A Barrow Expedition

We had arrived in the area at the behest of an unknown benefactor through the combined magicks of Ma'laise and Jiefrey and some scroll they had jealously guarded. The trip was a dizzing one to say the least. Though I had witnessed and interacted in some amazing feats, this by far was the most bizarre.

It was raining when we arrived, it was also dark--very dark. We were moving in a determined fashion toward the northeast, if Gleen's abilities were worth anything. Soon we could see a structure ahead. Jiefrey, he who I had followed across half the realm with, suggested that only a handful of us enter and thus ensure we didn't find any wayward adventurers coming behind us. It was a plan we had enacted many times before and as usual I was part of the elected company to enter. The structure was an Inn, the same place I am staying to drown out the memories of our adventure.

The owners, a triad of brothers ranging in age and temperment, were of course skeptical with our arrival, and admitted warnings to us about our venture toward the Keep. Ma'laise assured the eldest that we were quite capable and had planned ourselves for any mystery that might come. Jiefrey nodded assent while I looked around the tavern. I had no clue what they had planned, and I wouldn't have blinked an eyelash had I heard the same from any of the others waiting back at camp.

We took purchase of some supplies for the trek and returned to camp. I reported back to those waiting about the stock of characters seated inside and the warnings from the owners of the tavern. Like the leaders, they scoffed. Gnash was the only one who remained silent like myself. We settled in for the night in a tent suitable for the weather, though part of me wished for the lazy comfort of the tavern not three hundred feet aft.

The morning came and we travelled with it. We were careful to keep to the path, what path there was, as it went through the fog-dead forest. We seemed to be the only travellers of this place, or all other sound, natural and otherwise were deadened by the fog. Nothing eventful occurred until we stopped for a midday meal. Jiefrey had set a ward, just in case, when we spotted something moving from the corner of our eyes in the deeper forest. Gnash, the youngest adventurer, decided it was a good time to relieve himself without telling the rest of us. We hadn't realized his disappearance until too late. It was only an off-the-cuff comment by Briana that made us realize that Gnash--not one to let a retort slip past, was gone. Gleen did her best to locate the warrior but to no avail.

Ma'laise finally decided that Gnash could and would catch up as long as we stayed to the trails. Reluctantly we agreed and packed up our slight camp. We made the edge of the Barrow Cliffs before the next horrid incident occurred. Chagrin had composed a light ditty about the Fog People and the inception of the Fog from their bean-loving ways when suddenly he fell to the ground. He had tripped upon some plant life but where we thought it merely Fates folly the vine wrapped further up Chagrin's leg and pulled. Torn between losing ourselves in the Fog and losing a companion we found ourselves fortunately at the sentient plant not far from the path. With a violent and sickening twang, Chagrin was squeezed lifeless. Too late our magick and weapons convinced the beastial plant to give up its victim. We took Chagrin hastily back to the path with a wary eye upon the ground and the once-thought-dead forest around us.

Admittedly wits began to fray. Never before had we faced unknown enemies with nothing to defend ourselves or reply to their vicious cuts. With no way to revive Chagrin we were unsure whether to leave his corpse there to be retrieved later, or brought with us. Having rescued the corpse in the first place lent weight to bringing it along. A more suitable burying spot might be had further along. We were fortunately blessed with a boring ascent up the winding path of the Barrow Cliff. We could see as we wend up that there were caves along the face of the cliff both above and below us. We spent the night taking turns at watch, but nothing came to challenge our rest.

The next day we resolved to continue out of their path lest something more horrid occurred to our dwindling party. It was for nought though as we heard the sound too late. Shuffling up from underneath the largest snake any of us ever beheld gave us a hungry look. Ma'laise and Jiefrey again took to the offensive with their magicks while I stood behind them and plied my arts to keep them alive. Jiefrey fell back with a cry and took me down with him. I tried everything I could to revive him and I was for a time blind to the rest of the combat. I heard rather than saw Gleen fall but I barely regained my battle wits with her death-scream. I was losing friends left and right to something that we didn't seem to affect in the slightest. I am not ashamed to admit that I took to praying hard right then.

Ma'laise, who had taken a brief reprieve to regather himself after being tossed aside by the creatures tail, poised himself for a new assault. Bolts of energy flashed from his hands as beads of sweat mixed with blood down the sides of Ma'laise's face. The bolts struck out and blackened the creature's hide. It let out a sound I doubt I'll forget for years to come. Bolstered by this show of force Briana moved to gain a better position but slipped into range of the snake. It lashed out in fury and knocked her forward. At the same time, Ma'laise had prepared another bolt. I seemed to watch the event as if time took great pleasure in showing every minute detail. Briana's face was a mixture of shock, pain, anger, and fear as she took the blast. The grotesque image was cut short by the bite that took Briana's head from her shoulders. Ma'laise keened with insane ire and another blast shook from him. The snake was forced from the path down the side of the cliff.

We were weak from battle and the loss of our comrades and friends. Still, Ma'laise was unwilling to return to the safety of the tavern or the realm beyond it. I don't know why but I could not counter his decision. Perhaps the idea that there were safety in numbers, even just one more, was enough in my enfeebled mental state to sway me. If we had turned around right there though, I might not hold a grudge against the memory of Ma'laise.

The sun was barely cresting the far hill toward evening. We had taken to wearing a rope around our waists to ensure that should one fall from the path, they would not fall far. I only agreed to it fearing that it would be me unfortunate enough to miss the edge. Either due to a trick of the breeze or fate, I heard the sound before the creature came upon us. I gave Ma'laise the warning and he got a lucky shot in before the creature had time to attack. It fell down the cliff before I had a chance to see what had nearly had us for dinner. Fate, being fickle, sent more creatures to greet us. We were weak to start with but the creatures unrelenting movement toward us made it no better. In the dim torch I could make out the front of the thing--thick hairy arched legs and jaws twisted to the side like an ant. In hindsight I know them for spiders now, but at the time my weary head could not give them definition.

We moved back down the winding path for the first time since our arrival. Either Ma'laise slipped or was tripped, but he was scrambling on the side of the cliff behind me. I felt the tug and braced as he went over but I wasn't strong enough to have stopped his motion. Feet dug into the path, I worked my arms trying to pull him back up. The death-bent creatures did not stop their advance. The one in front took a swipe at me and missed, but the movement took my balance and I slid closer to the edge. Ma'laise was busy trying to eradicate the creatures but his concentration was poor. The rope suddenly went loose as one of the creatures bit through its taut middle. As if drawn to the movement over the side its focus was off me for a brief moment. By the gods if Tempus were not watching at that moment. While the pitiful screams careened down the cliff, my mace struck true. I am still not sure whether it was force or fury that drove the creature after its last victim, and me after it. I held its legs as we plummeted to the ground. It was dark enough that I did not see the bottom until we hit it.

I woke up with the midday sun, drenched in the carrion guts of my assailant. Ironically Ma'laise looked more fit for travel than I felt. His body seemed to have been placed in its spot rather than landed. Perhaps he got one last eldritch trick off before the end. I took measures to clean myself as best I could and retrieved Ma'laises provisions. Admittedly I took his share of the payment as well. I had never looted a friends belongings before, but by the end he had shown himself to be no friend--using the last of us for whatever gains lay in that fortress.

I headed back, parallel to the original path above us, avoiding the Fog as I could. Nothing approached me and I think that was because of the creature's stench still upon me. Or perhaps Tempus took pity upon me. I made it back to the tavern after travelling without rest. After five years abstinence, I decided that now was a good time to give myself a break. I had gold to last a long while, and no ambition to see adventure anytime soon. If I am lucky, the tavern will not grow tired of me.

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