Csaba's Journal

A collection of the the heroes' journey, through Csaba's eyes.

## Entries

Entries will be organized by session number, although the date is included for completion's sake.

#### Session 0, Ymirni 17th

I found myself in a strange, cold land only a short while ago but quickly found a city so large that I would have had to make great effort to miss it in my travels. Growing up in a small cabin, with neighboring towns more than a day’s ride away, I find the motion and roaring of crowds’ to be both overwhelming and quite novel. And what luck? I appear to have come in the midst of some great festival. A tournament? An odd custom indeed, still, I sought knowledge and I have heard that such grandiose gatherings could be a great source of just that.

Cautiously, I navigated the city, finding the noise and nonsense to be overwhelming. I found great relief in covering my ears with muffs to drowned out the cheers and jeers. I needed refreshments and a warm place to recover from my harsh travels. It would seem that, no matter how big or small the town, one was never too far from a humble pub.

I took a seat at the bar, hoping to remain unnoticed, but soon sensed that I had drawn some attention. Sensing watchful eyes, I decided to move to a more secluded seat where I could gain a vantage point. I was soon approached by a strange creature… A man, but also a rat…? Though his first words were that of deception, I found surprising comfort in his presence. Perhaps because I have spent so much more time surrounded by the many creatures of the forest and, in some cases, far more sinister creatures, that I have grown accustom to the natural world and better able to determine friend from foe.

He offered a drink. I accepted though I am no fool and placed it on the table. Suspicious but not threatening. He seemed curious but I am not sure that even he was sure why. Our encounter was brief, and he soon made his way back to his seat across the pub. Most of the patrons were fixated on the tournament, but not Raddger… Ragg’gar…? But not the rat-man. It was clear that he had not found the answers he sought from our encounter, and he was still anxiously searching for something. Does he know? No, I figure our meeting would likely have taken a different turn had he…

Chaos soon broke out as hordes of people fled the arena and surrounding areas. I could feel a magical surge, smell the sweet metallic air, and I knew that I had no choice but to investigate! Planar magic, it had to be! I gave the crowds a moment to disperse then made my way to the Colosseum. It was monstrous! Unlike anything I had ever seen. I approached from the seating area, hoping to get a look but still maintain the option of fleeing. Magical creatures poured from a rift in the sky, and I immediately sought to run… but there he was… Raggtarr…? The rat-man!

I thought I had recognized his voice in the distance, warning people of potential danger. Another trick? Perhaps. I used my magic to assess the situation. This was no trick, at least not of his anyways. I could tell he was a creature of many… half-truths, but he seemed harmless enough and he was the first helpful voice I heard amongst the panic. The danger was real, I still had a chance to run, but I knew I had to warn him, “their weapons are magical, and these creatures are in their true form!”

#### Session 1, Ymirni 17th

I was hesitant to engage in combat with such… radiant creatures… but, though I did not understand a word of their conversation, Ra’daar does not seem the confrontational type, so I assume he made every effort to avoid a fight. Unfortunately, two winged ladies seemed hell bent on a fight as they circled Ra’daar and the others. Yet something seemed wrong… why did the other to remain above the coming fight? Is this a test of sorts? A distraction perhaps?

Using my knowledge of planar magic and spell crafting, I suspected that these aggressors were being acted upon by outside forces. They showed no interest in my presence, possibly because I am not native to this plane, and instead only focused on those in the arena. I pitied these poor creatures, but it was clear that a fight was now inevitable, but Ra’daar was now the closest thing to an ally that I had on this plane, so I decided to back his group instead of fleeing.

Though I had accepted that combat was inevitable, I still had hoped to seek a less lethal approach to this battle. I ready my wand of mage armor in my left hand, and with my right hand pulled from my pouch a small candle. I focused my powers into my right hand as I spoke the language of planar travel. The candle ignited and I became lost within the glow of the candle’s flame. Deep into the flame I peered until my eyes caught sight of the creature that I sought. With one final push of concentration, the candle was consumed in one final flash of light as I tore through the plains and summoned forth a giant frog!

The giant frog quickly proved a great choice as its massive tongue sored through the air and snared the winged woman to my left. Ra’daar clearly had a similar plan as he tossed a mysterious bag towards the other challenger. Ra’daar’s bag burst open and from it came many twisting vines that easily ensnared the winged warrior. It seemed clear that we had gained the upper hand, but still… I grew ever suspicious of the two warriors that remained above us. It seemed ever clearer that this was not simply an attack but rather some sort of spectacle or test.

Just as the flow of combat shifted in our favor, the crystal projections flashed back on and the king shouted for the Valkyries heads. Though I know little of the dwarven king, his grandiose nature and demand for glory above all else was made obvious during his announcements through the crystals, both now and before the tournaments start. Suddenly, all signs pointed to the king! But would he be so cruel to force these women to fight his champions just to boast his glory? Would he toss these lives aside simply for publicity? Almost definitely…

The combat mysteriously came to a halt and we released the Valkyries. Suddenly, a flash of light ripped through the arena barriers, with booming authority, and was on a one way course to ending the kings reign. In a split second before the lighting struck the king, his loyal guard braced himself between the king and certain death in the most heroic showing of futility ever witnessed. This magnificent force rushed through the guard, turning his body into a horrid memory and crashing into the king I within a single instance. The king was flung back from view and a booming voice claimed victory for her fallen companions and the arena quickly fell silent.

We had but a moment to discuss the circumstances which bestowed the, now bested, Valkyrie, and learned that they were captured and forced to fight us by mysterious forces. Not ones to hold a grudge, we quickly accepted the Valkyries explanation and offered the two, Silna (poised and stern) and Hjand (meek and reserved), treatment for their wounds. Things started heating up again as crowds of people started making their way back towards the arena, no doubt to see what fait bestowed there once mighty king. Fearing for their lives, the two remaining Valkyrie quickly sought disguises, and also fearing for their safety, I promptly offered my assistance! Being no stranger to hiding the identity of both myself and my less than desirable companion, I was easily able to fashion scraps left from the battle into garments capable of hiding the Valkyries’ wings… at least from a distance. As if by the role of a die from some outside, perverted source, I was compelled to brush Silna’s ample behind… she was not pleased…

Without warning, Ra’daar and his friends hurried off into the arena’s West gate. I was confused to say the least and had no personal investment in any of the current happenings, but Ra’daar was currently the closest thing that I had to a companion… and Silna’s burning glares, prompted me to fallow in kind. Our group met up before large doors and two dwarven statues, a crypt? Here? Hidden by an easily missed ally way?

The others seemed hell bent on entering this crypt and pursuing some frog man, but Silna and Hjand feared entering the resting grounds of past foes. After learning about this mysterious frog, my interest was also peaked. I am a student of planar magic after all! Knowing that the Valkyries would not enter the crypt but also that they could not simply expose themselves to the locals, I offered to help them back to their home plane. Silna explained that being twice bested by mortals was a crime far to grave to ever return to their home world. It seemed that for the time being the two Valkyrie would have to remain in the hidden room just outside the crypt. We did our best to further hide the ally way and I left a portion of my food and water with the Valkyries.

Without hesitation, a large dwarven man cut a piece of his beard and placed it on the statues on either side of the crypt’s doors. In an instance, the hair vanished in a poof of flames and another of my party walked forwards. Confused, I moved to remove a piece of my hair to also offer to these strange magical devices, but I noticed that Ra’daar placed a coin and the statues seemed pleased enough to consume the gold as well. I felt foolish when I concluded that it was not hair but simply something of personal value that was being offered. I wasn’t immediately sure of what I should offer but then, without thinking, I pulled a single candle from my pouch and placed it on the statue. I had meditated on the flickering, dancing flames of such candles for hours upon hours until my eyes could take no more, and my being and that burning wick, trapped between two worlds as it burned, seemed one and the same. The candles wick burned threw in an instance… my offer, accepted… I hope!