follow a man or a god that would do such a thing.”

 

I wanted to tell Grizzle that I had found out from Plinth that Panril was not the guilty party.  In fact there were two others who were responsible:  Kerris and Rogard.  Kerris had made me forget my time with the Game Master and Rogard had covered up his part in my father’s plot to kill my cousin Revlis when Revlis was a baby.  I decided to keep to the shadows and continue to listen.

 

“I can’t tell you if Master Shortenkord altered Gerard’s memories.” Valet was saying.   “But if he did, he and Kord had good reason.”

 

“There is no good reason for that.  You’ll never convince me otherwise.  But I think I’ve figured out why you did the binding Ceremony:  It was to give me a choice.”

 

“That’s it exactly!  Now you don’t have to surrender to your vampiric nature.  You have a choice!”

 

“I see how that is a good thing obviously, but you still should have asked for my and Pax’s permission.”

 

“And for that, I heartily apologize.”

 

It was at this point that events began to take a lightning pace.

 

“Wonk! Wonk!”

 

Blinky appeared on Grizzle’s shoulder; closely followed by Serina , Alarick and Rogard; all of them appearing out of thin air.  Next came Panril and Garain.  I broke from my hiding place, ran up to Rogard and started accusing him of manipulating my mind.  He denied it of course but that didn’t matter.  I had done it for Grizzle’s benefit, and as we exchanged glances I knew the barbarian had heard and understood.  He could now make a clear choice concerning Kord.

 

The commotion had awoken a now very grumpy Pax, along with Jerro and Yesha who all joined us on the skywalk

 

And then Gulthias returned, accompanied by his last three vampire flunkies (the Mages would later explain that he had been using the Olunese sigils as scrying points to keep track of our position in the spire).

 

“Excellent, your party has done surprisingly well.  I shall take possession of the Heart now!” exclaimed the Litch (again, the Mages would afterward call into question whether Gulthias was a Litch at all).

 

“We are here to reclaim this Heart and return it to its rightful place within the Temple of Kord!”  Roared Panril.

 

Scanning the faces of the Mages I could tell that the Mages were not altogether happy about this proclamation, they wanted to lay claim to the Heart as well, but that would have to be sorted out later.

 

Jerro pulled a huge fireball from his cloak and threw it at the vampires.  It vaporized them instantly and I could see that it had even knocked Gulthias on his heels.  It also had the unintended consequence of killing Yesha, who then rose as a full vampire.  Pax quickly threw holy water on her and torched the body.

 

Jerro didn’t have anytime to grieve; Grizzlegar let out a howl and charged toward the wizard who had just killed the gnome’s sire.  Jerro cast confusion on Grizzle who reeled back and started to grapple with Panril.

 

Meantime Gulthias had somehow filled the chamber with wererats and turned to a gaseous state.  He started to float toward the heart.  He disappeared inside it.  Without thinking I and Valet jumped from the catwalk to the top of the heart and started looking for a way in. when we found one we entered and somehow Valet drove Gulthias back out.  He could not hold his gaseous state and collapsed to floor, but he pulled himself back up and conjured more minions shouting.  “Kill them all!!!”

 

This was the last straw for Grizzlegar, who had been sparing with Panril this whole time,  The prior had been fending him off and all the while urging him to fight his vampric nature.  Gulthias’ words had exploded in the barbarian’s head like a cannon.

 

“I refuse to be enslaved by anything or anyone ever again!!!”  He drew a medallion from his loincloth and I saw that it was emblazoned with the Symbol of Kord!  He laced it around his neck and it began to glow.  A beam of light shot from it and struck Gulthias. 

 

He was no more.

 

Panril was beaming with pride.  Kord had heard Grizzlegar’s declaration and blessed it. And to prove it the Symbol of Kord was burned into his chest.

 

I was so delighted to have a new Kordian Brother!!!

 

My Dearest Menolly,

 

                        As I write this letter, I have no idea how I will ever get it into your hands, as I really have no inkling as to where I am right now (or even where you are).  I hope your mission for you father has gone well.  I am so glad you were able to retrieve the ruby dagger from the Vecna mine (Someday we must return to Mantol-Derith and discover its true origin).

 

In the course of the mission Panril sent me on, the rest of the party and I tracked down the source of a rift in time and space caused by my cousin Revlis (I will tell you the whole story WHEN I see you again).  The rift lead us to a strange land where we now find ourselves deep in catacombs under a towering spire.  We have found the object we were seeking but we have no idea how to secure it and bring it out of the rift.

 

Earlier tonight I  helped Valet (a newly graduated Paladin, your cousin, Garain sent to help us on our mission) draft a letter and I  am sending you a copy of it.  In it, he sets down details concerning Grizzlegar that I know you will find both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.  He also shares more background on our mission.

 

I am also sending you a letter I found in the library we are currently resting in, written by the goblin Numbilung ( the letter confirms he is the one responsible for putting Revlis in the position that created the rift in the first place).  He was here!!!  He was bargaining with some merchants over the object we all sought and if I had been able to capture him I know he could have told us how to free the object (I’m sorry but I promised Valet I would not refer to the object by name) from the dark fire it is trapped in, but as soon as I had a hold on him he vanished into thin air.

 

 

                                    Until I see you again I remain always Yours

 

                                                                                                Gerard

.                                              

 

 

 

 

************************

 

Gold Merchant Padrius,

 

            I wanted to write and thank you again for coordinating with my Goblin friends to furnish my escape from that dolt Malek.  Be assured that the Kordian statue you procured for me (I can hardly believe it’s been 10 years ago) is in a very safe place.

 

Now I can tell you that another plot I’ve had simmering on the back burner has finally come to fruition.  Unfortunately there has been a complication (but I’m getting ahead of myself).  Several years ago I saved the life of a powerful Djin ( I will not go into the details here, suffice it to say he found himself in my debt) and he gave me a wish granting potion. 

 

Knowing Djins as I do I recognized I couldn’t use the potion myself (such concoctions tend to grant wishes in the most appalling ways), so I let the potion fall into the hands of two pups by the names of Revlis and Refrus.  I had no idea wish one or the other of them would make but I knew whatever it was I could take advantage of it   I had a medallion fashioned to let me know the moment the potion was used and the results were beyond my wildest dreams.  Revlis’ wish created a rift in space and time.

 

This brings me to the complication I spoke of:  I was far from Melinir when the medallion notified me the wish had been invoked.  By the time I returned, I realized someone else had found the rift and gone through it.  They were acolytes of the god of Cold, Winter, Death, and Sleep: Olu.  On the other side of the rift they found a spire guarded by a dragon named Ashardalon.  Using the power of their god, they overpowered the beast and killed it.

 

They then went through the spire and defaced the Dragon’s Sigil with their own Barren Tree Sigil.  Before they left, they placed a Thunder Moon Calf atop the spire to guard it.  What the didn’t know was that their raid on the spire had awoken vampire followers of a powerful Litch named Gulthias. 

 

When the vampires discovered that Ashardalon was dead, they went through the rift themselves and stole a certain object from a certain group of Mages.  They plan to use the object to resurect the Dragon but only Gulthias has enough power to use the object in question and as of this writing, he is still incapacitated.  Even if Gulthias was revived, something else has awoken in the spire and that entity stole object and locked it in a cold fire deep within the catacombs under the spire.  I know all this because I was there watching from the shadows and I know how to unlock the cold fire.

 

I plan to take full advantage of this situation and will keep you updated as these endeavors unfold.

 

 

                                                Numbilung

 

 

 

 

                                                ************************

 

 

Master Garion,

As requested I am informing you when I have found the item in which you and Brother Shortankard have requested I follow this group and find. Second I am conflicted, it is true brother I am, for you have sent me to share and teach the word of Kord to these travelers and I fear I may have failed (may Kord forgive me). First let me tell you that all was well when we first arrived but then my loving brother Christic fell to this monstrous beast on top of this unholy of all towers! You know he was more then just a brother to me but my love and mate, losing him like ripping the very heart that beat in my chest out. But through the light and knowledge of Kord I continued with this group teaching when I could knowing that later I would have time to greave.

Then Grizzelgar, the very one I was sent to aid and convert was bitten by one of the unholy beasts in this tower! As taught, I tried to purify him while he slept but to know avail, I watched him change from human/gnome ..to something else. Looking for some way to save him from the death grip that he was cursed with I told him how unholy it was to create life in his mate without the holy blessing of Kord to bind them. I hope Kord will forgive me for this little lie but I needed a way to cast a binding spell on him to save what little of humanity that was left in him. So in the name of Kord I wed Grizzelgar and his mate Pax in a quick ceremony in which I hid the casting of the holy binding spell. They both said I do and I bound Grizzalgar to Pax; and every bit of humanity that was left in Grizzels soul was transferred to her. Had there been another way I would have gladly done it, for Pax is a holy cleric of Kord and to deceive her in this way has left my broken heart weighted with guilt.

Onward we continued and search for the item through undead curses and empty rooms. How this group managed without me before hand I will never know for it was I they looked to, to open all the doors and to open and investigate the tombs. We found and saved a young girl whose very study of this tower brought her ruin as the undead fed upon her stealing her life and leaving her but a shell of the studious mage I'm sure she once was. At first Jerro took her under his wing but her abuse in the hands of the unholy left her full of fear and her screaming and crying became to much for him. I have to say too of my failing to this poor woman as I was so concerned with the party and their needs and health I failed to see she too was being consumed by the darkness of this place. To late did I notice as she tried to bite the young Jarad in the heat of a battle. I tried to purify her later that evening while the others slept but I do not hold much hope for her. The very group that rescued her voted to send her away..or worse! I stood up for her hoping that the things I did to help Grizzelgar I could do for her..but I have yet no one to bind her to. I am afraid all her humanity may become lost if it hasn't already. Perhaps when you come to help retrieve the item you can help also this poor young mage.

As I have said we did find the item at long last and as Jarad tried to free it from where it hung to bring back to the temple of Kord the others went up and discovered the very one we chased was in a deal to sell the H..item! Of course this blood thirsty group attacked first them thought to ask questions later. It was I that said "why must we kill this person?" and I saw Pax with her own humanity and that of Grizzelgars asked "yes why?" but it was too late for the others Jarad was distracted with getting revenge of Numbelung for the problems he had given to his nephew, and Grizzle; was in some sort of blood lust along with young Yesha. to make matters worse the trigger happy wizard had set fire to the far side of the place and killed one of the men on the field injuring many others. If ever a group needed the word and order of Kord it was this chaotic group! The woman/buyer was willing to give us the price of the item and I admit I became charmed by all the treasures that appeared when I allowed my curiosity to over take me and open the sack. I am ashamed at how it charmed me and tried to pull the others from battle not because of the will of Kord but because of the power greed and desire.

The he..item itself is in our procession/ or us in its, as it is hanging in a black flame above a library in a size that could not fit in any of our bags. I hope Brother Shortankard can come with some of the mages to release the curse it is in and help us bring it back to the temple. Be warned there are Vamphires here that follow this powerful mage/vamphire Gunthris. This guthrias worships and follows the ancient black dragon that was found dead at the top of the tower. Gunthris believes he can use the item to bring back his beloved Ashardalon and restore the dark unholy power of this tower. His belief that we would help him, helped us go untouched through the tower but it is only a matter of time before he discovers we have no intention of handing him the item. Please hurry. I will try to delay all things until you and your wisdom gets here. below is a sketch of the area we traveled along with directions of how to find us in the Library. There may be a short cut from the standing stones to the Library, and be far less dangerous then trying to make it through the maze of the tower and catacombs.

Your humble servant Valet Paladin in the Light of Kord