Tomb of Annihilation: Wyfingrem Hulwir's Journal - Entry 1
My regular Dungeons & Dragons group is playing through Tomb of Annihilation and I am very excited to be doing so. For this campaign, I am playing a Fallen Aasimar Cleric of the Grave Domain named Wyfingrem. Her family are renowned among her people as Resurrectionists. With the world stricken by a Death Curse that has prevented resurrection, Wyfingrem and an odd assortment of adventurers, have answered the call from a mysterious benefactor to find the root cause of the curse and destroy it. Each day, Wyfingrem journals her experiences as a way to feel close to people, especially those closest to her heart.
Day 1
My Dearest Love,
I have set off on this holiest and most noble of journeys. I know not where the road shall take me but I have faith in our most divine that they shall guide me to where I need to go and imbue with the power to achieve that which I must.
The pain I have felt these many days since I last looked upon you threatens to consume me with grief, but know it is my never-ending love for you that drives me ever forth.
My mission to eradicate this Death Curse has brought me to a strange land indeed. I am unfamiliar with these people and their customs but at the same time, I find myself enthralled by the concept of learning about them. So many cultures. So many customs. I hope to return here one day, one better day, with you so that you may experience a more colorful life than I ever experienced.
I certainly do not regret my upbringing. Our family has worked hard for many generations to earn our hallowed reputation among our people. I am truly, infinitely grateful. Our family stature has allowed me so many blessings. It has brought you, my dearest love, into my life. To see our family laid low by this accursed plague injures me deeply. There is perhaps no more profound pain than to see how it has ravaged my dear father, to see him plainly robbed of what defined our family name for generations spanning time itself.
It rivals the pain I feel not being able to look upon your sweet face each morning.
The most heralded Gods of Life and Death that hold all the world in a steadfast balance have endeavored to set me upon this path, however, and I shall not let them nor you down. I shall give my life it means to ensure your life blossoms.
I followed the orders I was given when I volunteered for this quest and awaited those who would finance our journey in a tavern known as the Shining Luxe. While it holds no comparison to the sterling establishments of our home, I admit it was well kept and served an acceptable cup of tea. The exotic spices were neither bitter nor sweet but I would be untruthful if I said they were not rather soothing. I must procure a sack of the herbs they have used to bring home for you to taste one day.
Eventually, I met those who would join me on this holy quest. A most peculiar collection of characters, as it were. As I get to know them, I promise to tell you more about this strange assortment of characters the gods see fit to surround me with. For now, though, I would be remiss if I did not share my abject horror at finding out one such companion is a Ginger. Truly!
She was delivered to us in chains, her soulless husk looking ragged and pathetic. I know not why the Gods who bring balance to Life and Death see fit to put this abomination onto my path, but my faith is strong in their plan. I shall not consort with this soulless husk, but I shall accept the creature among us. Perhaps the Gods put her here so that I can assure this shell of a person is reforged with a soul and purpose.
While I objected vociferously to her joining us on our quest, I was overruled by my other companions. Do they not see the sin against life that she represents? There is much to learn from this group. I shall pray for my own tolerance. My faith shall not be shaken.
We were taken to the home of a rather well-off benefactor where we met their spokesperson named Syndra. A cryptic one, she is. She hides her face behind a mask and is guarded in how she speaks. I must admit this unsettles me. What does she hide? Perhaps these are all tests, my love. Would the Gods have stricken us so to punish us for lacking in piety? My head tells me this cannot be and my heart aches at very idea there be truth to the notion, but what do we know in comparison to our Lords?
Despite my misgivings, Syndra is generous to us. She offers us money and magical items to aid us on our quest. I care not for the money, for my reward is the restoration of our life-giving and guarding gifts. I will gladly tithe my portion to the church, however, so that it may aid those less fortunate than us.
She tells us that in addition to the Death Curse, even those resurrected prior to the curse have been slowly slipping away. My emotions are admittedly muddled at this. I had hoped that perhaps things were different here from how they are in our homeland. Learning of this now only serves to steel my resolve to do our Gods’ bidding and restore the natural order of things.
Only the Gods of Life and Death may judge who shall die and when, and who has been taken before their time and deserves life renewed.
We are told our journey begins on a peninsula named Chult. I assume that means a lengthy journey aboard a ship, briefly find myself dispirited, but then Syndra instructed us to join hands. Before I knew what was happening, we were ensorcelled by this mysterious woman, and in a flash found ourselves in the port city of Neshku in yet another strange land.
We did not spend much time there however so I regret I cannot tell you much about it, but here we do indeed board a ship. Fortunately, we were assured the journey from Neshku to our destination, another port city named Nyanzaru, is not a long one. The comfort of the captain’s assurances would not last long, I am afraid.
Not far outside of the city, we were beset upon by a large sea creature! I wish you could have seen it in all its majesty, but I am also quite grateful that you were not with me. There was a long moment where I thought this massive turtle-like monster would smash our ship to cinders and I along with all hope for our people would be lost.
My worries were completely misplaced, however, and I was reminded that I should have greater faith in our Gods. They have put in my path people who are indeed quite clever and resourceful. They understood this creature of the sea sought an honorific from us in order to pass. Several of us toss our bags of gold into the thrashing waters to appease the beast. I regret I shall no longer have the money to support the sick and destitute of our homeland, but there are gifts of greater significance I have been tasked with delivering unto them, and I shall prevail!
Nyanzaru is a colorful, eclectic city. The climate is warm and humid but not altogether unpleasant. There is hustle and bustle all about as people from lands far-flung mingle with the dark-skinned natives, engaging in colorful banter and setting about in their daily give and take of commerce.
I learn that a consortium of seven quite wealthy merchants essentially rule over this town. We are to meet one such merchant lord by the name of Wakanga O’Tamu. I am anxious to set upon our journey to rid the world of this horrid curse but I am not sure the others I travel with are as ambitious. While I do not doubt their desire to see it through, I am not convinced they are not here for money, glory, or other personal gains. The lack of urgency among them is unsettling. Alas, I cannot make this journey alone no matter the boons granted to me by our Gods, and so I must do what I can to urge them forth, and pray for patience when I cannot.
On our way to visit the merchant lord Wakanga, we seem to have multiple fruitless conversations. I tried not to let my frustrations show but my spirit cries out for us to move forth. Eventually, we meet with this Wakanga and I am perplexed by the purpose. He cannot tell us where we should go to find the root of this curse. Even worse, he admits he does not believe it to be true!
How can one be so naïve? Does he not see that none of his people have been granted resurrection rites? Has he not conferred with the local clergy? It is absurd and upsetting to me and I find myself praying. I prayed for guidance while still trying to hold fast to my faith that this is all part of the journey I must take for you, my dearest love, and all I hold fast in my heart.
This Wakanga does tell us however of a foul creature who goes by Ras Nsi and who has raised an army of undead! My fury burns deep within me at this but I do not let the others see it. They have readily accepted a Soulless among them and so I fear persecution based on my beliefs. Knows this, my dearest love, that I cannot idly stand by while this thing, this Ras Nsi, makes a mockery of the most holy balance between life and death by consorting with creatures who bow to neither. The undead truly are the greatest perversion of both life and death, and I avow to destroy them and their master once I have defeated the Death Curse. While I am torn by this decision, I know in my heart it is the right one and the one our Gods have set me upon.
We left Wakanga to meet with a man named Zitembe. He is the high priest of a temple dedicated to a god by name of Savras. I know not this god, but I was encouraged to commiserate with another of the clergy and ascertain his take on what is occurring.
I am sorry to tell you of the reprehensible scene we found at the temple. The accursed Zhentarim were there and were assaulting the high priest. Despite their sacrilegious behavior, I sought to find an amicable resolution so that we could confer with Zitembe but instead a senseless battle erupted.
We were clearly overmatched by the Zhentarim scum and before I knew it, several of my companions lay on the ground bleeding out. My faith is strong however and the Gods of Life and Death entrusted me to be the mortal vessel through which to channel their judgment.
It is not up to man to decide who lives and dies! How presumptuous their folly, these Zhentarim. It speaks of the unchecked vanity of mankind, a disease that no doubt contributed to this state of affairs we find ourselves in now. It is why you and I cannot be together until I accomplish this task, my dearest love.
Filled with the power of our Gods, I invoke their will and through me deliver their judgment. On this day, they choose life and fill my companions with healing energy. Much to my surprise, even the abomination, the Soulless Ginger, receives their blessing through me and rejoins the battle. I am appalled by this but I must remain devout in my intentions at the behest of the Lords of Life and Death.
It is lucky that the Gods did not judge my companions deserving of death. As long as the power to bind soul to mortal shell remains out of grasp for our family, there is nothing I can do for them if it is not their time. And in this, I am unwhole.
I sleep now and I pray you fill my dreams.
All my love.