Trolls! (Forgotten Songs #15)

Biding my time for my life to return to a normal pace, here is another installment of Katja's diary. This one is numbered #15 because I had to miss session #14. 

June 21, 2000 (Waning Crescent Moon)
We are back in Harcomb once again. Only yesterday, we had set out to scout the upper levels of the Oghma temple. But while passing through the foreboding bog, we encountered a trio of terrifying trolls. Our mightiest warrior was nearly slain and we barely escaped with out lives.

I guess I didn't expect things to get difficult again so quickly after tasting the peace and comfort of Harcomb. These last few days have been so wonderful. I was able to take several really long baths in Herr Delorean's hot springs. I was able to order some new clothes from Alder Mercantile. And I've been enjoying the company of the handsome Dolb.

Yes, there was that business about the high king's recruiters and such, but I think Bix and the others handled it nicely.

Well, yesterday we decided to set out to scout the temple while we waited on our orders of clothes and armor. Sunny left her horse since we'd be able to make the trip in less than a day's walk. I too did not feel comfortable about leaving Drachen to wander the upper reaches of the temple while we explored its depths, but I felt much better about having him on the journey - especially since it was unknown territory to me. I feel much better about fighting on horseback, should we have to fight at all.

And fight we did. As we entered the bog, I heard something big approaching from ahead. I dismounted Drachen, readied my crossbow, and crept forward. The others fanned out into the woods. Suddenly, a huge green humanoid burst forth from the woods (Bix would later say it was a troll). Bix was the quickest to put an arrow into its hide and I remounted Drachen to circle around. Sunny and I both hit with well placed shots and the creature was starting to look like a pin-cushion, though it seemed unfazed.

With his magical boots of speed, Kreed circled around and landed a wicked blow from behind. Amazingly and horribly, the creature spun about and rended Kreed with its massive claws and sent him flying into the air. Bravely, Sunny rushed into to assist Kreed in melee was promptly slammed to unconsciousness. Kreed managed to shout "Burn him!", which we would later learn was required to prevent the creature regenerating its wounds.

With another powerful blow, Kreed knocked the creature to the ground but it was quick to recover. Boaz charged in and put him down for good.

The rest of us approached and we saw for ourselves that the creature's wounds were healing! While Bix healed Sunny with the whacking wand, we set about dismembering the foul thing. Bix then told us about trolls and how they don't live under bridges and extort money from small children. These real trolls would most likely live in caves and wouldn't bother extorting money from anything when it could kill and eat it first.

While we discussed what to do with the body (it was still healing!), two more of these creatures emerged from the woods. We should of ran right then and there. Instead, Kreed charged right at them and was almost torn in half before our eyes. "No!" I shouted. It was horrible. He was the strongest among us. With him out of the fight, we had no hope. The best we could do was retreat. But we couldn't leave Kreed behind, for he might still be alive.

Bix raced in and was knocked out. Sunny raced in and threw up her drow darkness. Sunny and I then raced to Kreed's body (safely abandoned by the trolls as they fought Bix and Boaz) and together we managed to get him on Drachen. And by the mercy of the Silver Huntress, he still breathed!

Meanwhile, one of the trolls emerged from the darkness and attacked Orion. The other attacked Boaz. Sunny ran into the darkness to find Bix and soon called for me to bring him the wand. I spurred Drachen forward and quickly dismounted and healed Bix with one action. I was full of the fire of excitement at this point, as I struggled to get my only friends out of harms way. I called on the Silver Huntress and healed Kreed enough that he could stand.

I looked about. The other trolls had retreated. Did Orion cast a spell on them? No time to ponder that, as Bix was hysterical. His eyes were glowing bright red and he was shouting "Not again! Not again!". Kreed tried to tackle him as he ran for the woods. But I got there first and blocked his way with Drachen. I was not going to let Bix get himself killed by running after the trolls.

After that, we beat a hasty and difficult retreat back to Harcomb. We didn't get back until just after dusk last night. But despite our defeat, we were determined to go back and slay these beasts as soon as we were better prepared. General Boaz had some excellent ideas involving luring them out with bait and attacking them with fire. But now that a new day has dawned, I confess that I feel a growing dread. We may not yet be ready for these creatures. But we will do what we must.