Well. How did it start? It seems so long ago, yet, I am still young in my
Seasons. I don't remember how I was born, I don't remember any parents, I
just was. I just am. I am Miethoes Ambrosius, Half Elf Druid of Tunare and
at the time beginning my 20th season. I am sitting in the safety of the
Guard House in Highpass Hold and I ponder it all as I dig into one of my
backpacks for a quill and some parchment, the same I use to map the lands
that I have traveled through.
I started in the well known Druid glade of Surefall in the Jaggedpine Forest, just on the edge of the Qeynos Hills outside the bustling city of Qeynos itself. I wandered the hills as a youth, chasing bugs and poking at snakes, as children do. I had several encounters where I had come close to death but people were always nearby to help and I knew how to heal myself through the use of simple magic. I even found someone whom I believed may have been responsible for my birth in some way or the other. A great monk named Buddhisatva. We kept in touch a lot and he often promised to come visit me and bring me treasure from far off lands.
Eventually my curiosity grew on me. I wanted to see more. I was eager and I pushed myself. I ventured to the city of Qeynos and there learned of a rat infestation, I was told I would be rewarded if I killed rats; so, I set out to kill rats. I even managed to save enough money to buy new cloths. In my explorations one day I discovered a true goal for myself. The Gnolls of Black Burrow.
I set out that very day to seek the accursed beasts. As I left the city, barely through my second season one of the foul heathens declared his Sovereignty over the lands of Qeynos and charged the very gates of the city itself. Fippy Darkpaw he proclaimed he was as he barreled his way down the road, knocking people over as he ran, some even gave chase after him. I remember seeing one Elf, left on the side of the road, broken and bleeding. His head had clearly been smashed, one of his ears was cut and Elven blood oozed from his wounds onto the ground where he lay. And still Fippy was charging down the road, I barely got out of the way, diving for cover behind a nearby tree. As I looked back I saw those famous Guards of Qeynos race out and slash at the foul beast with their swords. Blood splurted from gapping wounds as they slashed. Fippy cried out in great pain as he attempted to fight back. But then finally one guard split the beast's head with a one final slash and the Gnoll fell dead onto the road. My only thought was, "What brutally savage beasts. I must seek their den."
As I ventured into the fields north of Qeynos a Dwarf named Kargoth ran over to me and started helping me. Somehow, I am not certain how, I felt as though… well… I felt as though I knew him from some other world!
He gave me a couple items to help me progress in my seasons better and taught me to fight a little better by insisting I use my destructive magic more often. He called it a nuke. He was older then me by far, into his teens in seasons and claimed to be a student of the Clerical arts and a member of a guild called Guilty Pleasures. When he attacked a beetle and pulled it over for me to kill I thought the thing would kill me instead, but then he cast a spell and suddenly I nearly had most of my life back again. I managed to kill the bug and Kargoth said he had to leave, he had a meeting somewhere. I continued to hunt the beetles, snakes and rats, quickly reached a new season and found that young Gnolls wandered the fields, and that I could kill them, with a bit of difficulty but I could kill them.
It was later that day that I found the vile cave in the Qeynos Hills that led into the dreaded Black Burrow. Ever the curious youth I heeded not the warnings of others as I crept into the cave. Soon it opened into a vast area that could only be described as a vast hole in the foothills that lay before the Everfrost Mountains. And the stench that emanated from the entire area was unbearable. All about the ground lay Gnoll feces and entrails. Several twisted dead Gnolls lay near the cave from which I had come. One of them recently killed, his innards spilt onto the ground around him. Another that looked to have been burned and charred by some great force of nature, one of his limps nearly severed from what must have been a brutal battle. Also nearby, the corpse of what must have been a great Warrior, he had the look of a barbarian and I wondered what thing could have killed such a great Warrior.
There was a great pit in the middle that must have dropped for hundreds of feet into an underground pool of water. As I looked around I saw an outcropping of rock that rose high above the pit, and two other caves. One dark and foreboding that led further down; and another that led deeper into the mountains. Each guarded by scrawny looking Gnolls that were by far the largest I had ever seen. And they were scowling at me with such deep hatred I began to fear for my life.
I sought a place to hide and backed into a nearby tree that appeared hollow. Suddenly, without warning I fell through the trunk! I landed with a splash in an underground pool of water. Gnolls stood all around me on the shore. I wondered why they hadn't noticed me yet and I began to panic. I looked around for a way out. I didn't see anyone around who could help this time. I didn't want to try to get out by the Gnolls, I was scared that if they saw me they would surely kill me. I noticed the little pond opened into a stream and I decided to follow it so I swam. Eventually it took me to a place where there were no Gnolls, of any kind, around the area so I climbed out. As I silently crept up the nearby path a Gnoll came along the other way, he must have been the biggest of them all and he had the look of a Commander about him. He saw me and suddenly stopped and scowled out me. I was too scared to even move. He cried out at me, cursing me and challenging me. I slowly began to back towards the water and without thinking I jumped in and started swimming away. He howled at me and chased me. He charged into the water and swung at me with his heavy paws. I reeled with the pain. The water around me started to turn red, from my own blood. He hit me again and I swooned into unconsciousness. He beat on me relentlessly and just as I thought I would surely die…
I suddenly reappeared in the Qeynos Hills just outside the cave that led to the Druid Glade in Jaggedpine. I stood there in bewilderment wondering what had happened and then realized that I had none of my personal belongings on me, and that I was naked! I wondered if somehow they all got left behind. So, I set out again in search of Black Burrow. I quickly found the cave and raced in. I ran into the lair itself, never even realizing that the Warriors body I had seen before was now mysteriously gone. I ran and leaped blindly into the hollow tree and again fell down into the water. As I swam back to where the big Gnoll attacked me I… alas… to my utter shock I saw my own corpse floating in the water! I wondered what great deity could cause such a wonder! I pulled my corpse from the water and found all my belongings still there.
Once I had retrieved my belongings I sought a way out of the accursed den. I ventured up the path where I first saw the big Gnoll and it was unguarded. I came to a door and opened it. As I peeked through I saw several Gnolls around but they seemed to ignore me. I crept along the path which became a bridge that crossed over another path, and still they ignored me. But then, as I came around a corner a Gnoll came patrolling. He saw me and howled for his fellows to come to his aid. I turned to run, but the Gnolls there started for me. I jumped off the ledge to the path below and hurt my leg, which slowed me down considerably. As I got up to run an entire horde of Gnolls fell upon me like I was just another slab of meat for them. I was brutally beaten down and again this miraculous reappearing in the Qeynos Hills. Again, bewildered and naked. And frustrated.
I took off running for Black Burrow, determined to get my stuff back. I leaped into the hollow tree, splashed into the water, ran to the door and jumped off the same ledge. There was my corpse. I got my stuff back and again sought my way out, I heard people shouting at others, some selling stuff. I thought to cry out for help, but I was a Druid. I could take care of myself, I got myself into this mess so I would get myself out. As I explored the passages I assumed I would just open a door and it would lead out. I found a path that lead up… Well, I had fallen down to get to where I was, so, what comes down, must go up. I took that path, I was excited when it lead to a door.
When I opened the door I jumped for joy when I saw the sky and I raced through the door, and into a pit full of spikes and several giant snakes. I despaired. Thinking I went the wrong way I turned back the way I had came and went running. Somehow, the passages and tunnels all looked the same, I wound up in another tunnel. Eventually it opened into another chamber and there stood two giant Gnolls with their backs to me. They stood there hunched over something and as I shifted silently around them I realized they were brewing something. One of them had pissed into a container and the other was mixing the urine with alcohol and various other chemicals. They were obviously brewing some sort of highly toxic beverage, what I couldn't possible imagine. They looked big, mean, and utterly ruthless looking. I realized there was no way around them. I headed back the way I had came, again. Eventually I came to the same ledge I had twice jumped off of. I decided to start over again, and jumped off. I hurt my leg again and had to stop to heal myself. They must have heard my spell as I started to cast it, for at that moment more Gnolls then I could possibly count came rampaging around the corner and fell upon me. Again I reappear in the Qeynos Hills.
Well, try, try and try again. But three times? I needed to sit and think about this one. I was clearly too tired to do anymore. I had ventured into Black Burrow due to my own ignorance, and paid the price, three times. I got up and started walking down the road, one last time I thought. I started to run, as I ran along someone hailed me so I stopped and turned. She was a Half Elf like me, looked to be only a couple seasons older then me.
She explained some guy was walking around the hills and attacked her, and every time she went to get her corpse back he would run out and attack her again. She said she would pay me if I helped her get her corpse back. I agreed and she led me to her corpse, as she began to drag it away someone came running out, saw me and stopped. He regarded me and then turned and ran off into the hills. I ran over to where she had stopped and she happily paid me, asking if she could do anything for me in return. I told her of my plight in Black Burrow and she tried to cast a spell on me that would make me invisible, saying she was going to "camouflage" me, but I was protected from the spell for some reason. I thanked her anyway and she ran off to meet someone.
I then realized she had paid me Five gold pieces! That was more then I had ever made! I could forget about getting all my stuff back, I could go buy all new stuff and still have money left over! I ran blindly down the road out of pure zeal and excitement, never seeing the sinister looking individual walking nearby with a pet skeleton…
The skeleton chased me down and as it attacked me the man yelled after it to stop, but as I slipped into unconsciousness I swore I heard him cackling to himself with glee as his pet skeleton laughed. Just before I, died, though I caught a glimpse of his name, Tovax Vmar, magically floating above his head like everyone else's. When I found my corpse along the road he was no where to be seen. I heard someone shouting they saw him attacking someone, me I assumed, and that they had just killed him. I continued on to Qeynos and bought some new belongings. Then put what money I had left into the bank. I decided I had best wait a few seasons before venturing into the putrid depths of Black Burrow again. After selling my loot in Sneed's Trading Post I decided it was time to set up my little camp and rest for awhile, I would continue my adventures another time. As I prepared my camp I began to doze off, I dreamed of being whisked away somehow, to another world? I will have to dwell on this someday.
So, that is how it started. As I put my quill and my writing aside I see that night has fallen in Highpass and I can hear the cries of Orcs in the distance with the shouts of battle nearby. Someone is being chased by a bunch of Orcs and the chase was coming this way. I quickly prepared my camp for the night. Yes, my adventures will continue at another time.
I started in the well known Druid glade of Surefall in the Jaggedpine Forest, just on the edge of the Qeynos Hills outside the bustling city of Qeynos itself. I wandered the hills as a youth, chasing bugs and poking at snakes, as children do. I had several encounters where I had come close to death but people were always nearby to help and I knew how to heal myself through the use of simple magic. I even found someone whom I believed may have been responsible for my birth in some way or the other. A great monk named Buddhisatva. We kept in touch a lot and he often promised to come visit me and bring me treasure from far off lands.
Eventually my curiosity grew on me. I wanted to see more. I was eager and I pushed myself. I ventured to the city of Qeynos and there learned of a rat infestation, I was told I would be rewarded if I killed rats; so, I set out to kill rats. I even managed to save enough money to buy new cloths. In my explorations one day I discovered a true goal for myself. The Gnolls of Black Burrow.
I set out that very day to seek the accursed beasts. As I left the city, barely through my second season one of the foul heathens declared his Sovereignty over the lands of Qeynos and charged the very gates of the city itself. Fippy Darkpaw he proclaimed he was as he barreled his way down the road, knocking people over as he ran, some even gave chase after him. I remember seeing one Elf, left on the side of the road, broken and bleeding. His head had clearly been smashed, one of his ears was cut and Elven blood oozed from his wounds onto the ground where he lay. And still Fippy was charging down the road, I barely got out of the way, diving for cover behind a nearby tree. As I looked back I saw those famous Guards of Qeynos race out and slash at the foul beast with their swords. Blood splurted from gapping wounds as they slashed. Fippy cried out in great pain as he attempted to fight back. But then finally one guard split the beast's head with a one final slash and the Gnoll fell dead onto the road. My only thought was, "What brutally savage beasts. I must seek their den."
As I ventured into the fields north of Qeynos a Dwarf named Kargoth ran over to me and started helping me. Somehow, I am not certain how, I felt as though… well… I felt as though I knew him from some other world!
He gave me a couple items to help me progress in my seasons better and taught me to fight a little better by insisting I use my destructive magic more often. He called it a nuke. He was older then me by far, into his teens in seasons and claimed to be a student of the Clerical arts and a member of a guild called Guilty Pleasures. When he attacked a beetle and pulled it over for me to kill I thought the thing would kill me instead, but then he cast a spell and suddenly I nearly had most of my life back again. I managed to kill the bug and Kargoth said he had to leave, he had a meeting somewhere. I continued to hunt the beetles, snakes and rats, quickly reached a new season and found that young Gnolls wandered the fields, and that I could kill them, with a bit of difficulty but I could kill them.
It was later that day that I found the vile cave in the Qeynos Hills that led into the dreaded Black Burrow. Ever the curious youth I heeded not the warnings of others as I crept into the cave. Soon it opened into a vast area that could only be described as a vast hole in the foothills that lay before the Everfrost Mountains. And the stench that emanated from the entire area was unbearable. All about the ground lay Gnoll feces and entrails. Several twisted dead Gnolls lay near the cave from which I had come. One of them recently killed, his innards spilt onto the ground around him. Another that looked to have been burned and charred by some great force of nature, one of his limps nearly severed from what must have been a brutal battle. Also nearby, the corpse of what must have been a great Warrior, he had the look of a barbarian and I wondered what thing could have killed such a great Warrior.
There was a great pit in the middle that must have dropped for hundreds of feet into an underground pool of water. As I looked around I saw an outcropping of rock that rose high above the pit, and two other caves. One dark and foreboding that led further down; and another that led deeper into the mountains. Each guarded by scrawny looking Gnolls that were by far the largest I had ever seen. And they were scowling at me with such deep hatred I began to fear for my life.
I sought a place to hide and backed into a nearby tree that appeared hollow. Suddenly, without warning I fell through the trunk! I landed with a splash in an underground pool of water. Gnolls stood all around me on the shore. I wondered why they hadn't noticed me yet and I began to panic. I looked around for a way out. I didn't see anyone around who could help this time. I didn't want to try to get out by the Gnolls, I was scared that if they saw me they would surely kill me. I noticed the little pond opened into a stream and I decided to follow it so I swam. Eventually it took me to a place where there were no Gnolls, of any kind, around the area so I climbed out. As I silently crept up the nearby path a Gnoll came along the other way, he must have been the biggest of them all and he had the look of a Commander about him. He saw me and suddenly stopped and scowled out me. I was too scared to even move. He cried out at me, cursing me and challenging me. I slowly began to back towards the water and without thinking I jumped in and started swimming away. He howled at me and chased me. He charged into the water and swung at me with his heavy paws. I reeled with the pain. The water around me started to turn red, from my own blood. He hit me again and I swooned into unconsciousness. He beat on me relentlessly and just as I thought I would surely die…
I suddenly reappeared in the Qeynos Hills just outside the cave that led to the Druid Glade in Jaggedpine. I stood there in bewilderment wondering what had happened and then realized that I had none of my personal belongings on me, and that I was naked! I wondered if somehow they all got left behind. So, I set out again in search of Black Burrow. I quickly found the cave and raced in. I ran into the lair itself, never even realizing that the Warriors body I had seen before was now mysteriously gone. I ran and leaped blindly into the hollow tree and again fell down into the water. As I swam back to where the big Gnoll attacked me I… alas… to my utter shock I saw my own corpse floating in the water! I wondered what great deity could cause such a wonder! I pulled my corpse from the water and found all my belongings still there.
Once I had retrieved my belongings I sought a way out of the accursed den. I ventured up the path where I first saw the big Gnoll and it was unguarded. I came to a door and opened it. As I peeked through I saw several Gnolls around but they seemed to ignore me. I crept along the path which became a bridge that crossed over another path, and still they ignored me. But then, as I came around a corner a Gnoll came patrolling. He saw me and howled for his fellows to come to his aid. I turned to run, but the Gnolls there started for me. I jumped off the ledge to the path below and hurt my leg, which slowed me down considerably. As I got up to run an entire horde of Gnolls fell upon me like I was just another slab of meat for them. I was brutally beaten down and again this miraculous reappearing in the Qeynos Hills. Again, bewildered and naked. And frustrated.
I took off running for Black Burrow, determined to get my stuff back. I leaped into the hollow tree, splashed into the water, ran to the door and jumped off the same ledge. There was my corpse. I got my stuff back and again sought my way out, I heard people shouting at others, some selling stuff. I thought to cry out for help, but I was a Druid. I could take care of myself, I got myself into this mess so I would get myself out. As I explored the passages I assumed I would just open a door and it would lead out. I found a path that lead up… Well, I had fallen down to get to where I was, so, what comes down, must go up. I took that path, I was excited when it lead to a door.
When I opened the door I jumped for joy when I saw the sky and I raced through the door, and into a pit full of spikes and several giant snakes. I despaired. Thinking I went the wrong way I turned back the way I had came and went running. Somehow, the passages and tunnels all looked the same, I wound up in another tunnel. Eventually it opened into another chamber and there stood two giant Gnolls with their backs to me. They stood there hunched over something and as I shifted silently around them I realized they were brewing something. One of them had pissed into a container and the other was mixing the urine with alcohol and various other chemicals. They were obviously brewing some sort of highly toxic beverage, what I couldn't possible imagine. They looked big, mean, and utterly ruthless looking. I realized there was no way around them. I headed back the way I had came, again. Eventually I came to the same ledge I had twice jumped off of. I decided to start over again, and jumped off. I hurt my leg again and had to stop to heal myself. They must have heard my spell as I started to cast it, for at that moment more Gnolls then I could possibly count came rampaging around the corner and fell upon me. Again I reappear in the Qeynos Hills.
Well, try, try and try again. But three times? I needed to sit and think about this one. I was clearly too tired to do anymore. I had ventured into Black Burrow due to my own ignorance, and paid the price, three times. I got up and started walking down the road, one last time I thought. I started to run, as I ran along someone hailed me so I stopped and turned. She was a Half Elf like me, looked to be only a couple seasons older then me.
She explained some guy was walking around the hills and attacked her, and every time she went to get her corpse back he would run out and attack her again. She said she would pay me if I helped her get her corpse back. I agreed and she led me to her corpse, as she began to drag it away someone came running out, saw me and stopped. He regarded me and then turned and ran off into the hills. I ran over to where she had stopped and she happily paid me, asking if she could do anything for me in return. I told her of my plight in Black Burrow and she tried to cast a spell on me that would make me invisible, saying she was going to "camouflage" me, but I was protected from the spell for some reason. I thanked her anyway and she ran off to meet someone.
I then realized she had paid me Five gold pieces! That was more then I had ever made! I could forget about getting all my stuff back, I could go buy all new stuff and still have money left over! I ran blindly down the road out of pure zeal and excitement, never seeing the sinister looking individual walking nearby with a pet skeleton…
The skeleton chased me down and as it attacked me the man yelled after it to stop, but as I slipped into unconsciousness I swore I heard him cackling to himself with glee as his pet skeleton laughed. Just before I, died, though I caught a glimpse of his name, Tovax Vmar, magically floating above his head like everyone else's. When I found my corpse along the road he was no where to be seen. I heard someone shouting they saw him attacking someone, me I assumed, and that they had just killed him. I continued on to Qeynos and bought some new belongings. Then put what money I had left into the bank. I decided I had best wait a few seasons before venturing into the putrid depths of Black Burrow again. After selling my loot in Sneed's Trading Post I decided it was time to set up my little camp and rest for awhile, I would continue my adventures another time. As I prepared my camp I began to doze off, I dreamed of being whisked away somehow, to another world? I will have to dwell on this someday.
So, that is how it started. As I put my quill and my writing aside I see that night has fallen in Highpass and I can hear the cries of Orcs in the distance with the shouts of battle nearby. Someone is being chased by a bunch of Orcs and the chase was coming this way. I quickly prepared my camp for the night. Yes, my adventures will continue at another time.