Journal entry 1

[Keith]

We set out this morning from our home in Skara Brae,  BAllyn, Elathiel and myself.  Elathiel had heard rumor of a collection of magical weapons being horded by a group of daemons.  We believed that these weapons would be quite beneficial to the empire in it's attempt to return normalcy to the realm.  We were determined to win these weapons from their dread guardians and gain honor and glory for the empire.  

    Elathiel had already scouted out the region and measured the enemy forces, marking a rune in a safe place for us to enter.  Elathiel handed the rune to Ballyn who promptly opened a shimmering blue portal that we immediately stepped through, ready to face the evil forces.  We stepped through the gate unto the roof of a stout mage tower.  Perhaps thirty feet high, the tower was made of rough cut stone and was obviously quite old.  I stepped to the edge of the tower and I could see several imps playing their devious games of trickery upon one another about the base of the tower.

 "Through the teleporter." I heard Elathiel say.

    I turned from the towers precipice and saw the teleporter of which he spoke along the northern parapet.  It seemed as if the very stars had been pulled from the heavens and set upon the earth.  The small portal shimmered silver then red then blue and back to silver.  Ballyn stepped through then Elathiel and I followed after them.

    We appeared in a small valley at the base of the tower.  I could hear the imps playing their foul games.

 " This way!" cried Elathiel as he tore through the valley and around the corner of the tower, his forest Ostard at a dead run.  Ballyn and I followed in turn he upon his forest ostard and me upon Tracks my trusty mare.  

    As we turned the corner of the tower we found Elathiel, mace in hand and shield at the ready, fending off the attacks of three imps, one hanging from his shield in a desperate and futile attempt to get at the shield's bearer.  I drew my sword from its scabbard upon my hip and charged into the fray.

 " For Honor and Glory!"  I yelled as I headed into the battle, Ballyn upon my heels.  

 " CORP POR" I heard Ballyn chant as the powerful bolt of energy he summoned shrieked past my shoulder to impact the imp upon Elathiel's shield.  The foul creature fell at Elathiels feet in a scorched heap.

 " Nice shot, Ballyn"  Elathiel yelled over the din of battle.  

     I closed upon an imp quickly and it apparently wasn't ready for the ferocity of my attack.  I slashed through its tough hide and bit deeply into the cretures shoulder.  Black ichor poured from the wound as the creature stumbled backwards.  The diminuitive demon cast a spell on me and I felt myself weaken suddenly.  No matter, i had faced these beasts before and I pressed my attack, slashing again and again.  The creature fell dead upon the ground it's foul life spilled on the ground by my father's ancient blade.

   I turned to check on Elathiel and Ballyn and saw the body of our final assailant engulfed in flames as Ballyn called down a heavenly pillar of flame.  The last of the beasts lay dead in a smoldering pile of flesh and bone upon the field of battle.

 " Come on.  We have more important things to do than play with theses creatures."  I said as I approached my compatriots.  

 " Aye, follow me then." said Elathiel as he sped off over a small rise to the west.

     Ballyn and I pilfered the ill gottten gold of the foul creatures and followed Elathiel the Ranger over the small rise.  We caught up to him shortly standing upon the crest of the low ridge.

 " Are you going to scout the area, brother?"  I asked.

 " Aye.  I will do that.  You two wait here.  I'll be back shortly."  he said and then sped down the small ridge and over a second larger hill to the west.

    It wasnt long before Elathiel astride his trusty ostard came barelling back over the hill.  

 " It's a big one!"  he exclaimed as he pulled up next to me.

 "Battle positions!" I yelled as I realized we were already in position for battle.  

 " Very good." I said, and we all chuckeled.

     We heard the roar of the great beast even before it crested the larger hill to our west.  

 "Sounds big."  said Ballyn

 As it crested the hillwe realized just how enormous the beast was.  

 "Looks big, too." said Ballyn dryly.

    I chuckled at the understatement.  The thing was enormous.  It stood taller than any ogre I have ever seen.  It was as tall as a small dragon.  Two huge black horns protruded from the foul flesh atop it's head and two great wings stemmed from it's back.  The beast was blood red from head to tail with hooves as black as coal where it's feet should have been.

   I thought for sure this thing would tear us all limb from limb, and I began to tremble slightly.  

 " Dont worry Keith, there not as bad as they look."  said Elathiel confidently.  

    I drew my sword from its scabbard and I could feel the warmth of my fathers presence as I gripped the hilt.  By now the beast had closed the distance with us and began to attack Elathiel visciously.  Blow after blow from the beasts mighty arms fell upon Elathiel.  He blocked many of the blows with his shield but some caught him square.  he was bloodied and breathing heavily from his wounds as I began to tend him.  

    I closed with the hell spawn drawing it's attention from Elathiel just long enough for the bandages to take hold.  It swatted at me but my shield was forged in the molten rock of fire island.  It did quite well against the blows of the foul beast.  I slashed vigorously at the beast as it turned it's attention back to Elathiel and I opened a large gash in it's side.  The beast did not slow in the slightest.  It howled in pain and anger and pressed it's attack against Elathiel.  Bolts of blue energy struck the monster in the chest and it stumbled backwards for a moment in pain.  The respite was only momentary as it pressed it's attack again.  By now though we could see the beast was tiring.  Where once it called down pillars of flame to strike at us, it now threw small missiles of eldritch flame at us.  Its blows came slower now as it bled from the many wounds we opened upon its sides and chest.  Another bolt of energy struck the beast, this time directly in it's open maw.  The beast spit vile green blood from it's torn and scorched mouth as it reeled in pain.  I struck another blow, this time at its back, severing one of its great wings.  The beast fell to the ground upon it's claws and knees, just as Elathiel struck the death blow, bringing his great war mace down upon the beasts head, smashing its skull.  

    The creature laid lifeless at our feet.  We were bruised and battered but all in all, we were fine.  We applied bandages and healing magics and once we were healthy again we pillaged the great beast's large pack it carried around its waist.  

 " What did you find Elathiel?"  I asked.  

 " A pretty penny this one had. Some scrolls, much gold, and some reagents."  he answered.

 " No weapons?" Ballyn asked.

 " Nope, no weapons." He answered

 " Go get another one."  I said with a smile, and off went Elathiel tearing over the hill to the west his ostard at a dead gallop.

 We gained some weapons this day, but the rumored horde was never uncovered.  Squire Gith joined us later in the day and fought valiantly at our side.  It was a glorious victory for the empire, even though our self appointed mission was a failure.  We stuck a great blow to the forces of darkness.  Our final tally was 23 imps dead and 13 daemons dispatched.  No deaths for the empire.  Glorious, twas truly glorious.

[Lord Ser Brightblade]

*looks towards his liege from the shadows and smiles*

"Sire, it seems the legion grows strong again.  Can victory of Blackthorne and his dark forces be far off??"

[Borg]

From what they describe Praetorian....it sounds similar to Mondain's old home in the Maze built by his Minataurs....

***Fades to story***

It was the dark times of Mondain and the power and lure of the gem of immortality began to influence his mind so much....he began to look for ways to improve his defenses as well as maintaining stronger power on those around him.

Let me see.....now Mondain was responsible for the blending of many species of animal life with his servants ...that is true. Lizzardmen for example roam now in the swamps they fled to after thier kinds creation in Mondains laboratory beneath his home.  The Lizzardmen were to be his warrior race but thier cold hearts could not keep any form of loyalty for long.  Ratmen, though simpleminded did not work either since they kept hoarding and hoarding anything they could get thier paws on.  It seems the beast of burdon has now been found in the Centaur, which is a blend of strong steeds and his woodmen that worked in the carving of Mondain's property out of the forrest.  There Mondain had built a grand maze for protection and his magical power carpeted the area, making teleportation impossible.  Cunning gamesmen who designed the Maze were twisted with strong Ox bulls that helped plow and carve the land into the Maze itself.  This new mutation became guardians of the Maze.....they were the Minataurs.  One of his strongest creations they were and although were defeated by man long ago.... thier elaborate work still stands today challenging visitors to the Maze. Inside the maze stands many structures as well as hidden access to the laboratory where these experiments did take place. Here is where Mondain twisted life in experiments first...then the vile Sutek for a period of time before his mind itself tore him apart into insanity. Even now in the stable at the back of the house the animals are still cared for.....but by whom or by what is what ye should ask.  Most recently though I heard Imps and young demons patrol the area searching for some relic.  Perhaps they seek a means to find the Minataur Stronghold and bring them back to stop the expansion of humans into the new lands and Ilshenar....I do not know.

The Minataurs were never defeated or driven underground like the Cyclops were by humanity. Other races though did follow the great towers of the single point of view.....and along with them the people who still cared for them. The husbands, wives and family perhaps of the servants that so horrifically now were blended species of animal and human. Human developments sprang up that we have only just begun to understand in Delusia; where great reference is made to the Serpent and Spider races which at first all were refugees from the surface world along with their human families.

The Minataur though is still escaping human eyes....still the guardian of the Maze.....perhaps now fortified in a stronghold yet to be uncovered. I believe the key to this stronghold and the means to re-discover this proud and powerful race is within the Maze. Minax may know its true linkage for her past involvment with Mondain is quite well known....perhaps she does not know of the Minataurs....for they were created prior to her relations to Mondain.

The myths and rumors about the Minataurs are that they were great warrior guardians that carried the Axe of Woe [executioner axe of terrible power], Grave Gauntlets[gloves of terrible power], Staff of Dismissal[teleports target away] and Staff of Shaking[Earthquake spell]. The maze once could not be entered by magical means or traversed either by use of magic...I can only assume that this would again be the case at their stronghold or in the area of their presence.

A spidershrine also resides inside the maze they created to protect their original masters home. If this is the linkage to the Terrathans I do not know....as well as the many Ophidian friendly areas that are scattered about the same maze area. The whole area of the maze is kept in grand appearance.....one can only wonder if the creators still maintain it perhaps from deep deep below in their stronghold.

The Stronghold of Minataurs....another piece of Mondains legacy that still stands hidden from view....growing and growing stronger

[Lord Ser Brightblade]

Bah surely these Minotaurs are no match for the legions.  I believe our tailors have plenty of red cloth and our dragoons the sharp lances needed to the bulls of the maze.  I always did find bullfighting interesting although barbaric.

Another question comes to mind as well my leige.  If these creations of Mondain thought long ago extinct still exist beyond our reach is it not posssible that Mondain himself exists hidden from our sight?  Afterall who is this Exodus we have heard rumblings of, his face never seen, and his control absolute even over those as arrogant as the Juka and Blackthorne himself.

Lord Ser Brightblade