The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 185:
After the adventure in the jungle Merrick and I had started back towards civilization, and after an uneventful trip back to Karnok I was still anxious about what we had seen, but I was feeling good. My time with Merrick had so far been eventful, to say the least, and I was learning many things that would serve me well as a BattleMage in the future. As we entered Karnok the city guards nodded at Merrick as we passed, and I started thinking about how little I knew about my mentor here. In our limited time together Merrick had proven to know quite a few powerful people of Jalldoon, and after keeping my eyes open I noticed every guard we passed would nod at him. Who was Merrick?
I had been so lost in thought during our walk I had neglected to notice where we were until I looked up and saw the looming presence of the Imperial Palace ahead of us. Merrick approached the gate as the two Imperial Guards parted ways and let us through. I was bewildered at how a simple ranger could stroll right into the palace of Emperor Pullo, but as we got to the giant relief of Karnok himself that graced the door of the throne room he paused, looked back at me, and winked before thrusting the large ornate doors open and striding into the room. Emperor Pullo stood up and looked in our direction for a moment before walking towards us and gripping Merrick in a tight hug. I was shocked at this out-of-place closeness from the Emperor until Merrick addressed him as brother. Before I could ask any questions of the situation Merrick launched into the story of what we had come across in the Vallorian Jungle. Emperor Pullo was concerned about what Baron Dracktholme was up to, and after some hushed words it was decided Merrick, and I would be traveling to the lands of Hoga where we would make our way to Hogar. Obviously, I’d had dealings with my fair share of Hogashin before, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see the sights of their Capital City with my own eyes. Emperor Pullo said he would contact King Valdar to let the Slimes know what that fiend Dracktholm was up to. With that, a servant was summoned to take me to a room. Merrick assured me that we would have a chance to talk in the morning, and I lay in the most comfortable bed I had ever been graced to sleep in. I drifted off with my head swimming in questions. What would we see in Hogar? How is Merrick the Emperor’s brother? We’d been adventuring for months now, and things seemed to be only heating up…what would happen next? As I write I can barely keep my eyes open so I’ll let the sweet embrace of slumber envelope me.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 186:
The next morning I was awoken by a knocking at my door, and as I opened it Merrick handed me a plate stuffed with food and a goblet of what appeared to be fresh squeezed marco juice. As I ate, Merrick explained that we’d be flown by a Royal Squondor to the border of Hoga where we would make our way on the main road to the capitol where we would personally deliver the sensitive information to the Chieftain of the Hogash Hoards of Hoga himself. With Baron Dracktholme being so closely related to one of the most powerful of all the rulers in the Covenant of Crowns (and one wielding such sway in the meetings no less) any kind of collusion against the Baron without proof of any Covenant law being broken would surely end badly for all involved. As I finished the delicious food of the Imperial Palace Merrick left so I could gather my things and prepare for our Journey. I quickly dressed before making my way to the roof of the Palace to meet Merrick. Opening the door to the rooftop aviary that housed the half dozen tamed Squondors the Emperor used for his personal travel to all corners of Jalldoon I saw Merrick, The Emperor, and the Squondor Master standing around a large basket, and as I approached I saw a litter of pups squirming inside. It looked like the Imperial Air Force would be getting a nice boost once they were full-grown. The Master whistled as two large Squondors swooped down from their perches and landed in front of us. Having never flown a Squondor I was rather nervous, but Merrick assured me that these beasts knew exactly where we were going and that they would have no need for us to fly them. The Squondor Master spoke a few words and the creatures stood up on their hind legs revealing harnesses strapped to their undersides which would hold us. As they secured me into the harness I began once again to question this whole plan, but before I could protest the Master gave a hooting whistle, and the Squondors were running towards the ledge of the roof. After leaping off the roof my Squondor went into a free fall, and I’m sure my screams were heard on the other side of the planet until it spread its four legs letting the leathery wings attached to them catch the wind. Gliding over the land was terrifying at first, but after a while it became incredibly relaxing. As we flew over the Inari Grasslands I could see the Dark Citadel in the distance, and I wondered what exactly Baron Dracktholme could be up to, and why the Emperor was so worried about it. As the flight continued my thoughts drifted back to Merrick and how exactly he could be the Emperor’s brother? We had met the Emperor during the adventure with Prince Algor and Toron in the sewers, and he and Merrick hardly interacted. Before I knew it we were landing right on the Borders of Hoga, and as we stood in front of a roadside Inn I looked up at the large stone walls surrounding Hoga that kept us from being able to fly directly to Hogar in awe. The fabled walls of Hoga were actually part of the natural mountain range that extended from the Teeth of the Gods here and then continue right to the edge of Morgunborg Wood. The Hogashin stonemasons had carved two giant statues of warriors into the Rocks on either side of the wide road that curved all the to Hogar in the very center of the realm, and then beyond where steep cliffs cut the land off from any entry but the “Rocky Road to Hogar” as it had become known due to the rugged features of Hoga herself. The journey had taken quite some time as night had already fallen by the time we entered the Inn. I asked Merrick if we could talk, but all he said was we would have plenty of time to talk on the long trip to Hogar we’d start in the morning as he brought a plate of food up to his room for the night. I wasn’t quite ready to sleep yet so I sat at the bar for a soothing warm cup of creamed Tokkagourd tea as the Innkeeper showed me a litter of War Turtle eggs he was incubating in a small box. He offered to sell me one upon hatching, but I told him my lifestyle would not be conducive to caring for a baby turtle that would grow to near my height. For the second night in a row I went to bed with more questions than answers, but this time the bed was far…far less comfortable. Laying here my head swims, and I hope Merrick will have some answers in the morning.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 186:
The next morning I lay in bed as the birds chirped happily, and I could hear the low snuffling of the War Turtles in the pens next to the inn. It was peaceful, but I knew we were in for nearly a week of hard road traveling so I was trying to enjoy the minor comfort of the lumpy bed of the Inn which would surely be better than sleeping on the rocky ground of Hoga. A knock at my door broke me out of my reveries. Merrick entered with two steaming cups of Grapeweed, and we finally talked about just how he was Emperor Pullos’s brother. Emperor Pullo had been born to the previous Emperor and Empress of Karnok who had ruled for ages, and as their only child, Titus was bound for the Throne as soon as he was born. Time makes fools of us all however, and a few years later the Emperor succumbed to old age and left the fairly young Empress alone with the very young child being trained to become the Emperor after her death. The Empress would after some time fall in love with one of her son’s trainers, a very capable warrior named Meldan who would be the companion of the Empress until her death. They had a child, and that child was Merrick. Now it all made sense. I had wondered how Merrick and Emperor Pullo could be brothers? Merrick’s dark skin seemed almost the exact opposite of the Emperor’s pale complexion, and the two men could not be any different. Having grown up together in the Palace of Karnok left the brothers with a close bond, but for the most part, they kept it quiet to avoid complications in either of their occupations. Many of the Karnok City Guard and employees of the Palace knew Merrick was a well-respected Ranger who was often to be seen at court, but few knew the familial relationship of the Ranger and Emperor. After traveling with him I had already amassed a great deal of respect for Merrick, but knowing he chose this life over a comfortable cushy life at the Palace made me respect my mentor even more. As we headed outside Merrick rented a couple of War Turtles from the Innkeep to take us to Hogar, and as we packed our new mounts up I bristled with excitement at what we would come across on our trip through Hoga. While the large turtles were certainly not fast, they were adept at negotiating the rocky terrain of Hoga which was legendary for how difficult to traverse the region was. The reason that Hogashin culture was so steeped in mystery was crossing their territory was extremely difficult for those not raised in the hard country of Hoga. We climbed onto the saddles strapped to the shells of large turtles, and step by step made our way into Hoga.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 187:
The first day passed rather peacefully. We had a small run-in with a Paraparadon in the early afternoon when we chanced on a roadside nest of the winged beasts, but a simple calming spell sent it flying away peacefully. The rest of the day was uneventful, but the sights of Hoga were such that I was never bored. We passed through the acidic pools the Hogashin called the Garden of Fangs, and with good reason as the waters had eaten away at the rocks jutting out of the pools while leaching any color out of them making it look like large sharp teeth coming out of the ground. The clear blue waters looked inviting upon first glance, but as Merrick informed me any living being coming in contact with them would be eaten away slowly and painfully with no chance of escape. As nightfall came we made camp in a small alcove surrounded on three sides by the acidic pools which seemed a safe place to stay for the night with only one way in to watch for predators. As Merrick made a fire I created a magical barrier around the camp that would alert us if anything crossed it. Merrick made us a simple stew from some ingredients he had in his pack, and after feeding the turtles we laid down to get some sleep. An unknown time later we were awoken by the screams of the barrier alerting us. Jumping up I canceled the spell, and we stood weapons ready for whatever it was that crossed the barrier. Straining to hear anything in the night I listened. Nothing beyond the odd chirping of the nightlife could be heard. The fire had died down to a very low glow that didn’t reveal much outside a small radius around it, but in the faint light, Merrick spotted a glint. I cast a traveling orb of light in the direction he pointed to, and we saw a large Crystal Cat crouched by a bush. The light glittered off its green crystalline skin as it pounced at us. Merrick fired an arrow as the beast landed nearby that lodged itself in the cat’s shoulder, but it barely flinched. I had been working on a theory in regards to Crystal Cats that I would have no better time to test, and casting a deep freeze spell on the beast as it pounced again proved me right! The crystalline skin of the cat had reacted…poorly to the deep freeze, and as it fell to the ground it shattered into millions of tiny shards. Merrick was deeply impressed by that bit of thinking, and I could hear him chuckling himself to sleep over it. Glad my theory had worked out so well I was no longer so afraid of Crystal Cats as I had been. I remade the magical barrier, and lying down to write this entry I can feel my eyelids getting heavier and heavier.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 188:
The next few days passed without incident until the afternoon of the second day when we came across a Hogashin caravan that had made camp near the road. We were greeted warmly by the Hogashin, and invited to camp with them for the night. After a few nights of Merrick and I alone on the road, it was a relief to be surrounded by the capable Hogashin and many warm fires. As night crept up they all gathered around the fire and began to sing songs while the Hogashin Grog flowed freely. As the revelry waned, and the stars glistened in the night sky the talk turned to tales of terror from around Hoga. The leader of the Caravan spoke of The Ghosts in the Wood of Hog that came out to snatch travelers foolish enough to camp by their burrows. This troubled me as the Wood of Hog was the next region of Hoga we’d be passing through. He assured me that he would supply us with a map with the safe camps along the road marked out, which eased my troubled mind considerably. As it grew later Merrick and many of the other Hogashin went to sleep, but I stayed up for a while learning all I could from the leader of the caravan. I had grown quickly fond of the songs of Hoga and asked him to transcribe one for me which I will present here. It is a curious tale of a young Hogashin leaving his home in pursuit of wealth and adventure, the tune of which I would whistle for days afterward.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 189:
The next morning as the sun rose we said our goodbyes to the caravan and started back on the trail. The plodding pace of the War Turtles left was making us take our time, but there was no denying the beasts could handle the rocky terrain with ease. This “road” to Hogar was more like a barely worn down path in a sea of rocks, but Merrick said once we crossed into the Wood of Hog the way would ease up a little bit. By midday, we had reached the edge of the wood, and looking to either side all I could see for miles was the thick barrier of trees. We dismounted the turtles, and with a slap on their shells the beasts lumbered off back to the Inn we’d rented them from. How these beasts knew to return, and how they made the journey on their own was very interesting. Merrick said they would without our interference be back in just under two days, and I was confused as it had been nearly a week for us to get here. He explained that War Turtles when unburdened by packs and riders were capable of much faster travel, and by using the rivers, streams, and creeks of Hoga they would make quick work of getting home. As I looked at the Woods of Hog that the Hogashin stories made seem so terrifying, I felt a shiver run down my spine as I wished I still had my large turtle to perch on the shell of. We poked our way into the thick wood, and to my surprise, the path spread out into something that actually resembled a road. I pulled the map that the caravan leader had given us out of my pack, and it appeared we would need to make good time to reach the first safe camp before nightfall. The Wood of Hog was impressive in its wildness. Even the Vallorian Jungle had less growth! Trees and plants intertwined making traveling anything but the road itself a near impossibility for us, but as we walked I could hear life all around so there must be some creatures here. The sunlight peered through the ceiling of leaves in shafts that illuminated the area, but it was still fairly dark even at midday. The night here must be pure darkness I thought as my mind raced at being stuck there in the night. Merrick and I had camped many times before, and I don’t know if it was the ghost stories of the caravan that set me on edge or actual menace in the woods, but I had a very bad feeling about being in the Wood of Hog. I had become lost in thought as we walked, but I was broken from my thoughts by Merrick’s hand on my chest. As I snapped to attention I could hear the snapping of wood in the distance. Looking out into the heavy growth I could see that something was coming towards us based on the swaying of the plants. Merrick drew his sword, and I readied a spell as a tree crashed down across the road, and we heard a fearsome screech. A large beast jumped out nearly as tall as Merrick, and three times as wide. The beast was some kind of lizard bird monstrosity. Standing on two long legs ending in large taloned feet, with leathery purple skin on its round body and long neck. A sharp beak clicked on itself as its head swayed back and forth, and a mane of feathers surrounded its head and ran down the back of the creature’s neck. Two smaller taloned arms swiped at us menacingly as the beat screeched again. Merrick swung his sword, and the creature grasped his sword as it lunged in with its beak. The small beady eyes of the creature were clouded with bloodlust as I cast a fireball spell. The roaring ball of fire struck the beast right on the side of its head, and with a screech of pain, it flailed uselessly as its body was engulfed in the magical flames. The beast let out one final pitiful screech as it died on the road. Merrick dusted himself off and picked his sword up off the ground with a chuckle. He explained what I’d just killed was a Zingadoo Bird, a deadly carnivorous predator native to Hoga that even the most fearsome Hogashin warrior hesitated to battle. Feeling emboldened by his praise I suddenly felt less worried about the Wood of Hog than I had. We made it to the first marked camp on the map, and seeing it really put me at ease. Situated in a covered clearing surrounded by a thick fence made of intertwined logs created by Hogashin in ages past was a small cabin, with a clearly well-used firepit in front it looked like a wonderful place to spend the dark night. As we set up a fire and set about cooking some dinner I started to feel a bit foolish for getting all worked up by ghost stories. The Wood of Hog was no worse than any of the other wild lands of Jalldoon we’d been in before I told myself as I lay down in the soft bed of the cabin. A full belly and an exciting day had tired me out, and it is all I can do to write the day’s events down as I’m falling asleep.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 190:
I woke to the smell of Merrick cooking breakfast outside, and as I opened the cabin door to a beautiful Hoga morning I took a deep breath of the fresh air. I had completely let go of the fear I felt about the Wood of Hog, and after eating Merrick and I headed back onto the road. The day passed peacefully, and by night we found ourselves at a similar cabin which was the next camp on the map. After a hearty meal, we sat by the fire, and after a few stories of various adventures from Merrick, we turned in for the night. The next thing I knew Merrick was shaking me awake. As I rubbed my eyes I heard it. An otherworldly humming surrounded the cabin. Peering out the window I saw three spectres encircling the cabin. The camps were supposed to be safe havens, but whatever kept the ghosts at bay must have failed because here we were. Merrick propped his bow against the wall, and kneeling down he undid a binding on his quiver. A flap rolled down, and I saw six arrows with glowing green tips. Merrick nocked one of the arrows and asked me if I knew anything about getting rid of ghosts. I thought for a moment, but beyond Spirit Dust which we had none of I had no ideas. Merrick made an off-handed comment about what exactly they were teaching us in the Syndicate with a laugh. He popped open the window and fired an arrow at one of the ghosts. It connected with a poof of green, and the ghost screamed as it dissipated into a small blob of slime. Merrick nocked another arrow, and pulling his bowstring back released the arrow, this time the arrow lodged itself into a tree as the remaining two ghosts converged on the window bashing against it again and again. As the Ghosts smashed through the glass Merrick fired an arrow at one of them, and upon getting hit the ghost screamed its death cry. Now the third Ghost was in the cabin with us, and it was upon Merrick with its ghastly fingers clawing at his throat. I ran over to the puddle of green goo from the second ghost, and I stuck my hand into the pile pulling out the arrow. I lunged at the ghost stabbing the arrow into its back, and covering Merrick and myself in the goo as I fell on the floor panting. Merrick brushed himself off and helped me up. As we cleaned the goop off of us he explained that the arrowheads were made of Iron forged with spirit dust, and were perfect for taking out ghosts of all stripes. As Merrick picked up his arrows from the disgusting globs of goop scattered around the camp I did my best to clean the inside of the cabin, and after securing the windows we retired for the rest of the night Once again I was terrified of the Woods of Hog, but at least we only had a few days left in this cursed place. As I sit here writing I can’t stop shivering in terror.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 191:
Thankfully the following nights passed easily, and despite some bad dreams, we made it out of the Wood of Hog without incident. We were about halfway through our journey to Hogar, and now the terrain had eased up. We found ourselves in rich plains with Hoggashin farms dotted the landscape, and rivers crisscrossing throughout the green hills. The sun shined on us, and I felt the fear of the Wood melting away in this peaceful atmosphere. As we walked down the now much smoother road I hummed a tune, and absentmindedly flicked small balls of ice I was conjuring while practicing my ice spells. As we crested a hill we saw a Hoggashin sitting against a tree. He was wearing a large straw hat, and next to him, a War Turtle that appeared to be hitched to some kind of plow munched away on a bucket of greens. The Hoggashin waved us down and introduced himself as Hollgorsh. He owned the farm on either side of the road in this region, and as far as we could see were his fields which held a large bounty of crops. Hollgorsh invited us to spend the night with him and his family. I was still a little shocked at how inviting the Hoggashin people were, and for a group that had a fearsome reputation throughout Jalldoon everyone we met seemed very friendly. Merrick would explain to me that a Hoggashin was always willing to help another by way of their culture, but if you were to cross them or meet one who leaned towards evil then there was no more fearsome enemy on the Planet. Hollgorsh set us up for the night in his barn and invited us to dine with his family. As we entered the house I saw a veritable feast laid out on a large table, and the smell made my mouth water. After eating way too much we sat for hours talking to the family about their lives, and I even showed Hollgorsh’s daughter Helga a couple of simple spells that would help around the farm as she showed an interest in magic. The farmer told us he would take us into the nearby town of Hogstat in the morning, and from there we could rent a carriage to take us directly to Hogar. As I lay in the soft straw bed in the warm barn with a full belly my eyelids are heavy.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 192:
At the crack of dawn the next morning we were off to Hogstat. The wheels of Hollgorsh’s cart squeaked on the dirt road as two large Lox pulled it along. The leathery orange skin of the beasts strained against their muscles as we thundered along at a good clip, and their thick manes blew in the wind as Hollgorsh pulled on the reins attached to their horns steering them along the road. As we pulled into town we said our goodbyes to Hollgorsh as he proceeded to the market to pick up his supplies, and we made our way to the depot to book a carriage to Hogar. After booking the carriage we sat down for the ride to Hogar, and soon we arrived in the greatest city of Hoga. Hogar definitely lived up to its reputation. The great spires of the Chief’s palace loomed over the city as Hogashin people were everywhere. Down by the port, the market district was bustling with activity. As Merrick and I approached the gates of the palace two armored Hoggashin stepped towards us asking what our business was. After explaining our mission they lead us into the Chief’s throne room. The Chieftain of the Hogash Hoards of Hoga was a sight to behold. The Hogashin people were all fairly large, but the Chief was especially large…at least three times as big as Merrick. His hair was shaved except for a long high ponytail, and his long black beard was woven together in thick braids. His snout was pierced by a thick gold ring, and gems glittered on his traditional Hogashin armor. A large scar across his face ended in a clouded white eye, and it gave him a fearsome appearance, but as we entered his face lit up in a smile. The Chief listened to what we had to say with a grave face, and as we explained one of his advisors entered with a report of a fleet of unknown ships approaching off the coast. He requested the servants bring us to get some food and set us up in a couple of rooms as he excused himself. After eating and bathing I settled in for the night, and as I write this entry in the journal I wonder just what adventure tomorrow will bring.
Shortly after falling asleep, I’ve been awakened by the palace guards. The fleet of ships has started sacking the city. Hogar is in flames, and legions of masked warriors run amok killing indiscriminately. Merrick and I will assist the Hogashain in their time of need, but this siege looks bad. If you’ve found this journal, and this is the last entry please get it to Emperor Pullo of Karnok
doomkick.com 
One thought on “The Mages Journal Part 4: The Rocky Road To Hogar”