I saw them...!

[Crikkit Hixx]

Early this morning, before day break I was in Qeynos Hills trying to craft the Stormhealer novice armor I have never gotten around to forging. I think I would like a set of Karana based armor and equipment for formal occasions and parties and things.

So anyway, it was nearly midnight and I was butchering field rats for parts, when I heard barking, but in speech in the manner of gnolls approaching.

My heart shivered, there was something...-wrong- about the voices. They weren't the whiny yappings of the Blackburrow pups. Theirs was a booming, throaty shouting and barking, deep and feral as the great drums of the north.

As I crested the hill I saw them. A dozen gigantic gnolls...but not like any I'd ever seen before. Huge, heavily muscled, fur coarse and bristling, and long snouts with wicked fangs bared. They made no attempt to conceal their coming.

I was afraid. If I am any judge, any one of these could have slain me like a wolf killing a newborn babe, and yet there were many of them...! I could not think clearly from fear, but turned my horse towards Qeynos and shouted a warning to the hills of the approaching menace.

What a terrible night! As I rode, our heroic guards on patrol in the hills bravely gave their lives trying to delay the gnolls. But they didn't slow the gnolls anymore than a sand castle stops the sea. I wept as I rode on, seeing the terrible slaughter.

Finally I arrived at Qeynos and shouted my message to the walls and guards.

But the gnolls turned back.

The guards told me it was because the fiends saw our great walls and brave guards in golden armor and quailed. I nodded dumbly, but in my heart I know that this is a menace such as Qeynos has not faced before in my lifetime.

We must prepare! We must be ready! We have grown so confidant because of our domination of these lands. Ah, sweet Surefall? Can it stand, so close to the source of evil?

Perhaps...perhaps the people of the Jagged Pines have the power to match this new menace.

Karana, guide us! Watch over us! Let us be the lightning in your righteous hand to be hurled against the enemies and destroy them!

Crikkit

[Licinia DuQeynos]

I also have seen gnolls (as opposed to mere rodents) Of Unusual Size, though not of late. They were mutants of some sort, corrupted by this new force people are calling Discord. The guards, thankfully, did not try to engage them, but they were terribly dangerous creatures to be sure. I thought there were only a few that had been hunted down by native adventurers and rangers of Surefall - can they have returned?

[Crikkit Hixx]

Tonight Lady Licinia sent out a call for assistance in investigating the recent raids of rampaging gnolls of monstrous size and savagery. When I joined the team, Lady Licinia had been speaking with a wise ranger lord named Garioch, who counseled her to begin in the Dreadlands. And so off we went.

By odd chance, I had given away my horse today to a bright and fiery spirited young wood elf who reveres Solusek Ro. Her name is Vtorym, and she shines!

But, in my hurry to join Lady Licinia, I bought the first horse I saw... I don't know horses. "Of course it doesn't have teeth...you don't want it to bite you, do you?" Guido the halfing stablehand said. ((I went back to the bazaar later when I found out I can run faster than the horse...Guido doesn't even work there!))

Well, just so you know, your poor old Crikkit did a lot of running, and it made me woozy and light headed. I don't remember the name of the mystic we spoke to, nor his jumbled mumblings about visions of time fractured. I was laying in the grass panting for my breath.

But! It's okay, because that is what great leaders and heroes are for! When my time is done, I want to be judged for the leaders I have followed, and whether I was loyal and faithful. I am not a trail blazer, I'm afraid.

Lady Licinia and Lord Garioch took us to the field of Bone. There we met up with the intrepid halfing ranger Trotwood.

My word! I have heard of this tactic of fire and flight, also known as 'bow kiting', but I have never seen it done so magnificently! A great dragon, which Lady Licinia tells me is out of place in our current age, was at Garioch's mercy! Snared and slowed, it dragged itself painfully, slithering like a great snake rather than standing tall as dragonkin should. Lord Garioch feathered it's face and throat with wicked arrows. Lady Licinia rained enchantments of devastation on the dragon while Master Trotwood set it's flanks bristling with his own arrows as well. It was like well orchestrated music, a symphony of bard. I scarce needed to heal at all, and merely cast a thunder strike or two. The great dragon fell.

Now, Lady Licinia had re-established her contacts with the Cabilis folks. I had not known that Lady Licinia was a diplomat and an investigator, and my admiration grew in leaps and bounds. She told us that this dragon had spoken of an ancient feud between the Ring of Scale and the Iksar, and that it seemed as disoriented and bewildered as we were of it.

Our next destination was the Warslik Wood. It went well, again like a symphony, only Crikkit broke a string. The dragon's aura of terror overwhelmed me, and I was run down and crushed.

I came to in time to see the death of this dragon as well!

Now, off to Qeynos! Finally we would do open and honest battle against those guard killing gnolls! We were joined by Javin, a dark elf Shadow knight. I think Lady Licinia and I were mistrustful at first. But noble Garioch, child of the Karana plains, ranger of Surefall, our trustworthy guide, vouched for Javin. And as he quietly stood for his companion, there was truth in his eyes. Dark lord Javin joined us, for now, at least, wreaking terrible shadow powers against our enemies from beyond the boundaries of time.

And it is good Javin joined us! For Javin led the bulk of the marauding gnolls away while Garioch engaged one with Trotwood. This fight was not like the dragon kills, it was a brutal, toe to toe brawl, both sides hacking and slashing...

But, I am pleased to say, we triumphed! The terrible beast creature fell, and we got a better look at it. It was not exactly like the Sabretooths of Blackburrow...very much like, but different...it's hard to explain. Is this some new breed? Or are they from a time before or after ours?

Finally we traveled to Rathe Mountains. Your Crikkit has no sense of direction, and got lost in Innothule swamp. By the time I got to Rathe Mountains, my companions dispatched whatever they were hunting.

So, at the end of the day, I can only tell you that I have no inkling what happened, or the significance of our foes this day. You'd best ask Lady Licinia, or Master Trotwood.

Oh, and I bought a new horse.

Sleep well my dear friends,
Your Crikkit

[Jetamio]

Tajer read the entries quietly, her face betraying none of the anguish she felt. Something was happening that would affect Norrath as a whole unless something was done. She wondered if she could steer Mogadeche towards this new menace and turn his attention away from the Alliance.

With a sigh she turned away from the entries and pulled her hood back up. Jetamio had lessened the spell over her when she had heard what was transpiring and Tajer was once again susceptable to the sun. She wore the colours and badge of her old House and knew she would be treated with suspicsion again, but Stormfollower knew the reasons and had agreed to her return.

With the Ilharn's return he had given her an ultimatum, return to him or be hunted down. Had she become mortal he would have killed her outright without even this chance. So she had returned for her own safety and Stormfollowers peace of mind, and to hopefully delay an attack on the Alliance. She had not been returned to her old station, but was otherwise unpunished for her dabbling with the pales.

The Dark Elven Priestess mounted her kirin and cantered off towards Nektulos.