Keepers of the Glade

An excerpt from the journal of Xavious Planezwalker

It's been 35 seasons since I've first left me home in da rugged mountains of Butcherblock. Many a place have me eyes a seen, some of dem being marvels and other weary and dreadful. Many a people and clan have I met also, from da frail yet noble wood elves to da secretive and wicked leezard men known as da iksar. Ere, I've travelled far and wide and yet it seems as if I have an eternity of places and people to discover. But luckily I've a travellin' companion, who I've come to regard as me friend, better yet me own brudder. He goes by the name of Tristain Skyshroud. Many an adventure have we been on and many a foe have we vanquished. Some being very dangerous and yet very profitable, even by the standards of a dwarf as meself. Together me and him have battled against many foul creatures, from da stinky wretched goblinkin to the brutal and ignoble giants. But even though we've keeled and become quite rich, it still pains me knowin that I've lost a few friends to some those foul creatures, try as I might to keep them alive. For, though I am a cleric, I was not blessed with much of the holy wisdom Brell Srellis. As a youth I was alway told that I would've made a better warrior or holy knight because of my strength than a holy priest. But being the hard headed dwarf that I was I ignored it. It was in my heart to be a cleric and that's what I was gonna be. Me friend Tristain always tells me not to worry that with my years will come grand items of great wisdom that will make up for what I was not blessed with. See he is somewhat of a scholar, although he is a druid, and he has read many a book and tells me of legends and lore from the outside world.
Today we are on an adventure to hunt for one of them such treasures. Seems that me friend has come across an old book that tells of a great blessed cloak made by a barbarian shammy that has the ability to enhance one's wisdom as well as keep him shielded from the tundra in which the mammoth skin which made it comes from. Ere, but alas there is one problem, it's said to have been lost in a cave in Everfrost Peaks, known as Permafrost. Tis is no ordinary cave mind you. It's said to be the home of an ancient dragon in which dem crazy barbarians warred against, the Lady Vox.

"Ere, what are ye about me crazy idiot of a friend!!! Have ye in ye to get us keeled?? Or worse yet be turned into tomorrows bowel movements by that blasted dragon??!!!"

"Oh calm down you grumpy old dwarf, for like I said, after the war the dragon entered a slumber and has not been awake in over 100 years. Trust me she will not awake when we enter, have no fear."

"Bah, you are truly crazy for a dragon can smell when ye enter her lair and believe me she'll be really steamed to find a whimpy elf as yerself and a greedy dorf such as meself looting her treasure troves. Grr, this is insane, why am I even arguing with ye when I should be tying ye down and haulin' ye back to yer clan to have yer priests examine yer skull!"

"Hehe, you worry yourself too much my friend, for we're not going at it alone. I have enlisted in our aid some very old friends of ours, the ranger Clyrec and Teggon the Rogue, as well as a barbarian shaman guide. I do not know him well but he assures me that he knows well the path that we must take to the cave."

"WHA??!!! A barbarian?!!! Ye have gone mad. Ye cannot trust their kind. All they care about are their own needs and they're always looking fer trouble. Besides, they keep dogs in their homes and even allow them to sleep in their beds. Dogs are only good fer one ting I tell ye, and that's as dinner!"

"You are truly a riot my friend. Hehe, true barbarians are a warhearted people but they have also come to be close to nature, not to unlike yourself. And besides, to have a WOLF, not dog, as your life's companion is an honor indeed. For wolves are a noble animal indeed. And if I ever saw you trying to hurt one you'd end up the dinner."

"GRRR!!! Me dinner?!!! I oughta put ye on me campfire right now, just fer saying that, I've always wondered what roasted elf would taste like, or maybe some elf stew would be good. Besides, even IF we were successful who's to say that the barbarian won't turn on us and take the cloak fer himself and even use our hides fer one of them blankets he lets his DOGS sleep on. On this matter I really need to think elf."

" Well don't think too long my dwarf friend because we leave in the morning."

"WHAT?!!! You fool! Don't ye realize that even though ye're magic may be strong, that it's a DRAGON in there we may face not some stinky kobolds or gnolls!!!! BAH!!! WE'LL SURELY BE KEELED IF THAT BEAST AWAKES!!!"

"So that means you WILL come then? HEHE, if so you'd better get some rest. I'll guard our camp."

"BAH!!! Ye'll be needing yer rest too, I don't want ye to fall asleep if we get into a fight!"

"Fear not my friend for I will be in revery, and can easily come out of it as if I were already awake, nothing will harm us this night. So rest now, I'll wake you at first light. By then our companions should be here and we can be off after we've eaten our morning meals."

And so I layed down but sleep did not come easy that night and when I did finally sleep me dreams were haunted with vivid pictures of my party being slaughtered. By what I could tell not but our deaths were gruesome indeed.

If you would like to hear more of this story let me know and I'll continue.