2008-02-05 Jovia's Nightmare

Jovia crouches in her quarters, the horror of the nightmare still fresh in her mind. They have gotten worse, since she experienced the first one on the eve of the group's initial foray into Wailing Caverns. For two weeks there has been no word from the Masters, and Jovia has sent no reports on the progress of the hardy group of adventurers who have exceeded all expectations. In the Masters place have been Nightmares.

She has no memory of the content of the dream, but she now fears sleep. She must find a way to reach the Masters. Far back in her mind a small voice whispers, but Jovia tries not to hear it. You do remember a little, don't you?

Jovia shudders. Yes. I remember the Dragon. And something Else.

It is later in the day, and Jovia has somewhat recovered from the morning, although she has been slow at her work from lack of sleep.

Now she wrestles once more with the enslaved imps, who have grown stronger and bolder. Jovia now must spend precious time undoing their mischief as they pick at and pry loose elements of the spells that bind them. No sooner had she finally freed Kon from them to rejoin the group, when they managed to snare Brae.

But settling the imps has focused her on the tasks ahead. Best to make a report and hope it will reach a Master's attention. So well has Huldu stated the group's progress and successes, Jovia blatantly plagarizes his guild reports and forwards them on as her own.

Jovia carefully edits out all mention of the appearance of the druid, Jal, however. She is not certain where the young lass fits into the story that grows with each meeting. She showed up at just the right time, and has proven her character and her value. But Jovia is not the trusting sort, and the timing of Jal's appearance bears caution. But even if she is exactly as she appears, Jal's path may not be same as the one GF is on. Jal does not carry the leatherskin scryer's device. Was not Called by the Masters. Which, on reflection, is not necessarily a bad thing, Jovia thought.

Jovia finished up her day doing some research. With the conquest of Wailing Caverns two weeks before, Naralax should have been released from his dreams and begun the process of cleansing the madness from the Caverns. The place remains dark, though, and more recent adventurers have only found death inside that place. Something has gone wrong, and it may actually be spreading.

She doubts her recent nightmares have anything to do with GF's recent conquest of Shadowfang Keep. That particular madness is limited to within those walls and the vicinity of Silverpine. Archmage Arugal is dead, thanks to the GF, but his imposters and the prolific breeding of the worgen won't be ended with that one foray. Yet the real source of danger does not lie there. Jovia needs to learn more.

What is it that stalks this group, and has the power to mask even the Masters view? There is a piece to this puzzle in Blackfathom Deeps. What hint lies in those shattered ruins, now peopled with the naga and the Twilight's Hammer cult? Jovia hopes that the GF can uncover it.