The Journal of a Striker - Yo ho, Yo Ho! A Private Life for Me! (Chapter 2)

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff walks into his room at the Leringard Arms Inn & Tavern and lays a scroll case on the table in the center, and places a black leather bound book beside it. He sighs, and looks at Vicious leaning against the wall alone, still covered in the dried remains of the last thing to be slain by it. He removes his Leather Surcoat and places it on a chair, then drops his packs and bags at the foot of the futon in his room. He then looks back to the box, the box that contains all the memories of the past few years, the box Valmara gave him all those years ago. He then stands and picks up the box, and places it in the chest in his room, hiding it in the bottom*

"I hope I forget I even have it*

*he closes the lid on the chest and lays himself on his futon to gamble with the nightmares that often plague his sleeping mind. Thus begins a new chapter in the life of a Striker.*

Yo ho, Yo Ho! A Private Life for me! (Chapter 1)

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff sighs as enters the Arms Inn. He removes his hood and cloak, slips out of his coat, and strolls down to his room. Upon entering he throws his cloak and coat on top of his chest, and sits down at the table, opening the black book he hides in a secret compartment he built into the table. Laying down on the table, be takes a bottle of ink from his pack and his quill, and opens the book to its first page. Dipping his quill in the ink, he sighs, then begins to write*

Satari, Augra 7, 1416

Seems like life isn't as bad anymore... Me and Val have gotten closer and are to be wed, Kinai and Hawk have settled down, Aeryn even returned out of his undying love for Talia...

I still remember the day I asked Val to be mine forever, and to be her's forever... we were just sitting on the balcony of the arena in Prantz, just talking... I had laid myself down to rest my head in her lap, when we started talking about my future... about what it might hold if the nightmares ever subsided... When I asked her... I was just laying there in her lap and I took the ring from the pouch on my belt and held it out... Oh the look on her face... She didn't know what to say... She looked so happy though... and I was so happy when she said yes... We held eachother for a while... chatting...

Valmara mentioned something though, that kinda puts some hope, and some fear, into my future. She wants, or wanted, to wait for my nightmares to go away before she would settle down with me... but they have not really gone away...

Today I woke up from one... Same as always... Blood... Gnolls.... Death... I ended up taking a ship to Prantz to revisit my parent's grave... I sat and talked to them for a while... Told them that me and Val would be married... And that I would make them proud... It helped relax me...

I then got invited by bird to visit Kinai and Hawk at there home... Have to say I was expecting something far from ordinary when I walked in the door... But it was actually rather... Normal... No weird stuff... No vulgar images....

It was rather nice to sit and talk with them... I even helped Kinai arrange some furniture in there kitchen... I fell asleep on their couch thinking about Val... What a dream..........

*he smirks to himself, recalling the details of the dream*

Later that night I ran into Valmara in Lor.......

After a bit of a misadventure, we went back to Kinai and Hawks home, and talked for a while... She even had a new dress... So beautiful.... I love that woman... No matter what she does, or how she does it, I love everything about her... And to be with her is such a blessing... I only wish these blessings lasted longer...

*he looks over to the spare bed in his room and sighs, then smiles, thinking of what may come*

I can't wait until we are wed... I miss her a lot when she's out and about doing... whatever it is she does. I know she has been trying to find the rest of her family... But I still long to hold her at night... And be with her always... But I can not let that control me... I have promised Val that I will wait, and that I will not try to force her in anyway... I have learned much from trying to control my feelings for her... I only hope one day she will let me release them....

I got lost in a tale I was telling, and I didn't even see her leave Kinai's home.... I miss her already... Hopefully I will see her again soon....

*he closes the book and returns it to the compartment under the table, then readies himself for bed*

"Good night, My Love... May Beryl Watch over you and guide you back home to me soon..."

*he then slips himself into his bed and falls asleep, hoping that he will see his beloved in his dreams*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff stumbles into his room after the Party at the Leringard Arms. He sits on his bed, pulling out his hidden journal, and lays it open on the table. He then places a half empty bottle of whiskey on the table, leaving it closed. Retrieving his quill and ink from his things, he begins to write*

Satari, Seplar 7, 1416

Seems like life just keeps going, despite the troubles of the world and the people in it...

Another nightmare... this time of me alone in the dark, surrounded by nothing but air and my sword, sitting with nothing but the nothingness... Only to wake up only... It's a horrible feeling most times... I hope there is a time when I won't have to wake up alone anymore...

There was a party at the Arms today. It was fun. some merchants from some of the various trading guides came around

Today the Arms had a party, the first I'd ever been to. Kinai was there with her baby-belly and of course Hawk, The Angels were there Lino... A good number of friends. The first part of the party was spent buying things, but this lil kid came into the arms whinin about sleep... Well, Kali seemed tah know who he was, but I didn't... Anyway, I bet the kid 1000 true he couldn't stand one drink of whiskey... I won of course, but It didn't like I really made any money...

Then we had some fun. Some of us decided a drinking game was in order... Val woulda had fun... I ended up lasting until only two drinkers remained, but Kali poured me something black and I couldn't take it... Some gentleman name Rege won in the end...

Then came the card readings....

*he sits back in his chair, then uncorks the whiskey bottle and takes a sip. He then looks at his door, as if looking beyond it, to something outside.*

Kali had read my cards once before... She was right the first time... I hope she is wrong this time...

She told me that there is something in my past that has caused me troubles on the First Card.... I knew what she meant... The nightmares... They caused more problems then I can remember... Then she told me that I have strength still... That I am still able to solve my problems... That if I continue to control myself that all will be fine.... But the last card revealed that I am still troubled.... My nightmares still come to me... but it also came with a warning... that I may lose my mind and my the happiness I have if I am not careful.... I hope I can find the path to peace, to freedom from these nightmares for good, and away from whatever danger lurks in my future...

I talked to Starr... we talked about rings... My jewelry making... But I also asked him to about me and Val's wedding... I don't know anything about being wedded... Especially since I was never very devout to any God... But i mentioned maybe getting married in the Beryl Temple.. He said he didn't know if that was allowed... Since I'm not really a member of the church... but since I was his friend, and since I have been helping with rebuilding Stone, he said he would see what he could do.... I wish Val was there to talk to him with me... because I asked him to perform the ceremony for us.... I know Val wanted to be there with me... But.... I have not seen here in a long time... No matter... I go on... My heart remains true to my love...

*he slams the book closed and tucks it away. He closes up the whiskey after a final sip, then crawls into his bed, whispering a prayer the Deep Mother. And before he falls asleep*

"Goodnight my love, wherever you are..."

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff enters his Room at the Leringard Arms, taking off his cloak and drooping it over a chair. He drops his bags at the foot of his bed, and lays Vicious on the table, the flaming blade extinguishing as he releases it. He then goes over to his chest and opens it. He rummages through the accumulated junk within to find an old staff he once found in the woods. As he removes the the staff and closes the chest, all the junk settles in an avalanche of noise. He then sets the staff besides Vicious and ponders them both for a moment, before sitting down at the table. He pulls out his black book from it's hiding place, and places it down on the table, and after opening it to a blank page, he begins to write.*

Life seems to be leading me in a new direction, or at least to considering a new direction. With me and Val getting married soon, I was thinking about what I would be doing, having Valmara around more, possibly starting a family... I can't be off fighting things and mining and getting into dangerous situations if I have a family to care for. I need something more... stationary, more.... I don't know what exactly. More useful in the long run of my life...

I've been thinking about taking up the study of magic... That old staff I found I'm going to keep with me for a while, see how it feels carrying it around like a mage... I've asked Elohanna if she would mind teaching me, and she seemed both serious and excited about the idea. I hope Valmara feels the same way...

Valmara.... The more I think about her these days the more I can't wait for the ceremony... We seem t have become so close lately, so in tune with eachother.... It's a great feeling....

The nightmares.... I still have them... Different though... Often they are just a sea of blood in which I float through alone, ending with the sight of a fallen loved one before I wake up with a yell... I want to go back to Haven, it's been over a year... two even.... I want revenge for what they did to me..... What the set loose in me.....

For now though, I worry about two things, Valmara, first and foremost, and then my future... There are many goals that I have abandoned since seeing that little girl die... Mastering my sword... Living up to Cole Norseman...

*he chuckles as he writes the next line*

______________________________Becoming famous... More then anything right now though I want to make Valmara happy, and keep her that way. I've waited so long for this, to finally be able to call her my own. I'll wonder about what my future will hold after I am married....

*he closes the book with a sigh, smiling to himself. He looks over to the spare bed in his room, the bed that was intended for Val so long ago when he originally rented the room.*

"Soon, Val... Real soon..."

*he picks up his things and exits from the Arms into the cold Leringard night, his staff in hand*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff wakes up in the middle of the night, a warm smile on his face. It's the night of his wedding, and across the room from him, lays the sleeping form of his Newlywed Wife, Valmara, tucked comfortably into her slighty undersized futon, smiling in much the same fashion as Shiff. He sits up and looks over to her, warm thoughts filling his mind as he relives the day in the short moments he gazes at her. Pulling on some of his clothes, he crawls over beside his Beloved and softly kisses her cheek*

"Forever yours, Valmara..."

*brushes a lock of hair from her face, gently caressing her cheek for a moment, before retrieving his Black book, and sitting at the table. He looks at his scarred right hand a moment, tracing the ugly burn scar with his fingers, thinking about the night they made their wedding rings, and then smiles as he turns his wedding ring on his finger, it glowing with a soft green light, the soul stone set within swirling with a small portion of Valmara's soul. He dabs his quill in the ink, and begins to write.*

Augra, 21, 1417

"Shiff, do you take Valmara for your Shining Gem, to live in the holy legacy? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

What a Question... And such an answer... "I do"... It sounds too simple, too easy to just disregard, too easy to go back on on a whim in favor of "something better"... I'm not going to lie to myself, I was not always honest. I remember all the meaningless promises I've made to other women in my past, faceless pleasures to indulge myself with at every port... But Valmara... She's special. I know that for certain... The way she makes me feel is.... indescribable... Whenever we are together...

I never thought I'd get wedded... Never thought I'd ever meet someone that made me feel so calm and at peace with the world but... I found her... Or maybe she found me...

*he smiles, looking over at his sleeping beauty, her wedding bouquet sitting peacefully in a vase on her end of the table, her dress resting lopsided on her storage chest, thrown there during the night.*

Whatever the reason, we found each other and love each other. Nothing can change that now...

Until my dying breath Val will be the one I love with every fabric of my soul, and even beyond the grave it will be Valmara that I will bind myself to.

"I do, until the end of time..."

*he closes his book and leaves it open on the bed, crawling back next to Valmara, laying down beside her on the ground. He gently kisses his loves lips, stirring her just enough for her to open her chocolate-eyes and smile. snuggling close to her, he whispers a sweet goodnight to his Beloved, and after wrapping her up in his arms, falls back to sleep beside her*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff enters the Leringard Arms, carrying a large number of bags on his back. He sighs as he enters, not having been to the Arms in quite a while. He talks to Lily for a while, pleased to hear the Arms is prospering. He visits the Norseman's statue, a smile on his face as he gazes upon the carven image of his hero. He turns to go to his old room, and runs into Kali. He greets her as she runs by, busy with some amount of business. As he enters his the room, he sighs. The Arms had been his home for quite some time, as well as being the place Shiff and Valmara spent their first night together after their wedding. It was a special place for Shiff, and he was fond of it. He smiles then sets the bags down, and begins to pack his things. It was however, time for Shiff to move on...*

Later that day...
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*Shiff reaches Llast just before night fall. Pushing his way inside the gates, he nods to the guards and walks to number 118. He pauses in front of the door, smiling. He then pushes the door open, stepping inside his new home, the home Elohanna and Krysthalien gave him and Valmara as a wedding gift. Carrying a small number of bags, Shiff hobbles into his room. Setting the bags beside his desk, he digs through the things in his bags for a black leather-bound book, and takes it to his desk to write. He looks around quickly looking for Valmara, but she is not around."

So much has happened recently...

Elohanna and Krys have given Val and I a wonderful gift, a place to call home. I mean Leringard was home... but it wasalso so small... Seperate beds... Not fit for a wedded couple. The new room is perfect, me and Val decorated it wonderfully. We love it.

Elohanna and I have begun my lessons... I don't know how much I will be able to learn... But hopefully I learn something. I want to be able to teach my children something beyond how to fight... All my life all I've ever counted on was my own strength and skill to succeed, to survive, to get ANYTHING done... But I never put much thought into any other way of doing things... In fact I've never put thought into anything really, except me and Val's relationship...... I always just went with the way things were going... I don't think I can do that anymore... I want to be able to do more... Even if I never learn how to use the weave, I could at least teach some things to my children some day, maybe help them learn how to do what I cannot...

I have to see what happens though...

I've been helping out at the Beryl Temple lately. Been collecting things for donations, hopefully to be put towards rebuilding Stone... I've been even attending some of the services at the temple... I've been wondering though, what more I could do for the Church...

Starr said only the Clerics of the Temple held any real standing with Beryl, the Fire Opals and Feldspar and Emeralds and such... And that the Emeralds occasionally grant Titles to those that have done great things for the Church... I don't know if there is anything great I could do, but I'll keep my eyes open and ears poised... Just in case something comes up...

As far as Val... Things are great. We spend our day hours apart, doing our own separate Business... but at night its just her an me... We love the time we get to be together, even if its just sitting in front of the fire, not saying a word to each other. Beryl Truly blessed me with Valmara's love... I hope I can keep her happy... She means the world to me... Every night, as long as we are together, I can go to sleep without fearing the Nightmares... I love her all the more for that. We've been married close to seven months, and we seem to only grow closer. I hope we never grow apart.

*He closes the book, and smiles. He leaves it on his desk and walks over to the fireplace, sliding in a few more logs to keep the fire going. He then takes out a book, titled "Fundamental Magery: The Basics" and begins to read, waiting for Valmara to come home.*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff lays beside Valmara on their bed, Valmara asleep, struggling with something that is making her ill. He comforts her as best he can, getting anything she needs during the day. Having sent a letter to Talia and Elohanna, he waits for them to come by in hopes of discovering what is wrong with his wife.*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff sits up in his bed beside a sleeping beauty, his dear wife Valmara, comfortably wrapped in the bed sheets. Leaning against the head board, he gently leans over to kiss her cheek and caress her slightly bulging belly, earning a warm smile and a pleasant moan from his love. Reaching under his pillow, he pulls out a black-leather bound book, opening it up to a blank page. Looking down to his wife, an adoring smile on his lips, he whispers "I love you" before beginning to write"

I'm going to be a father...

I still can't believe it. Me... Of all people... When I heard that Hawklen and Kinai were having a baby, I thought THAT was a surprise... But me? I'm no father figure... What do I know about taking care of a baby, besides that they need to eat sleep and have their diapers changed...

Val was crying when she told me. I didn't even believe her at first.. I asked Elohanna to come by to check on Val... I thought she might have eaten a bad piece of meat.. maybe a flu... But a baby?

We're so excited... Not long ago she looked so sick, so tired... as if she didn't want to be awake. Now she seems to glow... Its so wonderful how beautiful she looks, and not much has even changed about her... He tummy is beginning to grow, and I find myself caressing it almost every chance I get... It's so soft and smooth... I don't know how Val feels about it, but I love it...

We curled up in bed tonight... just holding each other... Valmara was smiling so bright, she must be so happy... We love each other greatly.. and I think she's elated that we will be having a child...

*he closes the book, and looks over to Valmara. She's awake, smiling up at him in her nightgown. sliding the book back under his pillow, he lays back down beside her, and she rolls over to lay her back against his chest, and they fall asleep, Shiff's arms wrapped tenderly around Valmara.*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

Shiff lays in bed beside Valmara, both of them asleep. They lay curled up close together, Shiff's arms wrapped around her waist, a hand rubbing Val's ever growing belly even in his sleep. Inside, a new life stirs, ever growing towards its uncertain future, while its parents do their best to cope with the changes the unborn child set in motion. Changes in body, changes in moods, changes is feelings, all the things pregnancy brings. But despite it all, Shiff remains true to his love, and it could be said that the longer he is with Valmara, the deeper in love with her he becomes. He nuzzles her in his sleep, and she smiles, placing her hands on his, and nestled safely inside Valmara's womb, a small smile parts a new pair of lips. A happy family, awaiting its newest member in peaceful slumber.

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff sits on the edge of his bed cradling a bundle in his arms, rocking it slowly back and forth as Valmara sleeps peacefully behind him. Nestled safely inside the blankets lies a newborn baby, barely a few hours old, sound asleep for the moment. Shiff looks down on the beat red face of baby Tyra, a loving smile on his face and a warm glow in his eyes. He whispers quietly to her, telling her how happy he is that he finally gets to hold her and how much he loves her. He then carries her to his desk, sitting in his chair, carefully holding Tyra in one arm. He struggles to uncork his bottle of ink, then picks up his quill and begins to write.*

Augra 2, 1418

She's so small...

I want to hold her close and tight, I want to cuddle with her and never let her go, but I'm afraid I'm going to hurt her if I do. It's an odd feeling. I mean, I've held little Seras before, Kinai's daughter, and I felt all warm and fuzzy then but now.... I don't even pay attention to others when I'm holding Tyra... As if no one else was around, just me and her... I hope Valmara doesn't mind.

I don't really know whats gonna happen now that Valmara and I have a baby, but... So far, she's pooped, feed and slept, so I'm going to guess thats all she'll be doing for a while, but she has only opened her eyes a little bit.... I can't wait for when she is awake more...

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

*Shiff sits in a winged chair in his room in Llast, playing with the eight month old Tyra in his lap. She is occupied with her Teddy Bear, which over the past four months has been beaten against things, chewed on, thrown and sat on by Tyra. Shiff grins and plays with her as well, tickling her with fresh picked spring flowers. A few moments later Valmara comes in the room, taking Tyra from Shiff to play with her daughter. Valmara sits on the couch, talking childishly to Tyra, who burbles and giggles at her mother, bopping her on the nose with her bear. Shiff then goes to his desk and retrieves his Black Book, opening it to a blank page.*

So much has been happening lately...

Tyra's getting bigger. She started crawling recently, and boy can she move. Me and Val have to keep an eye on her every time we let her down, even if she's sitting there playing with her bear. We never know if Tyra is going to just take off and end up under something. She's adorable though, so cute... Her eyes are the most amazing shade of purple with little dark lines, as if her eyes were two big Phenalopes. Her hair is also starting to get longer and its curly and so soft... I love just running my fingers through it...

Valmara's been such a doll lately. Watching her with Tyra makes me wonder how a woman who used to break Gaint Skulls along side me without trying can be so gentle and loving. I guess its not really a surprise... She's been a wonderful friend and companion over the years, always being there for me when I needed her, just as I've always tried to be there for her...
She talks about me leaving her behind though... She loves Tyra very much, and I know she loves being home to take care of her, but I think she is beginning to miss the life we once lived together... I've been trying to find a way that we can leave Tyra and spend time together, like when we first met, and travel around everyonce and a while to give a demon or something a bad day... But only time will tell if I must be the one out and about, earning a living for them, or if Val will be able to rejoin me with a home and a daughter to come home to each night... but even if things do change... I will not stop loving her... Valmara has been a blessing of love ever since I met her.

*He looks over to Valmara, who looks back, a warm loving smile on her lips. She holds Tyra in her arms, making faces at her as Tyra giggles and babbles, hiding her face behind her Bear. He smiles back brightly, admiring the two most important people in his life before turning back to his writing.*

My schooling with Elohanna has been progressing at an... interesting pace...

One of the first things she taught me (aside from the different schools of magic) was how to meditate. It's kinda odd, meditating. I know elves do it in place of sleep, but I've never seen a human do it, not to the depth an elf can do it. But... when I did it...

It felt different from sleeping, because I was still awake... I just focused on the flame Ely had burning in the room, trying to remove all thoughts from my mind, and then it felt like everything just changed. I could hear everything in the room from the flicker of candles to little ants crawling across the floor to the wind outside. I couldn't feel myself, but I could feel everything in the room, knowing almost exactly where it all was...

Ely woke me up from it and I was laying on the ground, which is not the way I was when I started meditating. She even draped a cloak over me, and I felt alive... As if I had just slept for days, but Ely said I was only in that trancy state for about fifteen minutes...

I've tried meditating since but not with much luck. I manage to be able to get to the point where I feel rested, which Elohanna said is the basic goal of meditating, but I have not since felt as I did the first time.

*he looks over at Tyra and Valmara, who are know laying on the carpet, Tyra sitting on her mother's belly, the two of them playing with Tyra's bear, Tyra trying to stuff the bears head in her mouth as Valmara gently bops Tyra's nose with the bear's*

As for me...

Nothing has changed much... Still having nightmares, but I don't really care about them anymore. It's rare now that I awake screaming at night, but it still happens. Val gets worried when that happens, I think she's afraid of me falling apart again... But I know my God Parents are safe, even if I did a horrible job of saving them... But I don't dwell on those things anymore. I've been trying to find information as to what happen to the people of Val's old home, Melnon. I doubt everyone just died since there was a new grave when Val went, so they must have gone somewhere. Val thinks maybe Lor but I doubt it. The troubles in that region with the Giants would have made any sort of migration near impossible, although Val did mention her father being a Dorandite, and the Dorand's Temple is in Lor, or nearby at least, so it's possible he or Val's brother tried to get there on their own.

I'm hoping I find something, even just rumors, of where the people of that town went, but so far nothing.

*he closes the book and puts it away, and smiles. Looking up at his family, he realizes something... Maybe something he never truly embraced before: No matter what happens, no matter what is said, he finally really has a family that loves him, made up of dear and true friends. He joins his wife in playing with their daughter, ready for anything*

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

(A Few weeks ago)
Shiff sits in the big winged chair infront of the Common-room Fire place, craddling Little Tyra in his arms, as Valmara slept restlessly in their bed. Everyone was sick, even if Shiff didn't want to admit he was ill as well. He gently stroked the cheek of his little girl, a frown lingering on his cheek as he watches her sleep, his own ailment the farthest thing from his mind.

It's remarkable how durable young children are, yet regardless of this fact, it still breaks a parents heart to see there child in pain. Tyra shuffled often in his arms, her little body aching and warming as it fights off the disease within her. Her only comfort is the strong arms that hold her close to her father, his beating heart a soft lullaby for her to sleep to.

Soon company arrives, some dear friends. Elohanna, Rose, and Godim, all friends met through his travels, all whom instantly turn their attention to the sick little girl, her father trying to convince them all that he is fine.

Shiff knew he could not dwell on his own pain while his dear child was in her own pain, and always the stubborn one, refused the help of others when i came to his own concerns. His Little girl was more important.