Arcade’s Journal -- Return to Rampart, Demon Bunnies

...awoke upon a bier, surrounded by my friends, in the temple of Eris. My grandfather Ortigal was there, weeping at the bedside. I found out later, from Nolin, that Ortigal was tremendously upset when the Defenders brought my body back to him, even shouting at my dead corpse. Ortigal paid the majority of the resurrection fees, and I have resolved to tithe him from my treasure until my debt is repaid. It is very good to be back amongst the living....

...I will need to have a long chat with my staff, the so called Master of Space and Time. It seems he is now animate, and requesting a lengthy polish with beeswax for his role in recovering my body. I have borrowed some money from Nolin for a donation to Eris....

...Alix will hopefully be joining us soon. He was returned to Lord Tarim-Loial in Kindric, and we have received word that he was resurrected and suffered dearly at the hands of his brothers. Tom-Tom tells me that Alix has escaped, and will be in Rampart within a few days. Grundo has gone to train with a local battlerager. Nolin has gone into the woods to "train" with Oania the dryad.

Ortigal has said that if I must be an adventurer he will insist that I be better trained as well. He is a crusty old man, and not truly of my blood, but he does love me and has stood by me my entire life. I can think of no better tutor in the arts of Transmutation than my grandfather. We begin early tomorrow....

...effort was worth it. My mind brims with new spells. I have also been reflecting. Since my return from Beyond, I feel a need for companionship, and although there are risks involved I have chosen to summon a familiar. I wish to bond with an owl, a creature I have always admired. I intend to travel this day to ask Oania where the ideal location for casting might be....

...dryads are incorrigible in the spring. She actually tried to seduce me! Nolin can’t stop laughing about it.

However, I have achieved success! After nearly a day of meditation within the magic, I found Nyquil. He is a young great horned owl, and we are getting along famously. I have already constructed a shoulder pad for him, with a pouch to store dead mice....

...Defenders were gathered at the Flaxen Manticore. A local farmer of my acquaintance approached and begged us to help with a terrible problem. He claims that a horde of demon rabbits have been ravaging his fields. While we are somewhat skeptical, the man is not known for indulging in strong drink. We agreed to go with him....

...horrendous fight. We encountered a group of giant, Blinking, unicorn-horned rabbits. They apparently were being directed by a giant flying rabbit that could destroy objects using only its mind as a weapon. Alix attempted to leap over the head of one of the rabbits and was practically impaled. I also was badly gored, but together we managed to fell the horrid beasts. It is well. Neither Alix, nor I, were looking forward to another trip Beyond.

We discovered that a brownie had been raising the creatures for riding, but had found them unmanageable. The leader’s head has been stuffed and mounted in our new trophy room in the Flaxen Manticore. The inn has become our official headquarters....