The Journal of Tristan Rhyn

[rhyn]

Kuthona 16th-Oathday

My world ended today! Years spent mastering spell and steel for this curse to be laid upon me. My scouting parting finally came upon the orc raiding party along with the ettin that seems to be their muscle. The battle was pitched, even with element of surprise on our side. It was the ettin, none of the other warriors could barely scratch his hide nor withstand the blows from his massive club.

I fought my way through the battle til I stood against him. My family blade gleamed in the afternoon sun, faintly gleaming and ready. I circled feinting and dodging attempting to get closer to the beast. He brought the club down just inches from me as I deftly dodged aside. I ran up the club, arcane words slipping from my lips. My blade began to crackle with arcane energy as I flipped down between his legs and thrust my sword straight through his heart. Black blood spilled down from the wound, gushing over my hands and blade. As he fell back my sword slipped from him covered in the sanguine heart's blood. I bent to wipe the blood from the family blade but as I did a curse was revealed to me. My blade had lost its wsilver sheen and was now as black as midnight. THe ruby in its pommel had shifted to a black diamond and a voice from inside the blade spoke to me.

It was called Talathiel, a sentient blade. My group turned as saw the blade in my hand and shunned me, memories of the last person to wield such a blade just as fresh as if they had happened only yesterday and not 10,00 years ago. I left my home of Kyonin to roam the realm.

I heard of wizard named Gimschee in Cromwell, that he had researched the emergence of the black blades. I came here looking for him, unfortunately I only recently found his body. If it was not for Tal and not needing to rest I would have had no rest. He keeps watch as I sleep. The town has been overrun by zombies, I found my way into the sewers thinking that it would be better to hide, since then I have been hiding and trying to find the killer of Gimschee.

[rhyn]

Kuthona 24-Fireday

One week in Cromwell, and all I can say is at least I am not running low on supplies. I found a general store that had been burned to the ground yesterday, after some digging and scavenging I found some rations that were a little charred but still good. There were remains of zombies interspersed among the wreckage, Tal and I made sure they were dead quickly. It was strange that this would be the only burned building so it was not a wild fire, so I suspect that there are other survivors somewhere, I met one who was also nearby. A lady Razor she calls herself. Her armor and symbols would suggest a paladin of some sort, I can't quite place the name of the nature deity she so fervently worships.

There was a small group of the undead walkers gathering as I finished my search. Using the cover of darkness and as much stealth as I could muster I withdrew from the area. Down alleys and across streets I ran, I finally found some scaffolding along the side of a temple, I used it to get to the roofs. Little did I expect any of them to be up there. As we gained the highground a group of the walkers arose from around us. Tal called to me for their blood, as cold and dark as it was. No arcane fire coursed through their vanes so he thirsted for death.

He nearly leapt to my hand, my feet moving to the music of battle. The dance of the sword. HE charged into their midst arcane words slipping from my lips conjuring a shield as my blade met the outstretched arms of the first. I slid in under his attack my sword opening him from groin to collar. As he stumbled I rolled forward more words of power spilling forth, frost sheathing my blade. My next few blows downed the next four walkers. The sounds of battle drew more of the things though from doors and stairs. Soon I was too surrounded and backed up to the edge of the temple. Without a thought I leapt back and spoke a single arcane word and floated safely to the ground. I had spied a manor house that I would seek shelter in. THe streets are to dangerous now to try. Perhaps I can find an access tunnel to the sewers in the house. I might find it easier to move about the city underground than upon the streets.

[rhyn]

Kuthona 25th-Starday

Razor, Tal and myself have found our way into the sewers. We are following Razor currently. She doesn't know about Tal as of yet, but it was nice to meet an elf who looked past the fact that I carry a black blade. She says that she can detect the evil in others or an area, and though I wield the dark blade she senses no evil in my heart or in the blade.

I wonder if perhaps back home, there might have been some like this paladin. Oh how I long to walk beneath the trees of Kyonin once again and amongst my mother's gardens. How many years did I wander those paths or practice steel and spell upon those lawns. My Own mother has denied me, and there is no longer any refuge in that near magical kingdom, certainly no place for a bladebound such as myself.

I digress though, We have entered the sewers as Razor says she feels an evil down here that might give us answers as to what is happening. We were following a walkway when we heard noises on the other side of a door. We quickly killed my lights and waited to see who it was. Someone called out a greeting, but not knowing if it was friend or foe we remained silenced. They seemed to have heard us and were going to retreat. A sure sign that they were up to no good in my opinion. I used a spell to burn the hinges of the door off and kick it in. This triggered a trap that burnt us all.

In the confusion that ensued, The human with the other group let loose an arrow and nearly took my head off. I managed to roll beneath his attack and called for his surrender with my blade at his neck. His companion an elven lady with a Rapier, stepped from the shadows laying her blade against my back and Razor knocked an arrow Aimed at her. It seemed like an impass and once again those elven hostilities to the black blades was revealed as the lithe woman claimed to not trust me even in the face of the paladin vouching for me.

All arguments were set aside though as a massive zombie could be heard approaching. We quickly set aside our difference in the face of a common enemy and planned a hasty defense. The archers would stand well behind me and fire into the creature, I would hold the line and keep the beast busy and the other elf, the sneaky one would attack from the rear.

Battle planned we met our foe and after a few quick moments of fighting he tried to rush past me. I had missed him earlier with an attack charged with acid, so as he rushed me I danced beneath his legs and my blade swung true. The force of the blade and the arcane energy cut the creature near in half as he fell dead besides me.

[rhyn]

Abadius 5th-Sunday

Perhaps the elves of my home were right to mistrust me. Is there an inner darkness growing within my breast, pulsing with malignant intent every time I wield Talathiel? I do not know sometimes. We made it to the city of the games and found rooms at an Inn named the Red Dragon, the man who was the true power in the place Joey Paizanno. The human made a deal with him which led to all of us becoming ensnared into their services in the furture for three tasks. All this though is eclipsed by the first round of the games.

But the games brings me back to the question of my morals. We met a drow in the inn, she offered an alliance, one which my other companions turned down due to the fact that she was evil. I on the other hand allowed for to wine and dine myself and agree to her alliance. I never intended to see it through, but too simply wait for the right moment to deal with them.

The games began and we were transported to different spots within a labyrinth. I found myself alone and in a dim tunnel. I drew my blades and stalked through the tunnels slaying a kobold monk I came across. I found a room filled with gold and jewels and a magical mirror. My greed was my undoing, as I stepped through the mirror, the gold I had taken along with my precious sword and companion were stripped from me. I appeared before the holy knight Razor and with a few words took her blade and struck down the drow priestess she was with.

We were caught in a trap a few turns later with a boulder rushing down a tunnel towards us. I was able to mostly burn through a lock on a door and Razor struck it open. We found the archer a bit who had struck a deal with the kobolds he found. We entered a room with a trapped bridge over a dark span and two doors. I reached the other side with some fancy footwork and upon opening the door we were attacked by a couple of creatures. The ensuing battle saw the rest of the drow and kobolds die. My companions and I were the last standing with a single kobold, he threw himself from the bridge and saved our lives at the costs of his own.

Such valor and sacrifice and still I wonder if there is a darkness seeping into my soul.