Unexpected Adventures #1 - Joran and the Never Ending Bowel Movement!

*This entry takes place at the same time as 'Legends of K'darl - #3'*

Joran had sent word to the rest of his group, letting them know that he wouldn't be able to join them on their quest. Having eaten what he thought was a bowl of mushroom soup, he had spent the last 24 hours hunched over in agony as he experienced feelings that no man should ever feel. Eventually, he dared to leave his privy sanctuary and went in search of the two men who had sold him the soup. Alas, his search was fruitless, the two men having left town the day before.

Exasperated (and considerably lighter), Joran decided to put his time in the capital to good use, heading to the great library to search for any mention of these 'shadows' that were spoken of in the reports of the attacks. He sat up long into the night, finding only fleeting mentions in old and dusty tomes. Undeterred, he continued his search, night after night, never leaving the library.

It wasn't until three nights later that he stumbled across anything substantial, and it was only by chance. Stood atop one of the ladders used to reach the higher shelves, Joran was reaching for a book just on the edge of his reach, when his sleeve caught the spine of a large, heavy, leather bound tome. Not noticing this, he snagged it from its resting place, causing it to topple from the shelf and fall towards the floor far below, cracking Joran across the head as it went. Joran, dazed for a second by this unexpected assault, nearly fell from the ladder, but managed to regain his balance. Climbing down to retrieve the book so that he could replace it, he stopped just short of it. The book had fallen open, the pages showing the image of a dark skeletal figure surrounded in shadow. 

Picking up the book, Joran managed to make out a brief paragraph or two, which spoke of these spectral beings being summoned using old, powerful dark magic. They didn't mention how this was achieved, only that it was old magic, and that the beings could stay in the realm without being sustained and without being close to the summoner.

Making a note of what he had discovered, Joran replaced the book, deciding that he had found all he was likely to find. He left the library after his long search, glad he had made himself useful in some way to his groups cause. Now he would await their return. He headed to the inn where they had met the night before they received their orders and, tentatively, ordered a bowl of mushroom soup.