Melanna Jin'Daern - To Master the Greatsword

[Nehetsrev]

Junar 15, 1405

It's my day of birth today, and I am now 18 years of age.  So, I decided to start a journal and write about some of the significant things that happen in my life.  I'm sure one day I'll be famous and people will want to know more about me.  Gods, I hate people!  They're always getting into trouble that I have to help them out of.  It's very inconvenient.  Still, it usually gives me good reason to put my practice with the greatsword to use.

I guess a little bit about my past prior to now would be a good way to begin this journal.  That in mind, I'll sum up.  I was 17 when I left home a few months ago.  Home being my parent's pricey apartment in Pranzis (I hate the new name, Prantz).  I won't bother putting to paper my parent's names, so I'll call them Emia (Mom) and Fatheln (Dad) in this journal.  Emia & Fatheln were never entirely what you'd call loving parents, though in their own way they made sure I was well taken care of.  Their interest in me though was only to help promote their own advancement in the social food-chain so to speak.  I suspect the only reason I was born is because at the time it was deemed fashionable with the aristocracy to have a child.  In any case, I do have to thank my parents for all the fine tutors they afforded me while I grew up.  I learned a lot about different things around the world and even some of the sciences.  I think it's because my parents would have liked for me to marry some noble-brat.

Not a life I would choose, being married to some snob.  No, I value my freedom to live life the way I choose.  That's why I ended up here in Hlint a few days ago, to escape the restrictive government that presides over Pranzis now under that tyrant Broegar.  Lot's of folks here in Hlint seem to need help with things.  Seeing as I have a conscience, thanks to an old friend who taught me to have one, I can't just ignore their pleas for help.  But, again, at least it lets me put my skill with the greatsword to use.  So far I've fought goblins, even to the point of slaying a leader of theirs in their own cave, I've retrieved lost records from a huge rat... or man...thing in the sewers, I've gathered various animal skins for the local fur trader, delivered some mail for the postmaster, retrieved some black goo from a dead thing that didn't like being dead in the crypts for the local undertaker, and even helped stock the weapons lockers for the city militia up at Fort Llast.  I could probably list a few more things I've done since ariving.  Of course I didn't do all of it alone, I had some help with some of those things.  A fellow named Erik, a holy man of some religion, helped me to get the black goo from what the undertaker called a Lesser Drksoul.  Later I met a woman named Ellis, she's real good with her longbow, but she's a bit odd.  Strangely, her oddness makes her a little less boring than most people, so we did a few things together.  I've got a personal vendetta against a certain griffon near Fort Himlad now as a result of one of our adventures together.

That brings up another odd thing.  I've died a few times in the last few days, and yet I'm not dead.  I think it has something to do with the big cross-like monument in Hlint that I hung around for a bit, because when I die I end up there.  I'm not going to lie, dying hurts...alot.  As long as I can I'm going to avoid dying as much as possible.  I think the cross-shaped monument is one of the magic markers that are called bindstones, I remember learning a little about them when I was younger, and if I remember right, they aren't always reliable and a person can lose bits of their soul because of them sometimes.  I don't really want to find out, so, like I said, I'm planning on avoiding death as much as I can.

Freedom.  Who would have thought the gift of a greatsword and a set of half-plate armor would have afforded me the freedom I needed to leave Pranzis and live life the way I choose elsewhere?  When my friend gave them to me, I thanked him politely, but rather unenthusiasticly.  Now I don't think I ever thanked him enough.  I think he knew I didn't like the idea of being married, and that's why he gave me these instead of a ring.  Ruvan was a good friend.  I miss him.  He taught me the basics, and he taught me to have a conscience.  Then he died defending the freedom of Pranzis.  If no one else will, at least I'll honor that sacrifice he made.  I'm going to learn the greatsword just as well as he knew it, maybe even better, until I can learn no more.  I'm going to learn the lessons of life that aren't taught in books, just like he encouraged me to do.  It's my choice, it's what I want.

[Nehetsrev]

I've begun to realize I need a better sword and better armor.  As loath as I am to give up the fine copper greatsword and copper half-plate I was gifted with by my good friend, I feel they are just becomming too worn to use much longer.  I'll keep them, but after I make myself a new greatsword and a new set of armor from iron, I'll put these gifts in a fine place simply to remember Ruvan from.  However, I've also found that making armor and weapons isn't quite as easy as it looks, so it'll be a little while before I can get the new gear made.  I just hope what I've got holds out long enough to be replaced.  I suppose if I get real desperate I could just buy new armor and a new greatsword from someone else, but frankly, I think I can do a better job than an unconcerned stranger.  I just need to keep practicing until my skill is to my own satisfaction.  Looks like I'll be doing a lot of mining in that cave in the Sielwood.  The kobolds there aren't going to like that much...too bad for them.

[Nehetsrev]

Augra 8, 1405

Success!  After weeks of hard work I've finally managed to forge  new greatsword from the copper and tin I've been mining in the Sielwood.  My mining expeditions have proven of great value indeed, not just because of the latest resultant success in creating a bronze greatsword, but because of the face-to-face battle-training I get fighting the denizens of the cave.  Each trip I feel a little more sure of my abilities with the greatsword, and now, with this new sword that is made specifically for my own hands I feel even more confident.

My confidence was pehaps a bit too high I found today though.  In a season of poor judgement I attempted to go mining in the Haven mines all alone.  I am not ready yet for such an excursion, and the ogres were quick to teach me my place for now.  Fortunately the trip was not a total loss, for as I contemplated my mistakes in Hlint, a man took note of me and asked if I needed aid.  Together we went back to the Haven mines and taught the ogres a lesson, and we even managed to pull out a good load of iron ore.  I was able ot smelt most of it successfully, so now I have 8 ingots of iron to use when I'm ready to try making iron weapons.  I think I'll continue to work bronze for a while more though to better hone my methods.

[Nehetsrev]

Seplar 7, 1405

My work to master the greatsword, both from forging it to wielding it with unparalleled precision, continues to improve daily.  More forays into the Sielwood mine for copper & tin to make bronze, and even a couple forays into the Haven Mines for iron, have both tested my skill wielding my blade and helped me to improve my skill crafting weapons and armor as well.

Recently, I have learned there are to be public executions in Pranzis.  Much of the community here in Hlint seems outraged by this public demonstration of the 'justice' system under Broegar's rule, mainly I think because those being executed are well-known to them.  I wonder how many more executions have occured wihtout public knowledge since Broegar's taken power?  The world will likely never know.  However, I cannot find I can totally condemn Broegar for he has brought order to the city and kept the people well-fed and the repairs of damage from the taking of the city have been quickly executed.  Though I personally find his laws too limitting of personal freedoms, I cannot deny they seem to have done good for Pranzis.  I will not, however, ever support in full Broegar, or his new name of my former home.  I choose instead to honor the proud past I was raised in.

Perhaps it would be a good thing for places such as Hlint if general lawlessness were dealt with a bit more firmly.  To the point of Broegar's law, I would not say, but many of the people of this area certainly lack the self-responsibility to be respectful of those around them.  On two occasions now I've had to speak with persons on behalf of the common townsfolk of Hlint, advising them that their monstrous pets were scaring the populace, or worse that they themselves in form of wild beasts were doing the same.  How can these people in good conscience call themselves heroes if they terrify the commmoners in such ways with little regard?  We should not need laws to tell us what is common sense and common courtesy and act in accordance with such for our fellows and community.  I am thankful to Ruvan for being the friend who taught me the value of self-discipline.  I sincerely wish that all would see the light of such personal reform and take responsibility upon themselves to do what is right and respectful of those they live with.  Sadly, it seems a part of mortal condition that there will always be those who have no regard for anyone but themselves.

In words of Ruvan's own speaking, "To master anything one must first master themselves."

[Nehetsrev]

Novlar 13, 1405

Gods!  People annoy me!  Especially those snobbish casters who think nothing of the fear their spells can put into the common folk.  They take for granted the power they twist forth from the Weave to make their spells work, and they take for granted all those around themselves that must witness magic called for unnescessary reason.  I do not deny that magic has it's uses or it's place, but it's place is not in the safe confines of a town where there is no need for a mage to have summoned to his side a huge wolf, construct, or other beast that disturbs the peace of mind of the common folk.  If the town were under attack, that would be one thing, but when there is peace an calm such needless casting is an affront to the people, and I'd be surprised if it's not an affront to Lucinda and the most of the other gods as well.

Now, I'm not one to put a lot of stock into laws, granted some are good and keep people safe, but I wonder from time to time if Broegar's laws regarding magic in Pranzis aren't needed everywhere.  I believe people should be free to live their lives their own way, but with that should come the responsibility to live their lives respectfully of other's.  If we govern ourselves justly, there is no need of an external law telling us what we can or can't do.  Why then cannot these selfish casters see the disruption their unnescessary spells and castings cause, and thus then refrain from doing such?  I shouldn't have to waste my breath and my time telling them to be respectful of the townsfolk, yet almost daily I find myself doing just that.  Sometimes I wish Ruvan hadn't taught me to be a servant to those who cannot defend themselves.  It certainly would be easier to be as conscienceless as these snobbish casters who seem to care for no one but themselves.

In other notes, my skills of forging both weapons and armor have progressed to the point where I will learn best if I concentrate my efforts on bending iron to my will.  For this I will need to count on the help of others to go mine the iron I'll need.  That means I'll likely have to share the fruits of my work among those who accompany me, making my trips less efficient in some ways than those I can accomplish on my own.  None-the-less, I shall try to overcome my disliking of people in general so that I can progress further in my skills.  At least I know one or two people who are fairly efficient and willing to help without being pains in my backside.

[Nehetsrev]

Decilar 7, 1405

As much as I'm loath to admit it, I think I like Ellis as a friend.  She can be annoying at times, but I get along with her better than most of the people I've met in Hlint.  She knows when to keep her mouth shut, as odd as that sounds, and she knows how to keep out of touble too.  Anyone I don't have to waste time rescuing or policing gets points in my opinion.

Now, aside from Ellis, I've started being sought out be people looking for armor and weapons.  I don't mind too much.  It gives me reason to continue practicing so that I can make the best greatsword and full-plate armor for myself as I continue to improve my own skills.  I have to remind myself not to let my general annoyance with people show when I'm talking to potential customers though, otherwise it could cost me some sales.

It's like Ruvan always said, "Become the best you can be at something, and people will seek you out because of your eforts.  Dilligence brings it's own rewards."  Well, I guess I'm starting to get pretty good, but it doesn't feel that way to me.  I just keep working at learning more til someday I won't have anything left to learn.

[Nehetsrev]

Janra 24th, 1406

At long last I have achieved success in forging an iron greatsword!  I could not have done it without the generosity of Lillian, however, for I had run out of iron to work with when she kindly laid some of her own upon the anvil.  Not long afterward I finished detailing the blade and now it shines like the magnificent weapon it was forged to be.  With my style of wielding the greatsword growing nearer perfection, I have taken note of my own fighting style in this new greatsword's design by giving it a single edge rather than a double edge.  A part of the edge is also slightly hooked, making the blade well designed for tearing open the bellies of my foes as I have trained to do so well.  I am nearing Ruvan's own proficiency with the greatsword, and I believe that it will not be too much longer before I begin to surpass him and all that he taught me while he yet lived, thus to gain the title of master.  Still, even masters must continue to perfect their form, so my journey aas one learning will never be truly and completely over.  That's as it should be.

To celebrate my completion of this milestone of progress in weapon smithing I went on a trip to help quell undead in a place known as Storan's Crypt.  The crypt, if I remember my teachings from days gone by, is named for it's builder, a necromancer and lich of great power.  Fiendishly clever in design, I found myself and some of my companions trapped within a large room for some time while wave after wave of undead rose up to attempt our defeat.  The door to the room, operating on some kind of magical or mechanical timer, closed shut behind us to seal us in after the pixie friend of Mercas had opened it for us by picking the lock.  In the fighting the pixie was slain and so we had no way to open the lock from the inside ourselves.  Fortunately for my friend Elohanna, the door closed with her out in the halls and she was safe there, though I wager she remained invisible as long a she could, just in case the undead should take to patrolling those empty halls.  Needless to say, my new weapon performed very well in my capable hands, and together with my temporary companions we laid to rest a great host of undead.  Eventually, help arrived to open the door for us once more and we joined forces with these newcomers and went deeper into the crypt to slay even more undead.  Our duty to purge the crypts of undead for a time finished we all returned to the fresh air of the open evening outside.

Previous to completing my new greatsword's creation, I had met a Gnome by name of Starr Sapphire.  He proved to be every bit the gentleman as he was an extraordinary adventurer.  I admit at times I am envious of mages and their power through bending the weave, but I must also confess that that power is quite helpful many times.  I would be more happy if more mages would use their magics responsibly and only put them to use as required, not to use for every little thing as some do rather abusively with their power in my opinion.  In any case, I ramble, for I meant to do credit to Starr in the writing of this portion of my entry.  He aided me in mining Topaz in the place known as the Direwood Cave.  Together we fought through the ogres living there to get to the two deposites of topaz we managed to find.  As we worked together I explained to him my need for the topaz in making an electrical enchantment for my greatsword, and he offered his services as an enchanter free of charge to me, asking only that I show kindness to otehrs as he shown me.  Since it is my duty, if not my nature, to be helpful to those in need I gladly and greatfully accepted his deal.  When I have gathered another topaz and the other ingredients nescessary, I will ask him to make another enchantment for my friend Elohanna.  I think that a fitting gift to her for the help she gives me by digging clay and even venturing into danger with me from time to time.

All in all though, people still annoy me, but it's good to have a few friends.

[Nehetsrev]

Febra 17, 1406

Perhaps I have found something greater than myself to work toward, something that might help not just one or two at once, but the whole world.  As I descended into Hlints crypts to purge some of the undead and lay troubled souls to rest, I came upon Caighd, a man I had met once before.  As we began to converse I realized that though he said he was through reflecting on things, his heart was still troubled.  Being the lousy do-gooder that I can often be despite my general disliking of people, I further pressed him for information about what bothered him.  After all, one cannot help with a problem one does not know the details of.

It came out as we talked that he was lamenting the disease of the mind that had befallen his sister, even that in a way he felt responsible for her condition.  Though admittedly from the telling he gave it was not his fault at all, but the fault of the man his sister was to marry or had married while he himself was off devoting his life to following his god.  No man can be in two places at once, well accepting some mages I've seen I suppose.  I do not understand why so many seek to take blame for bad things that happen that they could have not known would happen, or could not have stopped because of their not being there.  I digress though.  As he told me of his sister's mental illness, a piece of memory from my tutoring as a child sprang up in my mind, thank the gods for that half-addled teacher Dookal who often mixed legend with his history and geography lessons.  Dookal had once taught me of a place called Amarylla, located according to legend in the Broken Circle region of the Shattered Mountains in Belinara, or what is now called Xantril.  According to legend Amarylla, a temple and monastary, was touted as being renouned for being the greatest center of healing for both mind and body.  In any case I did not immediately remember the name of the legendary place, so Caighd and I made a trip to the Great Library in hopes that texts there would jog my memory and so eventually it was jogged and I told him about Amarylla.

Perhaps it is indeed a very long-shot, a half-crazed scheme to give hope to a man who seemed to have none, but Caighd did indeed seem to take hope in the legend of Amarylla, finding it, and someday bringing his sister there to be healed of her mental illness.  If only we knew where exactly where to begin looking, but at least it seems reasonable to check with historical or archaeological groups on Mistone and Dregar for some clues.  Caighd and I reasoned we could not be the only two people who wished to find Amarylla, therefore it would be best to find out what others before us may have found out about it's locale.  Since the legends say Amarylla was purposely hidden by those who dwelt there, it may be hard to find indeed, even if we know where it is.  Still I think we should try, not just for Caighd's sister, but for the world of those who suffer similar ailments.

I've heard Xantril is still the most dangerous continent of the world, as such I will have to learn to better master my blade even more before we set foot in that place.  I have a greater good to work toward now, a purpose beyond simply becomming the best at wielding my blade as I can become.

Oh, another thing to note, I now have a couple more topaz clusters to bring to Starr with the other ingredients to have made a couple more enchantments for my friends.  Friends...there's that silly word again.  I do not want friends, yet I cannot help but have them it seems.

[Nehetsrev]

Mar 18, 1406

What things of significance to write about today?  Hmm... well over the past few days much has happened.  I've learned to put additional power into my attacks when I need to, though this does throw off my accuracy a little so I don't use the technique much yet.  I also finally got around to making the longbow I promised to Elohanna, and she was very pleased to receive it.  That snobbish Elf, Isendel, was with her when I delivered it and questioned my intent and honor in giving the gift.  Having had enough of his disdain for humans I decided to teach him a lesson in humility.  I used his own pride against him and cleverly manuevered him into accepting a duel with me.  Once at the arena we were joined by Lillian who acted as a witness and officiator.

The duel was quick and rather one-sided.  To his credit Isendel managed to land one blow upon me and inflicted a fairly deep cut.  On the other hand, I displayed my skill with my blade which he had only a short time before discredited as having no finesse or art, and I soundly showed to him the art, finesse, and power in the forms I have studied of the greatsword.  He picked himself up off the floor dazed and defeated, and perhaps I was not as polite as I should have been in my victory, for he left quckly after without a word.  Perhaps he will have learned a lesson from this duel, and if so he may become a valuable friend, if not then I pity him for clinging to Elven pride so much.  As for my own pride, we can say Lillian certainly purged me of any notion of that in just a single blow from her scimitar when we sparred after Isendel left.  One day, perhaps, I will have risen to her level of mastery and we will have a rematch to shake the pillars of heaven.

After our brief time a the Velensk arena, Lillian and I traveled to Pranzis and from there set out to slay giants.  Unfortunately, we were joined by some rather questionable associates of Lillian's.  The Half-Giant, Bakee, I did not mind, but the two Drow, Daralith and Caldiir, I was loath of.  What lows has Pranzis fallen to under Broegar's rule that drow can wlk the streets un-challenged!  In any case, I do not trust those Drow, even though Lillian seems to place some level of trust in them.  Indeed, when Lillian announced she wasn't feeling good and left our company in Saudiria, I quickly departed and made my way back to Hlint alone.  I hope to never be in teh company of those two Drow again, their very manner and pressence makes me wish to gut them.

[Nehetsrev]

Apreal 6, 1406

Ogres...Who has much regard for them at all?  I know I certainly didn't until I met Glurgle.  While by Human standards Glurgle isn't all that bright, for an ogre I'd say he's a genius!  Elohanna and I were making our way through the mines of Haven, fighting as we had to to reach our goal of iron when we came upon this smart, and somewhat friendly ogre.  He was mixed in with a bunch of dumb ones as he put it, who simply charged at us and fell before my blade, but not him.  He raised his hand to wave us off and spoke to us in the common tongue.  As we were speaking another stupid ogre charged Elohanna and I, and we were force ot put it down, and Elohanna in her panic, or zeal, accidentally continued to launch arrows form her longbow at Glurgle before she caught herself.  Needless to say, Glurgle was a little irritated at being shot, but he kept his cool well enough for an ogre and accepted Elohanna's apology after I explained to him the bow was new to her still, and she just rather enjoyed using it, much the same way he probably enjoyed smashing things whenever he found a new club.  We told him we didn't really want to kill any more Ogres if we needn't, and after speaking with him for a while he agreed to a deal.  We would fetch for him a large amount of food and drinks (namely strong drinks of the ale variety) and he would, if pleased with what we brought, give us some iron in exchange.  Perhaps I am too hopeful, but maybe one day ogres and humans can co-exist in peace if more of htese kinds of arrangements can be made.

In any case, Elohanna and I set out to gather food, being joined by a man named Hawklin, and the Elf Isendel along our way.  We warned other adventurers we saw going into the mines to be mindful that not all of the ogres were would nescessarilly attack them and to be sure they wouldn't kill Glurgle if they came upon him.  I'm not sure our story was believed, or if any whom we warned really cared one way or the other about the possibility of a friendly and somewhat intelligent ogre based on what reaction, if any, that we saw from them.

In the end, we returned with food aplenty and drinks too and found Glurgle just inside the entrance as he had said he would be.  After giving him the food we'd brought, and talking a little, Glurgle shown himself true to his word and gave to me and to Elohanna a fair ammount of iron nuggets, fifteen in total.  Hawklin seemed pleased enough just having met a smart ogre that could talk rather well, and Isendel... well, he was just himself.

Sadly, I don't know if such trades will continue in the future because Glurgle explained that the other ogres don't want to give up the ore, or the mines in which they live, though the possibility of relocating them to another nearby cave where they wouldn't be bothered by us was brought up.  Glurgle seemed a bit afraid that the other ogres might smash him if they knew he was dealing with us, but still he promised to try talking to them on our behalf to see if a more firm trade agreement could be set up.  I'm afraid from now on, whenever I kill an ogre I'll find myself looking closely at it's face to be sure it wasn't Glurgle.

[Nehetsrev]

Mai 23, 1406

I went back to the mines of Haven again.  I needed more iron, and I got it.  Still, as I ventured into the mines toward my goal I kept calling out for Glurgle, hoping to see him alive and well still.  On my way I encountered Elohnna, Isendel, and a few others with them.  They were being besieged by a good number of ogres and seemed to be in trouble, so I stepped in to help them.  After the last ogre fell they were going to turn back and head for the surface, yet they were so close to the area rich in iron that I asked them to press on with me.  Normally I can handle the groups of ogres that seem to be appointed as guards over the ore, but with this group things didn't go so well.  Isendel doesn't seem to have any grasp of tactics, and rushed forward drawing them all upon us at once rather than one or two at a time to be handled much more safely.  The result of his carelessness was the death of one of our number, a brownie who had gotten cornered by the large group of ogres.  That wouldn't have happened if the ogres had been drawn out one or two at a time.

After I mined a bit of ore, so that the little one's death would not be in vain, we headed again to the surface.  There, thanks to the power of the bindstones, we met the little one in weakened form.  After resting we went back into the mines to help him recover himself.  As long as we were there again, I opted to fight the new group of ogres guarding the ore so that I could mine some more since the first haul had been rather meager.  It was after I finished mining that I found Glurgle had revealed himself to the others back in the hallway.  He seemed happy indeed to see myself and Elohanna as well.

We spoke a bit more with Glurgle and he told us there were other ogres who thought like him, that the fighting wasn't what they wanted, or rather more the dying.  Again I brought up the possibility that moving the tribe to the un-named cave not far away, near the mercenary camp, would be the best option for everyone, his tribe and the people of Haven who wished to mine the iron freely again.  He genuinely seemed more open to the idea this time, but stated it wasn't something he could do alone and that it would take him time.  I think a little time spent negotiating with the ogres to leave peacefully is well worth the effort.  He wanted to know more about the cave I'd mentioned, so we took him there to look around it a bit.  Unfortunately, as we made our way out of the mines we were ambushed by a group of the 'stupid ogres' and again lost one of our number.  Glurgle offered to bring a healer who could help, and he did.  Unfortunately again, almost as soon as our friend was raised by the healer, we were besieged by another group of 'stupid ones'.  I tried to help the Healer fight off the attacking ogres, but in an instant of confusion he got between one of my attacks and it's intended target, and the Healer fell to my blade.  Words cannot express the guilt I feel for being the end of one such as this gentle ogre who brought back from death one of our own, even as accidental as the Healer's death may have been.

Glurgle was saddened by the death of his friend as well, but was understanding and decided to press on with us to visit the other cave.  Once there, he seemed rather pleased with it, and even more so as we continued to point out the benefits it offered in comparison to the Haven mines.  Less intrusion upon his tribe would mean less deaths among their numbers.  Also, there pressence there would help the people of Haven further by making life tougher for the brigands camping nearby.  The ogres could raid the brigand camp as much as they liked as far as the people of Haven are concerned I believe.  Still, I have yet to gain audience with the Lord of Haven Keep to bring to his attention this new-found possibility of peacefully relocating the ogres and re-opening the mines.

Glurgle asked me to forge iron weapons for he and those ogres that think as he does.  I do not know that it would be such a good idea, and I explained to that the people of Haven likely wouldn't go for that.  It didn't occur to me until later that I might offer to make armor for them instead, since armor can't be used so readilly to kill, but could still better the chances of the 'friendly' ogres in their efforts to clear the new cave of foes.  The next I see Glurgle I will offer the idea of making armor for he and his associates.  First I wish to gain the audience with the Lord of the Keep though, and explain our ideas and efforts for peace with the ogres.  Perhaps with the support of the Lord, and the people of Haven, we can resolve this situation to the benefit of everyone, including the ogres.  Meanwhile, Glurgle said he will try to talk more ogres into supporting a peaceful resolution as well.

It is a delicate situation.  There is not enough food in the world at pressent to make offering to feed the ogres in exchange for iron a viable option.  The best solution would be to convince them to move.  In the new cave they would be free to fend for themselves without constant raids by the people of Haven seeking iron.  On another level, we dare not let the ogres become too powerful by arming them or supporting them too much in other ways, as this could spell disaster for us as well if they get out of control.  It makes me feel good though, to work with Glurgle and try to find a solution that will be good for both our peoples.  Perhaps the needless killing can be put to an end and the iron mines can be returned to operation at the hands of the people of Haven.

On a more personal note, I feel Elohanna may be a bit torn in her feelings due to the strife between myself and Isendel.  I would not continue in strife with him if he would be more respectful of Humans and the other races.  His Elvish pride is more arogance than anything else, and I will not be belittled simply because I do not possess the same Elvish heritage.  Anything an Elf can do, Humans have proven themselves capable of, and in some cases better at, yet still he clings to his ideas that Elves are superior and all others are rather insignificant.  So what if we live shorter lives?  It does not make our lives of any less value, nor our contributions to the world any less significant.  Isendel reminds me in many ways of the snobbish nobles my parents would have liked for me to marry.  Perhaps that's another reason I cannot seem to get along with him.

[Nehetsrev]

Augra 7, 1406

A good deal of things have been going on that I suppose I should write about in this journal.  I feel with each day I grow nearer to achieving the level of mastery of my old friend and teacher, Ruvan.  After I have matched his skill, it is likely that I will be thought of as a master of the greatsword, as he himself was known.  Though I am sure that I will go on learning even more about the art.

Indeed, I am also sure my skill as an armor smith will continue to improve, especially with all the practice I'll have to put in to fill the huge order that Lillian has given me to work on.  Twenty-four suits of iron half-plate, she has requested of me, in exchange for another six of the enchanted lion-skin bags from her clients.  She says she can tell me no more than that the cause the arms and armor are for would be something I would be most happy to assist with anyway.  I can only wonder if she's being completely honest with me though, with the level of mystery she shrouds the dealings in.  "The walls have ears," she said when I tried to ask for more details.  In any event, it is going to take a vast amount of iron, and time to gather it, in order to make all that armor, but the six lion-skin bags seem well worth it.  Perhaps I'll gift one or two to Elohanna since she helps me so much.  I might even ask her to help by making the patterns for the suits of half-plate for me, to save some time and gold.

Thinking of Elohanna, of course brings me to my next thoughts to write upon.  Isendel has no less than called me a beast to my face, when I was acting the more civil of the two of us!  He also let slip a comment saying I was an 'infuriating woman' which gave me thought that he may think of all women as inferiors.  Being the good friend that I am, I told Elohanna of his behavior, and warned her that I did not think it wise for her to become involved with him.  She was saddened to hear of the way he'd acted toward me, and agreed that she likely would not enter into more than friendship with him, if even that was to be maintained.  I cannot understand how the two of them can be from the same city and yet have such differing views about we of other races.  The root likely lies with Isendel's teacher, who from the way Isendel acts, must be a rather imbecillic Elf who's never left Voltrex, or who has had a bad experience with a few members of other races and mistakenly judges all members of those races as inferior as a result.  Though in my feelings of anger at the way Isendel thinks and acts I would very much like to sever his head from his shoulders, I will refrain from acting the less civil if only to prove he and his moronic master's teachings to be false.

Lastly, I still await to recieve word that my request for audience with the Lord of Haven Keep has been granted so that I may propose my idea of helping the ogres re-locate.  Hopefully word will be returned soon and the Lord will hear my words and give permission to proceed.

[Nehetsrev]

Seplar 1, 1406

This huge order for armors is taking me much longer than I'd hoped to fill.  I've completed six suits of iron half-plate, one quarter of the order, but it's taken me days to do it.  The iron veins in the Haven mines that I've been able to reach haven't been producing much iron on most of my trips lately.  Seems I'm lucky to pull out 5 or 6 nuggets from mining three seperate veins, so at one or two nuggets a vein things are going slowly.  Especially slow when each suit of armor I need to make requires eight ingots of iron, and I fail as often as I succeed when making the armor.  Still, I will fill this order, and I will fill it as quickly as is possible for me to do so.

In other thoughts, I haven't seen Caighd in quite some time.  I wonder if he thinks I've forgotten my promise to help him find Amarylla?  I suppose it might seem that way to him perhaps, but I haven't forgotten.  I have been very busy with other things though.  I'm still awaiting the chance to speak with the Lord of Haven Keep about Glurgle and the other Ogres of the Haven Mines.  And, of course, I now have this huge order for armor that I've been slaving away at.  Maybe once I've finished with this order I can seek Caighd out and see what progress we can make toward Amarylla, and barring that, perhaps I'll get eh chance to work more with Glurgle and hopefully getting the ogres moved out of the Haven Mines and into a new home in the Un-named cave to the west of Haven.

Who would have thought when I left home that I'd end up involved in such important affairs?  All I wanted to do was get out from under the oppressive laws that Broegar's rulership was chaining down my freedoms with.  Ruvan's teachings of duty to help those in need have put me into the middle of these things.  Though it can be trying of my owm personal feelings and patience with people in general, I must admit that it does often feel good to help where I can.  Even stopping to tend the wounds of a Dwarf returning from fighting Gnolls while I was on my way back to the Haven Mines lent to me a certain satisfaction.  As much as people annoy me, it seems most often that I cannot help but to help them when and where I can.

[Nehetsrev]

Seplar 16, 1406

I continue to mine the iron I need to fill the huge order for half-plate armor, and though ogres always attempt to bar my way, I feel badly of having to slay any of them to get to what I need.  Most show evidence of nearly animal intelligence, and I know they attack only because they see me as an intruder in their home, and also in these times of near famine as a possible source of food from which to sustain themselves.  Some would say that the ogres are "inherently evil", though I do not judge them so.  Not after my encounters with smarter ogres such as Glurgle.  I truly wish more ground could be made in convincing the whole tribe to move to the Un-named cave to the west of Haven so that miners such as myself would no longer have to kill Ogres to reach the iron and other minerals and ores within the Haven Mines.

I do not understand why so many simply seem to enjoy killing the Ogres, and indeed, go out of their way to do so.  Still, there are others who think more closely to the way I myself think, and for them I am thankful.  I would go so far as to say that others, who think nothing of killing Ogres or other "inherently evil" creatures are themselves evil in their actions.  Ruvan's teachings mean more and more to me each day as I see their insight and revelation unfolds before me.  If it is the duty of good people to protect and aid those who need protection and aid, does not that duty extend to even the lowliest of creatures?  Should not peaceful means be sought in all instances before things come to bloodshed?  Even after bloodshed has begun, should not we contiue to search for peaceful resolution to end the bloodshed, if it can be found?  This is what makes us humane, and what separates us from animals.  Truly, even many animals show more mercy and compassion than I have seen some purportedly good people show.  If we aid the Ogres through peaceful means now, perhaps they will one day help us in rememberance of our aid to them.  Even if they never do, is it not our duty to hope for and do our best to promote such a time, that all races might one day co-exist in peace?

As Ruvan once said to me, "Mastery of the blade gives us the power to offer with confidence to all the chance to choose good over evil."  Until now, I never understood, I only sought to master the greatsword for the power it would give me.  I am thankful that Ruvan guided me into using that power with responsibility.  I feel pulled to follow all his teachings, but they often frustrate me.  Sometimes the path seems too hard and I'd just give up and walk away.  No one's appointed me shepherd, after all.  Why should I care about the lives of others as long as I live my own rightly?  Maybe I really am a fool to be so idealistic and expect others to cease killing.  Gods!  Am I turning into a zealot in a way myself?

[Nehetsrev]

Oclar 3, 1406

The other night I went to dinner with Caighd at the home of his family.  He is a nice man, indeed.  His family are nice too, though his father is a bit stoic.  His mother happily doted on me in a cheerful manner, always a smile on her face.  Still, though they welcomed me almost like one of their own, I felt uncomfortable around them all.  I'm not used to so much attention I guess, at least not with genuine interest behind it.

In any case, though I do feel a little uncomfortable around Caighd even, I still found myself pouring out my frustrations to him about the Ogres of Haven and the general attitude of most 'good' people I've related my hopes to.  I really should try harder to focus more upon helping him find Amarylla for his sister, and also for the seven sleeping children he told me about, as well as the rest in the world that it would benefit.  It seems he spoke with a fellow named Ozy who told him to check with the Keep of the Tome for more information about Amarylla.  Only problem is it seems the location of the Keep of the Tome is also a big secret, and even if it weren't it sounded like they would gaurd their information closely and we'd have a hard time convincing them to share it with us.  Since it was brought up that this Ozy had been to the Keep of the Tome himself once, I thought to have Caighd ask him to show us the way, but a bystander to our conversation said that Ozy was now 'sleeping' which I guess means he went into a long seclusion or something.  Since I remember from my history lessons that Amarylla was linked to a priest of Aeridan, I suggested that Caighd try contacting someone in the church of Aeridan next since it seems unlikely we'll find the Keep of the Tome and be allowed to find the information we seek there.  Again, of any organization in the world it seems most likely to me that the Aeridinites would have the most information or clues about Amarylla of anyone.

At least my efforts to fill that huge order for iron half-plate are nearly over with.  I've only three suits left to be crafted and then I'll be done with it.  Then I think I'll get back to focussing on my blade-work for a while.  It seems a good place to practice may be the Direwood, near Fort Velensk.  There are monstrous spiders there in vast numbers, as well as other, darker things that should provide sufficient challenge to me.  One area of my swordwork I need to focus on more is learning to avoid being hit by my foes while still keeping in position to strike at them effectively.  The poison of the spiders ought to offer a great teaching tool and incentive to improve that area of my art.  Once I've mastered this area of my technique I will have attained the level of mastery of Ruvan, and after that I will be on my own to develop my art further.

[Nehetsrev]

Jenra 26, 1407

Much has happened in my life since my last writing.  I've had a couple more meetings with the Ogre Glurgle, and I finally received my audience with Lord Rodor of Haven Keep regarding the idea to help the Ogres relocate to the Un-named caves west of Haven.  Lord Rodor is skeptical and finally agreed to consider the idea further if I could fulfill two requests from him.

The first was to take with me to meet Glurgle and the other friendly Ogres a group of persons to bear witness that Glurlge and the other Ogres with him were as reasonable and benevolent as I have claimed.  This task of course proved quite easy to accomplish, though now that Glurgle's influence is growing among the members of the tribe the other Ogres under the direction of the current chief have begun assualting them somewhat regularly.  Still, the number of Ogres in support of Glurgle has double in a matter of days from 12 to 24.  Also of interst, on a previous visit Elohanna and I taught Glurgle how to draw using a burnt stick as charcoal on the cave walls, and now almost all of the Ogres with Glurgle have also begun drawing pictures of their own, showing them capable of learning and doing more than just bashing things.

The second task set to me by the Lord of the Keep was to find out what happened to a shipment of weapons and other equipment consisting of two wagons worth of goods that failed to arrive at Haven from Port Hampshire and to prove that the ogres had nothing to do with it.  In our investigation of the disappearance of the wagons I and those with me to bear witness discovered that the wagons had been beset by Gnolls.  The gnolls responsible appear to be of a new clan not normally found in the Haven area, and they seem to have the ability to disappear almost with the wind.  We tracked the Gnolls back to a large and well organized camp deep within the Sielwood.  Three of our number fell to a patrol from the camp and we were forced to retreat to Haven where we will offer our report to Lord Rodor.  Further proof that the gnolls we encountered were responsible for the loss of the two wagons was provided when we were able to find weapons in their possesion bearing the marks of the weapon smiths of Port Hampshire, and when we found the manifest of goods for the shipment in one of the two wagons that had been hidden off the side of the road.

I, and others of our group, feel that something big is going on in the Sielwood and that the Gnolls are only a part of that.  This presents a new problem for the whole area of Haven and Hlint, and perhaps even more of Mistone as a whole.  I have a tentative plan for dealing with the Gnolls, but it would involve the help of Glurgle and his friends doing some fighting, which I'm not sure he would be willing to commit too, despite our 'friendship'.  Lord Rodor has made it clear that at pressent the forces of the Haven area are spread so thin that he cannot spare anyone to help us.  Perhaps with the testimony of this new threat more aid can be mustered, though I will not count on it.

All of this is giving me a headache!  I never wanted to be a leader.  Yet, here I am smack in the middle of this finding myself leading a group of people, many of whom annoy me to no end.  I had to go on a long walk on my own to clear my head, eventually finding myself in the Direwood fighting spiders and spectres.  Indeed, I fought them quite well and I feel that I've finally begun to surpass Ruvan's level of mastery with the greatsword.  I am nearly one with my blade, and such an intimate connection has brought to mind a few alterations to the design that I will try in my next blade.  I would like to try my hand at forging the next one of adamantium, though first I must find a way to procure some of the rare ore.  I've heard it exists solely at Firesteep, a very dangerous place if ever there was one.  Looks like I will have to begin putting up with more people in order to get the ore I need, despite how much they annoy me.

[Nehetsrev]

Apreal 8, 1407

Indeed!  Why do I even bother to put faith into the goodness of people at all?  Another bunch of bloodthirsty murderer's too eager to spill blood of any kind to stop and give hope to the possibility of peace or innocence.  Why don't others seem to be able to see the opportunity we have with the ogres through Glurgle and his friends?  Instead they make light of the ogres they needlessly kill and pointedly mock me with phrases like, "No, ogres are fuzzy...We're looking for some to invite for tea ...."

I begin to doubt the sincerity of Sindor and his claims to think much as I about the ogres and killing in general.  How can he not be decieving himself when more than once I've found his chosen companions to be bloodthirsty murderers at heart?  I will not judge him too quickly, but once more in such company and I will have to confront him.  I know he cannot control the actions of others, but he can control his own actions and make sanction against murderous behavior by leaving those that act that way as I do.

At least Elohanna is of right heart, and I am thankful for her.  Of all those I've come to know since arriving in Hlint, she remains truest.

Days like this one cause me to wish to just leave them all behind and become a hermit.  Yet duty prevents me.  That conviction of what is right that Ruvan taught me pulls at my heart and I force myself to stay.  If not I, who will stand for commoner and peaceful ogre alike?  True, time and again I think it would simply be easiest to abandon the ogres, and abandon my duty to the commoners for whom I also oft speak...  But Ruvan so wisely taught me that doing the right thing is oft the most difficult and always the most rewarding.  While doing what is easiest is a sure way to moral turpitude.

...And those Gnolls...  What are they up to?  What can I do to halt their evil plans?  For indeed, they are most assuredly up to no good.

[Nehetsrev]

Mai 26, 1407

I think I upset Alaria with something I said and she ran off.  Elohanna ran off after Alaria, leaving me to talk with Omer for a moment at the campfire outside Hlint.  Omer was wanting to organize a trip to Dregar to hunt giants.  Normally something I would be willing to do as my duty to protect the commoners of my homeland, but today I just didn't feel I could.  My heart is heavy, and my focus slips a little lately.  Not to a degree that it brings much danger, but still, I can feel that my focus isn't what it should be.

Met an old Elven lady today too.  Her name is Caniel Scarlace.  She seems a bit embittered.  Not that I'm one to talk.

Guess I haven't written before about Alaria either, though I met her a few days ago.  Seems she's the daughter of the woman who was once Elohanna's own nanny.  For the most part she seems quiet.  I wonder what I could have said that caused her to run off?  Maybe it wasn't anything to do with me anyway.

Haven't seen Glurgle in some time.  I hope he and the other friendly Ogres are doing well and staying out of too much conflict with the other Ogres.  I'm guessing they've gone into hiding to protect themselves, and their more stupid tribe-brothers and sisters.

[Nehetsrev]

Junar 19, 1407

Wonder of wonders, Elohanna and I, along with Elohanna's friend Alaria, bumped into Glurgle again in the Haven Mines.  He told us how he and the other friendly Ogres had to find a new place to live and had moved to a hidden mine tunnel they could block with a boulder to keep the stupid ogres out.  I was so glad to see Glurgle was alright, that I forgot to ask him if he and the other Ogres might help with the new Gnoll clan in the Sielwood.

I did remember to give him the iron chain shirt I'd forged for him and I'm glad to have that weight off my back.  About five times the normal amount of iron went into the making of that chain shirt in order to make it big enough for Glurlge's huge frame, and indeed I may have over-estimated some as the thing hangs rather loosely on him, but he still wears it with great appreciation.  I taught him to use grease in order to care for the armor and his sword and help keep them from rusting, since it seems oil is something still beyond the reach of Ogres in many regards.  Elohanna gave him the masterwork ring she'd made a week or so ago, I was almost jealous.

It seems that the number of friendly Ogres still grows but Glurgle couldn't give us an exact count of their number this time as there weren't enough fingers and toes around for him to count on.  He also told us he has a son named Gundle who is good at acting stupid, but is just as smart as, or perhaps smarter than Glurgle himself.  Gundle stays mixed in with the stupid Ogres and helps protect the friendly ones from them by ensuring their new home remains a secret.  Glurgle says Gundle even speaks the common tongue better than he himself.

Sad news reminding me of a regretable day, the friendly Ogres have only healer left among them.  Glurgle says this last healer has become quite an artist as well and has drawn the history of the friendly Ogre's upon the walls of thier new home even using colors.  I'll look forward to seeing this mural, as art has always held my interest, and art from an Ogre is a thing unheard of until recent days.

Alaria...  What to say?  She's a mage, like Elohanna, though less experienced and more apt to make mistakes.  Several times I've been singed by her lightning bolts or fireballs and have had to reprimand her.  She also seems to get into trouble more often than Elohanna, and I've had to use a good number of healing potions on her to keep her safe.  All of this makes her quite annoying, yet still, for some reason I not only tollerate her, but feel I may even like her to some degree.  Maybe it's her child-like ways that draw out my compassion?  Or perhaps it's her fool-hardy bravery in the face of danger that I can't help but find amusing.  I'll continue to try to teach her to keep herself more safe and learn to better judge the battlefield so she can cast her spells without harming those with her.

Then there's Caniel.  As stated before, she is stern and perhaps a bit bitter, yet her honesty is refreshing.  She is well-seasoned, and knows better to cast her spells more effectively for each situation.  She seems to favor those spells that assist her companions in doing their job rather than directly damaging foes so much.  With her spells helping to further empower myself and my blade I am able to even more quickly devastate foes when it comes to fighting.  I admire her responsible use of magic, and it's mages such as her that are the exception to my general disliking of spell-castors.  She once served in the royal guard of Pranzis, but long before Ruvan's time.

I am a little disappointed in Omer.  We made a trip together to the Barbarian Isles and it didn't go so well.  I chanced to take him to the cave of the goblins there, though I suspected such a venture might be beyond my abilities.  We were in the cave, down near where the saphire is found and some goblins mounted on worgs spotted me.  I fought them as best as I could, but they over-powered me.  I shouldn't have been counting on Omer for support I suppose, for he came ill-prepared and had no potions to aid me with or perhaps I'd have lived through the encounter.  Yet as I fought and cast my gaze around looking for his aid as I fought he was no where to be seen, cloaked in invisibility.  I can say that as I made way to return to the place I had fallen he did at least cloak me in invisibility as well, though he did not remain to see if I made it or not.  Perhaps it's his inexperience that caused him to be so unreliable.  I know I will not easilly entrust myself to rely on him in the future, though I will give him the chance to redeem himself, if only for Elohanna's sake and my friendship to her.

In relation to my friends, I came to an odd realization.  Despite my general disliking of magickers, it seems most of my companions of late are all Elven mages of one kind or another.  Caniel made the comment that I'm an Elf magnet and asked if I have Elven in my blood.  Of course I don't.  There's Elohanna, Alaria, Caniel, and Omer, all mages whom I find tollerable at the least, if not dependable and responsible.  I have few other persons I regard as friends who are not magickers, Ellis being one that comes to mind, Sindor another.  The Dwarf Fragnath may be friend-material, and took it surprisingly well that I bested him in a 'king-of-the-hill' match up in Shoufal.  He also endured a few jests at his expense that I made.  Odd how life works out.

[Nehetsrev]

Augra 8, 1407

Why is it the kind of people that most annoy me seem attracted to be in my pressence?  Bah!  Lately a zealot of Aeridan by name of Tarquin Aurora has been following me about almost like a lost puppy.  Fortunately, he does not seem to be intent on converting me as most zealots tend to, and neither has he condemned me for killing the creatures I must to get the things I need for my crafting practices as most Aeridinites tend to do.  I still try to avoid killing when I can, and even when forced to fight I prefer to simply disable my foes, leaving them unconscious and unable to fight, rather than kill them.  A being can often go on living without a hand to hold a weapon after all.  Perhaps such might learn or teach others by their example that fighting without need is both un-wise and un-profitable.  Maybe then will future generations learn to seek peace instead of resorting to killng as thier means of resolving dispute.

I passed Caighd on the road recently.  He only nodded solemnly in passing.  I should have turned about and engaged him is speaking, but I was helping Tarquin with a task he'd been set to.  I don't know why, but I really like Caighd though we've only spent a few moments here and there together.  He's just so friendly, I guess...  and I wish I could help him more with his sister.

Indeed, I've written enough for now, time to go do some collecting for that dark-skin Drow in Lellion.  He pays quite well and I need the money badly enough.  Though I've yet to hear tales of a Drow saving children...