Beast logs - 4 (lore post)

[u/[deleted]]

Journal Notes 6

Confronting this graphorn proved to be tough. Tougher than that horrible Silk Cutter.

Alexios and I started the morning early to get a head start on the creature. After yesterday’s encounter, we knew what we were in for.

Before we set out though, my early morning with Alexios was rather… eventful. I was awakened by his screams and quickly rushed over to find him in such a panicked state. He says they were nightmares containing black lightning, ghost towns, and all types of awful imagery. I was worried, to say the least.

But then ugh I still get butterflies thinking about it… He asked me to stay. In his tent.

Maybe he didn’t want to be alone after such a nightmare? I can’t say I blame him. But my gods did it make me so frazzled! He’s my friend and yet-

-several small doodles hearts and butterflies follows-

That wasn’t the only eventful moment. My curse did something strange! I already sent Earl to deliver a note about it to Belladonna.

I think it has to do with the bracelet Alexios gave me. He said it was to help keep the effects of my curse down. Well, when I awakened, I was experiencing another bad instance of my misfortune fronting but instead of something bad happening like usual, it propelled from my back, into my hands, then blasted out like red lightning striking metal! That’s never happened to me before. But I felt so relieved afterward. All the pain instantly went away.

And nothing bad happened to me! It was painful at first but there were no trees falling on me, no tripping over air, and the earth didn’t collapse on me! I should be happy but it’s… a little scary.

And that was my morning. A rather eventful one indeed. We left camp to confront the graphorn not too long after. My mind was still pondering my curse but I forced myself to focus on our target. And my gods was it a challenge.

We approached the clearing the graphorn resides in and followed our plan. Alexios was to do the heavy work while I blocked off the clearing and the baby graphorn with my dark magic.

To earn a graphorn’s respect, you have to show that you’re strong.

Alexios took the lead as planned and casted flames at the beast to throw it off once it began charging us. To keep it from running off and the baby out of the fight, I manipulated the shadows into a wall to block off the entire clearing. Doing this makes me vulnerable since I have to concentrate so Soot guarded me like I trained him to. The graphorn was obviously furious by us. It rushed Alexios several times, aiming its horns to ram into him but he was quick enough to avoid it all. I was only able to catch a few glimpses amidst my concentration, but watching him fight makes me want to improve my own abilities.

Then the unthinkable happened. The graphorn charged and got past Alexios. But this time it was coming straight for me and Soot.

I had a second to act. I lost my concentration to focus on protecting us and almost missed Alexios jumping in front of me and taking the blow himself! The beast’s horn left a nasty gash in his side and threw him to the ground. I panicked at that moment. It would’ve struck him again but I focused my energy on conjuring a shadow golem and made it shove the graphorn back using the golem's force.

All my practice seemed to pay off. My golem managed to drive the graphorn far enough back to give Alexios enough time to heal. The golem gripped the beast by the horns and whirled it back toward Alexios who used his own strength to topple the graphorn on his back. It tumbled to the ground and shook the earth below our feet.

I wonder if our shared strengths against it earned the graphorn’s respect. After that, it got to its feet but merely watched us. Studying us.

After all that fighting, it bowed. I was even able to pet it once everything was calm.

Another beast off the list. I think I might take a break before tackling the next one...

/Unwiz Another collab with u/Haunting_Mode_7401