My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II - Journal Entry #14

Hello, subscribers, readers, and friends everywhere! Greetings and salutations from the Pacific Northwestern U.S. At the time this blog entry come out it will be May 12th, 2019, Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to any Moms reading this entry. Welcome to My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II – Journal Entry #14. Thanks so much for taking out time from your day to read this.

Before we begin, I’d like to welcome @InquireWithin, @Tors_Hammer, @wasntme, a friend of mine from Facebook @fr4nkie, and give a special hello and shout out to @Yayo, a fellow otaku who generously wired me 3 tokens to me. It may not seem like much to some but to me every token helps ensure that I can boost these Journal Entries even more here on Minds and reach my goal of 100 to 250 subscribers or more by the end of the year. Thank you so much for the wire, @Yayo, every little bit helps, and to you @Aragmar for the 2 token donation.

Also, I will be taking some creative advantages with the material just to add some extra entertainment value to the story. Today’s journal entry returns to the P.O.V. Of Brannon, Paladin of Helm. So, without further ado, here we go!

Brannon, Paladin of Helm

We continued our trek through the Drider caverns. We fought all sorts of Drider Wizards, Clerics and Fighters. And they were no pushovers. Dar’Kandra has said how much she hates Barbarians. Well now, may my father forgive me, I can say I hate Driders! Every time we had an encounter with a Drider there always seemed to be more that would sneak up behind us. I can’t count the number of times the Thayvian Terrax got hit. Perhaps it has to do with their stealthy ability. Driders always were sneaky ones. We finally found Ginafae. I feared that in her current state she wouldn’t listen, but Praise Helm for small favors, I was able to use my ample diplomacy skills to convince her that that though we were from the Ten-Towns we meant her no harm. I convinced her to leave the caves and go to her brother.

Ginafae Despana in Drider form

In our conversation Ginafae said something that stuck with me. She said, “Spiders were never meant to live together. Inevitably they break off into smaller groups and break away from the main group." The only truer words there could ever be would come either from Illmatar, Helm, or one of the other God’s who stand for righteousness.

We found the Viscismera after battling through disgusting pods that each contained a Drider of some kind. I finally saw the pseudo-organic device that was artificially creating Driders. By Helm’s good graces that machine was absolutely disgusting! Truly the depravity of the Thayvians knows no bounds. No wonder so many people loathe that evil city! Thankfully Terrax was in agreement with the group in that, the wretched device needed to be destroyed. So, using a concoction he whipped in that Thayvian woman’s lab before we left, Terrax hurled the vile liquid at the Viscismera…and destroyed it. Praise Helm our duty has been fulfilled and that horrible device will never be used for nay sort of evil again. We went over the Drider Cavern one last time and then left.

On our way back to Malavon I couldn’t help but again find myself thinking over what Isair and Madae said to us in the Wandering Village. “The Legion of the Chimera will bring a new age of peace tolerance to all the Realms.” Yet when I see what the Legion is doing, I do not see them bringing that in. Instead I see something that was spoken of in Chapter 9 verse 11 from Helm’s sacred text the Book of the Vigilant. “Be ye on vigil against all tyrants. But be warned it is easy to spot the tyrant who flaunts their villainy. It is harder to spot the tyrant that cloaks themselves behind a veil of good deeds and benevolence."

The Book of the Vigilant, a sacred text of the God Helm

The more I see of Isair, Madae, and the Legion of the Chimera the more I realize that peace and Tolerance, as my friend Garrett has so often said, cannot be brought about at the tip of a sword, or by political pen stroke but by changing hearts and minds through honest debate and discussion of ideas. The book of the Vigilant also speaks of the need to guard all the markets of ideas that they may flow freely and be allowed to fail or succeed based on their own merit.

We dropped off the Ioun Stone with the Mind Flayer. He then told us of a citadel nearby Mind Flayer called Z’hinda which would now be heavily guarded. After receiving our reward, we headed to Malavon Despana. We discovered that his sister had returned and been restore to her Drow form. And based on her tone of voice she was relieved to be walking on two legs again after so long. After giving us a reward, he warned us not to expect a warm welcome at house Sorcere. I’m not surprised nor do I, in all honesty, wish to visit House Sorcere. However, before he left Terrax took Malavon Despana aside along with Dar’Kandra. I wasn’t sure what they said, but I get the feeling the Thayvian Sorcerer is up to something. When they departed, I noticed Dar’Kandra and Terrax had unpleasant smiles on their faces like the proverbial foxes in the henhouse, Helm give me strength, I fear those two are up to something and have set into motion diabolical plans. What they are I don’t know but it would be best if I and the rest were on guard!

Malavon Despana

We battled a Mind Flayer and his servants, among them Formian giants. It was a tough fight and again even Terrax took some injuries. But thankfully between Garrett and his holy magics and the Sorceror and his spells we somehow managed to succeed and defeating the force, praise Helm.

Z’Hinda citadel proved to be a twisting turning maze. Besides the Mind Flayers we also had minions including Drow, Duergar, and more giants under the control of those creatures. There were also Mind Golems who were just as dangerous as any Iron Golem.

An llithid, or Mind Flayer

It was a hard fight, we just barely managed to defeat them. One thing is certain I fear that the party might have been done for had it not been for the chaotic commands spell that Garrett cast on myself, Dar’Kandra, and himself. We also had Lightning traps to deal with. Thankfully Mali, after everything that happened once again proved her value to the party by disarming the traps, just like she disarmed the web traps in the Drider Caves. My Cousin may be mischievous but she can hold her own with the rest. Finally, we encountered the Illithid Elder Brain. After all the creatures it had enslaved, I fulfilled my duty and dispensed Helm’s judgement on it. With the citadel finally freed, and after the party was freed from the stun spell of the Elder Brain, we rested up.

We then headed for the exit, fortunately it was a good thing we chose to stop at the entrance to the Citadel. Terrax, Dar’Kandra, Garrett, and Mali’s keen ears picked up voices on the other side. My paladin senses told me that enemies were waiting on the other side. So, we readied our spells.

It was a good thing we did because we ran into a pack of Legion of the Chimera minion led by a couple of Thayvian Red Wizards…that Terrax knew. They were also from the transmuter school, and their names were Majresh and Mirabel. The battle with them and their force of Harpies and Earth Elementals was a fierce one! I think only Mali managed to remain unscathed. At once point we almost lost Terrax when some Harpies hit him with a charm spell. Thankfully Dar’Kandra noticed and. So myself, the dark Elf, Garrett, and Brianna were soon all over that force. And we ended up taking them down before they could kill the Thayvian Sorcerer. Helm have mercy these Legion of the Chimera creatures just get more and more vicious every time I see them! All the more reason they must be stopped!

Afterwards waiting for us was none other than Oswald Fiddlebender, the friendly absent-minded genius who for all his shortcomings is still good company. Praise my father Helm for a friendly face and his niece Marilee is a silly but enchanting child.

Meeting up with Oswald and Marilee

Oswald let us know the villagers of Kuldahar are safe but the town has been overrun by Yuan-Ti, I remember my Uncle Tien and Aunt Talia’s tales of them when they served Ixonomei, they were nasty creatures, and their priests and wizards could cast some pretty potent spells. It would also seem there’s more to Isair and Madae then meets the eye something involving a woman named Mother Egenia. This information could be good because in order to understand and defeat the main enemies of this campaign I need to understand who they are. Also, Oswald has made mention of an Isalore who became the High Druid of Kuldahar after Belhifet killed High Druid Arundel years ago. After healing up and resting we boarded Oswald’s airship and set off for Kuldahar.

Flying towards Kuldahar and a date with destiny.

It still took us a day to get there as we flew over the the Spine of the World, we finally had a chance at a rest bit. And finally, I’ve been to confront things that had been at he back of my mind since this started. Ever since we first met while the group was on their way to Luskan, I have been thinking long and hard on my thoughts on Brianna. She is an Aasimar as am I, she is a superb warrior, and she can hold her own in a fight. While we watched the world go by, I was finally able to confess my feelings for her had grown. At first, I believed she was put off by this, but to my surprise Brianna admitted that she held strong feelings for me to that she had been holding back on because of everything that had happened. Under the Moon and stars that night as Oswald flew his airship Brianna and I shared or first kiss. And somewhere in the back of my mind I cannot help but wonder if this was all part of a plan devised by my father Illmatar, and Selune. If it is, I accept the duties involved, as any good paladin of Helm would.

The next day we arrived at Kuldahar. Much has changed since the time my Uncle, Aunt, and the others were there with them. The snow has been pushed back by the Heartstone Gem. However, we had no time to admire the scenery. No sooner had we left the airship then we encountered a heathen priest of the God Bane, name of Hiepherus.

Hiepherus, Priest of Bane.

The scoundrel was preparing to send undead legions after us. However, that’s where it seems the God Mask chose to introduce his particular sense of humor. My cousin Mali stepped into believing we weren’t the only group here in Kuldahar launching an attack on the Legion force here. Hiepherus went off without sending any of his undead minions on us. Brianna and I were about ready to fall over in disbelief. Garrett, Dar’Kandra, and Terrax just about fell over howling in laughter. Mali simply flashed that innocent and mischievous smile of hers. It seems Mali has been working on those bluffing skill which have allowed her to avoid the constabulary back in Athkatla for so long. This will be a tale to tell. The daughter of Cabros and Minx Ironspur bluffed a Priest of Bane into looking for another assault force which didn’t exist.

Afterwards we began to make our way through the valkley near Kuldahar and have begun systematically wiping out the undead in the area. Once again, my friend Garrett’s dedication to Illmatar is paying being dividends as his turning power has reach the point, he can actually destroy lesser Wights. Unfortunately, some of those Black Archers managed to drain Dar’Kandra. Thankfully a restoration potion from Oswald helped. I noticed a watchtower nearby and want to check what’s inside when we break camp in the morning.

The Great Oak of Kuldahar village.

Isair and Madae, by the righteous will of the lord of Guardians and my father, Helm, you will face his judgement for what you’ve done!

Well, there you have it, folks. There’s Journal Entry #14. I hope this sufficiently entertained all of you. If you like this journal entry please let me know in the comments section. If there’s any way you think I can improve also feel free to explain why in the comments section below. Constructive criticism is welcome here.

If you like these journal entries please feel free to like, remind them on to your Minds.com timelines, or refer me to any of your friends. Also please feel free to subscribe to my Minds channel. If you’d like to go further still, please feel free to subscribe then wire me any number of tokens you feel you can afford. Just remember you’re under no obligation to do so. However, all token donation are welcome here as they allow me to further boost this channel and get the word out, thusly continuing my efforts to get 100 to 250 subscribers or more by the end of the year. Thanks so much for reading and feel free to subscribe to me on Minds and Gab. On my Gab profile you’ll find the pictures I took at the anime convention Sakura-Con 2019.

Until next week, I’m Animeman73, saying stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all.

Links:

Previous: My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II – Journal Entry #13

Next: My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II – Journal Entry #15

My Minds channel

My Gab Profile