marcus1

Marcus' 1st Journal

Monday

I never expected things would turn out the way they did. It was so foolish of me not to have thought of this sooner. When I walked inside their lair, the succubi started hovering hungrily around me, as they always do. If not for Semidar’s protection, they would have eaten me alive. But I knew how possessive and jealous a female Semidar was. I never should have brought Clio. Semidar had never seen me with a female before, let alone one of my own kind. She became furious once she saw Clio. I was totally taken by surprise.

The succubi never seemed to show much interest in other females of any species, but I should have known better. In a fit of rage, Semidar started casting a series of strange spells on Clio. I tried to heal her as best as I could, but Semidar’s magic was too powerful. The poor Clio tried to escape, but weakened by sickness, she quickly fell. Then Semidar’s angry gaze shifted towards me. I knew what would happen if I didn’t quickly leave the premises. I ran as fast as I could but the angry squeals of the succubi awoke the Balron. I wasn’t geared up for battle. He struck me down with a single blow. All these months of building bridges between their species and ours destroyed in seconds. I swear, I will never understand females.

I went back to Clio’s ghost and beckoned her to follow me so we could leave this wretched place and get resurrected at the shrine. But it seems that Semidar’s anger wasn’t satisfied yet. Actually, I think seeing that even in death, I was concerned about Clio’s well being fueled her foul temper further. In a few quick strides of her long legs, she came to us, towering over us, her batwings widely spread. She pointed a vengeful finger towards us and uttered a gargish incantation in a hissing voice. Man Korp Tu Tim she said. I felt a tremor shake me. At first, I didn’t realize how strange that was since, as a ghost, no further harm should come to me. I would only realize later the seriousness of what had just happened.

Without further delay, I took Clio to the shrine. It was with great horror that we reached the shrine only to find it was unable to revive us. We started traveling West towards the Meer village and encountered a few goodhearted travelers who also tried to heal us, but alas, it was in vain. Upon our arrival, Lakeshire was deserted. Of course, I had forgotten about their expedition to Yew in an attempt to fight the plague. I was getting more and more concerned about Clio. Even in death, she seemed to be getting worse. Her ghost was fading and she seemed to be having more and more difficulty focusing. It suddenly dawned on me that Semidar’s spell must have somewhat been enhanced by the Decay and was literally destroying her soul.

The Daemons wouldn’t help us. They didn’t want to cross the succubus Queen. It was in the most unexpected of places that I found my salvation. I was one of the many volunteers who joined the battle to free the gargoyles from bondage. Over time, I maintained the friendship I had formed with a few of these fascinating creatures. Today, it was my gargoyle friends who lifted the curse that had been bestowed upon me. But they were unable to save poor Clio. Their magic wasn’t strong enough. Only the life power of the angels could revive her. Unfortunately, Lord Oaks was engaged in yet another fierce battle in the Lost Lands against a group of men and he had summoned every ethereal warrior and all other forest dwellers to assist him.

Clio’s spirit was quickly fading. I knew she wouldn’t last until that war was over. The Gargoyle Elder cast a sleeping spell on Clio, somewhat similar to the one that affected the Meers for centuries, to stop the progression of the curse until the angels returned. I took her fading spirit to the only place I knew she would be safe: the holiest of places. I knew the succubi would never dare set foot there. Even my gargish friends wouldn’t enter the walls of the fortress. We shall be safe there until Oaks returns. And as the gargoyles taught me, I shall tell her resting spirit to awake, so that the angels may once again bless her with the gift of life.