Session #21: Angry spirit(s)

[istainion]

01 March, 2021  [7:30 PM - 11:30 PM+ (GMT+1)]

 

The battle started when three living plant-like monsters surrounded us, one at the front and two at a short distance. Me and the others were quick to keep each of these monsters occupied by splitting up and Shevat showed his great thinking once again by bringing forth a tiger to battle among us.

 

It was terrifying to see how the tiger, who went to the remaining monster, was suddenly caught in its grip and hidden away from our sight. This wouldn't be the first time this happened! And all those terrible memories came to mind in which especially Shevat became a victim of multiple times. It's incredible how even with that sight, he managed to keep his cool ... Unlike myself.

 

... Naedithas was incredible in battle, the way he swung his axe against the merciless creature I was facing with Yshvara and him. Those high pitched noises it made of despair when it took a decent amount of damage ... I was fascinated by it. He's so capable in battle ...

 

... Just when I finally could enjoy the sight of him, Yshvara caught my attention afterwards when she, too, got captured in the tentacles of the the creature we fought. I was terrified to even think of attacking it, remembering how I once damaged Shevat real badly and even Naedithas in the first big fight against the flesh monster. I remember both situations vividly. I couldn't bear the sight, it needed to be done! With another aim of my bow and arrow that flew through the air to hit the thing. From the looks of it, it didn't seem like it would even manage to reach her ... Even if she couldn't respond to me. But the more we attacked the creature, the most became visible of Yshvara and she seemed unhurt! At least from any of our attacks, I can't tell for certain if she took any other damage ... She didn't look too happy about being held like she was.

 

To our side, suddenly Tibirin made a fall. Without a sound! He just fell over again, like the other times! Why won't he tell us a thing when he's on the edge?! Our formation broke a little at the fall of the first enemy and we quickly took a new position to keep the second monster at bay while Tibirin was being healed. You'd think that he would take it easy after he got back up his feet ... Instead, the guy went back in an attacking position, like nothing ever happened. He's simply too cool ... He rarely speaks, rarely does a lot but when he fights, he's incredible ... Similarly to Naedithas but ... I can still have my favorites, alright?~

 

Enemy after enemy fell after our great teamwork and the fight was over. Is this what happens when we move away from the path? Bushes will come after us and try to attack us? I better keep an eye on the path when we make our way back or decide to do something reckless like this again.

 

There was an odd atmosphere all of a sudden and an unknown creature stood in the distance. He creeped the hell out of me for suddenly making an appearance without my PERMISSION. I was so HAPPY that all these paranormal shit was over since the last few enemies and suddenly THIS MAN shows up. He walked in our direction and I could get a closer look of his appearance. His face looked anything but alive, his hair was white and those piercing red eyes reminded me of my own, new appearance. It just creeped the heck out of me ... What would people think when they see me? You can't tell me that they are so fine with how I look when there are creepy men like him out in the wild. Stay on the path? I certainly will KEEP THAT IN MIND.

 

His tired, mysterious and ... Ghost like voice reached our ears, when he asked if we were travelers. No, it's not the way it looks, we're actually farmers but more importantly! I needed him to confirm whether or not he was a ghost! The way he responded was cool, saying "Not a ghost." So I could confirm that he's just a creep. Thank you. Undead, maybe? Suddenly Naedithas was behaving oddly and took his distance from all of us, including the creep. Fear was written all over his face and I immediately got reminded of what I got out of him. He carries a spirit inside of him, one with only interests for warriors. Just while I was busy trying to connect the dots and understand the situation properly, he suddenly rushed in the direction of the unknown man. Yshvara tried to stop him but for some reason, Naedithas could only see red. Nothing remained of how we all know him and I felt a chill run down my spine. He moved like a wild animal on pure instinct.

 

Is this why he told us to keep our distance? It must also be why he took his distance to begin with ...

 

The unknown man who introduced himself as Godfrey Gwilym, kept Naedithas at his position with his immense (magical) strength. The man clarified a few things about him and the spirit that is inside Naedithas. He has confirmed that Naedithas has a spirit, who used to be a member of the order of the silver dragon who once served as a group to vanquest evil. Similarly to the fairy tale, it seems to be dead real. I don't question stuff like this in the land of Barovia, elsewhere, I probably would have. Funny how fairy tales come to life in this land, it's definitely cursed ... I was concerned about my ... Future husband out there in the struggle ... Concerned that this Godfrey will do anything funny to him, I will not forgive! A little tense, I observed the situation, refusing to add any information about Naedithas when they were trying to figure out what was going on with him. I won't let it slip, he trusted me with this information ...

 

The walking corpse however knew exactly what was going on and explained the rest about it. The spirit was once a member of their group that served a silver dragon, Argynvost, until the man betrayed them for power. Power from no other person than Strahd himself. All he seems to want now is nothing but revenge against Godfrey. The man offered us some advice to help Naedithas, for that we must find the silver dragon he once served. He may still carry his spirit and magical ability. Guys, let's go hunting dead dragons ... For Naedithas sake, I am willing to do everything but ... Why does it have to be a DEAD dragon? Or rather said, his skull. We need to find his skull that was taken by a weird sounding witch. In the meanwhile, Godfrey simply knocked Naedithas out, just like that ... I wanted to run over to catch him but Tibirin already got him from the ground. I knew that ... Tibirin is much more capable of carrying a man much taller and possibly heavier than myself ... Still I hate that I wasn't able to move from my spot, thanks to that creep standing so close to the rest of the group. I was terrified ... Cautious ...

 

We must bring the skull to a specific camp, to then summon forth the spirit of the dragon. First, we better fight the self proclaimed MOTHER of Strahd. I'm sure this witch is just as beautiful as the other one, just as CHARMING and interesting ... I'm getting sick of witches. I just want to burn them all down. Baba Lysaga, her name was, she lives in a hut that's placed on a tree trunk that is able to move on its own. Why pick a caravan or a horse when you can have a hut that moves through the area for you, right?

 

Godfrey pointed at Naedithas with a little disgust on his ever seeming emotionless face and said he wanted him dead. Well, obviously I lost my patience and threatened him that I pray he hopes that he means the spirit, otherwise, I don't know what I would do. Even if I'm scared! Touch him and I'll burn his hand off! I'll find a way ... But luckily for HIM, he said that he only meant the spirit. Apparently this man is an enemy of Strahd and thanks to our hints given by Madam Eva, I know better than to turn a stranger into an enemy if we could as well use him to fight. Tibirin placed Naedithas on the elk, to keep him safe ... I hope he's fine ... I hope he doesn't suffer from any memory loss like I did ... Please be fine ...

 

So, not only will we need to go on a witch hunt, we'll also need to find the skull she appears to carry. Godfrey will not be able to help us obtain the skull nor does he want to travel with us, LUCKILY. I wouldn't want to keep the creep so close after he did that to Naedithas. He warned us to be aware of him as of now ... Will I still be able to ... Get close to him? Or is it already over again? ... I don't know what came to me but I felt like I was so close to losing everything I was so happy with ever since I came back. I can't put it to words ... Nobody would understand anyway ... I know they have better concerns than what I feel.

 

So the guy is a so-called revenant. When I asked if that means if he's undead then ... He said "In a manner of speaking." He's probably similar to what I am, just a lot uglier. Then we got a little more information about the witch Baba, also known as Strahd's mommy, her appearance. Long white hair, extremely long nails and very tall. It goes great with my height complexes, so how come that everyone is so tall and I am not? I take that as an insult. Whoever my parents are, I disagree with their height! I'm going to yell if I ever discover that both of them are also taller than me! ... Ah, I should probably stick to the subject I'm writing ... <Sigh>

 

So the woman is a bit of a loner type and would avoid large communities or anything that looks like civilization. The stupid other witch, Morgantha may know of her wherabouts but I don't think I'd STAND THERE and ask this stupid witch who appears to be responsible for my death AFTER ALL. I will not forgive her! I will make sure to torture her the way that she did with me! Even if I have no memory of it all ... I just don't want to remember either, I don't want to hear it ... I want to forget it happened ... So talking to her we can forget.

 

I looked over to the undead man and confessed my concerns about Naedithas' spirit by asking if his spirit would attack us. Godfrey said that the spirit as it is now is acting purely out of instinct and seems unwilling or incapable of speech as it is now, but when it makes an attack, it will attack anything that is near. Similarly to what Naedithas does. He wants me to stay far from him ... Probably when he speaks to him in mind ... Like what he said to me when he was drunk in Vallaki that night. There was a brief silence until the man decided to make a bit of a turn and say that he has wasted enough time with us, while previously he admitted that he has been alive again for so long, longer than he can remember. So I could not resist reminding him of that. "Well, you have plenty of time, right?"

 

Then something creepy happened. His bones already crack from all over his body but what he did in my direction was beyond what my words could possibly express. His neck cracked all over when he made a really strange, sharp turn to look me in the eye with an intense glare. It looked like a threat, it felt as if he could come over to me any second. I felt how my legs began to shake and my heart was pulsating on my head, my throat and this cold sweat formed. I didn't know how to get away any faster and to hide behind a bush to yell my apologies. I remember repeating to myself as I held my hands on my head in an attempt to protect myself ... Please, please, please ... Don't come near ... Please, stay away ... If only I had anything that could protect me from the likings of him ... Hopefully the others are fine, I hoped, hopefully Naedithas is in capable hands ...

 

Something never changes  . . .  Even with the loss of my memories, possible concerns and fears, I still feel how my natural fear for these creatures cannot be cured by simply forgetting. I hate it ... I hate them.

 

I tried to make it look like a joke and I really did my best not to make a fool out of myself when I noticed the man disappear. The fear, I felt deep inside of me. Even when our path continued to find the bear by Shevat's skill and the knowledge of Tibirin. I was so close to Naedithas and kept my eyes on him on my way there. Praying every second that he will be alright. It's almost funny how our relationship changed over the time we traveled, at first, I could only throw remarks at him and get beat up over doing silly things ... Now, I have no other thought than the concern over his safety. I started it all and I was also the first to fall.

 

I wonder what anyone else is thinking, they never say a thing unless they are directly addressed. What are all these people that surround me, thinking of me? Have I failed for not being able to stop Naedithas? Do they think I am useful in battle? Are they happy that I am still alive? Of course they would want to avoid discouraging me but my death has put many thoughts in mind. I must know before I lose again but first ... The bear.

 

We found the bear not far away from the position where we were stranded and found a sleeping bear in a tree with a mild deformation. It looked comfortable for the bear to rest with the protective surroundings, however, I kept my distance and pressed my hand against my mouth not to make a sound when Shevat stepped in its direction to pick up a conversation. It woke up the bear and it slowly adjusted his position. I noticed how he looked around and saw us standing in the distance as calculating as he seemed. Hopefully, nothing weird will happen, I thought. I wasn't in the mood for another fight, far from that. Though to my own surprise, Shevat spoke with the animal and could translate the growling it made with its deep voice. It wants to help us.

 

I saw him look over to us again when Shevat said something about carrying and then adding that the one he refers to is not among us. Does he intend to have someone else ride that wild creature with that child, Harry?! Are you out of your mind Shevat?! That bear doesn't look kind! He'll probably do something ... Since when does our kind cooperate with wild animals, anyway?! ... Well, I am sure there are some elves that do? But ... Uh ... If only I would remember properly ... Then came this stuff with picking a name for the bear! I thought Teddy would be funny but Shevat came up with an even better name ... Bear. Seriously, would you name your child also child? Or will you go as far as to name it boy or girl? Damn.

 

With our scary companion by our side, we made it back to the Tzer Pool encampment, where Naedithas finally woke up. Though, we couldn't be near him. He needed us to stay away from him and avoid talking. I felt how a solid wall has placed itself in between us again. I did my best ... Not to let it get to me and to smile ... But it was getting a little harder to do. I need him close and this spirit is getting in the way. If I can ever speak to him, I will make sure to ... Do something about it ... I don't know what. The dragon skull is our only hope ... And that creep ... He will find us again, he said. That scares me ... I hope he won't get his revenge on me for what I said ... I beg for him not to ... It's sad that he cannot help us fight the witch, that would give us a higher chance of success without DYING AGAIN. I bet that ... I cannot properly use my arcane shots on her either.

 

While Yshvara ran from person to person in camp, I talked with Ireena for a little and asked how she'd felt. I explained to her what I meant and referred to our night at the camp here but she seemed to catch on quickly and we had a little private talk. She said to me that ... She thought that being locked up in that building with her brother was bad, how traveling was probably much better than that ... But with my death and her own drawing near in the battle against the witch, she realized what it was truly like. She never imagined to see death on our side and it has put her to thoughts. Judging from how I once felt, I told her that I feel the same. It hasn't been long for me ever since I set foot outside, judging from all my journal entries, I also imagined that being outside has given me freedom. Though, before we all knew it ... My life came to an end. I would have been dead. I wouldn't be able to talk to her like I did that moment, I wouldn't be able to hold onto Naedithas like I did yesterday. I should ... I should not think about it, I should keep pushing on and make the most of my life.

 

She brought up the clown nickname again but she refuses to change her mind about it! Even after she came up with such a cool title for me! Ireena fears that whoever she uses the nickname with will be disappointed by the one that's behind it, me. So, how am I disappointing, Ireena?! Care to EXPLAIN? I think I'm pretty damn amazing if you ask me?! She even tried to threaten me by spreading rumors about my night with Naedithas. As if she heard THAT much! She didn't know that I was into what I did ... She said ... WHAT DID SHE HEAR, ANYWAY?! ... Ah, I'm getting a little nervous ...

 

When we regrouped with Shevat, Yshvara showed up with a box in her hand which she obtained from Ulog.

 

 

Two rings were inside. A silver ring with a blue band (?) and another ring that has a red band/gem. The blue one is for protection and the rest one helps evading attacks. Magical rings ... Of course, it's difficult to divide these rings in our group because everyone could put them to good use. I suggested Tibirin to take one of them, after all, he was suddenly knocked out ... And well, Naedithas probably ... But Yshvara needed me to take the blue ring. It was a really sweet gesture and it honestly surprised me. Me? Why ...

 

Yshvara also had Harry with her and he wouldn't stop talking about how great Nico was but I think all of us know better than that. He's nothing but a thief but I have learned that he also has some cool sides. I recall seeing him at the campfire when I first woke up. He protected us from harm as did Naedithas when he held me in his arms so dearly. Hopefully that's not going to be a thing for a single day, I'm going to need a lot more of that.

 

When everyone was ready and Shevat transformed into a beautiful black horse again, warning the child beforehand not to do anything odd during our trip on top of the bear, I took a seat on Shevat's back and we were all on our way again. My focus wasn't on the road before us, I was keeping an eye on my only interests at the time. Don't talk to him, I reminded myself. I must be patient ... Nightfall came again and we needed to set up camp. I was honestly in a pretty bad mood but I let Yshvara set up the tent for me while I sat back and relaxed while I enjoyed the sight. It looked extremely clumsy how she tried her best to instruct the child to set it up and how it stood upside down for no reason. She makes a horrible teacher, at least for this. Is this her first time?

 

Just when another attempt followed and it looked decent, I made sure to double check and adjust the final touch ups. It should be raining after all, according to these clouds. So we all sat around the fire to have a little chat, Naedithas' situation was brought up again. One of which he has promised to discuss with us and when the half elf joined our conversation with Ireena's help, we learned a few things about him. I, however, learned more about him than the others and it really did make me feel special again. I recall having asked him directly if I could still hug him but he told me that we'll need to take caution but didn't entirely dismiss me like he did during our arrival at the encampment. It gave me some hope. When everyone else went to sleep, I learned about the rest of the details of which he believes is important for me to know about him.

 

75 years ago, something terrible happened in his life. It was during a so-called trial that his parents made him do, it was to survive in the wilderness for a certain amount of days and with his safe return, it would be complete and he would be considered an adult or something. Though something happened during this at the age of only 15 years old. He touched a weapon from a cursed battlefield and became possessed by the spirit who took over his mind and body. He made his way back home to his parents, unaware of his surroundings, the spirit murdered both his parents for reasons unknown and have Naedithas woke up near them. The sight of his dead parents ... It must have been terrible ... I felt urged to hold him but I needed to respect his boundaries. I felt so bad for him and it's not a surprise that he refuses to speak of either. Even with Madam Eva's help, it won't last forever. That man must have caused it to snap out of the spell of Madam Eva. I wish I could just save him from all this ... When we get the child back to Vallaki, I need us to find the witch and fast ... Maybe Muriël can help us locate the witch ... Even if she'll require payment, we must ...

 

In this conversation, I spoke to Naedithas about my side of the story, at least, of what I have discovered about myself. My name, my unknown origin but the fact that I have escaped a place ... And how I am probably a coward ... I told him to call me Ellamin from that day on, tell the others that it's merely a nickname, I want to hear the name from his mouth, rather than my father, like in that memory. I want to think of it as a beautiful name, to learn how to love it again and I don't care why I hide it. This may be my last chance to live and I want to make valuable memories and have them live on forever in this book I'm writing in.

 

He allowed me to hold onto him as we sleep ... Or well, while he sleeps and I just ... Keep my eyes shut and enjoy the moment. No matter how long the night takes, I am happy not to lose time while resting and stay aware. Being ... Neither dead or alive has its good sides.