Travo journal

15^th of Cass 5255 AD

Storms continue to blow our ship north.  I pray to Apollo to calm the storm and let us find safe harbor.  My faith in him will save us.  Even if we can turn around now we would run out of food before we reach the elves at Waterdeep.  Only a miracle will save us.

18^th of Cass 5255 AD

The ship crashed with the fog and the storm we couldn’t see.  The storm led us into a cove but before we could take advantage of the calmer waters we crashed.  We lost the ship but all of the crew and passengers arrived.  We’ll be salvaging the cargo for weeks most likely.  Just worthless trade goods though we need to focus first on food and survival. 

29^th of Cass 5255 AD

We are not alone on this island.  More people, what I think are elves hide themselves in the forest from us.  I have had scouts out and found very little food.  What game we can find appears hunted by tigers and out of our grasp.  Without these elves help we will die.  I pray to Apollo for mercy.  I also pray for protection.  My divine gifts sense this entire island to be marked with some strange evil like death boil just below the surface.  It is not entirely natural.

3^rd of Kale 5255 AD

With all of our rationed food gone a tiger came into our camp over our walls and left a deer for us.  It was not much but it seemed like a feast.  Praise be to Apollo.  He has seen the devotion of my sword and spared us.

10^th of Kale 5255 AD

Every day now the tiger makes a daily delivery.  We’ve begun to expect it, few even question why.  I do not question because I know its source.

15^th of Kale 5255 AD

The tiger came again today as we were beginning construction on our temple to Apollo.  Then the most bizarre thing happened.  The tiger became a man. He spoke the same tounge as the creatures in Waterdeep.  Calls himself Alexander Ravenclaw.  Says the Ravenclaw elves have ruled this island since before history was recorded.  He told me not to thank Apollo but instead to thank him.   I did thank him for his kindness.  We discussed the Island and long length.  I asked him about the feelings I had and he said there was nothing evil here but that the island was infact special.  Claimed it could bless those who respected it, give them power even immortality.  It has long been my observation elves worship the nature of the land around them.  This Ravenclaw is no different except perhaps in his level of devotion.

18^th of Kale 5255 AD

I Travelled with Ravenclaw to be with his people.  Several large families of elves and domesticated tigers. They refer to him by a reverenced title Dovochane it means Tiger born.  They are simple and delightsome.  They have very little understanding of magic so I offered to trade what we know in exchange for them teaching us about the island.  Praise be to Apollo we all agreed to be friends.

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28^th of Tamora 5268 AD

I marvel at what I’ve seen happen over the past few years. Man and elf living together. Even finding love.  Lord Ravenclaw has proven to be a wise leader.  He resists my worship of Apollo but allows it.  I move into the completed temple tomorrow.  He says the island is the only thing that should be worshipped and warns doing anything else will only bring destruction.  Claims the Island is a jealous god.  Despite all my time with them I may never understand them. 

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2^nd of Cass 5269 AD

The academy is finished.  It looks wonderful a testament to man’s knowledge.  Build almost directly north of the temple to Apollo on what maybe the further point north on the island.  It will serve as a place where human culture can be taught and continued.  As well as the study of magic.  The mages all said it was the perfect spot they could feel a special power here.  Lord Ravenclaw just smiled as if he new something.  My heart is unsettled by this.  I feel the presence of a hidden or unseen evil. 

5^th of Cass 5269 AD

I asked Lord Ravenclaw about the power of the island again today.  He said he valued me a friend by tired of such discussions.  He said that he loved me but I would never understand. Perahaps that is true but

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13^th of Kale 5273 AD

Elves are not familiar with so much death.  Despite our growth or maybe because of it plague broke out in the city on the south – Windfall.  I pray to Apollo their souls find rest.

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I have contracted the Plague myself.  Paladins are supposed to be immune from such diseases.  Perhaps my faith is short.  I pray for forgiveness.

29^th of Kale 5273 AD

Lord Ravenclaw came to visit me today to tell me why I was sick and to show me the cure.  I took my friends invitation and left with him.  He carried me on his back as a tiger to the watchtower he told me I could never enter.  There we went to the bottom of the tower and into its basements and then what seemed to be a system of natural caves.  He led me to the most disturbing sight.  Rune stones caped with bleached white skulls surround a pool of perfectly black liquid.  He told me, “Here is where the river styx touches our world.  This island’s power is because it is only at the edge of the other world.  Its why the mages find some kinds of magic more powerful here.  You and your people and your human gods have less touch here, that is why you are sick.  Bath in the styx and gain immortality.  You are my friend I beg you.” I remember him saying beg.  So this was it, the gods of death cursed this land and I was too niave to see it.  For decades have I called hell home and not known it.  He stripped down and placed a medallion carrying the holy symbol of Loki on it and dove in.  He said the styx would kill you without the charm.  I refused his offer.  To weak to do so boldly, I said I would consider and returned home.  I will find a way to close this hole to the underworld and let Apollo’s grace restore us.

30^th of Kale 5273 AD

It is miracle of Miracles. Having resisted the temptation must have been the faith I needed to prove for Apollo to send his healing magic.  I am fully restored and gathered the young soliders on horseback. We lay siege to the Watchtower.

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3^rd of Cass 5274 AD

I had hoped the plagues would cease.  But there are reports of the dead walking in the city of the southwest.  They have endured so much.  After the watchtower siege the whole area flooded and still their city survived.   By Apollo I will find the cause of this and save them.

4^th of Cass 5274 AD

Alexander met me at the city gates.  He told me what he thinks is causing this.  The siege must have caused the styx to bleed into the underground wells of the island.  He said the monks, as they call themselves at the Academy think that is what caused the flooding and swamp.  I travel there to speak with them myself.  Alexander is not the most trustworth when it comes to these things.  He still has reason to be bitter.

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12^th of Cass 5274 AD

They all agree that they cannot stop the infection.  Anyone who drank the water from the swamp will die and become one of the undead.  That means everyone in the whole city.  They cannot stop it and its only a matter of time before the outbreak is more than we can handle hundreds of humans, elves, and the half elf children swarming past what few soliders we have looking to eat living flesh.  Even though most do not show signs of undeath yet I must stop this.   It’s the only way.

14^th of Cass 5274 AD

I dedicate this entry to the fallen of the city of Springrain.  I gathered them all to the central cathederal, where I led them in prayer to Apollo.  As we prayed my men secured the windows and doors.  I told them to all stay and pray while I saved the island from this curse.  I left and locked the door behind me.  Then we burned the Cathederal down.  Apollo forgive me but we are saved.

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“the island will purify itself.” He said that to me.  He tricked and lied to me. Made me kill all of my own people out of revenge for ending his pagan tradition.  I attacked him but to no avail, bathing in the river styx has made him immortal.  He beat me and left me alone to regret all that I had done.  The Cathederal stands seemingly froze in time of when it was burning.  Their cries from inside still all out to me.  I pray to Apollo to take his life, as I now take my own. Apollo will have to save them because I no longer can.

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17^th of Kale 5275 AD

Since the time I hoped death would release me I have only known more pain.  The men most loyal to me bound to me by my wickedness.  All alive around me sickens me.  I would destroy it all if not for the wards placed by those traitors at the academy.  They understand, know and manipulate death very well.  So I sit her in my temple always remembering, never forgetting what I did and who I became.  Alexander was right, the island always wins.

28^th of Munth 8000 AD

I found this on the altar and read it today.  I was a fool.  Alexander told me in the beginning that the island blessed those faithful.  Even with immortality.  And now here I am as old as the mountains around me and immortal.  The island rewarded me.  Though this reward is a curse.  Our kingdom we built shattered with my death turned into roaming bands of wild men.  All except the Ravenclaw family.  The human outbreed the elves at an amazing rate.  But the elves are smarter and with their tiger allies they keep the population controlled.  It’s hard to tell if there are any pure elves left so much mating of the species has certainly dulled their bloodline.  The academy now calls itself a monastery and has forgotten it was them who locked me here.  When I am free, they will burn to the ground I will exercise the island’s vengeance.  The tiger born still lives.  He comes to the edge of the skull line sometimes and it is then I play my violin to tell my old friend I am still here, and I am sorry for doubting him when he tried to save me.  Island protect you Tiger Born, may it grant all you desire.

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