Curbag's region A epiLog
It began with a battle and ended with the loss of a leg. Better late then never....

The owlbear charged towards us it's screech/squawk echoing between the long room's walls. I launched my recently acquired javelin. Although it pierced it's body it didn't stop a beat. Oren bravely charged to meet it, his large axe slashing. Fancying a meal the creature reached out with his large claws and pulled the dwarf into a deadly embrace. He did not fair well but Oren's misfortune was our opportunity. An enraged Grishnak moved into attack before me and so I lead the charge for the rest of the orcs. Our blows rained down upon it and it wasn't long before death released Oren.

In the aftermath it became clear that I had made a lone charge; the rest of the orcs had not joined us in battle. Confronting them I realised how battle worn they were. They had faced many more dark mantles than us. Promising healing I warned that I expected them play their part in future.

We decided to finally investigate where we thought the chapel was; the one Rosia had seen in her vision. Moving north we found a room full of dead dark mantles and finally a corridor with two doors. While Rosia checked them I asked Quercus to apply his healing to the orcs. Surprisingly, for me, he agreed and soon they were looking ready for battle. The halfing came back explaining the first room held nothing but the second was indeed the chapel.

We all entered the pillar lined room to see a swirling vortex. Isaac explained that it lead to another world but we needed to close it. This could be done by a person going through it. Again the orcs were suggested as a sacrifice. Again I vehemently refused. While we stood there a figure appeared out of nowhere at the end of the chapel. It was Longtail. His rat like features were a dead give away.

Pointing at Isaac a volley of arrows appeared and perforated him. Not quite unconcious the sorcerer saught cover behind a pillar. Oren charged foward putting his axe to good use again. As I joined his side Longtail produced a wand and a bright colorful spray shot at us. I managed to shut my eyes butI heard Oren cry out and his axe hit the ground. He appeared to be blinded and so Quercus & I continued to attack. He was formidable and we had great difficulty hitting him. Even when we did he healed too quickly. At this point I realised the orcs were no where to be seen. They had deserted us when we would need them most. They will pay for this.

Suddenly a small red goblin appeared atacking us too. We returned it's blows but it proved to be just as tough. Another spray from Longtail's wand and Quercus and I were blinded to. I feared the worst as this meant only Rosia was left; surely we were done for.

The blindness seemed to last an age. I could no longer hear Longtail and a strange smell hung about me. I heard Oren, and then Quercus, move away; the smell did not. Sounds of a struggle began off to my right. Finally blinking away the stars in my eyes I was confronted with a thick smoke and could still see no further than my nose. I ran towards the noise and came out of the cloud to see the combat had recommenced. Oren had Longtail pinned to the ground. The red goblin was attacking him but Rosia was trying to fend it off. Isaac and Quercus could not be seen but I moved in to help with others.

While helping Oren disarm/constrain Longtail he cried out as one of Rosia's blades finished of his red familiar. Even with his outburst we were still unable to hurt him. "Into the vortex." a cry came. "Throw him into the vortex." Isaac's proclaimed, stepping through a doorway with Quercus. This would solve two of out problems. Quercus, Oren and I moved with new purpose. We manhandled him into the air and started moving towards the swrling vortex. As we did this Longtail started to chuckle; he was planning something. As we got nearer a pack of rats swarmed into the room. Rosia grabbed the wand we had removed from our foe and turned it on them. Half immediately fell from shock which gave us all the time we needed. A combined effort threw the rat like body into the void.

A booming voice came back out and Longtail was gone. With that the vortex began to close and as it did a wind was sucked into it. Bracing ourselves we stumbled away trying not to get sucked back. Quercus lost his footing and we grabbed him as he flew past. A strong grip on him left us with little on anything else and we jolted back towards the closing hole. Oren and I strained against the force pulling the cleric in but we had nothing to stop us. He was still outside it's edge and we tried to pull him further free. With a final note the vortex closed and we slumped to the ground. Sitting up I could see that Quercus had been closer to the hole than I'd thought. I could see that below one of his knees was missing; the stump was clean. He appeared to be shocked at first but his god seems to give him solace.

Closing the vortex appears to have opened the doors previously closed to us. In my eyes they can wait. The orcs swore they would follow me until I was dead. That works both ways. My plan is follow them until they're dead; shortly after I find them....