The World of Layonara
Character Development => Development Journals and Discussion => Topic started by: Pankoki on March 08, 2004, 03:24:00 PM
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Journal Book #1 - An old beaten leather bound diary that has seen trials beyond reckoning. Written in halfling, in a small and compact handwriting.
[SIZE=13]It is important for everyone to know the occurrences of all around them. For us haflings these occurrences are told by the spoken word. Nevertheless, being raised by humans have changed my traditions to those of men. Therefore I write the wonders I see in this interesting world.
My name is Triba Gues, my friends call me Trib, my good friends call me friend. I arrived in Hlint on a time I like to call sometimes before now and little bit after I left were I was before. The exact time doesn't matter, I'm still a halfling. I come from Spellgard originally, raised close to the blood desert I learned many things not known to people here up north. Many do not understand the magic under the sand and move away from it, I embrace its roguish powers and carry it with me everywhere I roam.
My trade varies on the place I travel. Before I got to Hlint I fixed armors and weapons for my father's and mother's clients. Then I fixed arms and equipment for a group of clerics that paid me in many strange lessons. On my way here I learned a lot of other things that some consider useless and I consider vital. Things like these are the ones that make me, therefore it is vital to my existence.
But enough about me. Lets talk about what I will write on this log. I will try to keep track of all the strange things I see around and then put them on paper. I've seen a lot of strange things already, so it will be extremely hard to do, but I will try my best.
For now I leave, I hear Frin calling me for something he wants to show me...
- Triba Gues Adventurer Extraordinaire[/SIZE][/I]
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Journal Book #1
From the things I remember, which are many and tend to come up in the strangest of places. The first thing I did once I got to Hlint was follow a lot of people around. Many adventurers did I meet in Hlint and the feelings were extremely overwhelming. I remember that the first one I met was a nice man named Wilson, haven't seen him in the longest time, but he introduced me to a lot of people.
That very first day a lot of people were heading up some mountains to meet this giant they called the Titan. It seemed interesting enough so I tagged along and watch as they showed me the surrounding regions. It was funny seeing all those adventurers run up and down hills, they seemed to enjoy it. I never made it to the Titan though, got a little bit distracted looking at some weird flowers and by the time I realized I was alone it was too late. It was fun though and I enjoyed it a lot. After that I met A LOT of people. There were people from all places and races and each had an interesting story to tell. I try to remember them all but my head can only hold so much. I was particularly interested in a rather strong and interesting halfling called Frin. So I tagged along to wherever he went and I got to know him.
I remember the first time we camped outside of Hlint. It was on the Island in Lake Halon under a beautiful starlit night. It was love at first sight. Frin and I talked until the morning came and we didn't even realize the passing of time.
The following weeks I was always with him. We were inseparable. We still are. After only a few months of knowing each other he took a very risky chance and asked me to marry him. I was left speechless, and believe me that is hard to do. I told him I had to think about it, but I couldn't escape his charms and not too later that day I accepted his proposal. It was a risky move I know! But I know that it felt right... Fortunately I was right.
So we got married at the first place that we met. The beautiful ceremony took place with all of our good friends and it was a lot of fun until a rude ugly guy decided to interrupt the party... Everybody was able to defeat him but it was rude nonetheless...
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Journal Book #1
I tire of this painful feeling. Why is the reward only given to those of ill intent?
So many times I try to help, only to get backslapped. It has happened so many times. First it was Llu. She was feeling really sick and I tried to help her, but she refused my assistance. She got worse though, and I felt that she needed someone to at least pick her from the floor, yet she wanted no help. It all came down to the point were we had to follow her to some dangerous mountains and all through this passage I received nothing but insults... Why? Why is the good not rewarded? It came to the point were I almost lost my beautiful husband to raiders in the region.
Then it was the druid. She was trapped in an unstable form and we tried to help liberate her. We went through pain and suffering to bring her to the forest, and we manage to restore her to her human form. Only to find out that she was really a powerful demon lord that was ready to kill everyone in sight. My good friend Thoral fell to that thing. WHY?
And then its the witch. A large group goes to her help. We try to assist as much as we can. We do our best. But to add to our bad luck we interrupt something that leads to her apparent death. Dire indeed. And then comes her wrathful sister, and she sends us all biting dust! Why??! We only tried to help! Is there no justice in this world?
But then again there are all the good things that I got from this. When Frin fell on that mountain range I prayed so hard that an avatar of Deliar came to grant him life. Such an experience is one that I will never forget. Also, I know a little bit more of Llu's position in this place and I understand that her responsibility is great indeed, I can see her pain. Thoral gained a new friend in Legodia, and I believe that he received a boon for being a child of nature. And through the witches death I now know that our duty in this world is one that is vital for the existence of life itself, a great path indeed.
So maybe everything is not so sour, perhaps everything does happen for a reason.
I am glad.
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Journal Book #1
Phew... Its been a while since I wrote in this thing. Well I've been adventuring left and right, so I had no time to gather my thoughts on paper. But I guess now I have all the time in the world. Why? Cause I'm in prison, that's why!
I guess the adventuring caught up to me. Too stressed out to make the right decisions, or something like that. Well who wouldn't? Between finding helmets for greedy academy fellows, killing vampires left and right, trying to rescue a friend from eternal damnation, and killing golems with wings and killer penguins.. well.. anyone would have gone crazy already!!
So what happened? A bad mistake, that's the best way to put it. The shortest way would be that a guard following orders from a corrupt individual was acting without thinking and a warning shot went real bad and fell the poor fellow. I've never felt so bad before... And It's not like it was the guard's fault either, he was only doing his job. But he was putting lots of people in danger by delaying our passage and in the heat of the moment a really really bad mistake was made. I guess I need more practice with my bow, need to learn to aim where I need to, not where the wind feels like.
So I'm paying for my crimes. The court saw that I was sorry for my deeds and that I wanted to help this man's poor wife. So they kindly reduced the sentence and let me pay tribute to the wife. I will pay 10,000 gp before the end of this year and every year thereafter up to 20 years I will pay 1,000 gp. A fair sum I think, it should be enough to keep her well fed and clothed. I would have really liked to pay for the resurrection, but I guess the courts up here don't do that type of thing.
And now I'm in the slammer. They brought me here to mine, but they saw that I ruined more ore than actually extracted so they gladly put me to other tasks. Something about me talking too much in the mines.. Weird tall people. So they put me to tailor some leather armors. That I can do! If only Frin could see the work I'm making. He would be so proud. They make me work with gems every once in a while too, seeing that I'm pretty good with them. And when they are running low on personnel I work in the alchemy labs making polishing oil. They say that way I can provide for my gems and don't have to bug them with question. Again, strange.
Frin has visited me a couple of times, he seems to be holding strong but I can tell he is sad. He can't come here that often, the journey is quite hard and well the guards won't let me see him that much anyway. But I sure enjoy the time when he is around. Serenity and Kreder came the other day too! They brought me lots of chicken! I put it in my little hiding place, I don't think I can eat more orc stew. Their visit was kinda interrupted when Enzo and Mochibungo decided to show up. Rather rude of them not to say hello, but I guess they have been following Serenity for quite a while, I hope she doesn't end up fangy too.
Well they are screaming again cause I'm talking too much. But I will come back to this journal when I have more ink and time. Until then, lets hope I don't get in anymore trouble.
- Triba Gues
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Journal Book #1
Alright, it's me again, this time I've kept track of the things I've been up to. I try to keep some scrolls and ink around me all the time. I'm sure the wizards around town won't miss a few missing blank scrolls... I'm sure of that.
Well I guess I'll start from the time were I got pack from Ft. Velensk. According the people around town nothing much happened while I was gone, except for one big thing. Enzo is back. Mochibungo slipped and everyone gathered together to chop him down. They couldn't kill him but Enzo did. Now he has returned to us, not fully healed from vampirism, but with greater hope to return to his true old self.
After a couple more days, I was curious to hear how Fate was doing under the ministry of magic protection. Fate is a nice chap we've been helping for a while and after much persecution he was taken under the ministry's custody. So I went to the temple with a bunch of friends only to hear the minsty HQ was under attack. As usual we fought more winged golems, but no penguins this time... We got to the HQ to find it empty. After much searching we finally discovered lots of people hidden in a small room, they didn't have much info so we kept looking. After a long while we found a room where Fate was. He was acting all funny and mean. After much talking we ended up in this alternate reality. Fate called it something of a dream world. More like a nightmare I think. Scary place... We fought our worst nightmares until Maddi got real mad and killed Fate, then we ended back in the HQ. It turned out that Fate was being dominated by someone else. So now we gotta find that person and make him pay.
After that, well, It was adventure non-stop. Started with a merchant that ended being a lich... got that guy. Then we went to an assasin that was being chased by other assasins.... we finished the other assasins and the one guy that was being chased ended up with a nice boat and less tailgate. Then it was a tiger invasion in Hlint... we put them down but wished there was a better option to finish that up. Oh yeah, and Milara showed up and made a big mess as usual, more on that later....
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Journal Book #1
Alrighty, this time I've been hit by the muses calling, perhaps some poetry is in order. So here goes it.
The Monkey Poem
True and through, across the land,
A beast so kind lays its hand,
It picks up bits of this and that,
And eats it to gain some fat.
Funny looking and quite curious,
The lesser beings of a race,
They have no sense of honor or glory,
So they fling doodoo at your face.
But yet they are so lightly mood,
That one can never be so mad,
Just make sure you don't take its food,
Cause they'll rid you in a tad.
Monkeys monkeys monkeys monkeys...
The only true door that has no key,
Take them lightly and be not stricken,
Perhaps its time we get some chicken...
Monkeys...
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Journal Book #1
Hello again book... haven't seen you in a while. Well here we go again. Gonna be reflective on this one, so if you get bored let me know.
Many, many, many adventures lead all to one eventual conclusion. At some point in one's life you get to sit down to consider your actions. Throughout the last three years many things have happened. It would take quite a big book to write it all down.
As many things in Mistone, I too now reach a crossroads. For years I've known and mastered the arts of the many and the few, and through much struggle I've become skilled in that world. But that same world has lead me to many many paths. I've learned how to use magic, I've learned lost knowledge unknown, I've skilled myself in the ways of the fighter and I've developed a strange like with nature.
This link to nature comes to me as a riddle, a riddle I now seek an answer to.
I grew up in a desert, in a city where nature was twisted and changed by mages. Nature was almost non-existent where I came from, that is, if you can call cacti, scorpions, and snakes, "Nature".
Is it my friends? Is this riddle given to me because of me being around those that worship the wild? Has something been passed on? I guess anything is possible. Perhaps all those bears were just testing me, and all those times they tried to eat me was simply a test to see if I came back... Well, all they really had to do was ask, not eat me...
Is that time then? Is it the time to focus? Maybe there is a reason I've been given this choice of path. Maybe in the times to come I'll be needed as one more adaptable, one more in touch with what makes this place spin.
This is all very strange to me. I wish that someone would show me a path, but something tells me that this a decision I must make on my own. But perhaps that path is not to be travelled alone.. great, I'm sounding like Enzo again....
I need to go eat some chicken.
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This is Cynyna Meean's character biography. I am placing it here to reflect the aspects that affect Triba. Cynyna is Triba's daughter as explained in the narrative.
Cynyna Meean, which translates to Lucky Root, was a name given to this young halfling when she reached her 15th summer. The name was given by the Clouded One in his way to solve the problems of his past and future. Cynyna past intertwines with another's. And to tell Cynyna's story is to tell the story of the other.
"It was a long summer night in the desert, as any other night in it. Halflings playing around the palm trees added a slight ambience of joy and innocence. This is were the strange man approached them, he offered them fun and riches in lands far away, them being halflings accepted the deal. The man moved his hands and the arcane spark went through the halflings standing in front of him as they fell asleep."
Cynyna was raised in Wolfswood, at least as far as she remembers, she never knew she was born in Pranzis, and her first memories are of chasing badgers around Lake Rillon. She came to love the forests for the forests gave everything she needed. She learned how to speak the languages she was taught, she learn elven from her keeper, she learn the language of nature, from nature itself.
"Waking up in the city of wonders always brought a smile to her face, she had been in there for a month now and everyday she found something better and more interesting. "Triba!!!" She heard from the room next door as her good friend Illean called her for the morning breakfast. They had become very close in the past few days and although he was Ghostwise and she was Lightfoot they shared many feelings. But they were not here for their enjoyment, only being haflings kept them happy. Their time spent in Pranzis was of hard labor. And for that they seeked exit, so they planned and whispered as they labored, and a plan indeed they had"
As she grew amongst the woodland creatures they began showing her their way of life, they began showing her the way of the hunt, and most importantly they showed her the love of the land. At the same time, Raven, the druid that took her when she was a child taught her how to channel the forces of nature, she taught her how to focus all the energy that surrounded them into herself. And then she made Cynyna forget it, for she was too young to hold that much power and only with time she would regain them.
"The desert was home for her, but he was rather uncomfortable in a place with so little vegetation, but he loved her too much to tell her of his feelings. And so they spent their nights together in North Fort, they talked for what seemed endless hours, and the nights usually became days without it seeming that long for them. It was one of those long nights that they proved their love to each other and from that union of ghostwise and lightfoot a very peculiar creature would be born."
Cynyna was told of her parents at a later age, she became interested of them and began searching for them. Raven knew of the two and did what she could to contact them. And one came, the father, Illean was glad to have seen her at last and many were the offers he made to Raven to let him have the child but all the offers were refused. Raven knew better that the future of this child laid in the decisions the child made. And so he left, happy but dismayed. And she waited for the mother...
"She arrived in Rilara at the high noon. The smell of fishes and spices from the merchants brought back memories of her past travels. But this time she wasn't here to explore, she had an objective. She received a letter a few months ago that spoke to her of events that happened too long ago. She had kept them in the past and had moved forward. She was married now. She was known across the lands by many and had many things in her mind. But that didn't matter now, she was ready to fix the problems of her past, so she picked her adventuring gear and sailed. And she was ready to meet her at last. And so she did."
Cynyna and Triba met, she didn't have a name at that point of course, but they talked to each other. Cynyna could barely speak the common language and Triba took it upon herself to teach her. She taught her other things of the land and of the many cities she had been to. She talked to her of her friends and the many adventures they had been to. Most importantly they had started becoming what they hadn't been. A family.
Cynyna, now named, comes to Mistone after having a strange dream. She comes to help in any way she can and grow as she was told to, unto the true ways of nature.
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Journal Book #1
It has been a very long time since I've written in this old journal. What began as an account of my travels, quickly became a personal diary, then a story book and finally a map to my journeys.
I guess that it has accomplished what it was supposed to be, just in a way I did not expect. Most of it now is just a raw guide to the world, most passages recorded, most paths marked. Only the land underneath us, the underdark, remains uncharted and the idea of plotting an ever changing place seems somewhat ridiculous.
Ulambree Forest. More specifically, Ulambree Forest Wood Elf Treetop Village. This place is simply breathtaking. Yes, I'm in Voltrex, the beauty of this land escapes description so I will not attempt to taint it by words. This is simply a place to experience with one's own eyes. We arrived in Saida after an elf appointed us with the task of delivering an important letter to a healer in a grove deep within the island. The contents of the letter and the reason for its urgency was not told. At least not in the common tongue, but the idea of assisting the Voltrexians seemed a smart thing to do and so we took upon the task.
As we arrived in our ship, one with the Lorindar Trading flags and the Dregarian banners, we were greeted by elven flagships a few miles away from the island. Their vessels seemed to fly in the wind, their design quite different to that of men, truly a marvel of navigation. They did not seem fitted for battle as the ships in Roldem, but their maneuverability more than made up for this lack of fire power.
In a complicated exchange by the captain we were told to present our passes. A cleric of Aeridin checked us for diseases and poisons, Ozy became invisible at that instant of course, I'm pretty sure otherwise he would have remained in the boat. After this inspection, and being told by a cute cleric that I was quite healthy, we exchanged boat and it what seemed seconds the boat flew through the water and we arrived at the beautiful city of Saida.
The place is gorgeous beyond belief. However the people that live there leave much to be desired. They were rude and obnoxious. Uptight elves that still can't see two feet in front of their face. Of course they wouldn't give us the time of day. I was very close to just heading back to the boat. The outer shell of beauty can be quickly crumbled.
However, I remembered where I was, this was probably one of the few chances in my lifetime to see this paradise. So I sucked up my pride and headed out of the city once Rev found out where to find this grove.
If Saida was beautiful, the outskirts of the city were simply breath-taking. Immediately outside the city, to the north, was a huge Tower that reached far into the sky. The breeze from it was pleasent and many swirling vortices of air could be seen flying to and fro. From the known history of the four towers of magic in Voltrex, it was easy to assume that that was the Tower of Air. Its gates however, close to all of us. I'm quite sure that its probably by invitation only. We kept going east down this beautiful road full of innocent wildlife and gorgeous landscapes. We travelled for days, we saw some cities, all of them seemed to blend into the environment. None corrupted the forests, none needed to change the environment. They simply blended in. How this knowledge was lost to men I do not know, perhaps they never had it, perhaps they were never told, but it is sad that no city of men can achieve such balance in the chaos. The feeling of not being welcomed was still present, so we kept moving deeper within the island. We passed the other towers, each a sight to behold, each closed to us. Until eventually after a few days march we arrived at the outskirts of the Ulambree forest.
I have been to every forest in the world. They all have things that are unique in their own manner. The Great Forest, known to be the most wonderful creation of nature. Yet this forest had a strange appeal to me. I saw the treetop villages the elves hid amongst the trees, many of my friends thought I was crazy for they couldn't see them. But they were there. The elven scouts hanging from the trees observed as we passed, their bows aimed and ready. Yet when they saw my sight recognize them a faint smile of welcome was given. I spoke nothing, knowing the secrecy of the ranger, but it started feeling like home.
The patrol of full plate wielding clerics and warriors managed to make enough noise to grab the attention of some of the elves guarding the several entrances to the villages and Rev asked for directions. We were told to find the Lilanthier forest, to the north of where we stood. We set a camp in the outskirts of the Ulambree, the wood elves, although a bit friendlier, showed no intention of letting us stay in their village. As comfortable as the camp was, I couldn't close my eyes. After all I had seen, the last thing that crossed my mind was sleeping. So I sneaked past Elixir as he tried to stay awake guarding the camp, the long restless trip obviously taking a tow on everyone but the curious.
Slowly I moved back into the elven village. Much to my surprise a group of them was gathered around a campfire, beautiful yew and mahogany bows set to their sides, golden and silver strings marking their frames in beautiful elven runes. The sight alone was enough to catch my attention, then I saw as the dancing began. The moon was full, so I imagine it was some sort of celebration of an elven day or somesuch. I watched for hours, many things they did in this celebration, I must have fallen asleep in the tree I hid. All I know is that I woke up in my sleeping bag, back at the camp, a necklace with the claw of a wolf on my neck.
I woke up refreshed. My usual lazy self was gone and a strange feeling of euphoria filled my body. I quickly packed my things got ready for the treck ahead of us. We planned our trip and according to our plans we would make it to the Alpansian Grove within a day.
Lilanthier forest, beautiful but dangerous. Many of its inhabitants are very defensive and an outcast tribe of elves roam the forest as mercenaries. Needless to say our treck into the grove was met with a lot of resistance. But we managed. After a long days march we made it to the grove. There the healer waited for us already. Rev, who was the one gifted with the letter and the news of the dead, approached and explain to her the reason for us being in the island.
They talked for a while, all in elven, we got some translations from Ozy, but as things normally go, its better to understand the words coming out of the speaker's mouth and not by a third party. In summary, she read the letter and thanked us for delivering it, we delivered the news of the dead and she told us to inform the family of the diseased, who lived in the Ulambree Wood Elves Treetop Village.
My heart raced, the manner of our visit was no matter for excitement, but the feeling was inevitable. We were going to visit the wood elves and this time we had a reason to be in there. My mind flew with all the things I wanted to learn from them, I wanted to understand their secret, the reasons for what they acted the way they did, the legends of their forests, all the things that they had and knew, and the idea kept a silly smile in my face, one that I did my best to hide since the moment wasn't the happiest for those involved.
When the conversation ended, they asked us if we wished something from them as a reward. It was too early in to ask for that bow I always sought. One of their legendary Greatbows, fitted for a halfling. I couldn't bring myself to do it, so instead I just asked for the meaning of the grove in which we were. She said that the Alpansian Grove protects Voltrex just as each tower protects other places in Layonara. It was an interesting answer, and to know how such a link could be establish from here was special.
Off we went to the village to inform the family of the deceased. As true followers of The Prince of Wolves, they understood that the path of their relative had come to the end of this journey and it was time hunt greener pastures. With much gratitude they thanked us and asked of us to give them time to mourn their dead.
With that said everyone began to pack their bags ready for the journey home, a few were heading to Saida, some others were planning to stay just a few more days to gather some resources off the Island. However, I could not bring myself to pack anything, even less to consider leaving the village, so as everyone prepared to leave I asked the healer at the shrine of Folian, who also happened to act as spiritual advisor for the tribe, and who I was able to communicate in the language of the wilds, to let me stay for a while. I didn't need to explain myself or give excuses. The healer saw the intention in my eyes and she simply said, "Stay until the harmony of the Prince allows you to see the paths ahead of you."
So I stayed. I said goodbye to everyone, wrote a letter to Ser so that she knew where I was and that I would not be returning for a time. I sent her some sketches of the towers since I knew she would be interested in at least knowing how they looked like. As much as I tried to actually contact anyone inside. No one answered.
The life of the Wood Elves is fairly simple. All wake up a few minutes before sunset and gather around the open temple to witness the first rays of the sun in a silent prayer. Everyone seems to attend, for they know that the sun nourishes the forests and without it they would be homeless and empty. Much to my surprise, half of the prayer was in Sylvan, so I understood bits and pieces of what the priestess said. And so I joined, an oddball in this land of pointy ears. The Priestess' keen eyes saw me join and with a smile she added a small line to her prayer:
"Let those who come from beyond the waters embrace the harmony of your woods."
When she said that a few dozen eyes landed on me and my attempts to stay unnoticed went down proberbial dillo hole. I noticed a few frowns from the older elves, and looks of curiosity from the younger ones. This was to be expected, as they are set in their ways. My first day it seems and the longest of them all. The attention I had attracted towards me brought many curious young elves to ask me a million things about the world beyond the islands. Of course I couldn't understand a single tweet they said, they were going so fast I dont think themselves knew what they talked about.
After a while it calmed down a bit a ranger approached me as I ate some midday chicken. He was one of the elves who was celebrating in the forest during the moon ritual. He spoke common but he hid it, so whenever someone passed by he went back to elven. It was quite funny. After a while however I asked him to simply stick to elven, if I was going to learn the language it would be the only way.
His name was Miriel, which in a local dialect translated to Gladerunner. He was thin and slim like most elves around, his skin slightly brownish indicating he was a wood elf, black hair and penetrating green eyes. His rough mannerisms and the dirt in his face and hands indicated that he wasn't too concerned for etiquette. We talked for hours asking me first of the world beyond Voltrex and then him in return telling me of the things around the island. It was great, so great that by the end of the day him and all his ranger companions gathered with me around the fire to simply talk until the wee hours of the morning.
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Journal Book #1. Within a chaotic mess of papers, Triba writes on her diary an entry that is full of anger and pain.
This is the last time I will be writing on you, right now I'm tired, frustrated, angry and a bit cranky at everything around me so feel lucky I'm not shredding you apart.
Really really I am not going to retell the events that have taken me to this decision. Too much did we suffer to have to get the oversized lizards to agree with us for nothing! Nothing! He took back his words on a signed agreement and was too much of a rat to fulfill his word. Well he and all those who follow him around can go play "I'm the biggest Jerk" with another halfling. I'm done. Finished. This world is going to end and I'm going to make sure I enjoy every last bit of it while it lasts.
So I'm taking my free pass to Voltrex and leaving this stinking place. I am sure at some point Blood will get to the island, but that seems unavoidable now.
Sorry Lue, I love you too much to ask you to come with me when I know you don't want to. Maybe one day we will meet again.
Sparkles, I will see you around Voltrex when you swing by, I'll be staying with the woodelves.
Frustrated she lets the diary open in the last page for Eldárwen to see when she gets home and darts off with her packs.
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Journal Book #2. Written upon an entire new journal, this one being a gift from the Wood Elves in Voltrex when she left the island, her name inscribed in elven on its cover, Triba sits down in the Rolling Hills admiring the wonderful view.
I have looked at these pages for sometime now, months and months since I got this diary from the elves, I have been waiting for the right opportunity to pen my thoughts into it or at least tell an interesting story, yet every time I open it I stare at these blank pages and nothing comes out.
For the longest time I thought it was simply a matter of things not happening. Everything just drowning in the never-ending constant of life. Routine taking a firm grasp on me and not letting go. With time however I've come to realize that it is more than that. It isn't just the fact that I am caught in monotony, it is the fact that there is something missing within me to properly keep living.
It happened at the oddest of times. I had ran out of potions, actually... I haven't used a potion in so long they had simply dried out or gone bad. So I felt it was time to make some replacement ones just in case. When I was almost done with the task I was walking out of the old Red Light caves near Hlint when I saw Acacea being trampled by a spider twice her size. She looked really bad and so I ran to her help. Quickly I crippled the thing and soon it was just another splatter on the ground. I tended to the poison in Acacea's blood and made sure she was fine, when all of a sudden it hit me like a cold bucket of stale water...
What if I hadn't shown up at the exact moment in time to help her? She surely was nearing her death and the spider was in near perfect condition. A few seconds later and she would have died. What if the Soul Mother had come to visit her and taken her forever? Would she be remembered? Would someone care? Would any family cry for the loss? Then I suddenly realized I wasn't really thinking about Acacea. I was thinking about myself...
Clearly I was just dwelling over not having seen Sparkles for so long. She has been busy with the temple, its understandable. But it made me wonder. About where I came from. About my roots. My last name is not a halfling name. I carry the name of humans. But what is in a name really? Is it just a way for people to be able to tell the difference from some other halfling? Or is there to be more pride in your roots?
The tribes in the desert have always welcomed me. Any halfling is. Yet the bond of family they share with each other is much much closer than that to those they call friends. I never knew my real mother, I never knew my real father. I do not know why they left me on that doorstep. I do not know what was their reasons for doing so. I don't place blame on them. I can't. I know not their reasons. Yet I wonder what became of their lives.
I wonder where is home for me...
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Journal Book #2. Triba sits besides Plen in front of the campfire as he examines Remiel's and Reventage's bodies for the arduous process of bringing them back from the dead. Most of the party is quiet or asleep as she writes in her small journal*
It's dark... Really dark.
It all started as we gathered in the city of demons for the call that had been made by one of the sisters. This time it was the Striker of Fear. I really hate addressing people by their titles but I dont know her name so Striker will just have to do for now.
She said that Xora and the sisters have been investigating some strange events during the times when the world was covered in darkness. Apparently while this happened there were major earthquakes focused around Milara's throne and the Temple of the Viper in Xantril. They, as busy as they normally are of course, asked us to look on the temple. Obviously any attack on Milara's Throne would have us staring at a small army of things better not mentioned.
And so with our giddy selves we went towards the Temple. We managed fine. Rem acting as the war leader he should act. Glad he finally took the reins to be honest. I was getting really tired of having him in the useless pile. Rev and Pleni making sure we all had our fighting sticks ready and keeping us all alive. The rest of the mob, well I can't say I really care much for anyone but Connor. They're all good people though so I'm glad of that. No Kashas or Quints, no Ozys, no stupid people. The only drow are Alantha which is a good friend and has proven to be handy in many ways and Syn who is just odd but reliable. The rest have all proved their worth one way or another. So for that I'm happy.
Anyway, we ended up in the horrible snake temple. I wonder how many people those snakes eat really, those things are huge!! Get bigger every time I come here too! But we managed, we were organized, we knew our roles and nobody was doing stupid things. Its kinda nice when you get this coordinated.
Worse luck of course the floor falls down and drags us along into a pit of some cave. But I suppose thats what we were there for anyway, we needed to find out why these earthquakes were happening and so we followed their wake.
For a while it was just climbing and avoiding getting squashed in the head, but of course the lower we went, the more dangerous it got until eventually we hit the underdark. Figures really, but I have to be honest, besides Sparkles, this would be the perfect group of people to get stuck in such a place. So we went ahead in our merry ways following the cracks the earthquakes made. It wasn't an easy job of course, we had to deal with the dark monkeys trying to stop our way. You'd figure they would know better and like help us out. They're going to get the bad part of the war one way or another. Silly people...
Eventually after a lot of drow stomping and a lot of climbing we found this rope that was conveniently placed for us on one of the chasms we followed. Of course us being the gullible sort went down the chasm. Not like we really had any other choice since the way was blocked as far as we could see. Funny thing of course is that once we started climbing down this chasm the oddest thing happened.
Right just before we were going to reach the ground of the lower floor I was kinda sucked into this other place and ended up in a cave. The way up had been totally closed by the cave ceiling and I could see none in our party. Soon enough though they all came down as well and we all systematically got stuck in this cavern system.
On the good side we were seemingly getting somewhere in our objective, on the bad side of course we had no idea how to get back. Not having any other way to go but forward into the cave system we made our merry way ahead.
This is when things got really weird. The drow were gone but now we were fighting all sorts of strange earth creatures and fungi. Stuff that you see in places that rarely see the light of day, those beasts that just snore away until the adventuring group toddles along. It was weird but not too unexpected.
That went on for a while. Not sure how much time passed really, could be days, could be weeks. With no sun to see its kinda hard to keep track of it all. Regardless of that we kept on going until eventually we found the odd prize winner of the day.
We found this odd bridge that was taken down by something and from a distance we saw this nasty looking altar that simply was screaming.. LOOK AT ME!! POKE ME WITH YOUR SPELLS!!
And well we kinda did... Thats when Rev kinda went dead on us, so did Rem. Yeah I know. Not the best of our moments but such is life. Now their bodies are next to us in this handy campfire we made and Plen is looking over them to see if its safe to bring them back.
Despite being dead and that horrible expression in her face, Rev still manages to stay fashionable. You gotta wonder sometimes and its nice to have an excuse to be close to her but I suppose that is just wishful thinking and not really appropriate right now.
Not entirely sure how we are going to get out of this bind but I think its best if we simply run away from this strange altar. Cause that laughter we heard when we approached it sure wasn't nice to deal with. I think I saw an entrance to the far side of this big cave, so we might as well take our chances with it.
Hopefully I'll be able to write more of this crazyness. If not, well I am sure they'll manage without me.
-
Journal Book #2. Triba sits next to Plen, wearing only her little top and some emergency shorts due to the extreme heat they are now in, she fans herself with a yew parchment and decides to distract herself by writing in her journal.
Well this is uncomfortable...
It has been... well I have no idea how long it has been. I have been measuring the days by the length of Connor's beard, but his beard is a bit sporadic to hold any logical sense in time and well I dont think he has hit puberty yet anyway. So to be perfectly honest I have absolutely no idea how long we have been gone. I know it has been more than a month, but not more than six, I can tell that because the Candy Sand Pie I brought only goes bad after six months. Though its looking tempting now so it might not make it that long.
Well, we got pass the evil altar. Rev and Rem had some weird experience in some odd city that they supposedly visited in their deaths. Not sure that makes me feel any better really, but nothing much we can do about it. Pleni also found another cave that supposedly leads into some chamber full of all thats evil, so I assumed it was full of undead gnome liches and decided to stay as far away as possible as I could.
After that, all kinda got blurry. There has been so many mazes and caverns and passages we've had to walk, run or fight that honestly I have no idea where we are or how far away from where this all started. All I really really know is that now we are in a new place we haven't visited before and we are still alive. Yep all of us, alive. Amazing huh?
We found this grave, of course we had to open it. And as resident gateway facilitator it was my job to open this tomb. Inside we found one of those army belts and some other random things that really didn't matter much except for this book, a journal really. It was all kinda boring. Some Rofirenite wrote it so you really can't expect much on the entertaining factor. What did capture my attention was the end of the journal. Lemme write it here so that I don't forget.
[INDENT]"Not all portals seem to be working as one would expect, some have even brought me unexpectedly back to the beginning of this gods forsaken dungeon. How does one get out of here? I had taken to leaving a clue for myself so that I didn't use a portal that sent me back to locations I had already visited. Thinking that surely this would help me get out of here. I know I have not visited all portals but I am tired, so tired. Between this and that strange forest I am just walking in circles. My fate seem to be to live and die in this place. My family, Rofirein bless their souls, will surely have given up on me by now for I myself have given up and am now preparing myself to die. This voice in my head keeps telling me that it will allow me to live but what voice is it?"
[/INDENT]
Pretty sure that the guy died because he was worshiping Rofirein. I mean you are in a puzzle and a maze, why pray to the god of stiff joints and too much blabbering? It's not going to get you anywhere! Instead start worshiping the good lord of getting out of your bum when you are in bind! Seriously, some people just don't have any common sense.
I miss Sparkles, she must be worried sick now. I tried using her little blue ball but it said she was too far away, so nothing there. I was trying to talk to some worms that I found but I figured it would take them too long to deliver the message and Sparkles is not the most skilled worm talker. I hope the girls are doing okay. I miss them a lot.
Everyone here is kinda sleepy or in a daze. Too much sweating to properly get a nice rest but we've managed. Rev is over there playing her little harp, elves and sleep I suppose. I think she needs to relax some, she has this constant frown on her face that can't be good for your skin, even if you are an elf. I'm still trying to figure out what color her eyes are, its hard to tell in this place and she's a bit skittish too so its not like I can go wandering. Ah well. She's alive now which is a relief. Though she was fighting this huge bone yard, yes a walking graveyard, I'm not kidding!! Anyway. She was fighting this thing in her dress. She's kinda funny like that, though that cost her her life so it wasn't that smart either. Pleni took care of it of course, he's neat like that.
I'm going to try and get some sleep now, I found out if I hug my shortsword, which conveniently has a cold enchantment on it, its not so bad. Hopefully the next time I write here it'll be from a nice cozy room, though I doubt it really.
Till the next time then...
-
Journal Book #2. Triba sits comfortably by a warm fire in her house, the noises of kids playing and sisters fighting over some trivial matter bringing a smile to her face as she dives deeper within her cushions to write in her journal.
I'm back.
There is no other way to summarize the feelings of emotion and relief at being back at my own home. My own bed. With my own people. My family. Regardless of lack of blood relation, that is what they are. My family. And it feels so good to be back with them.
It was about 3 months. Many times have I been gone for longer periods of time. Of course, all those times I knew where I was and so did just about everyone else who mattered to me. Not to mention I could likely return from that place at any moments notice.
These three months felt like much more. They felt like years really. Not having a sun to look at or a sky to just enjoy. Well it takes a toll on a halfling. Every second that passed we went deeper and deeper and deeper, there was no sign of an ending. Whenever there was a sign of some advancement it simply meant another window opened into a complicated mess that set us further into more complications.
I'm not entirely sure how I made it to be honest. By the last month I was very tired, I was feeling exhausted and everything was just rubbing me the wrong way. I think I even erased Talan's potential family line. To be honest its all a big blur right now, except for the truth behind it all.
I will not write what I found here right now. I fear that if someone finds out about this before the right time they might be in danger. Perhaps at a later date I will record all of what I see and the people I met. The knowledge they imparted and what we prevented. I will. Someday I will make sure those who come after me know what happened and why it was happening. Regardless, now we know why the earthquakes were happening, and now we have stopped them. There is hope in the future, so much hope. No longer do we have to fear the pettiness of those who defy the gods. No longer do we have to shake at the mentioning of snakes or scorpions. Instead we will have the tools to make them pay for their crimes and have a better future. Soon...
I am happy now. I know what I need to do to find my roots. I will start soon once I get some rest and everything calms down a bit. I need to find Sparkles in the temple, that is where Silly said she was, or in Leilon also. I will look for her and tell her what I saw, she would like to know.
I have to be sincere that now I fear that all those with who I was stuck with for so long are going to spread apart. I hope not. We were good at what we did. We faced all challenges and came out victorious at the end and the only deaths that happened where those beyond our control. I hope we don't drift apart. We were all a bunch of lunatics, but we were a bunch of lunatics together and well that makes it very special in my mind. At least I'll have her songs. Those I will never forget...
She smiles as she hums an elven song written by the Harper and closes her book falling into a long restful sleep for a long long time.
-
Journal Book #2.
This page has no words written in it. Instead, imprinted on the parchment is a drawing. The drawing is of professional grade, obviously made by Triba. There was obviously extreme care and dedication put into this particular drawing, it seems that whenever she made it she took a lot of time to complete and paid attention to every single detail, giving the whole painting a degree of great importance to her. The painting is that of a scenic view at the edge of a lake, around this lake many flowers carpet the grass giving it a multicoloured hue that despite its variety makes an odd sense of it being right. A few small grassy hills can be see at a distance not too far from where the view of the painter is set. Finally, beyond these hills lies a castle, its stony walls offering indomitable protection to whoever it is lies inside. The only other detail in this drawing is a pair of gloves that sit on the edge of the lake where the flowers stop growing. These gloves were drawn in amazing detail as well and standout despite their small size.
-
Journal Book #2. Triba sits once more in the deceitful peace of her home. Resting now on a lofty cushion in their new sanctuary, upstairs the chaos of her extended family making the roof shake in ways it has never done before, the wild stomping of giant tomatoes and demented children, something that has become natural in her life. She watches the slender form buried in even more cushions sleep a fitful and exhausted sleep, the relaxation after too much work clear in their features.
Man I'm hungry... I guess you can't fix that right now, but I'm not going upstairs yet, its too early to jump through the mess that we have in the lounge and the kitchen will likely implode if I try to boil an egg, and its too early to be in the centre of an implosion. Thus I remain hungry until I can get some tumbling going here.
Been a while since I wrote or painted, but then again it has been a couple of crazy months and well time was something we simply did not have much of. Now that I look at the last entry, I laugh. The picture was nice dont get me wrong, and I did a good job portraying Blackford, but the idea behind it all was to say the least, amusing. To think I even came close to saying out loud what I felt, oh gods that would have been embarrassing. Then again I guess I have a tendency to make a fool of myself at times.
Update, right, well lets see...
Helped liberate the Lucindite church from insane vampire takeover. Fixed a few issues regarding the whole shoes or sandals dilemma. Got myself a new back scrub. Hanged out with Chimes for long periods of time and enjoyed every bit of it. Oh and we managed to banish Xandrial from this world. Sorta... more like he left after he had nothing to do here and we got Shifter's amulet from him. Oh!! And I'm the new ambassador of Voltrex! Or rather, ambassador of the decent people in Voltrex. I think that's how its worded, not sure on the official title to be honest, so far its been mostly just sitting in fancy places and having reserved seats and stuff. I'm sure soon it'll start to add more to the pile.
I'm sure I'm leaving a few things out but they are likely none of your business anyway!
Sparkles is now together with Connor. She looks happy, so that makes me happy. Will they last? That's a hard question to answer really. I hope they do, but with Sparkles its hard to know when things take a firm hold or not. At least I know this time both of them get along and will do their best to make it work. And that's the best we can hope for. Acacea has become a very close friend in little time. I kinda like that, been missing on good halfling conversations for sometime now and she has halfling sanity. Always a good thing. Even more so that Sparkles gets along with her and that makes it even better. I'm not sure she has liked any other of my halfling friends, not that I blame her after most of them ended up being a bit psychotic, but still! It's a refreshing change!
We spent sometime in the desert together dealing with Wildflower Heaven. That's a story in itself that I think I'll keep to myself, don't really want the knowledge of the place to fall into anyone's hand or the details of its magic. Though I guess it doesn't matter either way, very few know how to get there and even few less know how to survive in it properly.
Another avenue closed in the search for my family. The thread from the Tenderfeet Tribe fell, the lost daughter of the chief's sister ended up being dead, her grave is now in the Necropolis. For a moment there I thought I had it. I guess I am going to need to continue this for much longer than I hoped, but I knew since I started this search that it was not going to be an easy one.
I talked to momma Gues to see if there was anything left from my cradle when I was left at their doorstep and she said she had the blanket in which I was brought here. I've looked it at it some and I've been trying to recognize the fibres, I think I have some ideas as to where to begin searching now once more. Hopefully that will lead somewhere fruitful.
Alright... now I'm thinking of fruits. I'm starving and in need to break my fast. I'll talk to you later I'm sure.
-
Journal Book #2. Triba, after a few weeks away from home, returns with uplifted spirits to the place of madness. Leaving many presents for the orphans at the feet of their beds, she looks at the many sleeping forms around the room and with a proud smile heads to her room for some well-deserved rest. She walks around her room, finding out she isn't really tired and decides to spend some energy moving furniture around. Solutions for a halfling. She realizes there isn't much to be moved in her room but one of the portraits. Previously too far from her bed, she takes the picture away from her training area and changes it to be just to the side of her bed. Now she can always see the portrait and the picture watches her as well. Closer. As it should be. Still too energetic she opens her diary, brings another candle closer to her, plops on the bed, looks at the picture one more time and begins to write.
Timid Carq, that was the name they gave me.
Of course very few know what it means. And its not really spelled that way either, there's an H somewhere stuck in the middle. Doesn't really matter, just found it funny that my tribe name translates to "Timid". I think that's the one personality trait I've never been. Suppose there is irony in all things around, or perhaps there is some deeper meaning to that one. What does it mean? Well I think its kinda obvious. It means Desert Lynx.
I remember the dream too, it was vivid to say the least. At first it was just the tent. I was alone of course, no need for company since I've already been through the first part of the initiation.
The Tribal inks were barely drying out. As the fumes from the herbs began to play with my senses I knew I was in for it, no one is able to resist the call of the Kaima roots, but then again, no one wants to do that in the Tribal Initiation, it's the whole reason they exist for anyway. Be kinda silly if you came through all this trouble to avoid it.
As soon as the tent pole starts talking to me I know the fumes had gone up my head. The pole insists I need to start losing weight, that my hips are getting too big and that I'm eating too much air. This of course coming from a pole holding a tent together. So my credibility isn't really the best, still, I take the advice to heart and make sure that I start working out a bit more often. Of course later I will regret even going down that train of thought, but that's another story. Needless to say, when a pole tells a skinny halfling to drop weight, DONT PAY ATTENTION!!
Righty, back to the dream. The pole told me that I needed to go out to the desert to start running and lose some of the weight. Sure enough, that's what silly me does. I go running out the stupid tent with the instructions of the silly tent. At first I feel all weighted down and heavy, it was like the thing was right all along! I thought I was carrying a baby again, sheesh, that was uncomfortable. So I decided that it was unacceptable for me to be carrying so much weight on my shoulders and apparently my hips too! So I picture myself as I was a few years ago, without the weight. Which is completely bizarre because right now I'm not heavy at all. For some reason however, it felt right to let go of the weight, and sure enough, I'm all back to my light feathered self, running across the desert in my elder tribal garbs.
That was strange too, I don't have any elder tribal garbs, as a matter of fact the elders made it real clear that I will never be able to join them until I find my origins and proof I have Desert Blood. Traditions... But there I was in the garbs anyway, the desert answering to anything I wanted it to do, sand shaping in comfy waves that carried me around, the need to run no longer necessary.
I felt like being under the shade of a palm tree, and then I totally had missed the fact that there were about ten of them just to my right, right on the edge of the water! No idea where the water came from, but it sure was something I was looking forward to. So I sat. Not entirely sure what I needed to do in the dream. I mean you're supposed to see your spirit name. How can you see a name?? I figured I just had to wait. I am sure that the pole back at the tribe was dutifully informing the elders that I had gone into the desert to find my name and lose some nonexistent weight.
So instead of wasting anyones time in chasing me around, I decided I should just sit and draw for a bit. Conveniently enough there was a sketching book right next to one of the palm trees and many fine drawing charcoals. Kinda neat how everything was just working out real nice. Of course I soon realized why it is that I found the sketch book! It was my own! The one I had been using for sometime now that Sparkles gave me when we took that small vacation to Voltrex.
All good, I thought. Just needed to find a new page to start drawing and the rest was just a matter of time. As I browsed the thing I had totally forgotten that I already had used this sketchbook!! It was full of sketches of Sparkles, the ones we were going to use to give those portraits to the girls. I looked at the pictures for old times sake and realized that it has been so far my best work! Really I think I managed to capture that chaos in the drawings, and well that is something hard to do because how exactly do you draw chaos? I think the only reason I managed to draw it so well was because I'm pretty used to the idea myself.
The sketchbook managed to capture a lot of good and bad moments. It was nice all around. I was about to put it down because I thought I had used the entire thing already. But go figure! I turn to the last page and it just happened to be somewhere down the middle of the book, instead! Excellent. Plenty of space to make more sketches. And that's just what I did. I figured a good theme for this one would be when Sparkles and I sat near the Oasis in Adara. That was a nice setting all in all, the sea was just around the corner, we were getting wild berries from the merchant in the small oasis and making fun of some stiff neck guards that had too much time in their hands.
After a long time drawing, I realized that the pole had no intention of letting anyone know where I was. So putting the sketchbook in this little pouch I found in front of my robes, right on my chest, I started to look around to see what was the way out of this dream. It was getting to be a bit late and I needed to be back with the tribes sometime soon.
That is when I found her.
No idea where the Lynx came out of to be perfectly honest. One moment I'm looking to make sure the sketchbook isn't getting any creases and then the next moment she's right there. The Lynx was young, she couldn't have been more than a few summers into her adulthood, so she had plenty of energy.
At first we were both cautious. I wasn't really in the mood to get into a fight and I am sure she wasn't either. Then I realized that we were both being silly, we were alone in the entire desert, water and shade and plenty of fruit to last a lifetime. No idea where the fruit came from either, but it was there. So instead of going at each other's throats we just went ahead and sat to eat a bit of what we had.
It was getting kinda chilly, but the Lynx was nice enough to offer some warmth from her thick coat, she kinda twirled around me like a nice armor of some sort, and I gave her some of the food I had and did a small checkup to see that nothing wrong was with her. The sand in the desert can be a disaster for their sensitive eyes and their nails.
After we ate and got a little warm we started playing around the oasis. For some reason it wasn't looking much like the desert anymore, but it still was, kinda. It's strange. But while we ate and stuff, the whole place had grown HUGE. There were trees and plants I've never seen, waterfalls all over the place, the strangest animals, both wild and sedate, and this gorgeous sunset that was just to die for. We played for a long long time in the Oasis, if you can call it that, was more like Ulambree had decided to move.
We had a few scratches here and there, but we made sure to take care of one another all along the way, no real need to get hurt from just playing around, and well it worked out rather nicely in the end.
Well... after that it was all a bit blurry to be honest.
I know that we found a little niche close to a waterfall to rest. Much to my surprise she had two beautiful kittens of her own. They were adorable!! No father around though, so I imagine something must have happened to him along the way. Stuff like that happens all the time in the desert.
At some point I remember just resting next to the Lynx and just falling asleep. It was that kinda tired that you like, you know? Well I guess you don't, but that's what it felt. It was that rest that you take when you are happy, not because you're depressed and exhausted.
When I woke up I was back at the tent. I guess the pole did tell the elders of what had happened. Though it was being awfully quiet this morning. One of the Tribe Elders came in the room, I think it was the guy from the Smoothrock Tribe, not sure to be honest. But he said that my name spirit name was in the shape of the figures I saw. Timid Carq. The Desert Lynx. And that in my spirit, that will always hold truth. I was just kinda glad I didn't have to spend a night talking to a pole anymore.
But that's how that went and well... now you know...
-
Journal Book #2. Triba dangles her feet over the docks at Fort Velensk and makes a quick entry in her journal.
It's funny how they like flaunting accusations and names all around but remain silent when they're supposed to do the talking. What is it? Well... Good news all in all. After so many years of searching for him, we finally found what he needed for him to regain his old self. Shifter finally has his amulet and as promised so long ago, he finally can be at peace. Never to have a body again, but no longer living by the constraints of his former self. His own kind of freedom.
The funny part was the dire warnings by the Valash sisters. I find it amusing how they constantly proclaim to know the insides of all the workings of the world and when asked they remain quiet and add absolutely nothing to the whole. This time they claimed that the people that helped us get out of the hell hole we were stuck for months, were evil. Of course when asked why, they didn't bother explaining. Hilarious. Then they have the nerve of calling us names. It makes me laugh. But I suppose everyone wants to feel as if they have some control over others. I'm still not sure why they are the way they are. Perhaps its just a matter of a stunted childhood, or they are just generally bitter. Ah well...
Shifter is free. My promise is complete now. He is no longer bound to suffering and to the void he was before. Perhaps its silly of me to care so much for a Shade of a man. But I am not afraid to admit it. I feel for him. I felt him before. I will never forget his mind and his desperate plead for help. Perhaps we will meet in another life, where we are both in more... similar terms. For now I will rest easily knowing that a friend has a new road to travel.
-
Journal Book #2. Triba sits at the edge of a pond in a desert oasis, to the distance many happy voices can be heard discussing light-hearted topics. She opens her little elven journal and plopping on her belly, begins to write with a smile on her face.
Well... We meet again! Yes I know. You are like an abandoned child at times and I know that you deserve better, but lets be honest, those of flesh and bones get priority over you, oh sweetest piece of leather-bound diary you. But don't worry dearest, I have come back now and I plan to update you a little. Just a little, no need to get overly grabby now really. Where to begin then...
Alright, as of late the tribes have been very busy with a lot. Much change is ocurring in the desert, the elders are finally waking up to the reality that the war is bringing upon them and are now making the right moves to clean the nastiness within the tribes and actually present a somewhat decent front to the war. The desert may not be home to great kings and queens, or legendary world saviors, but it has a strength of its own. That strength should never be kept aside or thought of as less of what others may offer. And so a purge has begun.
Many of those who wish ill to the tribes, or seek only the ways of greed and self-gain are beginning to be shunted from our homes. Some changed, some kicked out, others eliminated. Necessary actions to ensure our future and that of those we love. This has kept me away from many of the events occurring around the world, but to be perfectly honest I feel no guilt in doing so. There are many able to deal with those problems and just like they do, I look after my own. That is of course not saying that I will not present a helping hand when needed, yet just as they fight evils abroad, I must fight the evils here.
Not many will understand this, but that is just fine, as long as I am at peace with myself and those I love then all is as it should be. One thing I am not forgetting is my role as ambassador to Voltrex. I have exchanged correspondence with the Queen now and I hope that in the near future we can get some sort of resolution to firm an alliance with the elves. To be honest I am somewhat afraid of what will come with this. Not many have been privileged to see the glory of the elven lands and I would hate to be the prime cause for their despoilment. Yet I also know that without their help we will die. It isn't a matter of how or why or if, it is a matter of when. Which my feelings tell me wont be too long in the making.
I just hope that the elves understand this, I just hope that I'm strong enough to protect their lands, for even though my blood doesn't flow in elven shapes, my spirit does. Can they see my spirit? I hope they can. In matters of spirits much has changed as well. A lot of confusions from the past have cleared, my family, my search for roots, my heart and its chaotic enticement by beauty of all forms. I am not sure what point it all happened, perhaps it was just an accumulation of events, a grouping of incidents and conversations that slowly made my path clearer to me, a path changing from green and gold to shades of blue.
Hah! Bet I confused you with that one.
Well you probably saw it coming, I sure didn't. It seems that I struggled and struggled against the inevitable but my heart knew better. Tell you about that a bit later though. Acacea has now become a unique friend. Her embracing of the tribes and her initiation within it brought a lot of change that has been very much welcomed. She in many ways feels like the sister that I never had, like that little companion you always wish to have when growing up just so that you can throw pies at and paint doodles on Mum's sleeping head. I'm not quite sure how it all came to be, but in the end I'm happy that it all ended like this and not in some other convoluted mess like those in the past.
She also became a Sandcaller and go figure I end up being her Second in it. Irony? Nah.. I don't think so. More like appropriate really. Daron said that the magic makes sense in more ways that we can possibly understand, and who am I to disagree with the Tribal Leader really.
Sparkles... well if before she was the only constant in the chaos that I am, now I'm not sure there is any way to put in words the unique friendship we have. It really can't be called that, I would say she is like my sister as well, but I just can't see it as that either, it is so much more. The trust she has in me is so unique that sometimes I feel her heart is speaking, and not really the words that come out of her mouth.
She seeks me for advice of the heart. For some reason that is not only funny, but it makes me real happy. That the Threadmistress of the strongest faith in the world, a person who have moved mountains to help others, and just generally what others could really only put as exceptional, seeks me for advice is something unique and exceptional within itself. I pray to her every night so that her doubts are cleared like mine have been and she can find the happiness she so deserves. I know she will, The Goddess takes care of her own.
Sounding a bit more preachy than normal aren't I? Well... I told you the path is tainted blue now! What does that mean? well I'm not sure myself right now really, it's all really new in the end. But I know its there. For years now I've been around magic, really all my life I have. You don't grow up in Spellgard without facing it sooner or later, normally the former. And the wonder I've felt for it, even after I got kicked from the Tower, has never ceased. Add to that years and years of being around those who call upon the Lady's Gifts and rejoice in its glory. Then sprinkle some of my own magic. And you really don't have many options left.
I was never really one to worship gold, perhaps the excitement of finding new things, perhaps always loved the fact that Luck is on my side. But those things come naturally to every halfling. My path is tinted blue, not green and gold. Will it keep? I don't know the answer to that really. I once heard a precious friend say to me that you make your own path. I still hold that firm to me and my feelings right now are screaming for magic. The thought even brings a smile to my face. Perhaps I can return to my long abandoned studies in magic.
Will that be reasonable? I don't know. I know that my potential right now is stronger in other aspects. I know that my barriers of the physical are still yet to be reached. Yet perhaps some sacrifices are worth making. Or does the Lady take you however you may come and love you for the magic within you? Whether you can express it in colors or not? I sense a long sit down with Sparkles in the way. And I will love every minute of it.
I hear the guys waking up now and we're going to go Dillo hunting so I'm going to leave you for now. I might write sometime later to pen down the stories I've heard about the attempts at bringing down Eon and how horribly wrong they are going about it. But right now there are closer things to deal with. Demonic Dragons come to mind. Time will tell...
Love you tons little leatherbound book! Don't be a stranger, I'll try not to be one myself.
-
Journal Book #2. Triba sits on her comfy couch at home, the fire burning its slow embers, the oncoming of winter in the coastal weather of south Dregar making it chilly but not uncomfortable. She finishes off a light meal before rubbing her left arm a few times and picking up her elven journal. Looking over its cover as it springs memories of its origin, the canopy of the Ulambree... the elves she loves... the smell of a forest so virginal that it makes her skin grow goosebumps. She opens the journal to find the first blank space and begins writing her thoughts.
Mothers.
It would be nice if I could relate the word to some healthy feeling. It would be nice if the word brought in me some feeling of closeness or warmth. It would be nice if the word was related to endless care.
It isn't.
The one I should call my own, doesn't exist. She left me at the doorstep of a caring couple of humans with nothing but a small letter with a name. Her reasons her own, she left no trace to be found. All attempts as to finding out her destiny have hit walls that escape even the realm of simple chance.
For the past 37 years, ever since I had the magnificent "pleasure" of meeting Ozlo the deceiver, I've trained my skills to realms unexplained. Surpassing that of what some would deem possible. Finding out things that others had simply left to mark as "unsolvable".
Yet on the closest of manners, the simple search of knowing where I come from, I've failed miserably. Those close to me have embraced me for what I am, and I return the love in equal manners. I am also a halfling and that will never change. This desire to find out about myself, is not to fit into some fancy idea of clan and tribe, no, I'm already there. This is simply to understand where I came from. On the risk of sounding paladinish, or perhaps druidish, that is a wrong that needs correcting...
Then we have the other type of more enthusiastic mother. The one that wants you so bad, she is willing to drag onto your soul and slowly rip it apart and draw it to her. Oh precious Mother of Souls, how I wish I could stab you in the back. It had been a while since she last visited. To be perfectly honest, I don't even recall when it was, all I know that it was more than 20 years and I had completely forgotten how excruciatingly painful it was when she kissed.
The first occurred at the Bloodpool. Drezneb's. It was a willing sacrifice, yet it was a hard one in either case. I saw the Colossus approaching and I knew that if it approached the hallway we were fighting on, we would all be stripped of our spells and left for easy pickings to the bone dragon and all the multitude of golems that were there. Not to mention, Drezneb himself. Given that faith, I ran for the door and squeezed in between them all and confronted the creature by myself. It was a lost fight before it even began. I knew this and I don't regret the decision.
The next I remember is Plenarius bringing me back from beyond. I remember seeing the snake of the bard in front of the pool gladly stealing the glory of destroying it. The sniveling could be heard from miles, the sliming of him far behind everyone as he simply leeches off life that doesn't belong to him. It wasn't the fact that he did what he did that truly bothered me, to be honest. I expected that whoever was left alive would have done the same and picked up the vial to destroy the bloodpool in my absence. What truly bothers me is the thought of him searching my body for it. I felt dirty, corrupted, disgusted at the idea. The mere thought of it makes me shudder. Yet destiny has a way of making those who have caused so much harm, pay for it. And he is not beyond it. It will simply be a matter of time. Or perhaps he already pays for it in his wretched excuse for a life. Opinion, I suppose.
The next time was when marching to the Viotrim Canyon. I have to say that this one I did not expect. I did not expect her grasp so early into the trenches. But I should have. There were far too many of us for this fight. We could not even tell friend from foe and when the undead began to let the hellfire spew it was too late to run away. As a matter of fact, the simple attempt at running away made us jump into each other and in the confusion, many fell. And She fed...
After that, there were some close calls, but nothing really for me to worry about. Others fell, and plenty, and She fed from others as well. Yet nothing is ever as strong as what is felt from within. Two deaths, two soul strands. If she will be feeding every time I fall now, then my days are numbered. Then I suppose this was to come, one way or another. Oh beautiful Mother, how much you want to hug me that you want to rip me away from those I love.
Yet we all know that is why the Golden Liar contacted us in the first place. We were good fodder for him. We were disconnected from the world in many ways to make it easy enough for us to not be noticed in our passing. Oh sure, there will be a heroes funeral and celebration of their lives. Oh surely there will be statues and songs written about them. But we all know that deep down, the story of a hero is just that, a story. I am not going to say that there wont be any who wouldn't cry for me, but the likelihood that I am passing away with them is high, anyway. Perhaps that is the small consolation? Perhaps...
My arm has been bothering me now for a time after I fell. The drain and stress on my body made my left arm be numb and cold for too long. It hurts every morning now and the weather doesn't help. It slowly heals, fortunately. But it isn't something I like feeling. Thankfully a quick hug fixes it for a while.
Triba smirks at the images flying through her head and shakes her head, returning to her journal.
There are other mothers of course, none of them with any real good memory attached to them. Katia only brings memories of Eon and the pain I had to endure to save Her chosen ones. Myself as a mother, a horrible one. Abandoning my child due to age, and even after having contacted her once more and trying to fix the past, the scars will always remain in my Cynyna.
No... she isn't mine to claim. Never was, never will be.
Then the twins. Sparkles and the unfortunate upbringing her daughters had to endure. Truthfully the word is not one that I like. Fortunately, I do not see Lucinda as a mother. She is caring and devoted and with much tricky love, but a Mother to me? I do not think so. She is The Lady of the Weave. Her body is magic and magic is her body. She mothers nothing of it, and her followers love her for being just that, a Lady of Mysteries. Not a womb for spells. It is a good comfort there.
At least knowing that she is in a good and firm place in my heart. Of course not all is bad. As a matter of fact, much much is good.
Three of the main Bloodpools are destroyed. Eon and Drezneb are gone for good. Milara failed in his ascension and is now very much mortal. The war against Sinthar near its end and we can all feel it. It is only a matter of time before this cloud dissipates. And yes, I know others will come, but to know that the reason you were put before it all, is resolved, is a good thing. There are other good things going on too. Acacea has grown leaps and bounds since the first time I met her. The once naive and simply cute halfling, has become a force of her own nature, a hungry mind with an even stronger personality. The cute girl has been replaced by the beautiful woman and many fear and appreciate that. Myself, I simply see it as something that was bound to happen, and I'm happy for every bit of it, even if it was hard at some points.
Sparkles has gained some clarity after huge bumps in her road. She is finally seeing it all for the reality that it should be, and she is no longer getting lost in her infinite wisdom. She too, has grown from the girl to the woman. Only a few more bumps in her road and she will be the pinnacle of her people, and a complete being.
All in time.
I hear now someone asking for food and whining about something or other, so I will leave you for now and come back to you when something that needs recording, has happened.
Hopefully still fully kicking and no disconnection from this world. Until then.
-
Journal Book #2. Triba sits at the stern edge of the ship, sailing away from Belinara as the darkened clouds expand all over the world. The tell-tale signs of recent events so fresh still in the ravaged lands. She looks up at the sombre sight, yet with a smile that can't leave her lips she opens her journal. Balancing herself with ease on the ledge, her feet dangling over the waters she begins to write at a new lightning pace the events that led her to this point.
And so the war ends. Sixty something years now, as old as me, has this war been brewing in the world. Too many deaths, too many people lost to it, too much blood spilled and way too many tears shed.
But it is over now.
When I first made it out of Spellgard if someone would have told me half of the things I have seen today, I would have laughed so much I'd likely had to change my pants. Yet today here I am, sitting on the ledge of one of the last refuge ships leaving Belinara with the scars and memories of all those things that have made this journey and unforgettable one.
It all started as usual, the mightiest Dragoncalled meeting in Arabel and trying to figure out how we were going to tackle the next task. However, this task was not just the next, it was the last one. This was the definitive strike. The do or die. The last fight. After this one, we would either be free of the tyranny of Bloodstone, or subjects to him.
Word had trickled that armies were marching upon Pranzis and you could almost see in the distance as another group headed to defend the Great Oak. They would not fight easy fights, and many would not make it back to their people in one piece. Yet when Kobal arrived with the means and the words to end Blood, a cold realization had sunk in. We were not going to make it back, in order to destroy the Well we had to dump some nasty dragon skull in it and the explosion would take us all out.
Yet as we looked around there was not a single face of doubt or regret. Every single one of us would take this end and live with it. Or rather, die with it. For a while we struggled on how we were going to go about it. It wasn't really who was going to do what. It was more on deciding how to tackle a Bloodwell, a Bloodpool and Sinthar himself with two clerics and rather twitchy group.
Everyone was tense, you could feel the strained voices and see tired faces, yet everyone was ready to face their end. And so with a plan, one in which we will all storm the Bloodwell, leave there a group to fend off the demons that came through it and sending the rest out and into Sinthar's own fortress, we headed out of Arabel.
A few skirmishes here and there, some nasty undead with way too much power in their hands, and the usual long treck into the continent and after a long march we were facing the Demon Mountains. Funny how a terrible sight would soon be completely changed. A rightful end to all the suffering that had sourced from this place. Onwards we went.
The creatures we fought on the way up the mountain were a match to reckon, the mightiest of those who have fought so far against Blood, now were challenged truly, and every step we won was fought till the last drop. Yet the will of heroes would not be stopped today, not until we had faced the leader of our opposition and ended him.
Finally making it to the Bloodwell tower, in we go with the icky feeling that this was going to be a graveyard for a lot of people. The details of all the battle upwards are blurry now, all that sits in memory now is a lot of magic, blades, axes, hammers, arrows flying. Healing being spewed at ridiculous rates, and way too many naked demons to distract a halfling out of the proper way to stab things.
Yet up the tower we made it and into the Bloowell room we marched in, Kavil carrying the way to its demise in another shape not his own and everyone else investing blood and sweat to not let go.
I have had the somewhat disturbing privilege of being in most Bloodpool rooms, everything from the conveniently hidden under the elven palisades Bloodpool to the evil necromancer of doom. Yet none of them matched to this horror. This was a Bloodwell.
All the times before, one felt as if something tugged an invisible string on your back and occasionally distracted you into a bad feeling. This felt as if someone was raking the very essence of your being and making a fun drink with it to be later mixed in a demon body. It wasn't appealing.
We cleared the Bloodwell room of its guards and then there was silence. The expectation of knowing we needed to part now and leave behind half of this almost perfectly synchronized machinery to fend off the same madness the other half was about to face and then some. It was unnerving. No one should be put to make that decision, but of course it was us that came to make it.
I think the hardest part was leaving Acacea behind. To make your way to your demise without knowing you'll be seeing those you care for again. To not be able to see Sparkles. The kids. The Tribes. Everyone.
Out we made it to Sinthar's Tower, the end was near. I don't remember exactly now when the idea came to mind, but it was a hope, and we would cling to any at that point. Lalaith's new gift with the Lumbral came to discussion, how she could use it and them to shift us through Shadows once the Bloodwell and Sinthar were ended. We didn't know if we could do it, we didn't know if she could manage such a large group, but our hopes rested in anything that we could grasp on, and that seemed to us the best manner to do so.
The trip towards Sinthar's room in his tower was excruciating. The reduction in numbers to our group, despite having Plen and Rev amongst us was taxing and it meant we had no chance for mistakes. Unfortunately mistakes were made, by myself of course, and I ended up paying with a visit from the caring mother.
Up we went, towards our objective and into the claws of the beast, there was no space for contemplation. Then without a second notice we were there. Sinthar's throne room. His own Bloodpool. He had four guardians watching over him, to be honest I don't even remember what they looked like, we had fought so many outsiders by then that it was an automated motion. And after they were dealt with, the last man was there.
Sinthar Bloodstone.
The one I had met a few years before back in Hlint. The one I challenged and survived. Now he stood there, scythe in hand and with murder in his eyes. Ozy screamed something about his mother or other, and for the brief glimpse of a time when he recognized me, his eyes shifted sharply towards the bard and he started chase.
I imagine there is a lot Sinthar would have wanted to take out on him, I wouldn't really blame him, but it was then that my window opened to do what we came to do. I slid the Blade of Shadows out of the scabbard on my thigh, the runes of True Silver shining through it, the magic of ageless time coursing through its blade.
It is funny than once before a ranger wielding this blade, and in the hands of another it was to end. I must admit that many years before when Lue was talking about how she needed to find it, there was always a hidden desire to be the one to carry it, to wield it at its end. It was said that a great warrior would do so then, but I never really expected it to be me. Yet there I was and nothing was changing it then.
It was all too quick. At one point I was running for him, next thing I know I'm launching for his back and then it struck true. Driven through his spine between that perfect location where nerves are broken and the ribcage is pierced. A loud crack and the thing melting in my hands. I quickly draw away as he lets a scream, I get pushed to a wall and he calls on some desperate magic to end me, but it was too late for him. As his last word is uttered to call upon the weave, Remiel and Rev were already crushing the last remains of his fleeting life and when his magic was free and onto me I felt life leave me, but I felt his leave as well.
It was done. A few minutes later I was quickly raised, the coming back to the body once more, even less than before as the link to the Mother was so close in this place let me know that the only thing I could do was run. And run we did.
The shockwave of Sinthar's death was felt by the Bloodwell and they did their thing. Then soon thereafter shadows embraced us all as we pushed our way through the bottom gates. The mountains were exploding and we were at the epicenter of it all. But just as soon as the end was coming, we were whisked away by our saviors, by Lalaith and into a dark place where comfort existed in knowing we were not aflame. Then there was dust. The war had ended.
Sinthar was dead.