Scutum aut malleo

 From the journal of Johanna Schwarz:

The most insidious aspect of the forces of chaos is how they wither all they touch, their destructive power working long after their agents are vanquished. Malice was gone, at last, but her corruption was not. As we gathered in the wasteland that was once Dunkelkeifer, we could feel her vengeful breath breathing down our necks from beyond the grave. Both Johann and Eldur were pale and sick, ready to collapse at any point. We were all wounded, but their wounds showed the sickly tinge of blood rot. I’ve seen it before, after large battles, and many are the soldiers who have survived a hard battle, only to die in pain in bed days later. And Viktor was gone.

Making makeshift sleds to lay our wounded comrades on, we made our way to the camp the villagers of Wulfhaven. They were many of them in bad shape, but cheered us as heroes for dispelling the evil pall that had cursed the land. Surveying the wounded and sick, we decided to seek refuge in one of the ruins of Dunkelkeifer.

The buildings looked as if they had been left hundreds of years ago, only dust and rot left. But the old inn still stood, and we were able to light a fire in the fireplace, to warm our chilled bones. One of the rooms were made into a makeshift infirmary, and I did what I could to try to save our sick comrades through the illness ravaging their bodies. Both Johann and Eldur were delirious with fever at this point. Seeing friends and comrades in arms laid low by malingering pestilence like this is so frustrating. It is like a war is being fought in their bodies. We can try to aid them, but it is they who must do the fighting, all by themselves. The only mercy is that this malady burns hard and fast. Either you die within a week’s time, or you will live.

30. Kaldezeit, 2499

A day of miracles! Sunniva and Torgil went out to hunt for game for provisions for our beleaguered group in the ruined inn. When they returned, who came with them, other than Viktor! I could scarcely believe my eyes as he walked in the door. But it was him, in the flesh. I saw him torn in half by Malice’s power with my own eyes, but here he was, maybe a bit worse for wear, but still: Alive. The gods themselves must have looked favourably on us. He says he cannot recall anything from after we stormed into Malice’s lair. That must be something of a blessing. Maybe Shallya held her hand over him in the darkest hour?

31. Kaldezeit, 2499

I should have known Malice’s grasp would reach even further. This very land is now cursed, rotting anyone setting foot on it. Tonight, I woke from my fitful sleep by the sick beds of Johann and Eldur to Sunniva telling me our guard had gone missing, tracks leading off in the snow. We posted extra guards, but the night went without further disturbance.

Later this day, however, horrors abounded. Sunniva and Torgil went out to track our missing guard. While they were away, one of the townspeople suddenly jumped up, a crazed look on his face. He started tearing at his clothes and running for the door. I tackled him, bringing him to the ground, and Viktor held him down. What we saw was nightmare fuel. All over his body, new, unblinking and bloodshot eyes had grown right out of his skin. As he lay there screaming, I could see a new eye sprouting from the back of his head.

On my direction, Viktor gave the mutated horror that once was a man the only mercy we could give him, a swift death. We burned the corpse in the yard.

Meanwhile, Sunniva and Torgil managed to follow the tracks of the runaway guard. They led out into the haunted woods. Near a hill, the tracks became interspersed with spurts of red blood, leading to a patch covered in a huge pool of frozen blood. Leading away was a new set of horribly misshapen tracks.

When they came back and reported this, the only conclusion was that the area we were in is hopelessly tainted by the ruinous powers of chaos. Hastily, we made sleds to carry the wounded, and broke camp. We would have to nurse the sick and wounded on the road. That is risky, but staying in a chaos-infused place risks much more than mere infection or festering wounds. It may have been imagination, but I could feel my skin crawl as we made our way away from Dunkelkeifer.

We made good time moving away onto the road to Wulfhaven. Slowly, the landscape changed, from the desolation around Dunkelkeifer, to more normal wintery Nordland scenery. As the sun was setting, though, a final reminder of the corruption came: Charging out of the underbrush came a mutated horror - probably the remnants of the man Torgil and Sunniva tracked. He now sprouted tentacles all over the monstrous, bulbing body. Had this been a year ago, we might have feared the chaos monster. As it was, Torgil and Sunniva let loose a pair of arrows, which slowed it down. Viktor charged in, cleaving it in half with his sword.

A small pyre was quickly lit, to burn the remains. As we travelled on, the slowly rising plume of dark smoke served as a reminder of the corruption we were leaving behind.

32. Kaldezeit, 2499

Our progress is slow, but steady. We dare not rush, as that would risk worsening the condition of our sick and wounded. I do my utmost to make sure they are kept as comfortable and safe as can be while we are moving. Johann and Eldur are both very ill, but they are hanging on. Even in this cold, sweat is pouring off them. I can only hope they will pull through.

1. Ulriczeit, 2499

We made it all the way to Wulfhaven. Johann and Eldur are still alive, and I am very happy to be able to lodge them in actual beds in heated rooms, rather than rickety sleds and rough ground. I have hopes they will get well!

Coming back, we were greeted with a mixture of cheering and sorrow. Our vanguard arrived a day earlier, and have told the people what happened. While many are understandably sad by the loss of many fine men and women, they are somewhat in awe of us, and are hailing us as heroes. It feels strange being seen this way. I cannot help but remembering the faces of the brave people being cleaved by raging Fimur, or struck by Malice’s horrifying magic. Such thoughts forever bring a sad tinge to the feeling of triumph.

And there is something more: I feel as if this quest has stained me. Like being in Malice’s presence has contaminated my soul. I can feel intrusive thoughts bubbling in my mind. Was this how those poor villagers felt before chaos consumed them?

2. Ulriczeit, 2499

Today Johanns fever broke. He is still weakened, but now I know he will survive. Eldur is also looking slightly better, and I have high hopes that he will pull through.

3. Ulriczeit, 2499

I feel that Malice’s defeat is now complete: Eldur is out of the dark. He will live, and she will never have his soul, even from beyond the grave. Seeing the young norscan breathe freer, his customary inner fire kindled once more fills my heart with joy. The forces of darkness did their worst, and we held them at bay. I am doubly pleased that the foreboding dreams and visions he had seem to have been mere mirages, false omens sent by Malice. His fate is not sealed.

In the evening, we hold a small feast at the inn we’re staying at to celebrate the victory over Malice and her ilk, and our comrades overcoming their illness.

A small worry creeps into my heart during the evening. I’d noticed that Eldur looked pondersome, and glanced frequently over at Viktor. Pulling him aside, I asked what he saw. In hushed tones he said he could sense a slight tinge of the dark magic - Dhar, deep inside Viktor. But he does not know what it means. Is he magically scarred by the forces of Malice? Or has he allowed dark forces to enter his soul? I hope not, but we will have to be watchful.

4. Ulriczeit, 2499

Our business concluded in Wulfhaven, we begin the long journey home to Salzenmund. After some debating, we choose to travel south first, to the outskirts of the elven woods. Hopefully, we can meet again the elven rangers who gave us the invaluable amulets which helped keep Malice’s power over minds at bay. The elves being known for their deep magical knowledge, we also hope they may have some insight into what can be done to heal the blight over the land where Dunkelkeifer once stood.

7. Ulriczeit, 2499

Approaching the elven lands always make me wary. Elves are powerful allies against the forces of chaos, but are impossible to fathom. Their long lives and deeply mistrustful ways make it hard to know how to interpret what they say. Being in their company, I always feel as if they view us as sort of adorable little children. Maybe that is what we are to them, in a way.

Torgil managed to contact them again, and as before, a small group of them approached us.

We told them what had transpired - how we managed to slay Malice, and what happened to the land around Dunkelkeifer. On the one hand, it seemed they already knew what we were telling. At the same time, they actually seemed sort of impressed that we had won. That is a response I’ve rarely, if ever, seen from elves.

They told us we could keep the trinkets they had given us, but were not very helpful as to what could be done about the corruption in Dunkelkeifer. They said it would fix itself in “a little while”. Pressed as to what we should do, they stated that humans should stay away “for a century or so”. A century! That may be a short span for an elf, but not for us.

We will have to seek further counsel.

10. Ulriczeit, 2499

After leaving the elves behind, the trek to Liehaven was uneventful. We have secured passage on a ship to Dietershaven, which leaves tomorrow.

My compatriots are cheerful after our great victory. I try to partake in their sunny disposition, but dark feelings gnaw at my gut, and I find myself being irritable and snapping at small details. I blame that fucking bitch Malice and her work. If she wasn’t already dead, I’d relish chopping her head off!

14. Ulriczeit, 2499

Gods, I hate the sea. And I hate the winter chill at sea. And I hate the way the ship moves through the choppy waters in the cold winter winds. The last day was spent largely heaving my guts over the side of the ship, to much merriment from those annoyingly sealegged Norscan twins. Laugh all you like, Eldur. I was the one wiping your vomit when you were at death’s door a week back!

17. Ulriczeit, 2499

Landfall at last. After that dreadful sea voyage, I almost long for the long, snowfilled trek back towards Salzenmund. However, I do have a sense of foreboding. Before we set out on our quest to destroy Malice, the elector count more than hinted that he wished to oust my current chief, Zeuss, and place me in his stead. When we return to Salzenmund, this must be resolved. I did not have the opportunity to discuss this with Zeuss before leaving, and I do not like the thought that I might be seen to conspire against my own chief. I have no reason to doubt Zeuss’s dedication to the mission of the witch hunters, nor has he given me reason to be critical of his management. At the same time, I feel I could have much to contribute. The last years have shown that the ruinous forces are legion, and have their tendrils deep in our society. They need to be met forcefully, without resorting to panic, rumor mongering or the butchering of innocents. In the wrong hands, the witch hunters are potentially a horrible tool of oppression, which can be used as a hammer against people a corrupt ruler wants to silence. In the right hands, it can be a shield for the people against corruption. I would hope to be such a shield. But am I ready? Are we?

24. Ulriczeit, 2499

Walking up the steps to Zeuss’s office, I was more worried than when facing beastmen or Khorne cultists. Would I be branded disloyal? Would Zeuss oust me from the guild? Who was I, a lowborn farmer woman, to aspire to the leadership of the witch hunters?

I need not have worried. I did not have to broach the subject at all, Zeuss raised it himself, stating that he thought my ascension was timely. It appears he has had his fill of leadership, and wishes to retreat to his studies in the university’s library. I could not help but blush at the praise he heaped on my work for the guild. But the stage is set, it seems: He will seek confirmation from the count soon, and then proceed to show me my new duties.

He also had a wealth of information to impart. As we suspected, Uri, the count’s advisor, is a sorcerer, specifically a shadowmancer, and he has the ear of both the count and, more importantly, the count’s mother. Zeuss’s analysis is that von Gosser leans heavily on his mother for support and guidance, and that she may be the true driving force behind many of the policies he pursues, specifically the more warlike of them. More troubling is the fact that Zeuss has some misgivings as to what her ultimate motives are. He urged me to be wary, and investigate her, but very very cautiously, as she is not to be underestimated. I sincerely hope his suspicion is unfounded, but experience tells me to listen. When corruption is as rampant as it has been here recently, it has a way of going all the way to the top. If it turns out to be true, I will not shy away from burning the corruption out. But i am dedicated more than anything to truth.

More bad news: The investigator I sent to Saltkalten at von Gosser’s behest has been found dead. We do not know why or how yet. It may be related to the task I set, or not at all. Blast and confound! I shall have to think hard on how to proceed, but the good news is that von Gosser seems to have relegated the fanciful idea of war with Ostland over Saltkalten to an unused drawer in his mind. Let us hope it stays there.