Ironsworn- A solo mystic adventure

                 The morning came with a shake from Parkik. Our captives were still asleep. He whispered in my ear. “More are coming.”             I got up and grabbed my staff. I looked around the cave and said, “I’ve got an idea.”             Within a few moments Parkik and I were dressed in the cultist robes and as the group were coming into the Rift of Edda I had my fingers on the neck of the unconscious Order members. They’d be awake soon, but I had an idea.             The leader of the new group entered the cave first and said, “Brothers, have we succeeded?”             “No sir.” I said. “The spell backfired. The Pillar did something to the magic and it created a backlash.”      ...

 (Welcome Back)             Parkik’s knife poked my back as we walked through the twisting tunnels. I closed my eyes and took a breath. Then as I opened them I saw the forces around us moving inward towards the pillar. We were headed to the epicenter of this cult. And Parkik was using me as a shield and diversion for whatever plan he had. The spell they were casting was mystic in origin but just like that warding spell it was inpersonal, cold, calculated. Something else was seeping into their magic. The iron pillars were fighting this new magic, I could see an order weaving its way into the chaotic fabric of the spell. If only I could help it.             I closed my eyes letting Parkik guide me. We walked into the anti-chamber and the magic hit me, hard. I felt the air leave my lungs and something in me snap taught. It was that same feeling that I felt when the town ward...

Winter came in heavy, cold, and wet for us this year. Thankfully, we managed to restock and resupply. I healed up for a bit before continuing my trials that the magic pillars put me on. I will be a mystic by the end of spring next year. But this next challenge began during the solstice. The longest darkest night of the year. The sun barely peaks above the horizon before sneaking back down, revealing the stars. These nights are the most brutal for us.             The night before we lost the sun, I heard the wind howl. Ithella burst into the house and told me to get dressed and ready for a journey. I did just that. Got my staff. Grabbed a bag of salt. Walked out of the house. Parkik was dressed in a baslisk scale armor set. The white scales gleamed in the dull winter sun. On his head,showing off his long curly red hair, was a circulate of blackened deadwood. He looked ready to go into battle. I was wearing a simple tunic, trousers,...

             The meeting began with a clamor. In the main long house smoke rose to the roof and went out. There were meats hanging at the top of the room drying and smoking. The wooden structure always had a raging fire, it was the main building during winter and the meeting hall for any of the family gatherings. This is one of those moments. The families had all been called. Heads of households with their partners or other important members. Racha keep a weary eye on everyone, still angered by the loss of the healing hut, especially so close to winter.             I was tasked with gathering information on the other members in the list. So, I set about doing that. The community knew me and trusted me, for the most part. The conversations went smoothly, my wit saved me for the most part. The hardest was with one family when I found out two of the names were twins and the heirs to their ...

             Steadfast as a community was peaceful. They didn’t have a jail nor any form of judicial system. Just the mystics and tradition to guide them through their day to day. Survival of the fittest seemed to rule, but with a hint of compassion. So, when I woke up to the smell of smoke, I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to walk into. As I left my quarters in the back of the healing hut there was a blazing fire near the door. I quickly turned around and opened Racha’s door to her room. She was sound asleep. I shook her awake and threw her a fur lined gown. I looked around the room and realized we’d have to go out to the healing room. Racha quickly got up and dressed. She smelled the fire and a stern look covered her face.             I shook my head and then grabbed her hand. We walked out of her room back to the front. The fire hungerly consumed the wood floors and walls in front of the...

 (This is a longer post because so much happened.)                 Parkik and I were sitting on the storehouse steps and he repeated, “So. You need to grab this body to help finish your trial of spirit. The fact that this body is west of the town means that it will cross the path of that Basilisk. Sounds like you’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone here. You and I can go handle the Basilisk and then recover this dead body.”             I looked at this guy. “So, we’re going to do this? Together?”             “Yes! Basilisk and body. It can’t be too hard!” Parkik said.             “Alright, it’s going to be a small journey… prepare yourself. I need to talk to Ithella and Racha…apologize and get my staff back.”        ...

            I remember standing out in front of that house. My staff on my back. The cold air beginning to threaten winter’s bite. In the distance something splashed in water and the house standing cold, dark, and alone, near the outskirts of the town. It’s remains were withered grey and unused for a few seasons now. Even the plant life had started to retake the steps. As I walked up them, the top one groaned under the stress of my weight.             When I entered the house, the cold draft was the fist thing that I noticed. I look around remembering the layout of the single floor of this house. The common room was to the right of the entry hall. There were two bedrooms in the back. The kitchen and dining area are between the bedrooms and common areas. I take a breath and a being forms in front of me. I see its pale face move in mock speak, “Get Out!”       ...