Magellen’s Journal

August 1993

Passing several farms on the way to Kohkiri Road, Drent’s carriage seemed well known. He kept waving farmers and children off, calling out that he was on a mission and promising to stop on the way back. The group quickly set up a proper camp every night and quickly tore it down every morning, packing it away under the carriage.

They pretty much left me alone to study and take notes, letting me be able to add the spell Air Bubble to my tome. I also did some poor drawings of the mountains to the West that would make up the Eastern portion of Santane Pass. I don’t know how my poor drawings skills would help later but it can’t hurt and it helped to pass the time.

The small trail that leads North from Kohkiri Road towards Santane Pass was barely big enough for the carriage to make it’s way through. The brush, twigs, and branches being cut back by Drent’s group until a small goblin jumped from a tree, in through the window and attacked me with a short sword. Not thinking I fire bolted it causing some minor damage in the inside of the carriage. I heard the signs of battle as I kicked the burnt goblin down the steps.

Getting myself out of the carriage, I start a fire bolt barrage on all the goblins I can see. Climbing on top of the carriage with the warlock, we helped the fighters by burning anything further away to let them have at the things were close. The goblins had a few spell casters among them, not enough to make a difference, but enough that it was frustrating to see that these peons are taking up the magic arts.

Finally after a few minutes the fighters were cleaning their weapons and the cleric was tending to wounds. They quickly looked through the goblin’s belongings and took anything that seemed like it could be important or of value. Apparently one of their wives sells their loot at the market in Glendale, after finding out which stall, I figured out that it wasn’t the one I bought the pendent at.

Getting to where the trail opens up and a huge cave enters into the mountain with sheer cliffs on either side. I look to my companions and invite them one more time to come with me. After they decline, I hand Drent the 5 platinum that I owe them, shoulder my bag, hiding my tome under my shirt, and walk, leaning heavily on a cane, towards the pass.

I hear the carriage start to head back down the trail as I climb down into the pass calling out in orcish. “I’m looking for Nevyn Kangar, his wife Jony, and their child, Iris.” I keep my mantra going as I pass dark holes leading into the rock face. In some of them I can see arrow heads poking out and in some I can see eyes watching me as I enter deeper and deeper into the pass. After roughly an hour of picking my way through the pass I see a large orc standing on top of a rock, in front of a smaller cave opening.

Looking up, I bow, in my poor orcish, “I am Magellan Colias, father to Jony Kangar, who is wife of Nevyn Kangar, grandfather to Iris. I am looking for them to pass on some family heirlooms.”

The orc above looks towards the cave, nods, and says “Kill him” in much harsher orcish accent than I could ever adapt.

I scuttled, I would like to say I ran but the pass floor was wet and slippery, sometimes having to climb up or down over rocks jutting out. I cast Cloud Kill and Air Bubble and I Misty Stepped over the most difficult of terrain and cast Gust to push the cloud into the holes of the wall. I would pause here and there casting Fireball through the holes as I went.

I was exhausted, poisoned, and my mana pool was almost spent by the time I saw the opening to leave the pass. I was a quarter of a mile down the trail before I realized I had outrun the balistas facing the trail. Drinking my last healing potion I continued to walk quickly down the trail and then West on the Kohkiri Road. I had a sneaking suspicion that I was being followed, but being so low on mana, I couldn’t take the time to stop and figure it out.

Entering the outskirts of Kohkiri Village, I sat down, outside of a home, against a tree, started bandaging my wounds, and mending my clothing. Digging through my pack, I found a vial of antitoxin and drank. I heard the door open and the woman told me to “get on with myself” looking down I guess I wasn’t a proper sight for her well manicured lawn.

Santane Pass

Kohkiri Village