Tougher than I thought

Together with four of my closest companions, I walked into the slave pens beneath Serpent Lake and met with a representative of the Earthen Ring who was aiding adventurers in the battle against the Twilight Hammer cult. We prepared ourselves with the many provisions that we had brought and made our way down the corridor. The cavern, usually humid and muggy from the plethora of flora and fauna growing within, was instead a dank cold causing us to shiver as we pressed our way forward.

Before long we approached a large runic summoning stone, set in ice. The Shaman of the Ring were waiting for us here as well, providing a fire totem to help melt the defenses of the Ice Lord, Ahune. Many adventurers were seeking to assist, and many had been turned away, beaten and defeated. I silently prayed for Elune's favor as we set in motion the beginnings of an epic battle.

Alas, this day would not bring us victory.

Upon the melting of the icy stone Ahune burst forth from the frozen earth, a horrific being of cold and wind. Immediately we were beset on all sides by his minions of rock, air, and ice. We began to lay waste to the elementals, unable to attack Ahune directly while the Shaman used their knowledge of fire to send Ahune back to his vulnerable core state. Fierce bolts of ice struck without warning from the ground, tossing us aside as we struggle to keep focus. We fought long and hard, utilizing all of our skills and tricks picked up in our many fights. At times the battle would sway in our favor, and we could sense the Ice Lord weakening as we attacked his central being. But to our astonishment, he regenerated his defenses, and once more we found ourselves inundated with elementals.

Five times we would assault this fiend. And five times we were forced to retreat, regroup, and begin the attack anew. In the end, we could not muster the strength to defeat him. Sore and disheartened, we retreated out of the reservoir, making way for other brave adventurers to assist the Earthen Ring in their attempt to stop an elemental war. Perhaps Elune's blessing will be with them.

I must trust others to do the work where we failed, as the Crack of Dawn sets its sights on other challenges. We have been called to Honor Hold by Danath Trollbane to assist in the assault upon Hellfire Citadel. They are eager to put more pressure on the Fel Orcs who inhabit the dread fortress, and apparently the success of our ventures into the Steamvault and the Shadow Labyrinth has not gone unnoticed. I only hope the word of our defeat to the Ice Lord has not changed his opinion.