Saturday, April 6, 2013

Within the Wellspring

We found the smithing camp the vanquisher had spoken of. It was swarming with powerful Sturmbeorn and their lesser compatriots, and it took some time to eliminate them, even with Malia pulling out all of the power she could muster. Once they were dead, it was easy to find the schematics they were using, however neither of us could read the writing on them. I assume they're stolen from Zeryphesh, or somewhere beyond, but I'm not worldly enough to be completely sure.

The Temple was crawling with Sturmbeorn, and I was beginning to wonder whether or not they were allied with the Alchemists, or just convenient pawns in his little game. The vanquisher had said that they were arriving in the Steppes in greater number, but I don't think all of his scouts made it back to report their true numbers.

The Estherians who were laid to rest, generations of caretakers to the Guardian, were no longer at peace, attacking both Sturmbeorn and their fellows alike. I doubt those we defeated will be at rest for long, unless we manage to stop the Alchemist from corrupting the Guardian or destroying her. We made as much haste as we could through the Temple, appalled by how much damage had been done in such a short time.

We were too late.

And, I was right.

The vanquisher contingent was dead, their bodies littering the grand hall that the Guardian called home. We could see the Guardian of Water and the Vanquisher, Commander Vale, trapped on a small platform; it looked like Vale might be injured.

Before we could get close enough to speak with them, the largest Sturmbeorn I'd yet seen leapt over the ledge, unseen from where we were in the main part of the hall. Soon after we engaged him, Sturmbeorn warriors began pouring out from their hiding places; Malia began dealing with the new arrivals, while I focused on taking out this nightmare of a beast. Once the warriors were down, Malia rejoined the fight, and eventually managed to rip the creature's throat out, felling the giant.

Vale informed us that she was uninjured, but that the Alchemist had left some sort of binding spell on her that shattered with the Sturmbeorn's death. She informed us that he was known as General Grell, and it was clear their incursion was part of the Alchemist's plan.

Unfortunately, the Alchemist had managed to subdue the Guardian just as Vale arrived. Grell and his guards slaughtered the vanquishers, but left Vale alive; they have a past, if the tales are true, and he may have been unable to kill her, even in his madness.

The Guardian told us that the Alchemist had siphoned off much of her power, but not enough to injure or kill her. He believed that by imbuing Ordrak's heart with more power, he could cure his Ember Blight...by destroying all Ember everywhere, thus destroying magic.

I was having none of this, and neither was Malia.

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