Treana Min E'Zoenna - Heart of True Peace

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 41 - Sunra, Oclar 8, 1400

Time is slipping by quickly once again.  With near only two months before our wedding date, I think both Talen and I are growing a little restless in our waiting.  The other day we went into the Grey Peaks, just the two of us.  Talen fell to an ogre, and I myself had to flee with the last of my strength.  I ran as quickly as I could to a place of comfort, the waterfall near Blackford.  Talen found me there, in his weakened state from his death at the hands fo the ogre.  I was afraid, and heartbroken for him.  In my moment of weakness I despaired so that I chose to remain behind while he went alone to his death-site to recover.  A while passed and I could bear my cowardice no longer, so I ran to the base of the mountains, hoping to catch him on his way.  To no avail, he'd already passed beyond the border of the lands guarded by the ogres and I was left to wait for him there.  In time he appeared again in my sight, wholly restored and grinning with his boyish grin.  My heart rejoiced at seeing him so.  After we returned to the campfire outside Hlint to rest a while together, neither of us speaking much to the other.  Finally, I drifted off to sleep in his arms.  He is gone again, I discovered upon waking, not unusually.

Other things of note that occured these last days, before the trip with Talen, include the purchase of a used iron chain shirt from Freldo.  I have of course replaced the worn and turquiose fabrics of the thing with new ones more stylish, as well as altering the chain portion to better fit myself.  I will have to show Freldo what real fashion should look like the next I see him.  I also donated several more items to Roldem's Relief.  Jennara even gave me some raw materials others had donated and I worked them into finished slings and a pair of leather boots.  As I went back to the wherehouse of the Freelancers that Jennara had brought me to earlier, looking to find her there and give her the finished items for the Relief as well, I found the door locked.  I knocked and after a moment it opened, so I assumed she was still within, cataloging items as she told me she might be.  However, upon entering to look for her, I found the place empty.  I turned to leave and as I headed toward the exit, a man of the Freelancers guild came into the building.  He thought me to be a thief I think, even after I explained how I had come to be within the structure.  He sent me out with warning that he would check into my story and talk with the founders about me.  I suppose I am fortunate he did not immediately go to the local authorities.  After leaving, I found Jennara near the bank and gave her the items I'd made, explaining what had happened at the Freelancers storehouse when I went looking for her there.  Eventually the man from the building found us and apologized to me for treating me the way he had.  I took his apology and told him that if our situations had been reversed I would certainly have acted in the same manner, and that it was nothing for him to feel badly about.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 42 - Tunar, Oclar 24, 1400

I do not want to write today.  However, I will force myself to write anyway.  In an expedition to kill a bugbear captain that was organizing bugbear forces near Point Harbor, I fell in battle and I felt the terrible happen for the first time.  The Soul Mother ripped from me a bit of my spirit.  I still feel a terrible hole inside, an emptiness that seems as though it will never be filled.  When it happened, in that instant the pain, or feeling of tearing (it's impossible to describe properly in words) was so great I heard a scream and at first didn't even realise it was my own.  It was almost as though I had been wrenched from my body a split second before death, so quickly it happened.  And then, moments later my consciousness returned to the world at the bindstone in Point Harbor.  I wandered, zombie-like, back toward the place of my dying though I vaguely remember my first attempts to return were thwarted by the bugbears and I was forced to retreat.  Someone must have made me invisible then, for I wandered a second time to my death-site and made it without being seen by the bugbears.  After that I don't know exactly what happened, but that even returning to my grave didn't fill the empty space in my spirit that I feel now.  Eventually I found myself standing in Hlint again, a day or two later.  I had dim recollections of wandering to the High Forest to gather aloe and being litterally smashed to a lifeless pulp by the treants.  It took a second death to make me realize I was still alive, though missing that fragment of my soul that the Soul Mother had taken.  Elladan helped me to my place of death this time, and together we fought the treants and claimed some aloe.  I will not tell Anna of that, I know it would hurt her to know I fought the tree-men.  The people of Roldem need the healing kits I can make with the aloe though, and though I would rather not fight the treants to get it, they do not seem to wish to allow me to take any for even such a noble cause.

Yet my dying was not over for this period of days it would seem.  After attending the night at the Lelion Arms, and buying there for myself some new jewelry, I left with Mr. Darsus as he asked me to show him how to fight ogres and other things.  I took him to a place outside Fort Llast and we fought a couple of the ogre berserkers in that area.  They proved a bit too tough for one of my skill, and we were forced to retreat after slaying them in order that I might rest from my injuries.  I decided perhaps that the ants near Port Hampshire would be better foes suited to the skill of Mr. Darsus and myself, so we set off that way instead.  Stopping at the inn in Fort Hope I rested some more to finish restoring my energy.  As we made to pass onward to Port Hampshire from there, three griffons dropped from the sky upon us.  Normally they do not give me so much trouble, but this time I just couldn't seem to make my blade connect as they lanced at me with their sharp and hooked talons.  I fell beneath their blows even as I hear Mr. Darsus calling me to retreat.  Moments later I found myself weak from death yet again, and back in Hlint.  I elected to wait out the effects of this passing rather than make the long journey back.

So, I sat down by the pond and waited.  Anna found me there and we whiled away the time talking.  Eventually Mr. Darsus also found his way back to Hlint and joined us there.  Then Rhynn came into town, something seemed to be troubling her, so Anna and I asked what had happened.  She told us that Thomas had kissed her!  In that instant I was ready to find the man and castrate him for dishonoring her so!  He knows her heart belongs to Freldo and yet he persists to court her!  He lied to me in telling me he only sought her friendship!  He is undeserving of the annointing of a paladin, and I will file a grievance with the church of Rofirein for his transgression against their own code.  A paladin of Rofirein should never lie.  I will speak first to Jennara of this, to find out the proper way to submit my complaint.  This lecherous one should be stripped of his annointing and I mean to ensure it is done, and failing that I will see to that justice is served in some other way if I must.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 43 - Wedlar, Novlar 11, 1400

What things of significance to write of today?  Well, to start with I will write of a minor victory of a personal nature.  I returned with Addison and a large party of other adventurers to Bear Island near Point Harbor, to overcome my fear of meeting the Soul Mother a second time.  There we did battle with the very bugbears that had sent me to see the Soul Mother only days ago, and we were victorious, though one or two of our number fell.  I myself stayed alive through it all this time round, much because of the aid and good example of Addison.  I don't know why, but I seem able to keep a clearer head during battle when I am with her, and I make fewer mistakes.

Prior to leaving Hlint to head to Bear Island, I came across that no-good lying lech of a man who soils the name of Rofirein in disgrace.  The paladin Thomas, and I think him not worthy of such title or annointing, continued to lie bold-faced to me in saying that he did not seek to court Rhynn but instead only wished her friendship.  How this worm can continue to allow such untruth to roll off his split tongue and have good conscience and favor of his god is beyond me.  Rhynn herself has told me of the way he kissed her, though he says he kissed her like a brother kisses a sister.  I very much would like to give in to my urges to castrate the fool, but the laws of the land, and of Toran whom I serve in my limited knowledge, stay my hand from action.  Rhynn told me that she has told Freldo of the matter with Thomas, and that together she and he plan to deal with him.  This is a good thing, whould it come to pass, for by the ways of the Old Culture it is their right to confront such a lech as would try to come between them.

Enough ink wasted on that scoundrel.  Let me return to things more worthy of my time.  After our victory at Bear Island, Addison and I joined with Ketil' the dwarf and had our own trip to Dregar.  Along our path we met a sorceror whom Addison introduced as Kavil, the greatest sorceror in all the world.  He denied such acclaim, but I must confess his spells made me feel almost invincible while we all fought the giants together.  He seemed quite impressed with my own skill at digging clay, and I dug quite a bit of it for him.  Going into the caves of the giants we successfully came out with more gems and loot than I could carry well without the magic aid of Kavil's spells.  Among our loot was a pair of blue suede boots that I had found in the possesion of one of the giants.  They looked very comfortable, and Kavil said they held some impressive magical properties.  Wish that I had been fortunate enough to win the draw for them as we split our takings, but that honor fell to Ketil', and he seemed quite pleased to receive the new footwear.  I truly hope they serve him well.  Perhaps one day I'll find another pair for myself.

To bring the great string of recent days to a wonderful close, I spent more time in the company of my beloved Talen.  Together he and I aided Mr. Darsus in retrieving a lost necklace in the Sielwood caves, though I find the venture itself rather insignificant.  It was the time spent by Talen's side which lifted my spirits further into the heavens that I truly treasured from those moments.  I walk now, this new day, leary of what step I might take the could send me plummeting downward to earth again.  I hope this feeling of floating on air never ends though.

Oh!  I should not forget to mention, before the trip to Bear Island with Addison, I had a very successful venture into the Haven Mines with the Pandorns.  Kyle and Ferrit are both such good people, and I'm honored ot call them friends.  Though, admittedly my relationship with Ferrit is still rather a distant one.  I wonder if she feels me to be imposing upon her husband?  I hope that isn't her mind, for though I care for Kyle as a brother and close friend, my heart and passion lies with Talen.  I shall have to try to grow closer to Ferrit as a friend.  I think the two of us could get along quite well together once we're passed the formal barriers we each tend to pressent socially.

Lastly, a sad bit of news discovered over breakfast with my friend Nehetsrev.  We were discussing our normal business dealings when I overheard mention of the name of Cole.  I stepped to the next table and inquired further to learn that it is rumored that Cole Norseman, Addisons beloved, had fallen at last in a battle with trolls.  I hope Addison hasn't gotten wind of the rumor yet, as I wish to be there for her when she does.  I don't know if she'll even believe it though, and I suspect she'll wish to go look for his body herself to confirm it.  My worst fear is that upon hearing the tale she'll go off on her own foolishly risking her life and that of her unborn child, Cole's child.  I scarcely knew the man myself, having only met him once or twice, but in those meetings he showed his greatness of spirit and heart.  It is no wonder that Addison loves him as much as she does.  Maybe the rumors aren't true at all, and it is that hope that I will cling ot along side Addison until we see with our own eyes his remains if they are to be found.  If he is passed for the final time, we need find those remains and bring them to a place where he may rest in peace.  To leave them in the lands of the hands of those who may have slain him would be without honor, love, or compassion.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 44 - Wedlar, Novlar 25, 1400

Addison is riding between extremes of emotion now.  The death of Cole, now more a solid fact than speculation because of his long absence and the rumors that bear witness to his end.  She goes from showing forth that strong face of determination and resolve to breaking down into tears and repeated attempts to end her own life.  I don't know what to do for her other than try to comfort her and simply just there at her side.

Together with Rhynn, Freldo, Talen, Addison, and myself we had planned an expedition to search the areas Cole is rumored to have died in.  Addison feels it important to find Cole's blade 'Wicked', and having had Erathim's blade to comfort me in my time of grieving, I can understand why.  I also do not feel well that such a great heros remains should be left to rot, but instead they should be found, returned, and given a proper burial.  But I digress, for I meant to write about our ill-fate expdition and what happened, more than the why of it that we undertook it.

As we set out, Addison had a fit of emotion and charged blindly ahead of all of us, seeking ot have her own life ended by giants.  It was all I could do just to try keeping up, and aside from that Freldo and Rhynn were fighting amongst themselves for some reason or another.  At last, after a beating from the giants Addison collapsed to the ground after felling the last of their group and I came upon the scene.  The others caught up as I tried to comfort her.  Having calmed her finally to a point of reasoning, we waited until last of all Talen caught up and then we decided to press onward in our trek.  So it was into the woods we went, and almost as quickly both Rhynn and Freldo were taken down in our first engagement, Talen nearly died as well, but I managed to tend his wounds in to prevent his death.  So, the three of us remaining turned about and set our feet to return to Pranzis.  None of us being a cleric, Rhynn and Freldo could not be raised.

Back in Pranzis, Addison received a letter via falcon and explained she must depart quickly and alone.  She thrust into my hand the key to a home so that the remaining four of us could return to Hlint after Rhynn and Freldo secured their graves.  However, Rhynn and Freldo continued to fight amongst themselves, so in the end it was only myself and Talen who used the portal back to Hlint.

My blood pumping with need of adventure yet, Talen and I set out on our own journeys, first collecting corn near Port Hampshire, then heading to Rilara to explore and find almonds.  We found the almonds, and the giants who guarded them.  They proved to be a bit more of a match for us together than we were ready for, so Talen stuck to sneaking about in order to gather the almonds he needed, while I waited far off.  Then we traveled further until we came upon a cave filled with kenku.  Near there Talen gathered some Angelica leaf for me at my request.  We parted ways for a time after that to find rest, and so that Talen could run an errand of some sort that he needed to do.

Finding myself alone I sailed to Port Hampshire from Point Harbor.  With the single intent of practicing my sword technique upon the many giant ants that plague the fields there I set about doing so.  As I fought, weakened by the venom of one of the ants, Beli the dwarf came upon me and assisted me in putting odwn the last of the group of ants I'd been fighting.  As I made slowly my way to the Inn, he talked me into going hunting Manticores with him.  Being the brave and often foolish woman I am sometimes, I followed him to battle against the beasts, where we quickly met our ends.  I learned the valuable lesson that Manticores are not beasts to be engaged lightly, despite Beli's assuarances that normally he can take them on his own and that with the ais of another it ought to be easier.  It is fortunate that as Beli returned from where he was bound in Hlint that he brought with him several others, for the manticores seemed content to drool over my gravestone for the entire time I waited.  Having recovered my grave after the manticores were slain, I set myself back to the task of practice against the ants.

Talen joined me not long after and I finally gained the insight to be able to apply the enchantments I'd traded with Ozymandius for some months ago.  Now each of my rapiers glows with a magic power, one with that of cold, and the other with that of lightning.  With enchanted blades in hand, talen and I made ot return to Hlint, meeting Addison on our way through Fort Hope.  She offered to allow us use of a portal within the Crimson Shield guild hall, and we accepted since doing so would shorten our trip considerably.  After reaching Hlint, Addison parted from our company and Talen and I set to gathering elderberries in the rolling plains east and north of Hlint.  Sensing Talen to be in a foul mood, I pressed him for the reason and he revealed to me he owed a debt of two-thousand gold coins and that a certain amount of resentment toward myself had built up throughout the day as I seemed to be collecting much of the gold from our fallen foes.  I offered to give him the coin he needed to pay his debt, but he refused to accept my offering, wishing not to bring his debt into our coming marriage or our current relationship I would guess.  I understood his need to resolve the debt on his own, and to assist him in doing so I began to refrain from gathering bounty from our fallen foes so that he might more quickly realize his goal.  At last, as we made to return to Hlint and rest from our hard work, Talen lagged behind and was beset upon by a large group of kobolds in his weakened state.  I heard the sounds of fighting behind me and rushed to aid him, but I was too late.  He fell to their attacks of magic and I had no bandages to apply to his wounds even after slaying the last of the kobolds.  I waited at his gravestone for him to make his way back from the bindstone in Hlint, and my sorrow for his passing washed down my face in tears until his return.  With my helm to cover my face, I'm sure he did not see those tears, and I put on a steady voice to keep him from concern.  We said goodnight at the inn a short time later.  It pains me to see him pass each time it happens, as I am sure it pains him to see the same happen to me.  Yet neither of us can put aside our needs for adventure, the call to action is much too strong for us to ignore.  I sometimes wonder at the pain our future together might hold, and whether one of us will be left behind by the other, as has happened to Addison and Cole, and may soon happen to Anna and Mr. Mith.  Surely the joys of love outweigh such pain, but they also make the pain far greater when it comes.

Toran preserve us all.

[Nehetsrev]

*the script of this entry is written in much looser, sloppier letters.  Someone who studies handwriting might guess that the writer was inebriated when this was written*

Entry 45 - Mulnari, Decilar 9, 1400

I left Talen in the Sielwood.  I've ended the courting, and left my courting garb at his feet.  I still love him, and it pains me greatly, but I do not think we would have flourished together after all.  I expect too much of him, and he cannot give it.  Perhaps I am too stubborn.  Still, his anger flares so often, and it takes all my energy to drag out of him the reasons why sometimes.  I cannot endure always being the one to do the soothing, to fix the problems and relieve the burdens.  I need him to do that for me as well, but he seems not to know how, and admits such.  Perhaps we moved into things too quickly.  Perhaps a true love between us was not meant to be.  Perhaps what he says is true and the secret mission he has been on when he's away is the root of our problems, causing him to be angry in my pressence whenever he thinks of it.  Maybe we can start again, maybe not.  For now though, there will be no wedding.  Better to delay another year, or even a decade, than to make such a great commitment in error.

I can feel the crying getting ready to come now.  I haven't shed a tear yet, but I will when I finish this writing.  Floods will come.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 46 - Sunra, Jenra 1, 1401

The time of my wedding day has come and passed, though there was no wedding.  Talen and I have made our amends, but we decided together to wait until we were both sure things would work out before we wed, and consequently before we begin a new year of courting for the wedding once we do decide again upon it.  Time seems to move so quickly when we would wish it to slow down and allow us to properly live, and then when we wish for it to fly past so we can enjoy the days we anticipate most it taunts us by crawling more slowly than a snail.

The traditions demand a year of courting, or engagement as it is termed by most, and I have already waited through that term once only to depart from it mere days before it's conclusion.  Yet, it is better to wait another year or more to be sure of our love than to commit to a life with one whom I do not love fully or who does not love me fully.  In the Old Culture, marriage once done is binding and cannot be undone except in the case of severe abuse.  Unlike much of the world, divorce is not a part of our culture, for in our ways a promise must be kept when given, even to the result of our own discomfort or loss.  It pains me, but it is better we wait before making such promises, in case we would find we cannot keep them.

I spoke with Jennara about some other matters that weigh upon me to some degree.  The efforts to collect things for the people of Roldem are to be drawn to a close soon, yet donations have not nearly reached the goals needed to make a significant impact in the lives of most of those in need.  I do not understand why so many have done so little to ease the suffering there, and in that way to also strengthen the bonds between our nations.  I must confess, I have not myself worked tirelessly day and night to make things for the relief, yet I have toiled for a good amount of time and given many things even at cost of much of my own wealth.  I see the importance of this effort and I do what I can to a point.

Jennara also spoke with me regarding the investigation of Thomas, the paladin of Rofirein whom I believe to be lying to myself, and to Rhynn, and to many others.  Jennara spoke to Rhynn about the man, and she evidently told Jennara she does not believe my suspicions true, but I feel Rhynn is only saying such to cover for him and protect him.  Jennara agrees with me that it needs to be seen if Thomas is indeed lying, for a paladin to do so soils the name of Rofirein as they are to be truthful in all things at all times.  If I have made a mistake in my own assumptions, then I will apologize to Thomas at the end of this.

There is more I could write of, much more that has come to light in these last few days.  I found out that Kyle was who Talen had chosen as his Viza Na'Ruvan, and it shed light on a great deal of the manner in which Kyle had been acting around me lately.  I can only think him the truest of friends for his resolve to see Talen and I happilly married even at risk to his own good conscience in some ways.  I can only imagine how hard it was for him to agree to the role.  I hope that Talen does not ask him again to fill the role when we finally decide to wed, yet neither can I influence Talen's choice of Viza Na'Ruvan in any way as tradition does not allow it.

What more can I write of?  Much more, but I will refrain for there is much I must do today and the hour is growing too late.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 47 - Sunra, Jenra 15, 1401

A new month and a new year to start things off fresh with, in a manner.  Though in reality nothing is much changed from the last day of the previous month and year.  I spent the first 4 days of the month gathering supplies for and making various items to donate to the Roldem Relief efforts.  I made several sets of boots even, and had to kill a few deer to do so.  I'm not sure Talen would approve, but the need of the people in Roldem is too great for me to ignore, too great for my dislike, and Talen's, of killing deer too allow the suffering in Roldem to go on.  Other things I was able to make were a number of cloth slings, and cloth robes.

On the 5th it was the anual date that marks my birthing.  I am now twenty-one years of age and it's been about 2 years since I was called to Hlint.  I spent almost the entire day with Miss AnnaLee at the Freelancer's in Point Harbor.  She was tending bar there, and apparently there was some secret meeting going on involving Quillwem, Seteece, and a strange man I've not seen before.  Normally I wouldn't have bothered taking much notice, but I heard the words 'Black Pearl' and remembering the letter Talen had shown me the night we had our fight I recalled the letter had been signed by someone as 'The Black Pearl'.  I wondered if the two instances were related and even tried to hint to Anna without giving too much away that I thought it was something to do with Talen's secret mission.  After some time the stranger finally left.

In honor of the memory of Cole Norseman, Quillwem and Seteece had told Anna to give free drinks to everyone who might show for that day.  I was proud to drink in memory of Addison's lover, in my own view her husband though never formally married.  I only met him a few brief times, but I know he must have been a great man to have won Addison's heart so completely.  It seems, like myself, Cole had good taste in drinks and prefered Xeenite Wine, so that is what I chose to drink.  I also had a piece of rhubarb pie to celebrate my birthday, which Seteece also told Anna to give me freely.  I was thankful for the generosity, even though in the Old Culture we did not exchange gifts for birthdays, but instead we celebrated mainly by reminescing together about the past year.  Beli Tenker showed up at the Freelancer's too, and surpried me as he'd come in under a spell of invisibility.  Aparently he hadn't a dispelling focus of his own.  When he learned it was my birthday he gave me a Dessert Firstbloom flower, and I thanked him for his generosity as well, giving him a hug that caused the Dwarf to blush.  It's refreshing to not have to be so cold towards my friends who are men, for a time at least until Talen and I begin courting again.  My heart is still faithful to Talen of course, and I do not seek a different man to love.

After my birthday celebration, as quiet as it was, Anna and I ported back to Hlint together.  We ran into Ash who joined us for a time while we sought out some aloe and tried to find where catnip grows.  From what both Anna and Ash seem to recall, there may be some in an area near Velensk.  Perhaps when next Talen and I are together we can look around there if he still needs some.  In any case, eventually Anna decided to retire to her place in the High Forest, and Ash and I traveled together until we ran into Kyle just outside Hlint's east gate.

Later, I ran into Silool.  We had a talk and I gave her a special task.  It'd been so long since we'd last met, nearly a full year, and we tried to get caught up.  Oh, how she can talk!  At times I'm hard pressed to get a word in edgewise, even when she's paused to ask me a question.  It's quite entertaining and a little annoying at times, but I like her anyway.  While we talked Mr. Ravenlock wandered up and joined the chat for a brief few minutes before Talen himself appeared.  Silool is quite perceptive, and she left along with Mr. Ravenlock, to give Talen and I a bit of private time together there near the pond.

Talk we did.  In hushed whispers I asked Talen to tell me more about this mysterious mission he's been involved with.  It seems even he doesn't know who the 'Black Pearl' is, but I told him of what I saw and heard of the meeting at the Freelancer's, not that I knew much to tell.  He did say if I wanted to know more about his mission in Karthy that I should also talk to Miss AnnaLee, and Starr Saphire.  I don't really know Mr. Saphire well, so I asked him to make sure Anna knew she could talk to me about the mission so that she wouldn't feel she had to withhold too much from me.  I hesitate to involve myself too much further in this secret mission, but at the same time I can't help but want to know what dangers my beloved Talen is facing while he is away.  Indeed, I even yearn to be at his side while he is facing those dangers, though I know that likely isn't possible.

I think I'll make a new set of Courting Garb in the next few days.  I wish now that Talen and I hadn't had our problem before our wedding was to happen.  If we hadn't I could be wrapped in his arms now, instead of wishing I didn't have to wait for another year to pass before we can wed.  I should have given him more time to grow, and been more reasonable in my own mind for his actions.  Still, I suppose, it is better we waited to find out our love for eachother is true.  Better than wedding only to find we did not love eachother as fully as we thought.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 48 - Tunar, Febra 3, 1401

The Soul Mother again took a piece of my soul.  I was with Talen, and a few others, exploring an area in Rilara where there was supposed to be a cave where one could gather silk.  However, outside the cave guarding the way to it were large blue snakes. These snakes proved to be extremely venomous and killed most of our party within just a matter of moments.  I fought when I should have ran, having seen m'lanna Talen in peril.  However, the death resulting from stayong to fight was not the one on which the Soul Mother visited me.  No, I was twice the fool.  We returned to try to claim our graves, but the snakes were guarding the way to them.  I heard a voice in the air, it told me that the way was clear to our graves, so trusting and stupid as I was I went forward not even seeing the snakes until they were upon me.  I found out later the voice I heard belonged to Dur'Thak's familiar, Nyx, an imp.  I should never have trusted an imp, but by then it was too late, and I caused my own death as well as those of several others, and that's when the Soul Mother tore out another piece of me.  I feel even more empty within, the hole grows larger.

We set foot and sail back to Port Hampshire, Talen and I.  We went to another cave between there and Fort Hope, the one that is filled with beholders, stone golems and dire spiders.  There we found a little more silk and I collected many venom sacks which I intend to provide to Bumblebee for his practice.  After our venture there, we met Addison in Fort Hope and she allowed us to portal from the hall of her guild back to Hlint, saving us a bit of a walk.  I let Talen go ahead while I stayed behind to talk with Addison for a short time.  She seems much more stable now, though she still mourns Cole and grieves his passing with all her heart, but she doesn't seem to have the drive to end her life anymore.  Perhaps she will be alright again in time, I certainly hope so.  I would hate to lose her, perhaps even as much as I would hate losing Talen.

At last back in Hlint I spent a short time with Talen in the crafting hall before I finally took my leave and returned to the Wild Surge for some rest, and contemplation.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 49 - Wedlar, Febra 18, 1401

It's been almost 2 months since Talen and I were supposed to have wed originally and I've yet to finish making my new set of courting garments.  I've just been so busy with other things, mainly the creation of items for donation to the Roldem Relief efforts.  I think even Talen is growing impatient with the waiting, and in a mischievious way I think that's good.  He said he'd be around a lot sometime in the next few days, so I'm looking forward to adventuring with him, perhaps even a trip to Dregar.

Last I saw Addison, she looked fit to burst.  I mean, she looked as though her baby could be born any day, if not any minute.  I was worried for a moment when it seemed she was considering a trip to the Plane of the Lost to try to bring back Cole, but it seems my worries may be rather unfounded.  She was very easy to talk out of it, perhaps too easy.

Anna told me of some trouble she and a few others are having with a noble from Port Hampshire involving the daughter of a rich merchant and his wish to marry her (for the money I think).  The lady is not in love with the noble, and wishes to marry a commoner who has her heart instead.  Because Anna and the others sided with love rather than the selfish motives of the nobleman, he's hired Drow assassins to kill them all.  Anna seemed quite on-edge about it, and her eyes would dart about constantly while we talked, and she seemed almost to jump at every sound.

Rhynn is upset with Jennara because she thinks Jennara said she is a liar.  When I went to Jennara to report Thomas and his actions to her and have him investigated, I had not intention of putting Jennara in such a bad spot with Rhynn.  Still, perhaps I should tell Rhynn that it was I who implied she was lying to cover for Thomas, not Jennara.  Though doing so might cause Rhynn to alert Thomas to the whole investigation if she really is covering for him.  I don't know why she continues to feed that lech's ambitions for her by not driving him away and by also covering for him.  Though, it may not matter as I may have found a way to get the proof we need that Thomas is a liar, and thus have him stripped of his annointing as a paladin of Rofirein, whose name he currently soils through his actions.  At least to me it seems such.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 50 - Tunar, Mar 3, 1401

Love is still a banner under which my life seems to march.  I love Talen, plain and simple.  We were able to spend a fair ammount of time together traveling to Shoufal and also to Dregar.  I scarce recall most of the details of our trip, my mind was too absorbed in simply gazing at him as we walked together.  At one point in Shoufal, I slipped into such a state of wakeful dreaming that I lost track of all around me.  I wonder sometimes if when this happens to me it is unnatural or if my mind is ill in some way.  When I 'awaken' it always scares me.  I might find myself somewhere else than where I started, or surrounded by people that werent' there before.  Near the end of our time together these last few days, Talen and I traveled through Karthy and onward to Fort Himlad on our return trip from Dregar.  Fortunately, I remembered enough of the way from my trip with AnnaLee so long ago to keep us from getting too lost.  We parted company at Fort Himlad, Talen had some business in the area to attend to that he said would take him a while, so I continued back to Hlint from there on my own.

Addison was with us for a while too.  Her newborn baby boy, Calvin, she kept wrapped safely and warm.  I could tell, even in battle with the child tucked into a carrier on her back, she was careful not to jostle him about too much with her movements.  I cannot think of any place more secure for him than with her, even though Addison's mother seemed ill-at-ease with the way Addison was taking him with her on some of her adventures.  Addison seemed much more happy than I've seen her in some time, and while it is obvious she is still pained greatly by Coles absence in her life, she seems to be moving onward in her grief toward brighter days.

Once back in Hlint I went to the crafting house to make some alterations to the iron reinforced clothes I'd made a few days ago.  I nust have had another of my waking-dreams though, for I had a rude awakening in the pressence of Tegan and that lech Thomas.  Thomas made some remark, which I'm not entirely sure was directed at me, saying, "Are you trying to look pretty or seduce someone?"  Being that I am again in the courting period with Talen, I wanted badly to slit the man's throat right then and there, even if his comment might have been directed at Tegan.  Instead I simply walked away and changed back into my courting garb before leaving the crafting house for a time.  I came back later and waited until that swine Thomas was gone before I began again altering the garment I'd gone there to alter in the first place.

As I was about to leave, I stumbled across both Freldo and Rhynn, the turquoise bard's unique and distinctive laugh catching my attention as I headed to the door.  It turns out that Rhynn had quite a bit of adventure these last few days.  She helped some kidknapped politician and was also with AnnaLee when they drew the ire of some noble in Port Hampshire and were set upon by Drow assassins.  It seems I miss all the big adventures like these.  But, oh well, that's just the way life is I guess.  I probably wouldn't have been of much use anyway.  A little later as I was helping Mr. Darsus to apply some enchantments to his sword and axe, Rhynn came by to whisper in my ear that Freldo had told her he might be pressenting her with a wedding ring sometime soon.  I hope he does, they have been living rather improperly together for some time, but if they wed I think it may be excuseable.  I also think that they will be much happier together once they know their commitment to eachother is solidified in wedlock.

A final note of utmost significance:  The new date for the wedding of myself and Talen is to be the 20th day of the 2nd month, of the year 1402.  I am overjoyed to be granted the love of this wonderful man whom I've come to know.  The mere fact that he wishes to continue to court me, even after our disagreements, is enough for me to know his love is really true.  My own love for him is also no longer of any question in my mind, he has proven himself to me over and over again to be that one whom I can trust with all the love of my heart.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 51 - Threas, Mar 19, 1401

Karthy.  That's where we were going to head to on our little trip.  We didn't make it there yet though.  Addison, Rain Darsus, Talen, an elf whose name I don't know and who cannot speak common, and myself set out together from Hlint.  Dur'thak was to come with originally, but got tied up doing some chores or something prior to our departure.  We ran up to Fort Hope and portalled from the Crimson Shield guild hall with Addison to Pranzis in Dregar.  Initially the plan was to then make the walk to Lorindar and sail from there to Karthy, instead we decided to have a 'romp' through the countryside slaying giants.  Unfortunately for myself, Talen, and Mr. Darsus, the giants slew us.  Talen and Mr. Darsus each fell once, and I fell twice, the first time being greeted by the Soul Mother who took another strand with her in her leaving.  After his death, Mr. Darsus seemed incoherent so we left him safely behind in the temple of Toran in Pranzis to be cared for until his wits returned to him.  Later, the elf who was with us departed from our company as well in Orc Watch, leaving just Talen, Addison and myself to continue together.  We set out from Orcs Watch to find a pair of Malar Panthers we'd heard had been causing trouble to the local farmers and their livestock.  Apparently the panthers were under control of vampires, and we slew them as well as the vampires, Talen taking the pelts of the panthers.  Perhaps he can fashion something of good from them so their deaths will not be in vain.  Exhausted from our adventuring, with even Addison needing rest, we returned to Pranzis where Talen and I took a room at the Hotel Layonara and Addison returned to her home to rest and be with her son Calvin.  Pranzis is huge, so perhaps I'll spend some of my time exploring it a bit while I wait for Talen to make ready for the continuation of the trip to Karthy.  Though, to be honest I wouldn't mind venturing 'round with him in Dregar some more before going on.

While rumaging through Grandpa's notes that I managed to salvage some six years ago from the remains of our home, I came across one of his poems today.  I've decided to re-scribe it here within my journal, lest it be lost to the world otherwise.  Perhaps I'll find other such writings of his as I continue to go through his notes, if so I'll re-scribe them as well.  This poem seems so uncharacteristic for my Grandfather, I wonder when he wrote it and why?  He never spoke of a time of such pain in his life that I recall.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Single Thread

A single thread,
It all unravels,
As this greedy world
Pulls on the string of hope.

Unwinding my heart,
Unwinding my soul,
Until nothing is left
A shell around emptyness.

A darkened earth,
Strewn with the line
Of what was once my life.
Now a tangled mess.

To what purpose?
Why have I been drawn out,
Tortured in this bindng way?
Useless twine, to rot all torn apart.

Tapestry of me,
Unwound, now gone.  Forever?
Or to someday be re-woven?
Where is the crafter to make me whole again?



 by Ruvan'Na'Biir Min E'Zoenna

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 52 - Sunra, Apreal 8, 1401

Latest events in my life include a trip to get some clay and make ring molds for Addison, with Kyle journeying with us for a short time, and a trip to the Barbarian Islands with Talen & Addison.  AnnaLee has asked a special favor of me as well.  I've also posted a notice in the trade & market hall to try advertising some of the goods I have made to sell, and a few things I've picked up that I'm willing to part with.

The trip to get clay was easy, and we stayed relatively close to Hlint.  Between digging sprees at the lake we ventured past Haven Keep to fight gnolls and goblins and such.  After Kyle parted ways with us Addison and I even made a raid on the mercenary camp filled with those loyal to the money they were paid by Bloodstone, those who would sell the world out for their own short-sighted gains and greed.  Then Addison and I dug up some more clay on our way back to Hlint and I fashioned a great number of ring molds and fired them in the kiln for her.  For payment, she gave me a Necklace of Shield I.

The necklace, along with two more like it which I bought from her, would prove to be invaluable on our trip to the Barbarian Islands where we went to fight kobolds and mine Alexandrite.  She also gave Talen three of the necklaces, on credit, though I think he might have paid for at least one up front.  Sadly, at a grim turning point in what had seemed to be a very good venture, Talen was ambushed by a large group of kobolds and quickly fell before either Addison or I could get to his side to help him.  She wanted to blame herself for his death, but I convinced her it wasn't all her fault.  While Addy's made great progress with her grieving, she is still in a fragile state of mind, and I find I have to help rebuild her confidence and self-esteem to keep her from giving up hope.  I had to remind her, as I've been reminded often enough by Anna and Talen, and others, that we all make mistakes and bad things can happen as a result.  Our mistake was letting Talen lag far enough behind us that the kobolds were able to ambush him and quickly overcome him when we should have stuck more closely together as a group, though the measure of that blame rests equally on all of us.  A lesson we all should have known, and which we all in our own ways departed from and had to learn again.  Having lost my heart to mine further that day, I told Addison to take us back out of the caves.

We ended back in Port Hampshire where Addison and I split the loot we had taken.  All-in-all it was a profitable venture.  Together we had mined a total of about 30 alexandrite clusters, counting the three that I had given to Talen to carry for me.  From the 27 that Addison and I had with us, I was able to cut 42 stones, as well as 2 garnet stones from a 'mystery' cluster we'd mine too.  Addison took with her 20 of the cut alexandrite stones, allowing me to keep 22 of them for my own practice.  She'll bring her share of the stones to Kavil and he'll make some fine jewelry out of them for certain.  One day I hope my own skill at gemcrafting and jewelering will match his.  For now my skills keep me limited to copper and bronze works.  I look forward to antoher such trip, and hope the next won't include the death of anyone with us, especially not my beloved Talen.

Back in Hlint, I sat at the pond to reflect on things, and mourn in a way Talen's passing, though I knew he'd have been drawn back to the bindstones to continue.  Anna found me there and we talked for a bit, and eventually felt the need for a more secluded spot to discuss her special offer of work for me.  It turns out that some of the people who she must have contacts with for the efforts to free Karthy from Milara's rule are a bit shady, and bring with them or on their heels ruffians who wish to make trouble.  As a result, Anna decided to ask me to play the part of bouncer, or perhaps body-guard, during the times when she thinks those sorts might show up to make trouble at the Freelancers.  I'm still not as confident in my fighting ability to be entirely comfortable with the prospect, but since Anna is a dear friend I of course agreed to be there for her.  Who knows, for once I might even make some money for helping out.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 53 - Satari, Apreal 21, 1401

Work, work, work!  That's pretty much all that occupied these last few days of mine.  However, it was productive work.  I cut, polished and mounted all the gems given to me by Addison and made some pretty good bronze jewelry from them, and a couple pieces of copper jewelry too.  I even managed to create one exceptional piece from an alaexandrite mounted in a bronze ring.  So, in the end I have about 3 bags stuffed to capacity with various jewelry I need to sell.  If I can manage to sell it all, I'll probably have enough in my bank acocunt to purchase my master crafting badge and thus start making the really nice jewelry.  Unfortunately, it seems most people don't appreciate the beauty of copper and bronze works and only want jewelry made of gold or platinum.  I also really need to see about finding some place I can store all the things I make, I'm becomming overburdened carrying it all on my person, and even Olaf and my bank vault are full up with other materials I need to keep on hand for my crafting efforts.

When I finally got a chance to relax by the pond for a bit after all my hard work, Mr Darsus came and needed to be talked with.  His memory still eludes him, and though I was hesitant to tell him, I felt I did not have right to withold from him what little I knew of his past.  So, I told him of what he had told me in his earlier days after ariving in Hlint, that he'd lost his family, his parents when he was young, and then his wife and children when he was older.  I also told him that he had thought it possible that his mother, and perhaps one child might still be alive, kidknapped by the barbarian group that killed the rest of those he loved.  I tried to encourage him to see his memory loss as a chance at a new start, a way to put those pains behind him, but he seemed intent instead to concetrate on his anger and the power he thinks it brings him.  I warned him that the nature of anger is destruction and that to live on that path would bring him to ruin.  He seemed not ot want to truly listen to that and it was as if my words simply fell useless to the ground.  I'm so sick of dealing with people who'll not hear wisdom, I'm not going to push further.

And that brings me to Rhynn.  I am quickly losing all faith and respect I once had for her.  She has confessed that she knows Thomas to be a bold face liar, yet she will not give testimony to Jennara or anyone of the church of Rofirein simply because she feels slighted by what was likely a true statement made by Jennara.  She is so focused on being mad about being called a liar and a bad influence herself that she will not lift a finger to allow justice to be done.  She is a liar, and a bad influence, as much as I hate to agree with that statement.  Before we started arguing about the whole thing with Thomas, she'd handed to me some topaz to crush for her, and then after the confrontation I went to crush the topaz and returned it to her.  Let it be the last of my dealings with her.  I'm through with this woman who cannot make up her mind to do good or to do evil, and I will not be buffeted about each time she changes her mind.  I would be her friend, and have tried my best to be, but I cannot be friend to one who is not a friend in return and her attitude and changing moods are too unstable for me to endure.  Why she would rather let this situation with Thomas ruin our relationship than to simply do the right thing and give her truthful testimony to Jennara or some other ranking member of the church of Rofirein, I don't understand.

On top of this all, Talen has been gone for days.  I miss him dearly, and his pressence would have served to calm my own mood after the things of these last days.  I haven't seen him since he fell in the caves on the Barbarian Islands, though I know he lives for he sent word to me through mouth of another.  I hope to see him again soon.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 54 - Satari, Mai 7, 1401

A lot has happened recently.  I guess I should start with the way things happened, though not all of it is good news.  I was preparing to head to the Freelancers in Point Harbor to meet with Anna and the founders there about a special job Anna had asked me to do for her when a falcon dropped out of the sky with a message, or rather two of them.  They were from Rhynn.  One was an apology from her for being such a stubborn gnit basically, the other was her written testimony about Thomas Stormsinger.  In her note of apology she also mentioned part of the reason she did not speak about Thomas was that there was something which he had made her promise not to speak of and she did not wish to break her word.  If only I had known, perhaps I wouldn't have judged her so harshly.  In any case, I decided not to turn in the written testimony until after I'd spoken with Rhynn to be sure that what she promised not to speak of wasn't included in what she wrote about in the testimony.  As fortune would have it, I ran into Anna and Ireth outside Hlint, and Rhynn and Jennara were inside the Red Light Caves investigating some murder that had taken place in Hlint.

When Rhynn came out, I went to her to ask her about it.  Needless to say, the talk bore some revelation I will not disclose, but resulted in the finding that what Rhynn had written about was not that which she had promised not to speak of.  By the time we were done discussing things Jennara had already left the area.  So, we all headed to the Freelancers where Jennara said she'd be going to empty the donation chests there.  Rhynn had even decided to come with in case the written testimony needed to be verified as authentic.  She still had no wish to speak with Jennara if she didn't need to.  Aparently Jennara had made soem remarks about Mr. Mith, and it was that which had truly offended Rhynn, not the comments directed at herself.

Anyway, we arrived and I turned in the testimony to Jennara.  It was a bittersweet victory and signified what may perhaps be the end of Thomas's time with the Rofirein church, and brought pain to lady Jennara.  We both agreed that as a paladin he cannot be allowed to continue on in his lying.  In some ways I almost feel sorry for him...almost.  What will happen to him next he has brought onto himself through lack of self-control and his own lusts.

With that duty done I settled in to help Anna around the Freelancers.  After a time Rhynn, and Ireth eventually left.  Talen eventually showed up himself, and I was glad to see him until it seemed he was not pleased I had taken the job...  We had a fight of sorts right there in front of Anna, Seteece, Quillwem and some other gentleman whom I don't know.  By the end of it Talen stormed out and inside I felt at that point of tears...again.  Outwardly I was angry and frustrated, and Anna drew me aside into the kitchen to talk for a bit after Mister Quillwem tried as well to comfort me.  I feel as though Talen expects me to just sit around with no life of my own while he wanders the lands for weeks at a time.  He seemed upset that I might be moving from Hlint to Point Harbor without having discussed it with him first.  I see his point, but I don't understand why it's such a big deal to him, it's not as though he stays put in any one place where I can find him.  I thought he'd be happy I took the job for the income it will provide me.  I'm not going to be his pretty doll that he can simply leave on the shelf and come play with at his own whim.  I will keep this job with or without his approval, even if it means we end our relationship, as much as that would pain me, as much as it would pain us both.

That aside, Anna gave me a tour of the whole operation, and Mr. Mith had shown up with his Pixie friend Icesis.  We were getting ready to leave and close up for the night, except that I was hungry and needed some food first, when Mister Caighd came in.  He ordered some pie and ale and asat with me while I ate at the bar, and while Anna decided to finish cooking some more for hte tavern's stores.  We talked at length, and it was a pleasure to speak with him about destiny, justice, and other beliefs that we both seem to hold dear.  It's been some time since I've had the opportunity to discuss the realms of theology, and though he follows Rofirein, his beliefs are not so different than my own.  Finally, Anna finished in the kitchen and the three of us portaled back to Hlint.

Almost upon our arrival there, another falcon swooped down with a message for me.  It was not from Talen, as Anna and I had half expected, but instead the letter was from Addison.  It had been written by her in quite an upset state judging the way her words were spilled out onto the parchment.  Evidentally, Mr. Darsus had invited her to dinner and it made her uncomfortable, thinking his intent might be to woo her.  She asked in her letter that I go talk with him and make clear that she was not wanting of his attentions, especially not so soon after losing Cole.  So, Anna and I both went to find him.  As it turns out, his intent according to him was only to have a good friend as company while he ate, and not that he had interest in Addison as a lover of any sort.  We also found that due to his recent loss of memory he had not realized Addison's recent loss either.  Still, tired and crabby, I stuck my foot in my mouth once again and managed to offend Mr. Darsus to the point that he stormed off cursing himself.  I said goodnight to Anna, and went to bed in my room at the Wild Surge, even though it was the middle of the day by then.  I quietly laid there in bed and cried myself to sleep thinking of Talen.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 55 - Satari, Junar 14, 1401  It's been almost a month since last I wrote in this journal. My heart has been heavy with angst. Almost a month ago, Talen and I had a fight in the Freelancer's, about my taking a job there without first dicsussing it with him. We haven't spoken face to face since, though he did leave a note for me a few days before now apologizing. I think I will include the exact text of the note here, as doing so might help me to understand things better myself. In the note he wrote:  "M'Lanna  Since we've been apart these last few weeks I've spent alot of time thinking of you and of us. I have come to the conclusion that all I want is you. Wherever you go I will follow. I am very sorry things got out of hand when we saw each other last and I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I love you very much. I hope this finds you safe and well, my love. I will see you soon."  I need to talk to Talen.  I do love him very much still, but I cannot continue like we have been.  It seems that we are in a cycle of fighting and making up, but mostly fighting.  Aside from the frequent fighting, I have begun to wonder of my own commitment to Talen.  I probably should have told him first of my intent to take a job, not that he could tell me not to, but just so that he would be aware.  Instead I put my own cares first, without giving much thought to how it might affect him.  It seems I do this a lot when I take time to think about it.  Perhaps it is I who owes Talen an apology, and perhaps my love for him is not as strong as it needs to be for us to be wed, instead of it being his love for me that need be questioned.  I am caught now in a conundrum.  I do not wish to be so hasty as before, and end our Courting prematurely.  Yet neither do I wish to drag it on until the last only to leave us both in greater pain if it is true things between us are just not meant to be.  I wish our relationship could return to those simpler days of our first months together, when I longed simply to be held in his arms, and he held me so comfortable within them.  I will continue on for now, and try to go further with Talen to make things work between us, hopefully without so much fighting and tension.  I will give our love more time to grow and see if it does.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 56 - Freas, Junar 27, 1401

Time never slows, well, perhaps for some it does but for the rest of us, we never notice if it does.  In some regards I'm at ease again.  I lay to rest my own fears about my relationship with Talen, and our love for eachother.  I am sure we will do just fine as a husband and wife.  Each of us is too stubborn to give up on our love for the other.  We may have our fights, and I'm sure that we will continue to, but in the end we always come back to eachother and mend our wounded hearts together.  I may be lonely while he is away much of the time, but I knew that it would be like that going in.  Perhaps it's not such a bad thing really, for in his absence I can pursue many of my other interests and at the same time my yearning for him grows ever more strong.  I am sure his yearning for me grows likewise while he is away, and it will always bring him home to me.

We made up together just before setting out with Kyle and Sa'kura on a search for adventure and a bit more gold.  In such good spirits, I was quite forward in showing my affections for Talen, and he for me, and I think it may have caused Kyle to blush when he witnessed Talen and I kissing.  Imagine that, a follower of Ilsare blushing at the simple kisses exchanged between a loving couple!  Perhaps he could sense something of the passion held tightly in check, waiting for our wedding day to be released.

In any case, though our relationship was mended, our venture with Kyle and Sa'kura was a bit on the disasterous side.  We were joined, after a twisting of the world, by Nepp' in Shoufal.  From there we went forth boldly to slay giants.  Perhaps a bit too boldly, for we roused too many at once, along with some Maur, and they quickly beat us all to jellified masses of dead meat and splintered bones.  It took us quite a bit of time to make the journey back into the mountains from Velensk in order to reclaim our graves and put our deaths behind us.  Fortunately Sa'kura was able to make us invisible...well except at the start when she botched the casting on myself.  Yet still Toran saw fit to keep me safe, with quite a bit of help from Talen and his bold efforts to draw off golems and giants alike as we climbed into the mountains to Shoufal again.

Needless to say, our thirst for adventure, at least mine and Talen's, was quenched for the time and we headed back down out of the mountains after reclaiming our graves.  Kyle and Sa'kura pressed onward, to what fate I'm not sure.  I hope they made whatever goal they sought safely together.  In any event, Talen and I had a race to the inn in Port Hampshire where we rented a room together.  I felt as if in the heavens to be held in his arms as I fell alseep.  Just the comfort of his pressence is all I need to be happy beyond measure.  In the morning, I woke first and left him there as he seemed to be sleeping so peacefully I didn't want to wake him.  I didn't want to leave him either, but I had a commitment at the Freelancer's to uphold.

So, off I went to the Freelancer's to watch over Anna, and the place in general.  The day was passed in tension as I guarded and it has left me exhausted.  Near the start of my shift I finally met the sea captain Anna had told me about, a Mr. Harvard.  Indeed he was a man rough 'round the edges, but enough of a gentleman in his own way that I think I can call him likaable.  There was also another man of the sea, by name of Jake Saltpetre or some such.  He on the other hand rubbed me the wrong way and seemed quite the lecherous type.  I was quite firm in letting him know I wasn't available and that I was steadfast in my commitment to Talen.

There were others there as well who came and went during my watch, and a couple of significant events.  First, a drie rat appeared seemingly out of nowhere behind the bar with Anna.  She turned herself invisible and I managed to crack it's skull open with my bare hands before I even fully realized what was going on.  I quickly scanned the bar for more such vermin, but saw none.

A bit later a man working for the queen of Mistone came through, and his lips let loose the information that the queen was buying up all the horses she could in order to prepare for war.  After this gent' left another man arrived, and with quite an attitude as well.  He ordered a drink in a most surly manner, and that drew my attention to him more.  Scanning him carefully I could tell he carried a sword and seemed to be trying to take measure of every inch and patron within the Freelancer's without being too obvious about it.  After switching tables and then eventually walking about the front of the bar a little the man made to leave.

Then a man who looked to be a paladin of Rofirein entered the bar and had a drink.  He spoke of his errand to deliver news of the kings passing to Mistone, fort Llast to be specific if I remember right.  Eventually after finishing his drink he left as well.  Not long after that as I watched out the door I saw a group of rough looking men go past on the docks.  I moved forward to take a closer look and I warned both Anna and Seteece of my suspicions.  Mr. Seteece had me go make sure Mr. Harvard was safe in his room, and there I stood guard for quite some time.  Eventually Mr. Seteece came to talk to Mr. Harvard in his room for a while.  I listened in a little from outside, and it sounded as though Mr. Seteece used drink to loosen Mr. Harvard's tongue a bit.  I didn't hear too much of the conversation's specifics though, but eventually Mr. Seteece came out.  It wasn't long after that we all discussed things at the bar a little before I excused myself for some sleep.

I think Anna will be asking me to make some trips with her in the next days.  Most likely to Karthy to search out more information, and perhaps rescue some snow-angels from the horrid conditions they face in that place.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 57 - Threas, Jular 12, 1401

Two-hundred Angels Needing Wings,
So many to save from evil things.
Can this flight of fancy end well?
Only with trial can we tell.

Two-hundred Angels Who Must Fly,
"Save the little ones," our battlecry.
Lead them out to Safety's hand,
Or die trying and making our stand.

Two-hundred Angels In The Pit,
Who can stand to idly sit?
Steeling ourselves when darkness falls,
We'll go to them, we'll breach the walls.

Two-hundred Angels, Make No Sound!
All will be lost if we are found.
Hurry now through darkened land,
Hurry now to Safety's hand.

Two-hundred Angels In Autumn's Heart,
With Heart of True Peace to do her part,
We cannot fail in this noble goal,
We will rescue each little soul.

Two-hundred Angels Needing Wings,
So many to save from evil things.

-----Treana Min E'Zoenna

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 58 - Freas, Jular 27, 1401

Recent events include:  Talen has made a deal with the fellow Kiva for renting a small room in a house in Lellion.  Jareg is the actual owner of the home, but evidently Kiva is a steward of Jareg or some such and has authority to rent out the room on his behalf.  Together Talen and I have moved in a few pieces of furnishing for the room, at risk of making it quite cramped.  Still it beats sleeping at an inn I suppose.

On a trip to Dregar, in the public crafting house of Pranzis to be specific, Addison told me she doesn't want me to marry Talen.  She said she feels I'm just settling, and that I deserve much more than a man like him.  She also said she felt that once married she and I wouldn't get to spend as much time together and that she'd be jealous of that.  I tried to explain to her that Talen wouldn't keep me from spending time with my friends, but she cried out that she knew I wouldn't understand and ran out of the crafting house.  I caught up to her as Jennara stopped her to sell her an enerald for a fortune, but as soon as Addison finished paying for the gem she ran off again.  I excused myself from Jennara and Mr. Ravenlock who'd also wandered up and went to go after her.  I arived at her house in the Haft Lake district to find she'd locked the door behind herself and wasn't answering.  I feared she might do harm to herself, but despite my loud knocking and other best efforts I couldn't get in.  Talen showed up after a while and I explained to him to the best of my knowing what had happened.  Eventually I decided Addy wasn't going to let me in to talk until she was ready so Talen and I left together.  Putting the events down on paper, and thinking about the way they happened has begun to give me an idea of what might be troubling Addison...but I can't be sure until I hear more from her.

Anna still seems fixated to a degree on that dreadful stone in the Hlint cemetary.  She believes the spirit behind it is in pain, and needs to be put to rest and released from it's torment.  I agree, it needs to be put to rest, but mainly only in order to prevent more murders of the sort that've been happening around Hlint lately.  At the same time Anna is also trying to organize a troup of volunteers to help train the people of Roldem in the recovery effort.  I told her I may be able to train some in a few of the basic sword techniques used for fighting with light swords such as my rapiers.  I can probably also help teach a few locals something of tailoring to help them start making their own clothes for their backs and those of their neighbors in need.  Then still, there is our secret mission, of which we didn't speak much these last few days.  We have to find a way to get them safely out, and Anna says more information needs to be gathered first.

Lastly of a lesser import to me, there have been many spiders on Mistone, around Hlint and surrounding areas.  I killed the one dire spider I ran into in the high moors, bust hadn't run into any more since.  From talk among those I passed in town though, the spiders have been showing up in many varieties and in groups of larger numbers too, all over the countryside.  With so many things happening, or setting up to happen in the near future, I cannot help but wonder what's coming...  Definitely there will be changes in the world, good or bad I cannot say.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 59 - Satari, Augra 14, 1401

Well...I don't know what to write about this most recent revelation.  Addison...Addy, told me about her feelings for me.  Indeed, she said she had even thought of leaving Cole, before his death, for me.  I still love her as a sister, and I think I always will.  But, these feelings she has for me complicate life in a way I hadn't thought could be.  Obviously I can't love her in that same way that she would love me, can I?  It isn't natural for a woman to love another woman like that.  Yet from my own lips I spoke a truth that somehow discomforts me in a way, that I feel closer to Addy than I do to Talen.  How can that be?  I will need some time to sort out the feelings I have, but in that time I will continue to love them both as though nothing has changed, because it really hasn't, I just hadn't known about the degree of Addy's love for me before.  Perhaps in time her feelings will change and she will be content to be the wonderful friend to me that she is, instead of wishing to also be a lover.  I haven't yet told Talen of this revelation, and I'm not sure I should, or should I?  Doesn't he have right to know she would court me, even though she is not a man?  There is nothing in the traditions that deals with this exact situation, they were not written to consider such love between two of the same gender.

To change the subject before I go insane...  I found Anna at that creepy stone in the cemetary again.  There was a newly called one with her, a Mr. Rend.  He seemed nice enough.  Anna was fized again on that stone though, and I had to threaten to drag her away fro it to get her to leave it.  The two told me of a spider that had appeared and 'she' had lead them on a 'tour' of the largest of the three crypts but did not attack them...  The wierdness continues to evolve in Hlint.  Talen, Kyle and I encountered dire-spiderlings in the Xin Smithy while Kyle was smelting some gold that Talen and I had mined together.  Somehow I think the spiders and the stone at the crypts and the 'watcher' that I've heard tell of are all related in some way, but I can't fathom how.

While talking with Anna in the cemetary, a falcon dropped by with a letter for me from Mr. Darsus.  It was an odd text, and smacked of the ramblings of a madman.  Mr. Darsus went on about 'being back in game soon' and 'after 6 installations of windows' and being 'back on the server'.  I showed the letter to Anna and we both agreed that perhaps the man had finally taken one too many blows to the head.  Why his insanity should have him write such a letter to me, I have no idea.  I think I had best avoid him from now on, there's no telling what a crazed lunatic might do.

Earlier in the evening I made a sale of jewelry to Kinson Ravenlock.  I was quite ecstatic about it.  He bought three pieces of jewelry from me for a lass he wished to help.  It felt good to finally have sold something and that it would most likely all be put to good use by someone.  I have a backlog of nearly 100 gems to polish and set in jewelry right now, mainly alexandrite which I already have many pieces made from, but also a few more topaz and other types of gems.  I think I might just have ot break down and buy all the oils needed to polish them, though I suppose if I made my own oils my skills if alchemy would only improve.  I'm just not sure I want to spend all that time needed to collect the mushrooms and malachite I'll need.

Talen and I managed to do quite well mining gold together, thanks to Talen's clever plan to foil the leader of the rogues who guard the gold veins.  I can only smile at the crafty way in which he handled the situation.  We came back with a total of 20 nuggets between us, enough to make 10 ingots of gold.  Evidently he knows someone who will give him a ring of Bull's Strength for the ingots, and it sounds a fair enough trade.  If I can find someone to enchant the gems for me, I think perhaps I might try making such jewelry soon.  Perhaps I'll place an ad in the Dragon's Whisper with Bumblebee to both advertise my business and attract the attention of an enchanter to partner with.  I don't think Rhynn has the commitment needed to be such a partner in business, but I may ask her first to give her the chance since she is a good friend.

[Nehetsrev]

Entry 60 - Satari, Augra 28, 1401

Well, the cat is out of the bag.  Not that it stayed in too long.  I've told Talen about Addy and her feelings for me.  He took it much better than I thought really.  Not really much more to say about it.  I'll have to tell Addy that I told Talen, so that she'll know why he will be treating her differently.  I'm sure the two will be in constant conflict now and I wish I had kept things to myself, even though I know telling Talen was the right thing to do.  It certainly wasn't the easiest thing, not that any choice in this has been easy.

Other news to tell of includes the tale of a grand adventure to ensure the victory of true love over the evil greed for riches.  I was merely passing through Port Hampshire on my way to the Freelancer's for work when Rhynn stopped me and asked for my help.  She explained that she, Anna, and many others had become the targets of assassins as her gaze looked at angels all around us, searching the shadows of the buildings for would be attackers.  She told the story as it had unfolded thus far.  They had initially been contacted by a nobleman there in Hampshire who wished to win the favor of the daughter of a wealthy merchant.  The merchant had apparently set the task to his daughter's suitors of gathering three odd items and an amount of 10,000 gold to test their love for her.  Christian, the nobleman, wished ot hire the group to gather the items for him so he would need not soil his own hands, or so he said.  The party had smelled something foul of the situation, so they refused to help him, except a thief among them that ran off with the gold they'd been offered by Christian.  The group left to find out more about Stuart, the other man attempting to court the wealthy merchants daughter.  Apparently Stuart was the girls true love, but he was not of nobility, nor of wealth of gold, all he had was the wealth of his love for Susanna.  Finding true love a nobler goal than that of Christian whom the party suspected was only wishing to marry for money, the group returned to him and declined his offer, but Christian threatened that they had a contract with him since the one had taken his money, and vowed that they would be killed for breaking that contract.  All of this Rhynn explained ot me in hushed tones while warilly watching every avenue and rooftop, for Christian had already hired drow assassins to attack the group.

I felt in my heart that there truly isn't more a noble cause than true love, and thought about my own love for Talen.  It took me no effort of thought to agree to join Rhynn and the others in helping Stuart complete the tasks set before him and win the hand of Susanna.  So, off we went to the wealthy merchant's home to assist Stuart in speaking once more with the girl's father in an attempt to ensure Stuart's candidacy as a legitimate suitor was firmly established.  The merchant at last acquiessed when it was proposed that each candidate for Susanna's hand would sign documents forbiding them to gain any financial or material profit through wedding Susanna, yet he still insisted the tasks be completed.  So, it became a race for us to help Stuart, a man with noble heart if not noble lineage, to gather the three items and the gold he'd need.

First on the list was the head of a troll, so we made haste to the swamps near Velenske and Stuart slew the Troll and took it's head.  Next we would sail from Velensk to the Dragon Isles, only we would be attacked along the way by drow assassins.  I spotted one on a hill and moved toward it about to sound alarm when I felt an arrow pierce me through and a quick poison burned through me like lightning, killing me in an instant.  The drow had dissappeared form sight even before I fell lifeless to the ground.  My companions raised me, but time was waisting, and it was partly my fault for being too wreckless.  After some needed rest my strength began to return and we made way into Velensk to book passage, and as we neared the ship again the Drow assassins struck.  As quickly as we could we piled onto the ship and sailed.

On the Dragon Isles the item to fetch was the nose of a mongrelman, and again Stuart wished to be the one to slay the beast form which the nose would be taken.  We were forced to fight our way past Treants guarding the forests in order to reach the mongrelmen, yet fight we did and quickly the second item was secured.

Back to the boats we ran and set sail again to Velensk so that we could go from there to Point Harbor in Rilara.  As we set foot on the docks in Velensk we came under fire from yet more Drow assailents.  Quickly we fought our way to the next boat, and after making sure all were aboard we were off to Point Harbor.  The harrowing run between ships over, I had at last again a time to catch my breath.

Our arrival on the docks at our final destination brought talk of which route to go to reach the last creature on the list.  The hide of a hill-hound was all that was left to collect, yet we knew that Christian had a head start on us, or would be coming close on our heels.  I knew there had been hill-hounds in an area not far from Fort Himlad, as Talen had once taken me to see one there, but I was unsure of their exact location since it had been some time since that trip.  Tegan knew for certain where to find them though, so she took the lead role in navigating our way through the forested hills of Rilara.  It seemed we were best upon by the Drow assassins at nearly every step, yet still we fought onward seemingly made an unstoppable force by the noble goal of uniting true loves.

We at last reached the area of the hounds, and a needless slaughter ensued as the entire pack descended upon us.  Somewhat ashamed for killing so many when only one hide was needed, some of us gathered the remains of those extra hounds that had been slain to see they would be given good use in death.  Then it was time to turn around and proceed back to Port Hampshire.

Alas, we found our way blocked by an entire company of the Drow assassins, but they didn't attack outright.  Hoping to talk our way past without fighting them and spilling yet more blood this day, we stopped to negotiate.  The apparent leader, who I was sure was the Drow that had shot me down with a single arrow only hours before, conceeded to talk but refused to let us past with Stuart or the items he carried for his beloved.  Talk went on for far too long and at last one of the more restless among us made a move that angered the Drow and she fired a volley of arrows with such speed that each of us were hit before she dissappeared from our sight.  The other Drow simply stood, and then we realized why as they vanished.  They had been mere illusion and we had stopped for nothing.  With weary hearts we ran on to the port hoping against hope that we were not too late because of the delay.  yet our woes were not over yet, for a storm had brewed at sea and the ship captains refused to sail in such weather.  Lightning even began to strike the docks right next to us as we tried to persuade one captain to go to Hampshire, but in the end he walked away to seek shelter.  It was then that the portal inside the Freelancer's tavern was remembered, so we headed there to portal to the place near Moraken's tower north of Hlint.  It would be a long walk to hampshire from there, but we would get there for certain.

Arriving at last at the merchants home, we found Christian's horse outside and the door locked from within.  One of our number began pounding on the door until the servant known as Joker appeared to answer.  We asked her to let us in and finally after much to do, she said if we could prove Susanna love Stuart she would 'leave the door open by mistake'.  Quickly a ring that Susanna had given for Stuart was produced and at last we were within and given audience with the wealthy merchant, but Christian was there as well.  He sneered and jeered and taunted his best, and even offered Susanna's father an additonal 10,000 coin above that needed for completing the task that had been set.  But, hearing his daughter's plea, the merchant decided that since both Stuart and Christian had completed the tasks they would fight a duel to the death to determine who would be left to marry Susanna.  So it was, after Susanna offered to go with Christian if only to save Stuarts life, that Stuart acted most nobly and professed to her that he would rather die than see her in the pig, Christian's arms.

The two took up positions, and Susanna's father gave the signal to begin the fight.  It was to be an honorable duel without armor, nor aid of magic or outside help of any kind.  The two combatants went at eachother blow for blow, and at first it seemed Christian would win when he knocked Stuart down to the floor with a powerful blow.  Love prevailed and gave Stuart renewed strength and he stood again under a flurry of blows from Christian and began sneaking in his own cuts.  Bloodied to the point that his loss was apparent to all, Christian fought on like a madman, and though Stuart would have spared him otherwise he was forced to slay Christian outright.  So true love prevailed and Stuart and Susana were given blessing to wed.

As we filed outside, our mission at last completed, we met again the Drow assasin.  She asked what had happened to Christian and we told her he'd died in the duel with Stuart.  She advised us that since her employer was now dead, and she had already been paid, she would spare us this time until another time some noble might hire her to kill us, and then she dissapeared from our sight again in the blink of an eye.