Charraj Cain, Wizard and Ex-Investigator

[Charraj]

Turns out there is a forest full of elven vampires up north. Stumbled into it while exploring the area. Kind of terrifying, and our group (only four people) decided to get going after destroying two vampires.

Now I figure I should get a big team together, go back, and take care of the vampires.

But I ran into some surprising resistance to the idea yesterday. Some Sunite paladin was questioning me about my motives. Do I need a reason to want to roll into a forest full of elven vampires and destroy them all? We don't need a plan if we have enough power.

Then Luke asked me if it had anything to do with Aeili, and I figured out what the Sunite paladin was implying. And it's ridiculous. I took it as my cue to leave.

Also, I probably shouldn't have opened up to the Sunite paladin the day before. Just met her, and she thinks she knows me.

[Charraj]

Had the worst day yesterday, and it is all Nate's fault.

What was SUPPOSED to be simple practice for me ended up with us

• 1) climbing a mountain to go fight a dragon (Nate dragged me into it),
  
  2) raiding a den of magical naga (Nate dragged me into it),
  
  3) going on a drow hunt that turned into a witch hunt (Nate dragged me into it).

Also, ran into a fallen paladin. Wonder what happened with him?

Anyways, Morgalia kept a more level head than I did throughout the whole thing. Her magic supported the group, while I wasn't really able to help much. She really knows her stuff; it's hard to believe she's mostly self-taught.

But at least I wiped out a chamber full of ghosts with one spell, Mystran style. Felt good.

That reminds me, I really hope that archer hasn't gotten possessed by the cursed ring or something. He fires a mean arrow, and I don't need mean arrows coming my way.

Final thought: Didn't know drow could cast Consecrate. Wonder if it was some sort of ruse?

[Charraj]

((Charraj thinking about his options and his future.))

Things are about to get mighty busy at the Sword Coast Commercial Exchange.

More people will be banking with the SCCE soon, which means more profits.

But it also means more work. Like, a mountain of it. I have to decide if I want to commit to the SCCE full time to handle the influx of new business, or if I want to bail out now before it drives me nuts.

I wonder who I can talk to about this?

[Charraj]

I cannot begin to describe how much I have messed up this time. I think I'm going to vomit. WHY did I assume I'd be able to close that portal?

At least Liam and his two friends decided to leave me alive, so thank Mystra for small favors. Leaving me alive in the Hells. A fate worse than death, is what they're probably thinking.

I should have been more worried when they kept calling me "bounty." Come to think of it, there aren't too many other ways to interpret that word. Next time I hire guards, I'm going to go through a longer vetting process.

Also, I KNEW people were after me. I knew I wasn't paranoid. Or I wasn't paranoid enough. Well, they got me.

Or have they?

Because I REALLY hope a Gate will get me home. Just need to make sure nothing is nearby when I open it. Not bringing a devil back home with me if I can help it.

P.S. You know how I know Morgalia has a level head on her shoulders? She wasn't stupid enough to follow me in here. Same with that fast girl and Fei, I guess.

P.P.S. Fei. I really wish Fei were here with me. I bet all this horror would shut him up for once.

P.P.P.S. I want my mommy.

[Charraj]

It worked. I'm back home. Doesn't matter.

That portal needs to be closed.

If my time down there has shown me anything, it's that the portal is bigger than any threat the Coast has ever faced before. Bigger than drow, bigger than undead, bigger than dragons. With all the devils of Avernus just waiting on the other side, that damned portal poses a bigger risk than my planar breach ever did.

It might be beyond my abilities to destroy. But if it won't let me back through from the Hellish end, maybe it can be altered to stop the devils, too. It's all I can think of.

In Mystra's name, I won't rest until I neutralize that portal.

[Charraj]

All right. I'm back, for good now.

Tagnar, Cynric, and Fenix have all left. Hopefully, Fenix will be able to give those things to Nate.

It's funny how Draya was the last one with me. Strange circumstances, strange alliances, I suppose.

That's not the only compromise I've made down here. I've done some trading with an infernal merchant I've met. He has gear I'll need to survive down here. I mean, I can hide pretty well, but I get the feeling they could find me if they really wanted to, and Greater Sanctuary doesn't last forever. So I'll need to be ready for a fight.

No matter what, I have to live long enough to figure out how to neutralize that portal.

Better get to work.

[Charraj]

Eleint 1352

Don't have much time left. That one devil must have been enchanted with True Seeing. That's why it could see through my wards, cast Mordenkainen's Disjunction on me, and reveal me to all of its buddies.

Ran. Scurried into a small tunnel and caved in the opening. But there's no other way out, and they've almost dug in through the rubble.

Couldn't do anything to stop them, after all. Hit and run tactics, killing a few minor devils here and there... made no difference. They'll probably do what I'm afraid they'll do: waltz through that damned portal en masse. Overrun Dragonspear Castle, then all of the Sword Coast. I won't even be able to tell anyone "I told you so."

What did I think I could accomplish by coming here? Stop all the devils of Avernus? Damned miracle I've even survived this lo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charraj looked up from his journal as the devils broke through the rubble. "Welp. Kind of figured the end would be something like this," he muttered to no one in particular. With his Energy Immunity wards dispelled, he could only close his eyes in resignation as the flames roared towards him.

He did not survive being incinerated to a crisp.