[Shrowd Umbra]

I love to travel and apparently Milo does as well. I had heard of a call for adventurers in the city of Lor so asked Milo to guide me across Alindor to the city of Katherian where we could buy passage to Lor. We left with much time to journey so Milo took me sight seeing as only a Druid can. We first went to the city of Stone, a gnome settlement cut into the cliff walls of a gorge. The water streams down in cascades all around to a river below. We climbed down to the island in the river and I even swam the rapids to another island further out. The fish were teeming like nothing I have ever seen there, I may have been able to snatch one by hand! Milo did not do so well in the water, I thought I might have to fish him out by hand.

The local goddess of Stone is Beryl, the Goddess of Gems. I normally do not have any appreciation for gem cutting or jewelry. The only gem I hold of value is Greenstone for its restorative properties. The cave that was the temple however was sparkling with a thousand rainbow hues along the walls. Each gem in the rock was expertly cut to shine like a star. It was a medley of craftsmanship and natural beauty I have never seen before.

The Sun Castle I have heard stories of on occasion. Milo wanted to see the lake and I wanted to stay hidden. We stealthily crept past the ominous looking structure in the dead of night, keeping well away from anything that might be too inhabited. The lake was almost worth the risk but not quite. I never intend to return.

Wolfwood forest was beautiful last time I saw it and this time is no exception. This time I was not running behind a guide but seeing the sights for real with Milo. They have a large grove of beehives and Almonds there as well as the famed Wolfswood Rangers. It was good to be there again and better still to learn a little of the dangers around. There is a hill of Giants we slunk around but on the other side was Glass Lake, a placid expanse of water that gives me nothing but serene feelings. I even had the chance to befriend a white stag there. Even Tanal's fur is not that soft, though I'm sure he'd think that detail frivolous for a hunter to consider.

The rust river is home to Panthers apparently. Ever eager to try new prey I took a pair of the hunting cats down with Tanal. Enough to get a bit of leather and food without hurting anything grand. I may try it again next year. Rust river though is near to Tiger territory and becoming lost there can be an ugly end.

Highpeak Lake was worth the hike. The island in the center glowed with some blueish light I could not explain. Neither could Milo. He said this lake is where the elements come together to be in balance and then he took me to tour the local temple of the elements. Each of the four temples was dedicated to a different element. Earth was a deep stone cut temple. Air was atop the mountain peak itself where the winds could carry you up higher still. Water was an underground lake cavern and fire was a dungeon surrounded with lava. Milo thought it was a bit hot but my Fiendish heritage kept it tolerable for me.

We finally arrived in Katherian and purchased passage to Lor. The trip was rougher on me than Milo, I think only meeting new people ever gives him reason to pause. Upon arriving in Lor I began inquiring about Captain Grant, the man who posted the call for adventurers. The local tavern said he was out of town, sailed up to Hurn. I had time enough left to enjoy myself but to travel across a continent neither I nor Milo knew? We caught the first boat back to Katherian and ran for all we were worth towards Mariner's Hold. I remembered the way, mostly. Milo saved me from two wrong turns towards Tiger territory. Milo also found a shortcut that got us around the Giant's hill in Wolfswood. In our haste though Milo was attacked by a Griffin. I had lost my senses, I wish I hadn't. A bit of Darkness might have ended it sooner. Lola came to his aid but was struck aside. I don't think the Griffin killed her and her attack bought Milo time enough to run. Wounded, we finally reached Mariner's Hold and booked passage along the coast of Mistone to reach Hurn.

I thought Lor a seedy looking sailor's port, Hurn was worse still. The tavern was a ship's hold of a beached vessel. All sorts of adventurers gathered there and I was proud to recall many of them. Argali the dwarven warrior I met in Vehl so many seasons ago. Emry and Fehriel always. Julius the warrior I aided in Vehl's Crypts. Toni the elf I met in Silkwood's copper mines. I also had opportunity to meet Lance, a paladin of Toran and friend of Lyr. I don't think he suspects my heritage. Also a man that liked to be called Snaggy, also friend of Lyr I believe. Maybe not. Goggles made a late appearance as well with her usual air of mystery. Sophia, a woman I'd only met on the roadways and heard of in passing seemed to be flitting about from man to man.

I don't judge others until I've had a chance to meet them fairly, as a rule, but her whispering was carrying on in my ear until I had trouble hearing the captain. I think she's of Ilsare but I called her something along the lines of 'Xeen Wench' or some such. She can keep her secrets so long as I don't have to sit through them. I think I may have made an enemy of her. Hardly worried though, she's more a courtly lady I think and I'm a ranger. Doubt we'll see too much of each other. I did get a few thanks for telling her off like that so not everyone enjoys her games I would assume. I'd just as soon avoid the whole hornet's nest myself.

The captain gave us two stories in between much laughing and wit, and a few witless comments. The first told of Hangman's rock, a little known pirate port off the coast of Dregar. I'd have loved to go but the captain lost the silver token needed to visit and live. Seems his Parrot, Paxia lost it somehow. I think the bird's hatched from a cracked egg. Toni and Milo wanted to 'rescue' it but I insisted the thing was only good for making hats. The other story was of how his ship got its name. The Mermaid was named after the captain's lost love, a mermaid that fell in love with him as a young man. He turned her down saying it wouldn't work. I think he didn't know what to do with half of her. Some years later the captain was seen through a terrible storm by her singing and named his first ship after the maiden. Sadly though, she apparently threw herself into the rocks bereft without him. I think given that story, I'll live long and happy without any man to fawn over and cause me to be thrown willingly upon rocks.

The raid on the Kobolds went better than I ever dreamed. While leaving I met a warrior of grayish skin whom had come to do the same. He was selling the Aloe for coin, a waste if ever there was one. I noticed though his hood was worn a bit too much like mine and sure enough, he was a horned Tiefling same as me. He introduced himself as Lorn and was rather tight lipped about his past. He fought valiantly though and we dispatched a number of kobolds that I had simply used stealth to pass. Emry joined as well though she didn't know Lorn yet. I wish I'd gotten more from him. He's no ranger, perhaps just a fighter? He knows nothing of Alchemy either. I think him perhaps wary like a wolf meeting a new pack, and why not? I've spent a good deal of time with Torians and others.

Milo, Julius, and Toni came to rescue us just as the Kobolds regrouped. With their aid we broke the flanking and ended them all. I with Lorn hadn't had to leave then. I'd have liked to have him on the next adventure.

A map was found on one of the bodies leading us to the Ire mountains. Our motley little band fought through the Gnolls up past the watchtower to discover an ant colony had newly placed itself there. A giant ant colony will empty a continent of food to feed itself then spread to other lands. I know not where this group came from but we fought our way to the hole and stemmed the flow with one of Emry's fireballs. Having Emry, Toni, and Milo using defensive magics was a boon. At first I tried to keep to my wolves and arrows until I realized that for once, I was the senior fighter in the group. Always I have had others to rely upon for strength of arms, and usually when I fight alone I am soon in the losing end. This time I had to step to the forfront with Julius and Tanal. I think Tanal was confused with the spells and caverns. He turned on Emry mid-way and would not relent until I boxed his ears soundly. I think he was startled but anything less than an iron fist to discipline a wolf is folly. Emry will be slow to forgive him and with good reason.

Beyond ants was a nest of Spiders with one of the biggest I have ever seen. I would call it a queen if I did not know better. Whatever the monster was I made sure to cut out its venom sack once dead. A rare kill shouldn't go to waste. Just as the map predicted, there was a treasure chest in the back of the cave. How the Kobolds got it here I have no idea. I suspect someone else put it there and the Kobolds gained the map through some raiding. Whatever the story, I can never know. I have a nice amulet of Barkskin now to protect me in my fights. My first magical item. I had to roll Julius in dice for it. He was a gracious man about it though and I promised him my aid if ever he need it. Only fair given the prize I claimed. If Gnolls have magic items and Kobolds have maps, I just may be tempted to declare a lasting war upon both. I can never turn down a chance to travel.