The StormWatch Chronicles
As seen through the eyes of Drano Battlehammer
Part 5
Update: 31/03/1998 to drano


July 7, 596

I've been rather busy that past month. Cynesra has been tutoring me in the ways of the Eighth Circle of 
Magic in the Bahamas [Cynesra's Note: A tiny, obscure island to the south of Ravenholt]. After a good long 
sip from something with a small "umbrella" in it, I told her of an urgent message from Koryon, stating 
something about him rescuing his long-lost daughter. I set the cool drink down, rubbed some lotion an the 
poor, pale kitty-woman, and promised to return shortly. The message stated that Koryon would be in the 
town of Ashbury for a few days before he left for the land of Niman. . . .

I was almost to Ashbury when I noticed the change in climate. It was hot and humid. The air teemed with a 
mystic energy that you could almost touch. Then I remembered -- I HATE going to Ashbury! The last time 
I went, my spellbooks became unreadable, my earth magics reformed within me, giving more power in the 
low Circles of Magic and less in the High. My natural immunities felt depleted and the magics I work took 
solid form in my brain -- I could no longer call the spell I needed to the fore, but had to implant the 
particular spell power in my head. How annoying! I passed through the mystical barrier thinking, "Boy, 
Koryon had better appreciate this! Go to Ashbury, they said! See the world, they said! FINE, FINE. . . ."

Then it happened again. I was just getting used to the feeling of the change, when I noticed a gathering mist 
ahead. "Must be the heat," I thought, as I trudged further up the path and into the mist. It was then that I felt 
an odd sensation. My natural immunities kicked in as I breathed the choking mist. "Hmmm . . . some 
poisonous cloud," I muttered, and continued on in my usual stubborn way. "It'll take more than a little 'ol 
poison cloud to stop this dwarf!" Then I noticed the other part. The poisonous gas was not only unhealthy 
to breathe, but corroded all metals and wood as well.

I passed through the cloud with nothing but my long-johns and my previously memorized spells! Hoo boy! 
This was annoying. I proceeded to where I thought the Stormwatch cabin should be as per Delahr's 
instructions, but I only found Northstar. He was friendly enough and proceeded to fill me on the details of 
the mist. It appears that the mist was a time barrier of some sort, so we were about a hundred years in the 
past in some troll-war or something. Northstar then proceeded to help me get re-equipped. He brought me 
to some merchant and purchased armor, sword, and shield for me, a favor I'll not soon forget. Thus 
equipped, we headed across the field to find the members of Stormwatch.

About halfway there, we spotted a large group of trolls heading for the local tavern. These trolls were BIG, 
and the force almost equaled the one the townsfolk were sending out against it. They looked our way, but 
whether it was my baleful glances, or Northstar's posturing bravado, they cowed from us and concentrated 
on the town. We met up with them then, and were reunited with Stormwatch. Koryon, Delahr, and Tempus 
were there, as well as members of Dragonshire. In particular, I saw the one named Squire Martimus (or 
Squire "Beef", as we refer to him -- DAMN, he's biiiiig!), who quietly and bravely watched over me for the 
next hour. Every time I turned around, he was within sword's reach, watching my back vigilantly. I've 
never seen such willing sacrifice, unasked for, in a human before. This will also not be forgotten.

We fended off the horde of trolls and proceeded to the tavern to discuss matters with Koryon. Come to find 
out, he's located his long-lost daughter in Niman and intends to go rescue her -- alone. I cannot allow this, 
and told him so. I intend to wait outside town after completing training, and accompany him on this 
mission. The first good-natured human I've met, I'm not about to let the boy run off into trouble unattended.

Bishop was there, as well, arriving only hours before me. In that short time, though, he'd managed to get 
himself beat up pretty well, and needed quite a bit of healing. After the bleeding was stopped, we prepared 
to hold the tavern from the next wave of nastiness. We stood in front of the tavern and met Lord Aloryn 
and Nunsa. With this force, we felt ready for anything.

Then, they came. . . .

They are called "Panther Geasses," I believe, and they target a particular race. First was the elven one, it 
hosed down a good four elves before it was spelled into next year. I healed one of the poor lads, a relatively 
young one of his kind, who seemed to be travelling alone -- thus the idea that he's young, 'cuz he sure 
wasn't powerful! Then the dwarven one arrived. Panic isn't what I felt, but there was a great sense of fear in 
the air. Two other dwarves, from clans I don't recognize, went down to its claws. It was headed my way, 
when a woman from the Ducal household stepped between me and it. Whether it was another dwarf closer 
to it, or the considerable eclipsing effect of this considerate woman that sent the geas off in another 
direction, I'll never know. But I was glad I didn't have to raise my blade to it. It was soon dispatched, again 
by spell-casters.

It was then that we heard the giggling. . . . The maniacal giggling of some insane child. Figures came out of 
the haze toward us and we were hit with a tangible smell -- the smell of the undead. The necromancers 
were throwing death spells like they were going out of style, the zombies were pounding townsfolk with 
rotted limbs, the greater undead were resisting most normal blades, and the raucous giggling got louder, 
and louder, and LOUDER until they were in and among us.

Bishop, Koryon, and I flanked off to the right . . . three of them came at us -- two greaters and a giggler. 
The giggling ones were only being affected by magic weapons -- most of which were lost in the mists. . . . 
Bishop squared his shoulders and barreled into the closest one. Koryon drew the attention of the other one 
in an attempt to stall until someone with magic could smite them down. With my plain old sword in hand, I 
knew that to confront these was my doom. It was then, that I saw my chance. . . . Bishop and his walking 
corpse were battling back and forth, Koryon was being forced back by the other advancing undead warrior, 
and the "giggler" was preparing to flank him. It seemed to not really see me there. So, gathering my magic 
powers about me, I strode towards it. I actually got within arm's length of it -- I could smell its fetid breath -
- its laughter was a hammer in my ears! But apparently it didn't know I was a dwarf, since when did 
"hammering of the ears" affect me?! I reached out -- almost touched it -- it turned and saw me just in time 
to hear, "I CALL UPON THE EARTH TO HARM UNDEAD!" My spell leapt from my fingertips and 
engulfed the monstrosity. The healing magics of the earth ran rampant upon it and it fell with a dull thud to 
the earth, dying once and for all. The others fell quickly, as the townsfolk's combined might prevailed.

The rest of the short time I was there was spent healing others; Koryon's poisoned blood was fixed, the 
Ducal woman was released from her fear of undead, and the Dragonshire men were healed to full. I then 
paid Northstar some money found off the creature I'd slain, in return for his generosity, and bade farewell 
to my friends. I had to head back to the tasty drink with the little "umbrella" -- Cynesra tells me they're an 
important component for some great magic. . . . [Cynesra's Note: Long story. Do not ask. :]