Bathed in the Blood

Dear Journal,

What strange happenings! While banding together with the lizard, evil twins, and the holy man this day, I came across a curious nomad, Theeral, who spoke in shrouded mystery. She claimed she foretold my appearance before her and knew the path I sought. What madness is this? I have no predetermined path to follow. I go where e'er my mood takes me. The unmitigated gall of her to tell me I have no free will! I would have struck her down there if not for my accursed curiosity getting the better of me. I listened in quiet to her tale of a spectral stronghold which stood somewhere in the forest of Nektulous. Naturally, a treacherous trek lay before us in order to learn its location.

Following the flowing river, we journeyed northward in search of Timber Falls. Many a minion meandered across our deadly path as we cut a swath of wanton destruction and mayhem along the river banks. Kodiaks, Grimmins, Fae-folk, and the like all fell before our combined might. After what seemed an eternity, we managed to find our way to Timber Falls only to discover that the information we required was not to be found there. We were then pointed in the direction of a structure stricken with the skeletal scourge, N'Marr's Ascent.

Traversing to N'Marr's Ascent was remarkably uneventful. Upon arrival, however, the skeletal scourge struck. They set upon Szadiss as if revenging for their awkward, unwarranted awakening. Wave after wave gathered 'round us as we struck back. There is a moment of clarity, which settles upon you as dust to a hearth, when you question if you are severely outnumber and quite possibly overwhelmed. It appears that you may not last the day, let alone the seeming eternity of moments you find yourself mired in. Time halts. It is in that moment that you realize you are never outnumbered nor are you ever overwhelmed. The more that assemble before you, the deeper you reach within to draw from the darkness that is your soul. You are power incarnate! Then as quickly as time halts, it snaps back and you find yourself standing wild-eyed over a heap of corpses bathed in the blood of the innocent and the guilty alike. N'Marr's Ascent had been cleansed and we were no closer to our goal.

Our quest was leading us to Bone Lake. The forest took on a malevolent presence as we neared our goal. The very trees themselves began to uproot as if to block our progress toward Bone Lake. Someone or something did not want us to reach our destination. Could this be the cruel machinations of an as yet unknown mastermind or were we choking the forest on the blood of the fallen and it merely wished to regurgitate us? Either way, we are not so easily expelled. We traversed the muddy banks of Bone Lake only to conclude that all roads lead back to Theeral.

Theeral the Nomad. Theeral the Insane I say! She knew the location of the castle the entire time, but had to determine if we were worthy of the information? Insolence! To make matters worse, we still must complete the final portion. There are 3 mystical markers which hold Gul'Thexian glyphs. We are to uncover these words and speak them to a Gul'Thex Lieutenant who will give us the secretive word to pass to the spirit who guards the castle. Our adventure is nearing an end... or is it?