Diary Entry 37

Looking at the time, it appears that we were pulling into port during the evening. Upon disembarking the Thalássia Chelóna, we said goodbye to each other and my party told me that if everything works out, they will be able to meet me at Ippodromía, the city that is hosting the Athlitikós Agónas this year. After we separated, I then looked for an inn that my brother would not shut up about last time he was in the area, called "To Kéras tou Acheloús". Apparently the place has something called an "All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet" which he could not stop raving about, although when I asked about the rooms, he doesn't remember a thing about them.

Following my brother's directions, I was able to quickly navigate my way to the inn. The food was simple, plentiful, and surprisingly delicious; there was mutton, beef, pork, and fowl seasoned with various spices such as cassia, fennel, rue, cumin, dill, black pepper, long pepper, and celery. There were various breads, fruits, and cheeses, as well as salads dressed with olive oil. The drinks were just as varied, water from different springs described as dry, wine like, pungent, heavy, light, etc., wines from all over the land, and something called kykeon. When I finally finished eating, I asked the one of the employees to show me to my room which I can only describe as minimalistic. Settling in for the remainder of the evening, I took out my diary and quill, I figured I should probably continue where I left off in my previous entry and started writing...

Springer

The next member of my party to join was Springer who is a booby beastkin rogue. We met Springer during an exploration of some ruins in Sakura.

The uncovering of the lost ruins known as the Koyōte no haka had drawn treasure hunters, archaeologists, and adventurers from all over Talamh Aisling including my party. At the site, we heard that the ruins were riddled with traps and such. If we wanted to explore the place safely, we were going to need a rogue, ranger, ninja, or some other stealth-based job. Sure, Explosivo was with us for her summer research project on the ruins, but she wouldn't be of any help disarming traps unless the trap was designed to trigger an explosion. Fortunately, there were adventurers everywhere looking for temporary party members or temporary parties to join. After about an hour of some very loud recruitment stuff, Isa brought over a bird beastkin with blue feet, a booby beastmen, I found out later. The guy was very polite as he introduced himself, "Kon'nichiwa, my name is Baado Jinkusueddo, I understand you are in need of a person who can handle traps, please accept this meishi, yoroshiku onegaishimasu," and then he bowed while offering a card.

Jinkusueddo was a major help as we made our way through the ruins. He was able to disarm or get around every trap we came across and there were a lot, such as a tripwire that brought draugr (zombie warriors) crashing through the walls, or sinksand covered by a layer of gravel. The place was filled with draugr although some of them looked freshly risen which we ended up fighting our way through.

Eventually we ended up in a room thick with draugr with another group that has an archaeologist with them. Behind the draugr was a staircase leading to a pedestal with something glowing on it.

With the battle over, we all climbed the stairs except for the archeologist who was was studying the walls. The glowing object turned out to be a small statue of some sort of canine creature. Jinkusueddo examined the pedestal for any sign of traps that could possibly be triggered if we touched the statue. Finding none, he proceeded to pick up the statue just as the archeologist looked up at us and yelled "Don't!"

There was no rumble, no ratcheting noise, no thuds or thumps, the only thing that happened was that the glow moved from the statue to the booby rogue before disappearing. Upon seeing this, the archeologist dragged us out of the ruins. Once out, he then started scolding our trap savant friend, apparently the rogue had just gotten himself cursed. Instead of leaving the unlucky beastkin, Isa and Hogan got dramatic,

"Don't worry, Jinkusueddo, we will help you find a way to end this curse," promised Isa.

"In fact, you are more than welcome to become an official member of our party," Hogan offered.

"I thank you for your generous offer and I most graciously accept, but please, my friends call me Springer."

Since that day, Springer has suffered the Curse of the Coyote, any trap that sets off in his vicinity will go after him, poison darts will change direction in midair, crushing walls or ceilings will crush him while leaving people literally right next to him unharmed, basically he became a walking Trap Magnet.

Count Lichenson

So some of you have probably been wondering, how did a vampire end up as one of our party members? Well, it all started a year or two ago in a small county in Vinland. We had gotten a quest from Scarlett O'Herring, the mermaid quest broker, to deal with a series of vampire attacks that were occurring in the area. The locals pointed us to the huge castle of Count Lichenson, the local ruler who they also said was the only vampire they knew of. Steeling ourselves for a fight, we banged on his castle's oversized set of doors only to be answered by the most haggard looking vampire any have ever seen with a small child in his arms. The sounds of children running amok could be heard behind him.

"Are you the people who are answering the ad I put in the paper for a babysitter?" he asked.

"Ah...no we are here about a recent string of vampire attacks that have been occurring in the area," Iva Boss politely inquired. However the Count seemed both outraged and worried about something to his left.

"How dare you! I haven't drunk a maiden's blood in eighteen years! Sure, back then, I would sneak into my victim's room and drink her blood every night. Of course when it was time for me to leave, I made sure I had left the maiden enough blood to live before escaping to my castle. However, the next day, around noon, I would be awaken by the sound of banging at my castle door. Everytime I opened it, there would be the girl I drained pointing at me to whichever guardian she brought. The guardians always pointed a deluxe Vampire Hunters Crossbow at my undead heart, and force me to 'Make an honest woman out of their charge'. Eventually, hunting for maidens to drink from became too expensive. So I am afraid you have the wrong vampire. Now if you don't mind, I really, really need to find a babysitter so I can take my 274 brides out for our anniversary!"

With that he slammed the door in our faces. Left with few other options, we decided to use Isa Boss as bait to lure out the vampire. She objected but when we voted who be the bait by secret ballot, she still ended up with the job. Our plan did work a few nights later, as Isa was attacked by "the dreamiest boy ever, with hair the color of mythril, eyes the color of red gold..." as she put it. I think something happened changed in her that night because ever since, she is the first one to volunteer as bait. However, upon examining our target under the nets, it turned out to not be a vampire so much as a young dhampir who acted noticeably shy (to us guys) around Isa. Since dhampirs are children of vampires, we decided to hogtie him and take him back to the castle.

"You again? I thought I told you-- What are you doing with my son!?"

"So he is your son, just as we expected." replied Hogan.

"Yes, he is my eldest son, Glocke. What is this about?"

"Your son has been behind the series of vampire attacks." answered Boreas.

"Boy, is this true? Speak up, you know I will protect you from false accusations!"

"I'm sorry father, I was just trying get used to talking to girls. But every time I approached one, she would run away screaming about a vampire attacking her. I didn't harm anyone, I swear!" the dhampir boy said with a pitiful look.

"I apologise for any trouble my boy may have caused." the Count said as the two of them bowed. Things ended going pretty smoothly after that. We even started telling our adventures to Count and his family (I now totally understand the need for such a ridiculously large castle) which seemed to have awaken some sort of fire in them. The next morning, we awoke to find the Count and his wives arguing about who would go adventuring and who would stay and watch the brood and castle. Seeing us awake, the Count hurried over and put his around me, saying, "I'm sorry my loves, but I simply have to be one of the ones to go as I accepted their offer to join their party." he then whispered so only we could hear, "Play along, please, I'll do anything." Seeing the scary looks on faces of 274 women, my party managed (barely) to help them set up a schedule. And with that, for three quarters of the year, we have a vampire for a party member. Now that I think about it, I really need to remember to ask the Count how Glocke is doing, because last I had heard he was practicing talking to girls in dungeons.