DIARY of Don Deb`eo, as copied by Sinai. All attempts have been made to keep this as
accurate to the original as possible, including spelling mistakes. I have added my own notes where necessary for
clarification. The original diary is a
brown, leather-bound book with knot work designs on the cover.
March 10
We had been at sea for 3 weeks. The weather has made it seem much longer
though. Despite the rough conditions,
the crew has remained in good spirits.
They are focused on the fortunes that we are owed for this
delivery. Once the sale of these spices
is complete we will be able to relax for a while.
Marina is not
faring as well. She has spent much of
the trip seasick. I have been trying to
find the right moment to ask her, but I want it to be special and she always
appears so miserable. Perhaps the
weather will break soon and the seas will calm.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
March 20
The sun broke through the clouds today. With the winds at our back we made up a lot
of time today. I figure we should reach
the bay in another day or two. A small
scuffle broke out between two of the men.
No one was badly injured and they soon went back to drinking together. Marina
is starting to feel better. I have told the cook to prepare a special meal for
us tomorrow evening. Whe the moment is
right I will ask her.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
March 21
We are making about six knots and should be able to see the
coast soon. We spotted another merchant
vessel a few hundred yards off, headed back east. A much larger ship than the Tempest, but
certainly nowhere near as fast. They
showed a flag of truce as did we, and went on without incident.
Marina is up and
about. I have laid out a beautiful new
dress for her to wear at dinner. The
cook has said that dinner shall be exquisite.
He has been saving a special ham, and I have a bottle of my very own
Burning Berry Wine. I am excited and
nervous at the same time. My hands have
begun to sweat and I can hardly hold the quill.
May I die a thousand deaths if she says no.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
March 21 second entry
She said yes! Dinner
went well and after a third glass of wine, I took the small box from my
pocket. When I opened it, the ring
seemed to glow as it sparkled under the candlelight in the cabin. She looked dazed, all wide-eyed and
awed. As I took a knee, she clutched her
chest. I said, “Marina,
will you marry me?” Marina
squealed as she lunged toward me. The
force of her kisses knocked me off of my knee and both of us to the
ground. She just kept saying yes as she
kissed me. At that moment she shined
brighter than the ring. The sound of my
heart thudded through my chest.
After a while, I escorted her back to her cabin. I kissed her again and told her that nothing
shall stand in the way of our love. Once
this trip is over we can plan our wedding back home. I know that she will start planning tonight
however. I wrote this down in case I
woke up later thinking it all a dream.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
March 22
The crew has already heard of my engagement to Marina. They make remarks like schoolgirls, but I
allow them these quips at my expense.
Nothing could spoil my mood. Land
was sighted at first light, we are about 2 miles off the coast and should make
the river mouth within another day. Marina
is all a glow, despite a little queasiness she continues to dance and twirl
around the ship’s deck. She sings little
songs and continues to braid her hair.
She smiles and giggles at me, occasionally flashing the ring to see.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
March 23
We have reached the mouth of the river and dropped
anchor. We will start up it at first
light when the tide is higher. The river
is fairly wide, with enough room for two ships to pass. It should take us three days to reach our
destination. We will likely remain
ashore for a days time, just to stretch our legs, but then we will return to
sea to head home.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
March 24
We have begun our journey up the river. The land around us seems to be strangely
quiet and the air smells stale. The mood
on the boat would have darkened had it not been for Marina. She continues to sing for the men, her voice
echoing over the hills around us. Other
than her echo, the land seems hushed and still.
Fidel tried to fish from the stern in hopes of catching some trout. Either through skill or good fortune, Fidel
usually manages to catch something, but not today.
Captain Thoma
Vidaggio
March 25
The light of day could not have come soon enough. Shortly after yesterday’s entry, the sun
began to set. The sun seemed to fall
away from the sky. A cold breeze
whistled through the trees as if heralding the coming of something foul. As full dark fell, we began to see men slowly
moving towards the banks of the river.
As they drew nearer we could see that they were no longer men, but
corpses animated by dark magic. As the
undead shambled towards the ship, the crew readied catapults, swords, bows,
crossbows and any other weapons they could find. I locked Marina
away in her cabin and barricaded the door.
The first few undead who reached the river began wading towards the
ship, but they were unable to keep their footing and the fast moving current
washed them downstream. Some of the men
began firing arrows into the mob with deadly accuracy, but the losses did not
appear to diminish their numbers.
Discerning that they could not reach us through the water, they simply
lined the riverbank. For miles we sailed
on, passing a continuous line of undead of various shapes and sizes. Several sets of glowing eyes floated through
the horde. We had considered turning
around, but once we determined that they could not reach us through the water, and
reminded ourselves of the amount of money to be made from this sale, we
continued north, up the river. Shortly
before dawn the undead withdrew, so I freed Marina
from her cabin. The men have broken out
the oars and are doing everything possible to speed us along. I can only hope that our destination has not
succumbed to this siege.
Captain
Thoma Vidaggio
Note: All the entries in red were penned in
blood of unknown origin. ~Sinai
April 12
Finally this day I can recap the
sorrows that befell my crew, my beloved Marina and myself. As the sun began to fade we crept into our
second night on the river. At this time
the strange wind began to blow again. We
looked to the shore to see the undead coming, but they did not appear. We rejoiced for a moment thinking we had
sailed past them. Then a green fog rolled
down the river. Just behind the fog was
a tall ship on the water heading south. Shimmering in a faint and eerie glow,
the skull and crossbones billowed from its mast. Again the men readied the weapons and
prepared to repel pirate boarders. As
the ship drew nearer we could see the ship just seem to glide on top of the
water and pairs of glowing eyes canvassed its deck. My crew let loose the catapults and
arrows. What should have been direct
hits, harmlessly passed through the ship, landing in the river whit a
splash. With the ship closing fast and
nowhere to run, I spun the wheel towards the riverbanks, running the Tempest aground. We grabbed what gear we could and took to the
land in hopes of outrunning them on foot.
Within seconds we found ourselves
surrounded. A macabre assortment of
creatures were crawling from the earth and shambling towards us. The crew pulled together and drew their
swords. I held Marina close by my side. I told her,
“This will not be our end, you and I have a destiny together. This shall not stand in the way of our
love.” The undead continued to creep
towards us.
I lifted my sword to the sky and
said “Crew of the Tempest! Strong and True, Fight to the last!” With that, I let loose a battle cry which was
echoed by the crew. We charged the wall
of undead before us. Swords fell upon
wave after wave of undead, but slowly the crew was falling. We continued to push ahead with Marina close on my heels. As my crew fell
they rose again as slaves to the dark magic.
There was a tremor in my hand as I ran through Fidel in his new form.
The din of battle began to slow and
fade until my sword was the only one ringing out against the undead. I reached back to feel for Marina, but she was not there. I screamed
for her, but heard no reply. I spun
around and saw that I was still surrounded.
Knowing that I would never make it through the horde of undead, I knelt,
determined not to die by their hands. I lifted my sword to my heart, saying, “Marina, I have failed you, I’m sorry”. I
took a final breath and tightened my grip on the sword, but a black hand seized
my own.
“I have greater things planned for
you” a voice said. He pulled the sword
from my hand with ease. “Just kill me,
do not turn me to one of your zombies,” I demanded. He smiled and said “As I said, I have greater
things planned for you. You shall serve
me far better than these petty beings.”
I stood. Raising my eyes to his shimmering crown and
glowing eyes, I bellowed, “I am Captain Thoma Vidaggio and I serve no man or
beast”. “You will serve me,” he said as
he moved to show Marina tottering behind him.
With a pale and woeful face she appeared to look through me. My heart sank. “Marina, forgive me”, I cried as a tear slid down my face.
I turned toward the creature. “Release her and set her right and I shall
serve you,” I pleaded. “She cannot fight
and will make for a poor minion”.
The creature appeared to ponder the
offer momentarily. He nodded and said
“you are right she will not fight well in battle, she will not lift a sword in
my name”.
Assuming we had reached an agreement
I again knelt. “You were impressive in
the battle, I shall transform you
into something more befitting your abilities” said the creature. With that he placed his twisted hand upon me
and uttered some words which were unfamiliar to me. I felt nothing. I felt no pain as I saw the flesh slide away
from my skull. I could hear my cheek and
ear land upon my boot. I stood again and
as I did I could feel tremendous power coursing through my body. He said, “You are now bound to me. I shall name you in the old language, Don
Deb`eo”.
“I have kept my end, now release
her!” I said. He laughed. “I said that she would not lift a sword in my
name, I did not say that I would free her.
Truly, did you think I needed your permission for what I have done?”
“I have heard her sing for you
aboard your ship, now she will sing for me”.
In the same manner as he had done to me, he put his hand upon her and
recited a few words. At that moment Marina’s eyes focused. She too had been
elevated above the zombie-like state.
She looked at her hands, touched her face and then peered at me. Her eyes grew wide. “Thoma!?” and then she screamed. Her scream pierced the night air, echoing for
miles. She continued to scream and wail
as she was shuffled off by other minions.
The creature with the glowing crown
looked at me and then commanded “I have taken that which you hold most dear,
now you must do the same for me. Find my
enemies and take that which they hold most dear. Go and prepare for them, they draw
near”. He then pointed to the north and
said, “return when you have something for me”. With that he began to fade away
until he was gone. The green mist rolled
over the land and seemed to sweep away the undead. Within minutes I found myself alone.
I returned to the wrecked Tempest.
I brought one of the rolling carts down from the deck. I proceeded to load it with my lab, a few
tools, the spices that were to be delivered and this journal. Despite the tremendous weight of everything,
I moved them with relative ease. Rolling
the cart along I made my way to the north until I found a cave to call home.
Don
Deb`eo
April 13
In the days that followed, I could
not help but think of Marina. I spent my nights
skulking through the woods, compelled to follow the command given to me by my
Master. I would frequently come across
his other lesser minions, who gave way and seemed to obey my commands unless
they conflicted with my Master’s. I
spent my days working with my lab. In
addition to the recipes I was already familiar with I have been able to devise
some new poisons. I have been
experimenting with the spices I brought as well as the plants in the area. I have tested my new poisons on the few living
creatures that I have found.
I have robbed some of the rat people
of their food, and some barbarians of their trinkets and weapons. I dislike wronging these folk, but I am
compelled to seek them out and take what they hold most dear. At one point I had encountered a rat-person
woman. She said that of all the things
she held her husband most dear. It
pained me so, but I killed him in his sleep.
I could only hope that his passing was painless. I hope that his spirit was strong enough to
return to her. I hope that my spirit is
strong enough to return to Marina.
Don
Deb`eo
April 15
Despite my talent with alchemy, one
of my experiments backfired today. I was
mixing some of the spices in with the few remaining curative elixirs I had on
hand to see the result. One spice in
particular is called Elegan Ivy. Elegan
Ivy is a leafy vine that continues to slowly grow even after being cut. Elegan Ivy will attempt to re-root itself
unless burned. The growth properties of
the ivy, when mixed with the curative elixir and other reagents, had a stunning
effect. When I combined them a cloud of
gas flew from the vial and burned my skull.
I quickly recovered, but after another very painful test I discovered
that I had indeed found a concoction that would harm undead. I have decided that this must remain my
secret for now.
Don
Deb`eo
April 18
I delivered the items I have stolen
thus far to my Master. He summoned me to
his keep where I saw ghastly creatures of all types. There were several variations of undead that
served as lieutenants, scurrying about carrying out orders. I was shown the way to the armory, where I
left the weapons. Along the way, I
peered into a large room to see an enormous undead of great stature sitting
upon a throne. It was not the creature
that created me, for there was no glowing crown. He was clearly in command of the undead
there, so perhaps my Master answers to him.
I stayed hidden so that he would not see me for I feared that he too
might hold sway over me.
One of the lieutenants directed me
to the tower, where I found my Master, with his glowing crown. He told me that I had done well, but greater
forces were upon us and that I would need to step up my efforts, for
adventurers from the north were approaching.
He said that he had already routed one scouting party, claiming several
of the people for the forces of undead.
I asked his name and he said, “you
may call me Ma…Master, you may call me simply Master”.
He escorted me throughout the keep,
which had been heavily fortified. At one
point we entered a sort of laboratory.
He appeared to be working on creating new and horrible types of
undead. On one shelf I saw a series of
bottles. They were clearly marked, but
they did not hold ingredients. I could
not read them all, but I was able to distinctly make out a few, one in
particular read “Don Deb`eo” another “Marina”.
I tried to hide my anger. When he
had changed us to these forms he had bottled our spirits. So long as he had the bottles we would never
be freed.
After a few minutes more, he sent me
on my way, admonishing me to be careful.
He said that the adventurers that were coming would be more powerful
than those I had seen so far. Before I
turned to leave he said, “Your orders remain the same, take that which they
hold most dear”. “You will create fear
in their hearts, while my other undead drive them back or into submission”.
I returned to the cave and began to
think.
Don
Deb`eo
April 23
I have been preparing for the
adventurers. My cave is now heavily
trapped, and I have been preparing a multitude of gasses for them. Against my better judgment, I have continued
to carefully make more of the “Harm undead gas” in case I ever have a need for
it. At one point I returned to the
village of the rat people at night. I
was despondent to see that the woman’s husband’s spirit had not been strong
enough to return to her. I left a note
of apology and a number of the harm undead gasses. The note instructed them to use the vials if
more of my kind ever approached. I did
not approach them for fear that the commands would overtake me and compel me to
take even more from this poor woman.
Don
Deb`eo
May 7
I have continued to search for Marina at night, but to no avail. The
days seem like weeks. I used to think I
wanted to live forever with Marina, but now I
know that forever is a long time. Now I
should simply prefer that we grow old together.
The days pass so slowly with no need of sleep or food or wine. I have managed to fill the time with
alchemical experiments and my wine making.
I hope that one day soon I shall again share a glass of burning Berry with sweet Marina.
Don
Deb`eo
May 14
The adventurers have arrived. They came by boat and overtook the post at
keljin. My Master was furious. He sent wave after wave of undead to repel the
invaders. Clearly he had underestimated
their ability. That is unfortunate for
the adventurers, for he will not make the same mistake again. Soon he will let loose many more undead far
more wicked than those they have seen (me, for example). He has commanded that tonight I am to find
them and begin my assault.
I shall do as commanded, but have
another plan as well. Perhaps I can get
a message to these adventurers. Although
I must obey my orders, they may be able to help me find Marina.
I have prepared a note in my native
writing. By chance they may be able to
understand its meaning. I cannot cause
harm to my master, but if Marina and I are to be free I will need their
help. I hope that they will forgive me
for my actions.
Don
Deb`eo
May 15
I watched as four of them moved to a
cabin. I crept over and waited outside
for them to leave. The door opened and
one stepped out. I pelted him with vials of paralysis gas. Had he not be stricken with rigor his eyes
might have looked as big as those of the other three. They reached for their comrade, but withdrew
as vials flew in their direction. I
began to carry off the petrified comrade.
As I meandered off with him, the others began to pursue me. Since I did not desire to be followed all
evening, I turned to address them. Two
fo them held in their tracks but the third continued to move closer. His shield made for a nice target. After a quick skirmish and a few vials, he
found himself rather agreeable. His
friends called to him from off in the distance.
They called him “Wolf”. I asked
Wolf what it was that he held most dear, but he had never considered it in that
fashion. I rephrased my question, asking
what he would be the saddest to lose, and he indicated his sword. His friends continued to beckon to him and
were drawing nearer. A few more vials
and he was down. I grabbed the sword,
and turned to leave. At that moment I
remembered the note, I shoved the note in the back of his pants. I feared that the others might not find his
body in the darkness and I did not want him to die, so I flung his body up the
hill for them to find. I made my way
into the woods.
I was going to creep back to the
cave when I saw that my Master’s glowing crown in the distance. He had cast a circle upon their field and
bade me enter it. I presented him with
Wolf’s sword. My Master was quite irate,
as the undead officer that had been charged with guarding the outpost had
failed not once, but twice. My master
shattered his spirit bottle and commanded that he return to the battle once
more. He fell again.
Despite my Master’s foul mood, I
asked that he release me from my bond since I had already stolen many items for
him. He said that my task was only just
beginning, and that I would steal many more things. Unable to do otherwise, I bowed as he whisked
me away to the Keep in a shroud of green mist.
Don
Deb`eo
June 3
The soldiers have continued to
fortify Keljin. Wisely, they travel in
large groups. While I am well aware of
my abilities I do not prefer to attack groups of that size. I could quite possibly handle several of them
through sheer force, but that is not my nature, and besides, my commands are to
steal, not to slaughter.
I wonder if Wolf was able to make
sense of my note. I still have not heard
from or seen Marina. I hope that she is
safe wherever she may be.
Don
Deb`eo
June 20
I had a brief moment of joy last
night. There were four of them, all Dark
Elves, foolish enough to follow me into the woods. My initial instinct was to make quick work of
them, but they managed to stay my hand for a while as we chatted. It was so nice to just sit and talk. I hadn’t had a real conversation since that
final night with Marina. We talked for a
while until I could no longer hold my Master’s imperative at bay. A few vials and the one called Carak fell to
the ground. I was disheartened to see
that his friends fled so quickly. As I
had been unable to discover what Carak would miss the most, I took his
bow. I had seen the adventurers fight
earlier in the evening and had witnessed his proficiency with it.
I had written a note, longer than
the first, which I tucked under his belt.
I hoped that they would be able to understand my request and hopes. Carak had spoken well and again, I did not
want him to die. I threw his body back
onto the field so that his friends might save him. He seemed like a good person…someone I might
have called friend before my transformation.
I hope that we can speak again.
Don
Deb`eo
July 2
I’m not certain whether they have
made sense of my note, but I wonder if it matters. How can they free Marina if she is nowhere about? I search night after night to no avail. I dare
not mention her to my master.
I continue to think about the shelf
of bottles in my Master’s keep.
Don
Deb`eo
July 20
I’ve found it! After scouring the
countryside, from wrecked barbarian villages to rat villages, and even some orc
camps to the far east; I have found a bottle greatly resembling the red one
that bears my name in the keep. I have not been able to find one in purple like
Marina’s.
If given a proper diversion I might
be able to steal the bottle bearing my name and replace it with this one. It
will definitely take some planning before I try it.
I’m not sure what to do with it, as
magics of that nature are beyond my comprehension. Perhaps the adventurers
would know how I could be freed? If I could only get that bottle.
Don
Deb’eo
August 5
Invariably I will need the help of
these adventurers. Despite my previous notes, they are not likely to trust me
given my actions to date. I will need to extend an offering of great importance
if I am to form an alliance, for despite my offering I will still be bound to
the commands. How can they trust someone who continues to do them harm?
Don
Deb`eo
August 9
After much consideration I have
decided to share the recipe for the Harm Undead Gas. I know that I take a terrible risk in giving
them this knowledge, for they might choose to use it against me. Hopefully this show of faith will earn their
trust. It is unlikely that they could
make a tremendous amount of HUG since the Elegan Ivy does not grow well in this
climate and is therefore hard to find. I
shall give them the formula and a few leaves to test it with; I’m sure that
they are resourceful enough to acquire more.
Don
Deb`eo
August 15
I have decided the best way to share
the recipe is to share my story. As such
I am leaving them this very diary.
To whoever finds this, please know
that our alliance must be kept in the strictest of secrecy. Should my Master find out that I have
betrayed him, he will destroy both Marina and myself. Please take this recipe as a gesture of good
faith and, hopefully, mutual trust.
Harm Undead Gas
1 (strange symbols here) Note: In
alchemy shorthand, this translates to “cure light elixir” ~Sinai
2 Crushed Elegan Ivy leaves
1 part water
Shake well to activate
I should ask that after you make use
of this diary, that you find a way to return it to me for it contains some
memories that I should not like to forget.
And above all else, find her and free her.
Wolf, I’m sorry about your
sword. All I know of your sword is that
the master found it very fascinating. I
do not know what he has done with it.
Carak, I enjoyed talking with
you. I’m sorry that I had to cause you
harm, but after reading this; I hope you understand. Your bow was given to a Skeletal Champion who
is quite skilled with it. I fear that
you will see it again.