3. Frances.

Frances.


  • This was strange night

    I saw two violet dead lights outside gate, and i knew their name. They represented demonologist's revenge.

    I said mantras that transform fear into fearlessness.

    I understood someone loves me.

    I understood the dead lights fulfilled their role and i must step forward.


  • _a Dog.

    i've hunted Kuo Toa with my summoned shadow mastiff, then something appeared in my awareness.

    Certain forces tried to counter me & my dog, wishing my death.

    My cat's grace and bull strength worked weaker, but i told myself:

    'Dog will come out anyway.
    it's not so easy to counter a dog,
    it's autosuccess'.

    … and dog came out anyway, which reinforced my power through belief.

    Then Oscuran Unholy Priest contacted my mind saying that he's in jail and wishes to be that dog, to be free, to come out.

    i've agreed to terms - he will serve Enlightened Energies - as my favour for Chea - and improve his behaviour.

    Hunt was a success, i killed Kuo Toa Mage, Kuo Toa Priestess & many lessers.

    Dog tied them in combat as i quickly killed them with flaming arrows.

    i won two scrolls - holy flame of Combust that i didn't have in my scroll case, and a Scare spell.

    ... in my awareness some stupid holy forces wanted me to sell scare, to not promote terror - but i am not terrorist mercenary for gold.

    My scare-powers is not for sale.

    Then i walked to Peltarch, sold some loot while keeping scrolls - and summoned shadow mastiff again a few of times, taking him out for a walk.

    With unholy priest's powers, dog's menace and darkness increased.

    He became more unruly, if i make mistakes he will wound me or even kill.

    i took dog few times for a walk, so others can believe that dog will come out anyway, earning power of belief, hastening priest's freedom.

    Then i meditated for a while in Ashald Park, to regain spells - and ate some cheese, nuts and garlic with black bread, drinking a non-alcoholic drink as well.

    i will serve my dog as well, so it will not be unleashed.

    To serve is to gain advantage, by common sense & spiritual challenge rules.

    -- Frances, a Spiritual Witch._


  • Am i worthy of my Bow?

    • Armed & Threatening. -

    … It did not suprise me at all.

    A few of scoundrels confronted me at night in the Peltarch's Commons.

    • 'Quite a Bow. Do you think she's worthy of it?' - one of them dared to speak.
    • '… i think she's not worthy, this bow is too good for her.' - another answered.

    They surely wanted to get something. i wasn't sure whether my bow, or rather - the well deserved beating.

    i straightened my archery glove as i glanced at them.

    • 'Don't you dare to speak. You are in the presence of the Oscuran Noble'.

    … Had to speak a little more forcibly than usual.

    They hesistated, i counted about five of them in total - probably two of them were 'merchants', rest - their hired goons.

    • 'i went through proper fighter & archery training … and my magick enhances that way very well'

    … my words were slow, calculated & a little threatening as i did assess them for danger. i did reach for my bow with one hand, other put on my quiver. - 'Now be gone, unless You wish to taste the fiery arrows of Darkhavens' daughter, of Frances from Oscura'.

    … They looked at each other for a while then backed off, murmuring, with hesistation.

    i think i should prepare for their return in future, should they dare enough.

    One is for sure, i won't give nor sell them my bow - i decided.

    -- Frances, an Adventuress & a Witch of the Oscuran Noble Origin.


  • Archery Gloves.

    … i did it again - i did enchant an item succesfully.

    This time it was gloves, that i made from rat skins.

    Should provide for a extra accuracy, precision & focus when bowshooting, as well as a firmer grip on a weapon.

    -- Frances Darkhaven, an Adventuress & a Witch of Kossuth & Siamorphe.


  • The Masterwork Darkwood Longbow.

    Rumours were that very limited supply of very rare wood was found by Norwick's Crafters' Union, the Darkwood.

    i think Druids were not so happy when they cut it down, but Crafter's Union also plants wood & cares - so they let them be.

    A while ago heard from Kessmiah, ex-slave of Oscuran Kursk Family that famous, best bowmaker in Narfell - Ginger B. Tealeaf - soon will be selling bows made from this wood.

    Made some arrangements, wrote letters to the Ginger & Z of Norwick's Crafting hall, in an attempt to buy one of very limited supply of this bow.

    Today got a letter from Master Z that there's one available in Norwick's Crafting hall, it's price 20 000 gold pieces - very high, but well worth in this case.

    It's unarguably one of the best bows in the land, despite it's nonmagical nature.

    Not thinking much went to Bank, withdrew all of my coins, sold all my gems & most of my scrolls to Hemrod, barely reached that amount.

    After a nervous boat trip south arrived in Norwick.

    They still had the bow, now i am happy owner of it.

    – Frances Darkhaven, an Archer Adventuress & a Witch of Kossuth & Siamorphe.


  • 9th Arcane Initiation.

    • 'Bestow Curse', a 4th Circle Witchery. -
    • ((weak in combat, intended to use as an roleplaying spell.)) -

    Went throught 9th Arcane Initiation, acquired new spells, lost some spells.

    i am able now to enchant magic items efficiently as well.

    A power of Shelgarn's Blade's summoning did leave, but got Magic Missle spell in it's place. Also thaught myself Bull Strength, Dispel Magic and Bestow Curse spells.

    Bull Strength spell will prove useful for more efficient bowshooting, for higher carrying capacity and for melee combat mosly.

    Dispel Magic is useful in many situations - for breaking through arcane wards, for closing arcane portals, for counterspelling, for stripping enemies of enhancement spells.

    Bestow Curse is a spell that every witch should know. While weak in the direct lethal combat, it can be useful nevertheless.

    i've used up recently many potions, but acquired some gold & equipment as well.

    Most useful are Gauntlets of Ogre's Power, Potions of Liquid Shadow & a Ring with name 'Victor'.

    Rest can be useful, but i'll keep them mostly for sale.

    – Frances Darkhaven, a Witch & an Adventuress of Oscuran Noble Origin.


  • Hourglass.

    Rumours reached me that Atel Vai'sini, a hin bardess is being hunted by extraplanar beings.

    Rumours said it's connected to a powerful magical artifact somehow.

    i went to Norwick & Maria's Tower, where party gathered - either to help Atel or to participate in an adventure.

    We struck a deal with a powerful mage, Abernathy the Banished - he would help Atel complete the Hourglass Artifact and get rid of extraplanar creatures if he gets Hourglass after Atel plays with it to corrects herself in the 'Timeline'.

    Apparently she was hunted by Quarut, a powerful construct from the 'Mechanus' Plane, a construct capable of manipulating time & casting the 'Wish' spell. Apparently Atel did break some 'Laws of Time', that's why Quarut sought her.

    Quarut's mechanical clockwork bird servitors circled around us, spied … and informed their boss who tried to breach into Maria's tower.

    An Empty Hourglass, to be filled with 'Sands of Time' was in hand of Abernathy's Rival, mage & half-fire-elemental Kyith.

    Following Abernathy's advice we teleported to the ogre-infested moutain area just after Quarut brought arcane wards down, fought few frantic battles then reached the Temple of the Flame.

    It was hot there, and it was only a beginning.

    We proceeded down the lava-adorned corridors, disabled traps, fought elementals, lesser demons & undead ... then most of us entered the 'treasure room' that was a trap.

    Struggling against time, as lava kept rising in room to engulf locked within - we kept working on the lock from both sides. My knock scroll failed, but lock was picked using roguish means instead. They escaped, lava was contained in a room.

    Going little further we found a door protected by strong traps - and as it would soon unfold - by an 'Alarm' spell.

    With alarm spell triggered, Kyith's one of simulacrums appeared started to deal with us, tried 'Geas' spell on Atel ... then we defeated it ... twice.

    In library behind alarm, we found some books & scrolls ... as well as a stone that was a key to portal where we hoped the Empty Hourglass is.

    Portal took us to the Pocket Plane of Earth & Magma, where hot air burnt, toxic wapors endangered lungs, where strong gravity & puzzles blocked way & where a Juvenile Red Dragon slept.

    Magicks protected us, we proceeded ... unlocking runestone gateways with cold spells, sneaking past dragon as Atel sang a Lullaby-song for a dragon.

    Then we entered a chamber with the Empty Hourglass, Treasure & Traps. We dispelled trap's triggers, recovered all that was possible then quit the Pocket Plane via a Runic Gateway.

    Leaving temple, we teleported back to Peltarch.

    My part of the treasure was a Magical Cloak, Firewall Crystals, Scrolls, Gems and few of items for sale.

    Cloak will prove useful, i've adjusted it's looks in Violetta's Vanity Plates shop in Peltarch.

    Rest of items are for sale, so far got over 5,000 gold pieces for these.

    -- Frances Darkhaven, Noble Flame, an Adventuress & a Witch.


  • Escorting Caravan.

    After buying spell crystals my funds were quite low.

    i've been fighting to gather more coins - and recovered some from hands of Kuo Toa and Kobolds; sold some coal to a crafter Gnarl Horst as well.

    Then an opportunity arrived, there was a caravan to be escorted for the House Hemway of Peltarch. We were hired by Lady Hemway with her attendant Alfred - whom curiously she did call every time with different name.

    We sought information how to reach our randezvous site, Regal's Fjord, and were advised by a horse seller to use ship; but the trip by water was not so uneventful.

    It was a hard fight against pirates, then lot of work by pumps to keep our damaged ship afloat - but we recovered their plunder coins after most of pirates were defeated; it was about 1000 gp for each of us. It was Umberlee-serving pirate casters with spells of bladewall & firestorm that damaged our ship.

    At fjord we were approached by Aurilite cultists, who offered us 'Enlightenment' if we undressed from our warm cloaks and felt evil godess of colds' - Auril's - 'kiss on the skin'. i didn't agree, for it was not a way to reach enlightenment - only to get cold & sick instead.

    Leeroy - a leader of our caravan - had troubles with a cart wheel, but after it was fixed we could leave.

    We rode on the carts pulled by the horses, it was fast and safe until caravan broke.

    We had such breaks three times in dangerous areas, we fought wolves, trolls and orcs while Leeroy kept repairing caravan.

    Orcs were toughest and most numerous of waves of encountered enemies, our horses were attacked - until Isolde had invisibility spell cast on horses and Leeroy.

    After defeating orcs our journey continued, with only two horses remaining alive to pull caravan's wagons.

    When we were mostly spent out of spells, our caravan broke again at Peltarch's gates.

    We were debriefed, paid and party split.

    Now i used up a few of potions, but coin-wise - have over six thousand in my purses.

    – Frances, an Adventuress and an Archer - Witch.


  • Tapping Artifacts' Powers.

    i had a vision & insights.

    There are nine powerful artifact crystals in a related plane-world, called 'Crystals of Time'.

    i've thought i'll offer certain powers, help to build these artifacts' powers with my nine spell crystals of the haste spells.

    i've prayed to divine to believe in the powers of 'Crystals of Time', to enhance these.

    The 'Crystals of Time', it's said, have abilities to put whole nations to a slumber, to wipe something from nations' memories - including memories of the gods they worship, or to kill whole nations.

    It's said that 'Crystals of Time' have lesser - but still significiant - powers as well,

    i feel i've gained a little of their abilities & powers, by naming nine of my spell crystals properly, by imbuing them with a time-related haste spells.

    Perhaps later i'll be able to proceed with more attunements & affinities that way.

    But there's a drawback as well - as i gain abilities from the artifact, it also gains powers over me.

    – Frances Darkhaven, a Witch of a Noble Oscuran origin.


  • Crystals of Time.

    i've bought a large number of spell crystals for a small fortune - 9 rough for 100 gp each, 11 standard for 300 gp each, 3 perfect for 700 gp each;

    It's 6300 gold pieces in total, what i have left is about 1800 gp.

    i've stored 'haste' spell in 9 of standard spell crystals - this will have uses as an aspect of greater magic of 'Crystals of Time', i should not use it in combat unless my life is seriously threatened.

    Rest of spell crystals i'll use as a reserve;

    Compared with scrolls these crystals have both advantages as well as faults.

    Scrolls are lighter, and are more worthy for wizards who can use scrolls to learn spells & copy to their spellbooks.

    Crystals on the other hand can be imbued with priestly, druidic or bardic spells as well, when i find someone willing to do this favour for me, but are heavier than scrolls.

    Anna Blake, a friend who sold me these crystals added a small gift to it - an amulet which increases a number of spells available each day to a wizard or a sorcerer.

    – Frances, a Witch & Adventuress of the Darkhaven Noble Oscuran Family Origin.


  • Rallying Troops.

    Am I useful in Gnoll Conflict?

    No, just and only because I have no troops.

    I've been trained to signal the attack or rally the troops, making them stop fleeing… by Darkhaven Family in Oscura, in case of a Battle.

    With 'True Strike' Spell, which needs some work to be useful, along with 'Flame Weapon' cast on arrows, I could signal attack on Gnoll Leader to start battle.

    But they won't trust me, I think.

    ... perhaps better that way, anyway.

    -- Frances, wandering disgraced noble of Oscuran Darkhaven origin.


  • Unarmored.

    • Frances fighting Kobolds, Unarmored. -

    i've been fighting unarmored, with sword & spells.

    that way spells don't fail in combat.

    this works against lesser opponents such as weaker types of kobolds, in this land.

    but even such as i can contribute to a team somehow, sometimes… but not greatly, it seems.

    -- Frances, a Noble Flame.

    P.S. Unarmored Combat has it's uses - not everywhere armour & weapons are welcomed well. it's rare to be useful, perhaps as an escort to people against smaller of threats.

    • Reflecting. -

  • Trained Worgs.

    i've been hunting lately too much.. to the point of being not thrilled enough with goblins as to engage worgs, large wolves trained by orcs near Peltarch… With new around these parts - but well experienced in combat - adventurer named 'Ozi'.

    Worgs are quite a menace for an archer - they run fast, knock opponents down with with their body mass and sharp teeth. We defeated few, i was injured but had enough of discipline to resist few of their knockdown-tear-with-teeth attempts, despite shock of being wounded so bad in so short amount of time.

    Without Ozi's healing magics i'd be dead.

    -- Frances, experience-hungry and unwise a witch.

    P.S. Later, with Ozi we ventured to slay hobgoblins... on way there i almost hit him with an arrow, goblin necromancer's fault knowing magics of this land - a little joke of mine. After dispatching goblin necromancer to hells he deserves, we pressed on to hobgoblins, and killed many, avoiding unsuspected danger of the Slaadi. I do not know what they did there at all.


  • …


  • After recovery from last trip, i ventured south and into Howling Woods. Found glowing mushrooms and woman who hired us. Gave her one mushroom and exchanged few words. Other mushroom i kept for a possible magic item enchanting.

    On another day i went south again, this time detracting from Howling Woods path on my Witch's instinct, and going deeper south into Old Norwick Ruins. Was attacked by few or several possessed swines so i ran looking for help…

    Then found her, druidess who started fight. Undead are known enemies to nature.

    After casting few spells i've joined fight and helped to close it.

    She was wounded, i gave her 'ambush plant', or fruit as it was indeed.... She ate it and it healed her, just as i suspected.

    She didn't speak a single word.

    Then we ventured onward to Hobgoblin area in the Rawlins, passing two strange ruined statues from the past on the way. A hint of 'Lost City', most terrible place that kills most heroic fast, a remnant of the Old Narfell Empire and legacy of Demonbinders that thrived in it's 'glory'. Full of Powerful Undead. Lost deep, deep in Rawlins and in time, after terrible dangers by itself on the way.

    With druidess' help, expeditious retreat and flaming arrows fight with hobgoblins was short and succesful. We came back to the Norwick Town wounded.

    This day i was sentimental.

    -- Frances, thrilled witch.


  • On my another Howling Woods trip i've almost fell into a cheesy ambush trap.

    Found rare healing plant that can be used, practically only, by nature's experts… and a wounded Hobgoblin Reaper around.

    Thankfully i heard him in advance.

    I did cast flame weapon on arrows and shot him, finishing with one hit.

    Then i've retreated, restraining my greed for a while.

    -- Frances, richer and alive, with an ambush plant.

    P.S. Hobgoblin Reapers are very dangerous, deadly even. Their fighting style with Scythe can criticize most 'valid' defenses and kill in one blow. Especially when paired with Hobgoblin Magickers that disable opponents with their spells.


  • Three of us, little adventurers, went on long trip to Howling Woods in Rawlins.

    We've cleared Goblin Cave out of numerous goblins, wolves and hobgoblins.

    I had to meditate to regain spells and rest… in a half lotus position.

    On way out we were suprised by Goblin Assassin and other of his kind. He dropped one of us, i shot him with flaming arrow that exploded incinerating him. He lived and started fleeing, so i pursued bypassing other goblins on the way as i shot not caring for wounds. In the end i got him barely.

    Out of greed and battle insanity, i tried to take his thin-bladed dagger and run away - but was brought at knees by pursuing goblins. Help arrived in time as i bled... teammate used enchanted balm to save me.

    We returned fighting more goblins on the way, then shared spoils and loot. Thin-bladed dagger turned out to be mine in a fair loot split, and i took it as a trophy.

    -- Frances, richer witch.


  • A Witch hired me and another person to escort her hunting for glowing Mushrooms.

    After a briefing i introduced myself formally and was nicknamed boldly 'red'.

    Warrior was blind in the dark, so i cast lightspell on him, he his reaction was strange, he had to face it.

    I've shown off my poor spellcasting and bowshooting, but we didn't face anything scary indeed.

    We found none of the Mushrooms.

    Woman had to leave quick, didn't pay anything, and we had to return to places from which we came.

    Under her protection spell it was easier.

    At town, a warrior used words that kept triggering certain mantras, that positively affect speech, if used well.

    'Ah'

    i replied with:

    'Om Ah'


    • Watching the gate -

    It seemed like a quiet watch.

    I told them to prepare and fired arrow strongly into the night.

    After some time i took two arrows, turned hand backwards fired, then reversed and fired again.

    • Animal watch -

    Nothing came in response, except for a hostile badger. It would not leave. I tried to shoot it but it hid under gate where i had no line of sight.

    We played games for a while, he seemed afraid to run. So i sent familiar toward him, he had another chance to run away and chose to fight, familiar won.

    Then falcon came.

    • The inn -

    I got completely naked, washed myself and rested with knife in hand.


  • I went slaying hobgoblins with dwarf named Gnarl.

    He tried to protect me and allow me to earn coin even if it was difficult for us both.

    He lost lot of coin, but no one died.

    I gave him a gift. Ale, coal and arrow of eternal rest to use against enemies.

    And I learned efficient way of defeating possessed swine. Smack her ass hard with my masterwork quarterstaff.

    😄