We defeated the Balor, with casualties. Our friend Adrial died, having fought bravely against our foe. We will revive him after our encounter with the Dragon. Facto, had his head lopped off at the strength of the Balor, and Pearl brought him back almost instantly. She risked her life in the Balor’s fire in order to save him. I do not understand their connection, or their friendship, from what I am told she saves him from the clutches of death more than once, strange. I asked Thane of the warriors of Crail to guard the Dragon’s Hoard where the Balor once stood until our return. We ventured onward into a hidden tunnel amidst the ruins and we found the resting place of McFife, not there. There was a hidden compartment inside McFife’s tomb and all but Facto ventured forward. After hours of crawling through the small hole we emerged to find a Hoard, glistening gold lit our path and we came up to the gold itself. Bogdan our Druid friend shaped into a hawk and found there was psionics around the gold. Being a skeptical dwarf, as is my nature, I threw a gold coin at a chest of treasure, and before hitting it, stopped and fell to the floor. We knew what was there. Calling out to the nothing we were answered by haunting visions. My old master, Aloth Markee was there! he told me I had failed him, that he had died in the Abyss waiting to be saved. That I had failed my order, and that I should give up. It was Pearl who touched my back as I wept, then I realized it was a mirage or trickery of the Dragon. Snapping out of it I heard the Dragon in my head. I told him that I had an offering and trade. Presenting the Balor’s Whip I showed the Dragon that even the might of a Balor would not protect him, and in the end I offered my sword in protection of his Horde should he help us against Zargathrax. Accepting my offer he swore to help us against the Sorcerer and we departed back. On the trip back up the hole I asked to know where our companion Sadine went, and I was told he was fighting our other companion Facto, still under the mind effects of the Dragon. Dispelling that and soothing some broken feelings we rested. We awoke and headed to the trap door we used to get in here and Margondich warned me of an attack once I left. Facto opened the door and was greeted by spears through his neck. Yelling at Thane through the door and behind Facto I was again told by Margondich that Thane had died many years ago. Knowing the truth I brought that to Thane and more importantly his Soldiers. They fell back and Zargathrax’s true treachery was unravelled. Posing as Thane for who know who long and weaving his lies and evil into their culture it now makes sense why the Eagles are not longer part of their culture. Why so much of their culture being absent now makes sense. Yet another atrocity Zargathrax will pay for. The time for war is now.

We marched to the borders of the Shadowlands and the tacticians helped by Sadine and Pearl came up with a battle plan. I found out that the Palrathee Demon was aiding us, and after much thought I decided to talk to him. Demanding to know what he knows of what I thought was a Demon, he answered that “It would break my mind” . Needing truth and not omens I pressed forward. the account of learning of this evil will be accounted later and possibly in another section

Palrathee was right, my mind. what is my mind? Who are we, and why do we matter against such a terrible plight? How are we going to stop that?! Zargathrax is a fool to think he can tap into that power, It will crush him. Zargathrax has been stealing or manipulating time, which, thanks to Adrial, is how he is not in any records. He has no past, possibly a future though. I communed once more in my head with Margondich about the information I have discovered, and even he a great Dragon, did not understand or know what or who I was talking about. He did however know about Zargathrax. He reminded me of a frozen princess, McFife’s beloved. Frozen solid in the Tower of Ice, under the watch of Zargathrax. Suddenly things were making more sense in my jumbled beastial mind. I will learn what I can of this Frozen Stasis and make sure Zargathrax is there when I freeze him and take him to my Order in Mount Celestia. My next step before this great war started was to travel to the Heavens and speak with the 9.

In the Stronghold of my Order I asked to speak with the Council of 9, a very rare and often rejected request. Only it was after I told the guard the story and presented the Balor’s Whip would he let me in. There they were, upon a Dias, the 9 councilmemebers of the Order of the Chalice. A grand site and welcomed in these dark times. I presented the Whip as a gift to our order, and they humbled me and said I might be worthy of an apprentice. Not having time for that I had asked two favors. One, was to have a Knight move down the site where the Balor died and protect the Dragons Horde until I could find a suitable replacement. Second was to ask the Order to keep Zargathrax imprisoned in the gaols of Mount Celestia and our Order. Boasting a large and quite effective Prison for Demons I thought our gaol would be more than suitable for the likes of Zargathrax. The Order told me that if I made the deal with the Dragon I must uphold it, and that they would keep Zargathrax imprisoned until they got their information. After such a time, they would hand him over to the gods for judgement and punishment.

The War has started, our enemy is ready, His full strength is gathered, the board is set, the pieces are moving. The accounts of the War to Zargathrax will be accounted by those who moved our forces

After finding a Crystal Ball in our travels we discovered that it can answer any question you give it. Not being skilled at these things it took me many days to finally ask my question. I have had many since Palrathee told me of the Horror, and knowing If I asked for everything I do not think my mind could have handled it. So I asked, in my head, “how does Zargathrax steal time”? Getting my answer I know now what must be done. I only hope I have the strength to do that when the time comes