Today we arrived at Landhaus. The area is wet and dreary the army lingers, coiled around the city wall like a serpent. There is far more destruction than I realized. The people must be suffering inside, I fear for Amyr, I fear for the children. I will need to keep my head clear if I'm going to be useful to them in any capacity. It's time for work.
While my companions attended to their tasks I spent my time today checking our own camp. It would be foolish of us to find dangers in our own living space and the woods here are hardly safe. During my search I found poisonous flowers and, to my surprise, a hell portal. It was small, protected by markings and locked in some arcane fashion. How curious. This region is full of portals, I'm curious how these places became this way and if all of them lead to the hells. It could be a helpful trick later on, I doubt the soldiers of Maligant would be daring enough to dive into a portal after an escaping arcanist.
As I set up the alarm near the perimeter I stole a quick glance up towards the sky. That glowing symbol looms large in my mind. It was then I noticed, that symbol is not merely a sign of divinity, it is a portal that leads straight to heaven itself. That tyrant of war Maligant looks down upon the sieged city, despairing the citizens. an open door to the power behind our enemies sits aloft, if only we could truly reach him. If only there were reasoning with a tyrant.
At midday I went to scout with the creature. Her little animal friends were helpful this time and brought information instead of annoyance. Two marked portals, each to different regions. Of course one of these led to the hells, and so it was my task to look inside. This portal, like a door, would let me inside; so I said a prayer and stepped over the sacred rope to look inside.
Fire raged, piles of charred skulls were strewn about, the immense heat exhausted me immediately. Beyond the hills of bones screams of infernal creatures vibrated. I wasn't about to step directly into that battle, I didn't have much to fall back on if I were to be injured. instead I simply stepped backwards, into the material once more.
The creatures expedition in between the planes seemed much more fruitful. After sniffing around the entrance she jumped right inside where I refused to follow. The little sea growths and the smell of salt made me think that perhaps this was a portal to the depths of the plane of water, it might be a fun prospect for the creature but not for me. Swimming was never a strong suit of mine.
I waited for hours outside of that blasted portal. Where ever that creature went she took her sweet time going there. I waited for hours for the stupid pink thing to reemerge from that watery hell. She accosted me from the entrance when she did deign to return. The ocean on the other side is ruled by a "good lady", a queen of the ocean perhaps. The creature secured an audience with her and I agreed to return with the creature for that meeting. I'm not sure how my presence would assist, but if the creature was willing to use the magic and strength to bring me along I would not complain for more information about the worlds beyond.
When we returned to camp I found our resident front line. Apparently Belle is knowledgeable about the tactics of war. Our little talk about the situation remined me of sitting with my father and hearing his stories of command and battle. I would have to take this all seriously, I have very little experience in this area.
She established that we would need a way to communicate with the leaders inside the city. While I was sure that I could help, with a spell of sending at least once a day, she was unsatisfied with this and insisted that we needed more. Burt and the creature would cover this duty in my stead, I felt a little useless and out of place once more. Maybe taking orders would have to be my role here.
At noon an attack was launched at the city, while the machines of war could penetrate the wall there were contingencies in place. The wall is controlled by an arcanist in the city, when the pieces are separated it becomes and golem to defend its people. After hours of noise and killing the Unterland soldiers retreated to their forts.
For now I close the book on this day, the 14th of the solar month of Aurelia