The Journal of Sallaron Tempest

[LordCove]

* the following page has been written rather hurridely with deep indentations in the page, leaving no doubt the writer was either unwell or very angry at the time *

" So....we're going for Titanium Sall. Coming?"
I looked around. Tegan, Varka, Voon, Jin, Ferrit.
" Sure...I'll go. I was only going to go fishing anyway."

Bah! Idiot! First battered to death by Trolls, then Imploded by a bloody Shaman. I felt like a fool!
That evil bugger Daralith turned up just as we we're leaving, and me being my usual miserable bloody self....well, he looked at me, then looked at Tegan. I knew "exactly" what was going through his bloody head....and I agreed with it. What was she doing with such a bloody wimp.
She noticed something I think, and tried to put me at ease saying " take the magic away, and I'm as helpless as a kitten'
Yes love! But I aint got no bloody magic....and I'm still helpless as a kitten!

Then to Firesteep...and I couldn't keep those cursed Kobolds off me, nearly fell a few times. And there I stood, bloody pouring from my arm, watching the others fight. Godim, casting huge spells left and right, Shamur swiping heads off and Beli with his lightning fists pummeling everything in sight.
I may as well have just carried their packs for them and let them get on with it.

Then Val. Asked me to join her at the Temple for a quick prayer, then she told me Folian had blessed her further with his trust and showed me what she could do.
I swear! She called lightning and Acid from the skies....summoned beings from other realms to do her bidding and controled the biggest bear I had ever seen in my life!!
I pointed out must be nice to have such power...and she started off on the whole..." but you can fight. Take the blessings of Folian away...and I have nothing."
Is she bloody kidding! I can hardly fight anyway....and whats that compared to summoning the wrath of Folian and turning your enemies into piles of scorched goo!
I look around now and feel so bloody small and pathetic.... and with only 2 pieces of my soul left... I can see its all going to be over soon for me.

Heh! Explorer's are planning a visit to the Rift....where dead magic lives. I almost burst out laughing. Sure!! Make me more useless.... send me somewhere where all the magicking up in the world counts for nothing!

So....trying something different. New approach to finding this Crystal ring. Stop sneaking about quietly. Shake the bloody tree, make some noise, and see what comes to see what the fuss is about.
If I get my hands on it....I might just keep the bloody thing. Might have some nice little properties to get me back on the playing fields.

[LordCove]

* again, Elven words and references are jotted here, though some seem to make little sense. Words such as " Captain" , "Point me in the right direction!" and " Pagger the buggers!" are jotted here, with their elven translation next to them *

Well....I've been ticked off a lot lately, which is usually the result of more bloody strange things happening.
Woke up one morning, a strange dream lingering in my head, something to do with knights and mirrors and such....no idea what the hell it meant.
But later that day, I got a note from Kinai to meet her by Stormcrest...so off we went.
Was told that she had been bound to Zoraje, her soul I should say, and if he died, she died. Basically explained he was trying to get his old girlfriend back "through" Kinai. Well...I was already to help all I could....till Zoraje turned up goading us.
First he started in on me, saying I was selfish because of the whole Tegan and Val thing. Dont think he knew what he was talking about, so me being me, I threatened him back....
....and thats when Hawklen started in, threatening "me"....not the bloody wizard who had spelled his girlfriend..."ME!"....
...anyway, after Zoraje took turns goading us all and dissapeared, everyone sat around to discuss what to do.
Thats when I left. Sod them all! I was bloody furious at Hawk! To think...I'd "almost" decided to be nice to him, him looking after Kinai and becoming a dad and all.
Well....sod him....and sod her! Done with the lot of them! They know perfectly well helping Zoraje will lead to trouble, but off they go to do it anyway!

So...I told Tegan where I was going, and left for Belinara, wandering the hills.
Thats when it happened, walking along, all nice and everything, when a group of those huge giants appeared from nowehere and charged me!
Well...to be honest, I thought it was the end for me...but all that anger I had burst out....I drew my sword and charged them, expecting death.

When the rush of battle ended, I looked around to find I'd killed them all. The lot of them lay dead at my feet.
No wizard magic. No blessings of Folian. No hiding behind a frontliner.
Just me.

I think something clicked as I stood there, and I'm still feeling it still now.

I'm "not" bloody useless. I "can" do things right. I "may" just be of some use after all.

[LordCove]

The Deep. Oh my....how I never thought Id ever go there.
But there I was....fighting in the front lines with Lilian and Angela, hacking at Spiders and Drow and Squid things and bloody Balors, in one of the darkest corners of this world.

Can't say I fared as well as I'd like.....but by Folian I gave it my all....and came out of it with a nice trinket....little magicky stone that floats about my head. Pretty handy Really.

And when I came back, Shamur had another trinket for me....a set of Cobalt Chain shirt....lovely stuff. Should keep me alive down in the Rift I reckon.

Did a nice good deed. That Katrina....poor homeless lass been living in the sewers. I've bought her a room in the Leringard Arms and gave her some jobs to do. Maybes I'm just a sucker for a sob story, but after what she said about being thrown out of places and kicked on the streets....well....my feet just wouldn't let me walk away.

Had a long teaching session with Tegan.....Gods! I miss her after only a day or so. I'm starting to get the hang of Elven now, pronunciation and stringing sentences together. She loves it when I get it right, clapping and smiling like Im her star pupil. Makes me laugh.

Silveny sa yty tyeelan sa el anim meviran weymanyaanad
" Magic me up and Point me in the right Direction! "

Anavil cenala fcyafamma tyeala
" Tegan likes Blueberry pies "

Tyilvvam anira Fyvvamia!!!
" Pagger the Buggers!!! "

Tyymtcya Llelavam
" Purple Avenger! "

[LordCove]

Explorer's.....the name's had more meaning as of late.

The Rift...not somewhere no one's been, but certainly an interesting place. We massed at Godims, took the long road and ventured down. Ended up bumping into Ket and Beasty on route too, and they joined us down.
Diamonds were chiseled, and Cobalt and Addy mined. The place was bigger than I thought, but we had little trouble.

The Great Oak....Hell yes, for so long I'd wanted to see it, but of course, the tales of death to those not warded kept me from braving it. A small mapping expedition turned into a full blown Exploration, and after chopping a little Yew for myself, Ket led us to the Great Oak.
Instantly I stopped. " Wont we bloody die!"
But he grinned and pulled out some kind of Amulet.
A few minutes later, I stood before the Great Oak, holding Tegan's hand tightly, and simply marveling at where I was and what I saw.

Katrina's been getting into trouble....she always seems to rub people the wrong way, and I seem to be the only one to jump in and try and calm things. Haljamar asked me if she was my sister, to which I laughed of course not, but he shrugged and said " I just wondered why it was you cared and protected her?"
It kinda stumped me and I couldn't answer. The poor lass gets kicked from town to town, cursed and shouted at, ignored, and yet it's obvious she's some kind of mental problem. People are much more prepared to simply cast her aside and ignore her than tolerate her illness.
Besides, sometimes she has moments of clarity and makes me laugh.

Been practicing Elven a lot, using them in my day to day chores, which is causing a few folks to look at me strangely. I'm even able to follow short stints of other's conversations, though they talk way to fast for me to follow it all.

Tegan and me are doing fine....hell....better than fine. I never realised how much time had passed....we've been together for over a year now. All my fears of competition from other's, her leaving me for them, even of me screwing up are slowly fading.
I spend most of my time at hers now, waiting for her to come waltzing in through the door, a fresh bag of pecans and blueberries in her hand and a smile on her face.
Aint nothing better.

[LordCove]

A Yew Longbow with those special parts of mine added....but with twice the usual strength. I'm currently hanging it above my bed....just so I can sit and marvel at how far I've come in my work. I promised myself all these years I'd only ever use what I could make myself.....and now I have the best I could get, and upgrade Yew Longbow....made by my own bloody hands.
Was going to make Tegan one, but seems she had one fashioned for her some years ago. So, instead, I'll make Val one....and upgrade it for her as best I can.
But thats it....all those years of training and practicing have paid off....nothing much more now I can do with my wood craft. Sure....I can get better....but I can't exactly make anything better than I've already made.

Explorer's have been busy busy busy lately. Seems each of us have our own little projects on the go, but it's good to see we're all helping each other out. Godims making enchantments for us, Im supplying him the shafts and rods, Shamur's digging sand and coal and making us weapons.....we're at work like a real team. Makes me smile.

Had a nasty shock from Tegan. Was telling me about Barion, and in that delicate and flower-surrounded way she does, she mentioned how he had confessed she had feelings for her and asked her out.
That bloody Rat! What was he doing....deliberatly trying to steal her away from me! Instantly I panicked....I mean....how the hell am I supposed to match up to him. But...seems Tegan turned him down....much to my relief.
But still...Im ticked at the guy now! If I see him, there'll be bloody words!

Anyway, she promised me a nice romantic meal when I got home, so off I hurried into the desert to finish my work.
Bumped into Red, Tialle and Erik...where I bascially enlisted them to get me some more Ore. I er....think I was still angry about the whole Barion thing....cause they didn't say as much as they usually do. Must have showed.

Anyway, once leaving, thats when Erik stopped me a moment. At first he was querying if I knew anything of the Explorer's, and I quizzed him a little. Anyway, I happened to mention Tegans name....and he seemed surprised to find it was me she was with. Suddenly started coming out with all this nice talk, saying he'd promise to back me up with anything, and that there was something "noble" about me, I was "deserving of respect".
I'm suspicious of him now....he's obviously after or upto something. Gonna have to be careful and find out what it is. If he thinks Im gonna fall for the compliments and drop my guard so he can grab whatever it is he's after, he's got another thing coming.

[LordCove]

It'll be all over for me soon.

The 9th has left me....and only one piece remains.

I've asked Godim to keep it quiet. If other's find out....they'll hardly let me go anywhere. And I'll be damned if Im gonna hide away for fear of dying, wasting my last years scared to leave the house.

But what were they doing there?! Bloody Vampires and Banshee's, throwing death magic around like it wad confetti.

Strange as it seems, Im more worried for Tegan. The thought of her being hurt, even by me dying....
...I know there's a way I can ease that pain for her before it happens...to make it less.....to detach myself....but.....

I'm selfish....I couldnt do that to her or myself. I'll savour every moment I have with her till that cursed bloody day comes. And when it does....I swear....that Soul Mother will have to drag me kicking and bloody screaming to where ever I go.

Wonder if I could get a nice grave somewhere....just to be remembered a little. Something that would just say...." Here lies Sallaron Tempest"

[LordCove]

Val....I had to tell her how close I was to death....and she just nodded like she always does and said those magic words that still make me smile and feel at ease.
" We'll be fine "

It was so routine...we pick some far off place to go....and off we went...I'd back her up....she'd back me up. The Priestess and the Ranger.
But when our feet took us through the Ire mountains, and we found undead waiting us instead of the usual tribes of Gnolls...I froze and feared.
And then, to the dark cave by Haven....Alindor's something....again, we breached the caves with the Umbers and found Vampries and undead in the bottom....and I feared again.
Seems the undead has become my bane now....my fear. If there is anything in this world which is likely to send my soul to its end....it would be them cursed things.
But....she walked amongst them with ease....smiting them with rays of light and whispered words to Folian. The Amulet she made me seemed to glow around my neck, consecrated in Folian's name, and I swallowed my fear and charged into the fray with her.
I'd been honoured to receive that Amulet from her....not something a simple man myself would normally have received...nor even a Ranger. But there it hangs by my neck....mine. A Guardian it makes me feel like....not that there's much she needs guarding from....but none the less, thats what it feels like....thats my duty....my post....my job.
We checked as far as we could go in the caves, I managed to disable and unlock pretty much any trap or lock we came across....but decided to return with the Explorer's. Seems it goes deeper than we had thought.

Learnt a bit more from Tegan whilst we went wandering Rilara for bits and bobs....mainly more pronunciation and stringing sentences together. Found her in the Alchemists hall....seems she had almost blew the place up looking at the scorch marks on the ceiling. Ha! Seems so familiar.
Sat by the memorial for awhile, listening to some ladies talk in Elven. Took me awhile to comprehend, but eventually I was able to make out what they were saying, once I got to grips with the dialect and speed they were talking.
Of course....once I understood what they were saying...I flushed and left. Best not for a man to eavesdrop on such things.

I'm not sure I even want to mention this....it all seems so hazy to me. I was invited to some kind of dinner party....and....well....I cant remember everything. But er....I have a vague memory of head-butting Pendar, chasing after Daralith like a love-struck youth and er....trying to beat Alleina and Sasha up in the dining room. Whether it's true it happened or not Im not sure, but I cant help wonder at all the bruises I found all over myself the next morning.

[LordCove]

Daralith! Gonna keep an eye on that bugger!
I dont know what his game is yet....but he's looking to split me and Tegan up....and I need to bloody find out why!
Told her I'd been flirting with Rhynn and Ranewin....I mean....me?!....flirting!
Sad fact of it is....because he's been such a "friend" to her in the past, she believes him! Took a lot of bloody careful words and explaining to get her talking to me....but by Folian I'll be watching that Daralith!

The Academy.
Pyyran's changed....and by changed....I mean "bloody changed!"
He's frail, weak, grey....and like me....down to his last strand of soul.
He wept infront of me....cursing his luck and burying his head in Karns chest.
I...I couldnt help it. Pyyran Rath....adventurer by trade, like me down to his last piece of soul....and weeping on the floor like a girl!!
I dragged the bugger to his feet and reminded him who the hell he was!

He kinda pulled through a bit, and related his plans for this Academy. A grand plan....a little too grand for reality....but I'll help him how I can.

[LordCove]

Restraint. Oh what a word. I never knew I had so much of it.
It started off innocently enough....me and Tegan taking a walk, me catching up on some more elven. No longer learning words....sentences....long phrases. I can pretty much hold a half decent conversation now, even if I stumble over some of the words.

We bumped into Barion, who started off telling us about his problems with the church...then right like that, he kept telling Tegan how she was in his heart.... and I was bloody stood there!
Well....friend of hers....so I bite my lip and played with thoughts of finding Barion on a dark night with a vial of diluted poison to pour on his food. Not to kill him....but give him a few bloody bad nights sleep.

Then of course turned up Daralith....accusing me again of cheating! But it backfired on him! Barion rumbled him....see's he'd told Barion Tegan had caught me cheating red handed!
I felt so sorry for Tegan....to find two of her best friends had been plotting to break us up....Im just glad Barion's honourable. All he had to do was lie once at that particular moment, and Tegan would have believed everything they said.
The shouting match between us all continued for some time....until Erik turned up....telling of rumour's that were floating around Hempstead. Me and Rhynn together, even that " I " may be the father of her child!!! Tegan and Barion.....Barion and Ael.....me and Ranewin!
Then Hardragh turned up, relishing in dropping words about Val into the fray....and several others arrived just to bloody eavesdrop.
It sounded so ridiculous....and then all eyes turned on Daralith. Oh....he tried to talk his way out of it. But it became obvious what he was doing. He's been fingered now....and Tegan knows what he's been doing. No matter what he says now....she wont be so quick to believe the bugger.
But two years we've been together....and still Im having to fight to keep her with me. Maybe's its time Daralith got himself a kick.
I left just as Val arrived too....I was still furious...I couldnt speak to her. Will have to grab her by the Temple sometime.

Explorer's hit the Monks ruin's not too long ago....long over-due....and unexpected for us to go there. But we did it.
Shamur, Jako, Sala, Astrik, Godim and me....the buggers were fast, with a hell of a punch....but we sharp took them out.
Sala's been....kind of looking after me....hell...they all have I think. We wandered into the swamps and I got a bad feeling...so I asked her for a Deathward.
She smiled at me and said " You already have one Sall. Your the only one "with" one"
I smiled back. Bloody good of her....she's warding me at all times....same as Val. Godim had a sharp eye on me down the Ruins too....pulled me out of trouble a few times.
Thanks Folian for good friends.

[LordCove]

** Sall clambers from his bed, a frown on his face, squinting around the room a moment. Tegan stirs next to him a moment, and he strokes her hair softly till she falls silent.
He staggers from the bedroom and into the hall, stopping by a table he'd been leaving his stuff on.

His leather's and coat hung on the back of the chair, his two swords hanging from them. On the table, in a glass vial, stood a rose, tiny flames licking and flickering constantly about the leaves and petals, a bright red glow emenating from it. He taps the vial a moment, grinning as the flames rise a little higher from the flower with the movement.

Above it, hung from the wall by string, hangs a large staff with a Red crystal at the top, it too also glowing brightly red, casting eerie shadows about the hall. A slight grin appears as he recalls where he got the Scion, and he chuckles softly.

Then finnaly, he reaches to his neck to where a holy symbol of Folian hang's, consecrated by a Priestess for him alone. He smiles, clasping it a moment, muttering a quick prayer to the Longstrider. Then pulls his journal from his coat pocket and begins scribbling a few notes on the back cover in the bright red glow, before replacing it back in his coat and heading back for bed. **

[LordCove]

* The items fall from Sall's pack with clunks and thuds as he up-ends the old back-pack and lets everything fall to the floor. It takes him only a few minutes to sift through the things, dumping all the things of interest and used for crafting into a chest at the Guild.

Then he begins filling it with more important things, wands, potions, rope, torches....slipping a few extra daggars in his belt and some fine arrows into his quiver.
A short walk away and he finds himself in Tegan's, strapping the Scion to his back, quickly sharpening his swords and tightening every strap on his armour.
When finished, he writes a quick note, frowning and pausing several times, sighing miserably as he does. He leaves it on the desk, a red rose covered in flames sat in a small vial beside it.
He pauses again, staring at the door, pondering....considering....indecision apparent on his face....
....then walks out the door and takes the long road to Dalanthar....**

[LordCove]

** Sall lies back on the grass, re-reading what he's just wrote and gazing off across the sea. The wind billows the sails of the ships in Hurms port, and seagulls cry and screech over-head *

Still amazes me sometimes the things Im able to survive. Sure....I aint no devastating force of nature...but by Folian I've certainly managed to outlive any expectations I had for myself.

Still....things have been kinda quiet as of late. I've left the Guildhouse and moved in with Tegan....which Shamur seemed kinda saddened about. I assured him he'd still see as much of me....the guys like the brother I never had....and a few days later, there we were cutting our way through Giants outside Arnax like it was the good old days.

Was kinda a big step for me...asking to move in....but after what she suggested...well, it kinda stumped me. Found myself realising what a big jump it was for her, what a large step she was willing to take by suggesting it. Lotta folk commented on how she doesn't give love out easily, and I cant help but feel proud and bloody honoured that Im the lucky bugger who gets to curl up beside her each night.
So now we're making plans for our next big adventure....or....as she put it....adventurer.

Been a while since I seen Val...so I dropped a note off at the temple whilst I was picking berries. Missing the wise counsel from her...hoping she might drop in and surprise us sometime.

Not much else really....aside from saving some guys marriage. His wife had been clinging to one of the spires of the temple, threatening to throw herself off because she thought he'd been cheating.
A small mining expedition with Muir had me a bit panicky when the Giants dragged in a cart with Rust monsters inside and let them out. We kept to the shadows awhile and made our way out quietly. She still has me smashing gems from that deal we made some ten years ago. I still complain about it....but...like I told her....I'd do it for free anyway.

And Rhynn.....she has an idea....a plan so to speak. The recent capture of some slaver's in Hurms opened up a door of opportunity. Im not gonna mention too much yet....but we're laying low in Hurm a few days till we can have a meeting with Savian.

[LordCove]

Well Bloody hells!

I know I agreed to it and everything....but by Folian this was quick.

At first I thought something was wrong....she was tired all the time, eating everything in sight....then sleeping half the day away....then suddenly throwing up everywhere with no reason at all.
I got a little panicky and grabbed Alleina....figured maybes she'd been poisoned or something....or some sleeping spell had maybe's backfired on her. So Alleina gave her a little examination....and....broke the news.

I mean....I thought that these things were supposed to take months and months...possibly years....but not this bloody quick!!

So we sat by the Memorial a few hours....pretty much trying to get to grips with it. Val arrived after getting my letter, she was the first we told....then Beli and Drogo arrived....
...it kinda....didnt sink in too much....till Tegan mentioned something later....and I kinda panicked a little again. From what Allei said, there aint a whole lot I can do to help....just be supportive and stuff. I aint liking the sound of that....being a little useless again.

But....bloody hells! Im gonna have to be careful now, no more wandering off to crazy places to fight Glooms or Queen spiders and such.

So....best make myself bloody useful. Gonna grab myself some Mahoganny and put it to use....

...first thing on the list.....a Cot.

[LordCove]

Well....looks like its slow down time.

After another wander across Belinara and a few trips to Firesteep....Tegan's realising she cant do the same things she used to be able to, now that bump of hers is growing.

So....we're stocking up on things now....diapers, towels, berries, pies....gathering them up for when she'll be unable to walk down the street without gasping for breath. She'll be spending most her time at home now I think. Poor lass.

So....I've decided to join her. Its been nice so far, sitting around all day playing little games and talking, having folks drop in for visits. Godim, Beli and Jako's been named Chief Diaper Changers.....and Sala Chief Baby Deliverer....hehe. At least for the moment.

Beli's been pushing and pushing about this marriage thing. He wouldn't let it drop! Even when Rhynn pointed out she had a kid and wasn't married....he "still" wouldn't let it drop. That guy needs to get himself a girl....then see how quick he talks of marriage.

Learnt a lot more Elven lately. I'll ask her a question, and she'll sit with her feet on that stool, hands clasped over her bump, staring at me silently until I ask the same question again in Elven. Only then do I get an answer. Kinda a fun game until I need to ask something really complex like "How long do I stir the corn oil with the flour before I put it in the oven?" .....no wonder I've been burning so much food lately.

So....for now....seems its gonna be a quiet time for us for awhile.
How I do like the sound of that.

[LordCove]

** Sall sits on a chair, his feet propped on a nearby table, the journal in his lap and chewing on the end of the quill thoughtfully. The Inn provided by Saviar was quite lavish, much more elegant than Sall was used to, and he found he just couldn't get comfortable **

We