Luke Nation's Saga (09/05/2021)

This is Luke Nations, recording my events with those inside the Fortress while I learn the writing and reading arts of the scribes and calligraphers before me. Now let us begin.

It has been 6 days since my last recording and it seems this Realm of Swordhaven suffers from several bouts of rain and insects. Both of which tend to make me rather irritable at times. Not more of which furthers my cause of ire at not locating my clansman and brother Takeo Kuro. But my journey continues outside the walls of our Defender’s fortress.

It is on the 5th day that I hear screams of battle coming from the east of my position down a small gully heading just a mile outside of the Fortress. Near where I fought the tik-tok, tic-tac, or whatever the strange purple feathered bird that laid eggs of mana and health restorative properties. Upon arriving I found Takeo trapped beneath a massive log the width of the mast of a battleship and the weight of at least 4 Groks. While a strange brown furred and somewhat scaled biped was over him trying to strike him down with some sort of clubbed like claw. Was Porcupined of nature and made a strange clicking noise.

As I ran to Takeo and chased the beast off it did not understand my commands to leave the area and proceed to try and take down Takeo. So I was forced to slay it. I would later come to know these creatures as Pangolins. After defeating it, I removed the log with some struggle, for it took me a full minute to displace it from my fallen ally. Once removed I lifted Takeo to his feet and supported him as we made our way back to the Fortress.

On the way Takeo told me of his plight of being trapped under the log for more then 2 days without food and water after getting lost in the rain storm from days past. I recounted the tales of the events of Swordhaven and our fellow Defenders. On our way back I told him that there is plenty to do here and more than able Devilkin and strong foes to fight against. Thus confirming him that we made the right choice of leaving the Hidden Valley and journeying towards SwordHaven.

Upon returning to the Fortress we encountered a few new faces and several old friends. Seems some more Defenders have come to take up arms! After introducing my old Allies, Joosha, Bart, Riah, Tal and others to Takeo. I met a small female biped with hair of silken green and an alluring color by the name of Ozma. She traveled with Joosha and a small child. The child turned out to be Joosha’s first born. A capable healer, while Osma was a skilled gunslinger with some pistol designed projectile weapon. Turns out the child’s name is Veila.

Among them was a poorly dressed and well worn vagabond by the name of Amadeus. Upon the next 2 days I would find my disliking of this slight male biped to grow. For he would continue to make countless mistakes and rush of, heedless of the dangers he put himself in and others. While he was capable of much spellcasting and mana, he was weak and slight of frame and I often found him felled in our many battles. I will waste no more words on this fool nor his deeds, for I care not for him.

As several events happened over the next 2 days, I will break them up into small sub sections of these notes and go over them briefly. So as not to flood you with too many details, nor prattle on like some fool. For I wish to spend more time here getting to know these Defenders and less writing tales of the past. For I’ve come to grow fond of Sword-Haven and these defenders. Though let it be known I don’t trust Secundus. That Keeper is hiding something from us and I worry it could change everything we know to be true. Still he is loyal and helpful and far too powerful to call out directly. So I must simply wait and see. For I know not their ways.

**The Headless King**

Upon my time in this Fortress I’ve seen a statue of a king with its head laying at its feet. Seems to be made out of a stone I’m not familiar with and it seems to hum with some sort of mystical power. I swore an Oath to it on a day of great battle with a Level 3 Devilkin (of that I will detail more of below) and it restored some of my health and fixed a few wounds of mine. It seems I should learn more of the legend and history of this “Headless King” and see what other abilities this statue can possess.

**The Lemurian Plight**

While this tale is most horrid in nature, it seems that the Lemurians come from trees and are beings made of plant or plant-like bipeds. So this red rust plague that kills their trees, kills their future offspring and themselves. And as Tar-Kratos came back to ask us for more help in discovering the nature of the Red Rust and if it has affected our Realm. We set off to cross into the Realm of Lemurian and learn more about their people and their plight. This is that journey.

Tar Kratos returned to the Fortress and told us of some trouble with the Red Rust Plague. Several of us decided to accompany him and do research in our Realm of SwordHaven. To try and find a healthy tree that has been afflicted with the plague. Those of us with far-speakers came along on the journey to record it. I simply came to protect those of us from what dangers would be out there. After all, I had started that morning, being forced to kill a Pangolin.

Along the way we found three trees that were afflicted with the Red Rust. During this journey we encountered a few Devilkin Imps and a level 1 Sorcerer trying to cast some magic. I, with the help of the others, cut them down swiftly. So I never did find out what type of magic they were casting.

We found some Pangolin conversing near the third tree and the fool, Amadeus, attempted to communicate with them and feed them. It resulted in him getting cut down later when he didn’t listen to me on how dangerous they were. Upon investigating the tree we found it still had leaves and was not dying, despite being afflicted with the Red Rust. At the base we found some dead spiders, still intact though. As well as a brown hairy food source it seemed to be fruit, with a hard outer husk. Later investigations by the female Thriddle would reveal it to be a Pangolin egg. Amadeus cracked it open and began eating it almost immediately.

After making our way through towards a Rift-Gate to Lemurian. We emerged on the other side and had to deal with annoying but weak guards called “Meeps”. These insectile-like beings of bright green and rich earthy brown colors. Only seemed to communicate by uttering the same word (meep), over and over again. One hit by any of us seemed to drop them. Though we found they mostly followed us and if we left them alone, they would deal us now harm. Though if they got within 10 ft of us, could excrete a pollen like substance causing us to sneeze for a minute or two. Quite annoying creatures.

Upon encountering grass that moved and tried to grab us, we finally came to a small clearing in which an armored, yet gorgeous winged warrior known as a “Slyph” or the Slyph. I never did find out if that was their name or bipedal species. They had us go through a series of jumping stones to avoid the grass that was cutting us and trying to root us in place. Upon clearing this we found a weird machine of multiple colors and strange tubes. A puzzle in which we needed to form a square within a square to power the machine again. I was able to solve the puzzle, after the others asked for some assistance.

After we completed these challenges, we met the Two Princes of Lemurian. Some finally dressed men with well cared hair and a somewhat arrogant attitude. But that could just be the dire situation and/or nobility like nature of the two. We agreed to better help them find a cure for the Rust Plague. While Takeo took it upon himself to speak with the Female Thriddle and get the Kuro Clan to replace her Midori Clan mercenaries. Thus resulting in him engaging in a champion duel with a Midori Battlemaster.

That duel would be fought on the next day before a big fight. Takeo would come out the victor with just one swing, in true blademaster fashion. The champion of the Midori clan came at him with an overhand swing, which Takeo easily blocked. And brought his blade down deep into the chest of the Midori Champion. Slicing it open and leaving the Midori Clansmen to bleed upon the ground. Leaving behind a noted Midori clan weapon, a Wrist Viper. A snake that wraps around their wrist and spits out poison at a range of 20 ft of the user. Poison is lethal and kills within seconds. Takeo decided to give the viper to our marksman Tal to keep.

Once we finalized our conversation with the Princes, we went back through the gate to SwordHaven and went about our business. Though I for one, wish to cure the Red Rust Plague and stop the Lemurian children from dying.

**To Clone Or Not To Clone?**

Later on the same day as our Lemurian Adventure, we encountered two Scientist and telekinetic users of strange and wondrous power. Coming from a machine like society named Solmo, powered  by something called the Omnicron. Their society is based around a structural rank of colors, with the lowest being Red and the highest being Violet. There is also a form of “un-colored” which is reserved for what they call “Clones”, which happens to be their children.

Their names are hard to say and pronounce, so I wont bother writing them down here for hopes of getting them wrong and having an inaccurate tale. So I will simply state them as the Catch Woman, a yellow ranked female. While the red Male will be known as Red Male.

They asked us to help bring back a handful of Clones from the woods who had completed their trials. Stating that their clones are always born stronger, faster and sometimes more intelligent then normal Bipeds, or non cloned  Bipeds. They offered tranquilizer rounds to those of us who used projectile weapons . I chose to go, even though I had some reservations about it.

We encountered a group of 5 in a clearing displaying primitive war like behavior. Their leader wielded a rather large wooden log. More of a small tree and unwieldy for the likes of me, even though I can lift it up. I challenged the leader to a fight and lost. When I woke up, I found Joosha to be fighting the leader and won. The leader was then bound by Telekinetic force by the Red Man, to be brought back to their Complex.

The other 4 were soon taken out by a series of challenges and games by the other Defenders and subdued, without lethal force and painlessly. Though one died of some illness called Cancer that was in their heart. Even the Red Man was not able to cure it or heal them. I took it’s body to find the Crypt-Keeper and have it buried in whatever proper way the Crypt Keeper decided.

We went back to the Fortress, while Yellow Catch Woman and Red Man went off to their Rift Gate back to their land.  Later I would get a chance to escort two others briefly through the gate to their generator powering some sort of shield that protected their large city of shining steel and silver. The air there was the purest and richest I had ever seen before, with multiple suns lining the sky. Though it was far too bright for my liking.

**More Defenders & Fishing**

After the rain came in, we all mostly stayed inside and around the Fortress. I took up residence with my bedroll on a bench in the tavern. But spent most of my time that night with Riah in a small two story dwelling near the front gate he had taken for his lodging. Learning more about his life in the 5th Cartographers Division and how his society has rankings from Gold, Silver and Bronze. Though I dislike this caste system for a variety of reasons. Most of all involves the inability to move from Bronze to Silver, or from Silver to Gold.

That evening 3 senior defenders came into SwordHaven and helped us to realize that we could get stronger and accomplish good things like this. The first was a fair haired swashbuckler of sorts with a scar over his nose, named Blade. Hair as white as spider silk, and body as small as a grown child.

Next two arrived at the same time. A ponytailed old man of sickly skin, claiming to be a Necromancer of the Belmont Mercenary Company. I never did learn his name. He was very interested in recruiting followers for his Mercenary Outfit. Rather those be living or dead followers, I’m not too sure he’s that picky about that. The other was Captain of the Lancers. A group of polearm and spear wielding warriors whose banner is still held about the doors of SwordHaven.

These two started heavy drinking, while Blade played loud music in the tavern and the defenders started to party. It was at this moment I excused myself to go sit alone with Riah in his house, for I disliked loud music and crowded areas. Too much on my Empathy at times and well I’m big on having my own personal space.

After an hour went by, Lancer Captain came to ask us to shut off our lights as we were going fishing for some Radium flying fish that came out at night and hovered inches off the ground to consume the spent radium from ammunition, broken devices, etc. That happened to be in the air. We only saw a few that night but of those few we saw. Four of them were caught!

I happened to catch the last one, after about 5 tosses of the fishing rod and line. It is hard to fish at night with very little lights out. Thankfully my dull green radium powered light cylinder attached to my helmet allowed me to see well enough to catch the fish, but not scare them off as they dislike bright lights. Located inside my fish was a bone whistle, powered by radium. It is able to release a sonic pulse that can stun you and knock you off balance for a few seconds if you don’t have proper ear protection.

**The Vapor Mine Of Zod**

While a dangerous gas filled mine within another Realm, it turns out this journey would be relatively easy. Come the other events that filled the last few days of my time at SwordHaven. We were tasked by the Keeper Secundus to venture forth into the Vapor Mines and help deal with some sort of ancient and dangerous being of magical power that was in the mines. Thus gaining control of a supply of Radium that would surely benefit us all.

It was not until that evening, before the rain and night fishing happened. That we were able to venture forth into the Mine. It was dangerous with a translucent floor that would cause folks to disappear through it to their untimely death. In which it would be near impossible for their souls, spirits and whatever else prepares our flesh and blood bipedal form from coming back to the mist and being possibly brought back. I took the front and helped guard the others as we moved from steel block to steel block.

Dealing with threats like a crazed sphinx that spit lightning from it’s mouth in between asking questions, in which there was no right answer. It almost seemed as if answering at all, deemed you a target in need of being hit with lightning. A talking magical moth that would distract you, play pranks on you, cast illusion magic and at one point even healed me. I do not know what to make of this trickster. But I do know that I am thankful for their healing hand within the mines.

Last threat we dealt with was a somewhat mechanical spider, or series of spiders. That although strong in health and even hearty then myself. Proved to have weak attacks and very direct patterns of attack. I was able to easily dispatch two of them, while only sustaining 1 or 2 cuts.

As we made our way towards the end of the mine, finding all the pieces of some puzzle and key. Of which the others solved while I stood guard and made sure any stragglers and fellow defenders did not have to face the stones and Spiders alone. Thus revealing a large white glowing crystal that spoke to us. Though I personally did not converse with this crystal, I found it to be dangerous and was unsure if I would be able to help or hinder our party.

In the end we had made a deal to free the Crystal being in exchange for Radium and reclaimed the mines. Thus making our way back to SwordHaven for an evening of music and relaxation.

**The Final Battle**

On our last day we were tasked by Secundus to learn all we could about a powerful Class 3 Devilkin. I, in my arrogance, thought that  I could take it down when I heard about it the night before. But I was sorely brought to terms with my own abilities when just that morning we failed as Defenders in fighting a wave of 60 imps before they destroyed the Cornucopia. So I knew I didn’t have the power to defeat this being. I would later come to realize how foolish my hubris was and how weak I truly am.

Throughout the day we encountered bits of information about this Class 3 Devilkin. But our true boon of information came from two trackers and hunters, serving the Lord Protectors. Whoever they are? I trade a Radium for their ability to lure the Class 3 to SwordHaven Fortress in which we had to hold it off for 4 minutes, then another Keeper without a mustache would force it from the Fortress and it would have to flee back to wherever it came from. It of course would be accompanied by Imps.

I also learned, in which I shared with the others. That this particular being was weak to ranged shots to its face. But it’s armor was strong and heavily powered by radium and other mechanical machinations. Thus providing it a strong force field it could use to repel or pull in bipeds up to 20 ft away. It’s armor gave it Threshold to many attacks and it was able to shrug off almost every blow. It wielded a rapid fired gyrojet in it’s right hand and a large hammer in it’s left hand that would require the likes of someone like me to use it in two hands. This devilkin was square shaped in the head and stood almost 10 ft tall. Dwarfing me in size. I am quite a large being in itself.

We had come up with a plan to barricade the area around the gate with barrels, benches, wooden planks and other debris. Forcing the Devilkin and their Class 3 Leader to fight in a confined area. Our job was to just learn of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as it’s fighting style.

During the day before the big battle, we encountered a Skeleton on the road that killed my brother and Clansman Kuro Takeo. As well as some Pangolins, a biped of unknown origin, a Jaffer merchant and almost myself. I was brought up by the aid of a Lancer. A small company of 6 Lancers showed up and I was brought back up only to see it chasing our marksman Tal in the woods and dropping him. Filled with rage and anger, I channeled it with my inner Chi and focused on getting around to the back of the Skeletal creature as it focused on the Lancers.

Being hurt and nearly defeated by the time I found it, I was able to deal two blows to it’s backsides and drop it. Once dropped I crushed it’s rib cage with my Axe and then stomped on it’s skull with my boot until it was in pieces on the ground. Rushing back to find Kaldor Dhum kneeling over Takeo, but unable to help him. Kneeling down with tears upon my scales and cheeks. I cut open my arm to bleed into his wounds. So my blood would journey on with him. But right as my blood touched his, his body vanished into the mist.

I journeyed back with the others to The Fortress to tell them of what happened. Only for Takeo to show up 10 minutes later! Claiming to see a white room and get a vision of something on the other side. I was just overjoyed to have my brother and Clansman back.  And now prepare for the big battle. Though most of us were at half strength from the day’s events. We still prevailed.

We kept the Class 3 Devilkin busy and even after it broke through the barricade we lured it back to the other side by having our ranged fighters keep shooting at it’s head. Weakening it.

I myself was able to get a couple of blows in on the Class 3, which it shrugged off as nothing more than a bruise or cut here and there. Focusing mostly on the Imps and destroying them wherever I could. Though Takeo fell in battle, he was brought back up by Kaldor and none perished! We shared what we could with the Keepers and we all went to bed that night. Confident that when we work together and follow a plan as laid forth, we can accomplish a lot. Especially more than any of us could alone.

What I learned this day is I’m strong alone and strong as Luke Nations. But I am so much more powerful as a Defender of SwordHaven. Then I could be alone. With my new “Clansman & Clanspeople” at my sides, there is nothing we can’t withstand. And maybe, just maybe. The next time we meet this Class 3. We will destroy it’s form and send it back to where it came from.