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*scrawled in smooth, flowing script in large lettering, following with neat, precise lettering for the body of the writing*
The Wind Rose and The Comely King Rat
On a warm afternoon, the Wind Rose set out on our first adventure; a task given, a relic missing, a dank sewer to explore. Words of warning and caution would follow of one King Rat and his many spawn; the King Rat had in it's possession an amulet, that had warped the creature, making it thrice by thrice as large (and twice as handsome, as it would turn out).
This had the air of a dangerous task, and so we four Roses enlisted the aid of another: an elven man named Tahlsun, with sharp mind and sharper blade at the ready for our adventure. Curatives were dispersed, tactics discussed, and then we five made our way into the sewers: a quest to complete, a task to fulfill, a foe to defeat and soon.
At the very onset, the atmosphere was tense; the sewers were so dark that even the eyes of a gnome or an elf were pressed to pierce it. With the aid of Aalyah, our path brightened, and we set out to explore the tunnels methodically. Leftward at each junction until the path came to and end, then back and to the next left, until we had either found the King Rat or exhausted our ability to continue.
Many foul creatures inhabit the sewers, not least of which include rats, bats, and spiders. But as we five did delve deeper in, remains of a Kelemvorite's possessions littered the paths. A soft moaning noise, and the shuffling of feet, led our group to an encounter with a slew of undead. Fortunately we had Tahlsun's able swordsmanship and the true aim of we four archers to support him, striking down foes as they came. Kaleb acted as our eyes, walking at the edge of Aalyah's light to warn us of danger ahead, while Fox, myself and Aalyah provided a volley of bolts and arrows at whatever crossed out path.
Still further we ventured, coming upon an ill sight; a mage, busy at his necromantic workings of reanimating corpses, no doubt with nefarious intent beneath this fair city. Quickly we formed a plan, and set off to engage the foes. Tahlsun made use of a recovered fire bomb, and his throw was aimed true, with a massive explosion and billowing flames doing extensive damage to the necromancer and destroying his altar and raised allies. We joined in battle, and after a few volleys of arrows and bolts, sword swings and a volley of magic, we five stood victorious over our fallen foe.
However, our task still lie ahead, and so we made our way onward. The volume of rats attacking us began to rise, leaping from pipes overhead and scrabbling along the walls. Soon we came upon the King himself, and a veritable horde of his young. A fierce skirmish began, rats and arrows flying as we pushed through to where the King Rat waited in his lair. Battle was joined between he and we, and after a few moments struggle all was still. In the calm that came after the storm of battle, we saw the King Rat... and while we had seen a great many rats that night, none were so handsome as he. Almost a shame to look upon the wrought beauty of his, but our task was true and our purpose good. We set about to locate the amulet... which as it turned out, was inside the good King.
Fox set to work the grim task of retrieving the amulet, and was rewarded in perhaps the worst filth of us all upon his person, and when he managed to retrieve the bauble it slipped from his grasp. Kaleb and I both leapt for the relic, which bounced from my skull into Kaleb's waiting grasp; if that is not the definition of teamwork, then I am not a gnome.
We made our way out of the sewers without further incident, glad to have achieved our task (but gladder still to be in the open air and clear of the filthy must and liquid of the sewers). The reward was worth our expenditures: coins and a bath, both well earned and well needed. I look forward to our next adventure with eagerness and curiosity: where could we possibly go but up?
*signed with a flourish of bold, fluid strokes below, with a small wax seal of a compass beside it*
The account of The Comely King Rat, by Olaforalanon Beljuril of the Wind Rose.



