Day 1: Morning. Today Brother Cassius and I departed the Monastery Proper in search of knowledge. I noticed that he brought his grandfather's satchel with him and thought it odd. He is resolute and will not turn back for something more plain. Perhaps an oath to an old man? I am sure Cassius will tell me when he is ready..
Day 1: Afternoon. We have trekked through the base of the Bergehens, thanks to the hidden exit beneath our Monastery's crypts. This has saved us much time, and allowed us to circumvent the giant clans who claim this territory as their own.
Day 1: Evening. Cassius insisted we stop in Velensk and rest at an inn for the evening. I cautioned him that my heritage is not well recieved in cities, so he decided upon the seedier districts as a place for our repose, cautioning me that I keep my cowl pulled low.
As he was adamant, I conceded, for I knew what was in his heart. To observe the patrons and record their tales. So much knowledge, though biased, might lead us in a direction where we might find more and even greater wonders.
Day 2: Morning. The odd covetous looks shot to Cassius as we ate our food still haunt my thoughts. Does he not realize how he must appear to them? Fine robes. Fine satchel. They must see him as a lord and I as his retainer. While we have succeded in drawing attention away from me, it all appears focussed on him. I will mention it to him again today.
Day 2: Midday. We have used what skills we posess at stealth to make our way past the Battle Fens of the Lizardfolk. I know that they do not trust strangers and defend their lands with violence. Someday I shall find a way to learn more of them, but today we have made a wise choice.
Day 2: Early Evening. We have met another traveller on their way to Point Harbor and will be making a stop in Port Hampshire to set sail. He seemed friendly and outgoing and Cassius thought this a good chance to explore away from the Mistone mainland. Perhaps we can convince him to include the two of us on his journey.
Day 2: Late Evening. Cassius is again insistant on us staying in the city. Tonight we head to the seedier part of town in hopes of finding a means of repose.
We find it in the Hanging Monkey tavern. The tavernkeeper promises to put us up for the evening for room and board of 5 gold for the two of us. Something seemed out of place with that encounter, though I have yet to discern what it was that set me off. The innkeeper seemed... too friendly. I shall think more on it later.
Day 3: Early Morning. I woke up early this day for in my sleep I am haunted by the looks once more. Something is wrong. I will speak with Cassius a--
Day 3: Late Evening. Cassius is dead. He was murdered in his sleep by rogues, probably in the hire of the innkeep. I had no recourse but to reclaim his satchel and flee. Fortune and Aragen were with me this day as I used the abilities of my birth to enshroud myself in shadows as I fled.
I cannot turn the innkeep in to authorities, for who would believe the word of a Grey one over the word of an established citizen. I would merely enable him to offer evidence that I had slain my brother out of jealousy for the satchel... or some such contrivance to incriminate me and enrich him.
Day 4: Early Morning. I have snuck back into town and reclaimed Cassius' body... bare as it was and stripped of all his other possessions in a back alley behind the Hanging Monkey.
I removed Cassius' corpse to the base of the hill of ants outside town. I must hope that they do not plunder the grave that I dug with only my hands, but it was the best I could do for my fallen brother. I have laid him to rest with his satchel, though his Journal I keep that I may someday return it to the monastery. May his soul be enlightened in the halls of Aragen.
Day 5: I have avoided the past few towns since the last misshap in Port Hampshire. I have no further desire to witness the greed and anger of the humans. Perhaps when I am more confident in my ability to interract with them.
Day 6: Epilogue. Today I have entered the town of Hlint with scarse on me save the journal I carry by my side and defend with my life, and the memory of my close friend Cassius, an elf of the Brotherhood who was slain two towns back by a rogue who thought his satchel carried something of power other than the scant knowledge contained therin.
I buried Cassius near the local Cemetary under a hill guarded by fierce ants, for I could not afford the undertaker's fees, and could afford even less the stares and questions that would follow the burial of a brother of my sect, I carry with me his journal that it may someday reach home.
Now one must see what can best be seen by two.
Day 6: Evening. I have entered the sewers of Hlint in hopes of finding a clue to what sort of town this is. After the last two towns, I grow tired of hiding during the day, but have learned from Cassius' death that remaining in the seedier districts is no viable alternative. I must find my own way into the light, even though it mean I begin with the rest of the refuse.
There are rats down here. I sense their interest. Perhaps we can keep each other company for a time...
Day 7: Observing these creatures in their normal habitat, they seem most industrious. Often salvaging items of use for their nests where they raise their young. They are extremely protective of both their territory and their nests.
Day 7: Evening. I have encountered another whose origins hail from the realm of the underdark. He prefered to go by the name of "Kit", though I precieved his drow heretage. He was well spoken was quite well mannered as well..
While he politely refused to enlighten me further of his true name and lineage, it was a pleasure to speak with one who did not assault me the moment my hood was withdrawn.
Day 8: Early Morning. I have discovered some loose stones which lead above ground and apparantly to one of the establishments of the city. By the smell of hops and barley, I would hazard that this is a brewery, tavern, or both.
In either case, this passage is an ideal place to rest, and the rats seem to shun it. I wonder why...
Day 8: Afternoon. The light is bright and filters into my sensative eyes. One might think that thirty five years on the surface would enable the effective use of my sight, but such is not so. The cloister where I studied was almost always enshrouded. The only light came from candles, and even this was almost too bright at first. Ah... but I reminisce, and while I am here to observe no less.
I have met Kit again. He seemed a bit less friendly and more preoccupied this time. I am cautiously exploring the woods to the East and North of Hlint. To the East, I see signs of a goblin tribe who have claimed the land for their own. To the North, I have discovered what appears to be a tower devoted to the higher arts.
Near the base of this tower, cotton plants grow wild. The cotton and the woods surrounding the tower are claimed by a Tribe of Orcs. Their tribal insignia mark them as of the Rabid Wolf tribe if I recall correctly. I will be sure to stay well clear of them, as their tribe is currently at war with everything that is not of the Rabid Wolf
Day 8: Night. I have met two travellers with barnacles and other signs of the deep within the crags of their armor. The first identified himself as Synal'dur Hano'del, Paladin of Eilistraee, and Drow outcast. His tale I know all too well. The other companion identified himself as Illin Grail, who mentioned his simple parantage, though his scars spoke of many battles.
I convinced them to share their tale with me, for I was curious how they had acquired the sea barnacles that clung to their armor.
Synal'dur began. Yesterday, in the town of Hlint, there gathered an army of adventurers, thirty strong. Apart from this crowd stood a lone female figure, to which the others listened with rapt interest.
This female (of unknown origin) claimed to represent a clan of dwarves who had successfully completed a tunnel, and demanded payment for the task. Only natural as any project of great weight will cost the lives of dwarves along the way. This orator was thought by some to be a queen.
Everyone contributed towards gathering a large sum of monies to pay this orator on behalf of the Dwarves. 350,000 gold coins. The dwarves after questioning, were revealed to be the Ulgrids. The same clan that makes it's home in the mountains by our monastery.
The orator (believed to be a queen), delivered a strong golden box to a fellow I believe to be our famous bard, Ozymandias Llewelyn. I confirmed this with the others. Inside the box given to Ozymandias, were thirty rings that possessed the power to allow the bearer to breathe underwater.
The group of adventurers then set off to the Dwarven fortress of Ulgrid, where they met with the king. Illin mentioned that the adventurers split into several groups, each going the way they thought best. Illin went through the desert, then sailed to Voltrex?... After a bit of questioning, I was able to conclude that they had in fact sailed to Fort Velensk, near the Bergahen Mountains.
These two coincidentally took the same route and walked through the Bergahens, though Illin mentioned that their group became lost many times before finally reaching the fortress.
Inside the fortress, they met with the dwarven king. Synal'dur mentioned that his partner Spiritor Argallon fell at the hands of the giants outside the fortress. Their group mistook the giant cave below and to the East of Ulgrids as the entrance to the Dwarven fortress. A costly mistake.
Synal'dur apologized but will resume the tale later...
Illin walked with me for a bit and demonstrated his prowess in battle against the Orcs of the Rabid Wolf Clan. Extremely efficient and impressive. Were I minded to the pursuit of war he would make an excellent instructor.
Illin led me to a range of hills north of Fort Llast, the Greypeak Mountains. There we paused near the entrance to Storan's Crypt and he related a tale:
A long time ago, he and a group of eight adventurers went up into the Greypeaks, in search of what, I do not know. They fought many Ogres, and in the end the Ogres' numbers overwhelmed Illin's group. After climbing for half a day up the stairs carved into the mountainside by a long lost race of dwarves, they had to make their way speedily down, with the Ogres in pursuit.
As they neared the bottom of the last range, their party was ambushed by another group of Ogres, who seemed to appear directly in their midst (probably a spell of the Ogre Magi).
Scattered and confused, Illin and a priest by the name of Chandra tried to scale the stairs again and hold the Ogres until the other friends could arrive to help. The Ogres they fought, though were Berzerker Ogres, tribally marked for their freocity. The healer Chandra fell, and Illin was forced to flee, vowing to return.
He speaks not proudly of that moment, and I can see it haunts him still. Hearing shouts, he returned to the top of the stairs where Chandra had fallenl, and he met with his other companions who had arrived to dispatch the last of the Ogre Berzerkers... thus was Chandra's death avenged.
As his remaining party members regrouped, an Ogre Berzerker, bigger than the others and possibly their leader, barrelled down the stairs under the protection of mighty enchantments. Beneath, an Ogre Magi chanted curses that withered the resolve of those remaining, and they fled... back unto this valley.
In this vally they made to catch their breath, when a darkness from the crypt of Storan emerged. Sinister and Black, it caused them to loose their bearings and they stumbled within.
Being adventurers and all, or so Illin said, he and Longbow started creeping inward... trying doors, despite the others in their group warning them not to. It was hard going groping through the dark, until they heard a booming voice, "Mortalsss leave this place!... you do not belong here".
Illin mentioned to Longbow that the voice called them mortals. The owner of the voice must have heard, becauase it asked, "Are you trying to ssay that you are Immortal?", to which Illin explained, "No, just thinking that if you call us mortal you are more than likely, well, Immortal yourself."
It was at then that something brushed against them in the dark and they were attacked by a creature, black as the air within the tomb. illin can only remember the creature's eyes.
His group managed to slay the creature rather simply, which wrongly emboldered them into false bravery. They tried the other doors, using force of arms and spells to get in, until they finally located one that they could enter.
Illin smashed the door and it fell. Inside was a room full of some sort of wicked undead... he believes them to be revenants.
After being hit by one of these creatures a few times, Illin had to stagger away, badly wounded.
Luckily he found the exit. As he left Illin watched another friend get struck down by the beast... unnamed save only for the eyes. And the remaining 3 of them ran from the foul place.
One of the revenants walked to the opening and told them, "...AND STAY OUT!", and it reentered the crypts and slammed the gate.
As the gate closed, Longbow caught a glimpse of a skeletal form, glowing in all the colors of the rainbow, whom they believe to be none other than the dead Mage Storan. Illin will return there someday, he thinks, to avenge his dead friends and discover the mysteries contained theirin. Perhaps I shall follow and record all that is discovered.
An interesting tale.
Day 9: Morning. As the sun emerges to once again take my sight and remind me of my origins,
I spent this day gathering cotton in the woods, North of Hlint. Observing Illin at his craft, I learned much of what I must do to spin this cotton into thread, that I might use to form apparrel.
Day 9: Evening. Whilst gathering cotton, I was truely amazed to discover an elf appear before me... followed shortly by his twin! They were none other than our library's greatest benefactor, Ozymandias Llewelyn. Undoubtedly the famed bard was enjoying a private jest with the masses as is his wont, or so I have heard.
He seemed a bit off, though I suspect it was because he was musing at his duality. Still, it was exillarating to meet him at last. Bringer of wonders, he should be called. The entirety of the North wing of our great library is occupied with copies of his works. May I live so long to return as much as he to the library that saved my soul and brought me purpose.
Day 10: Midday. I have met a most unusual and enlightened traveller whilst sneaking into the craft halls of Hlint to practice my taloring. His name is Strykr Hannoverfis, a monk as I who follows a sect far removed and in a distant land. Being secretive, he could not illuminate me as to their origins, only that they did not worship a specific god, and believed in spiritual enlightenment through perfection of the body.
Strykr had some old robes, some gloves, and an old belt which he had made long ago, and felt he no longer needed. These items he'd been carrying on himself until such time as he could find a fellow monk to pass them on to. As my clothes were nearing the end of their lives, I accepted.
In trade, I offered some of the knowledge I had collected thus far, along with several bolts of cloth, some patterns, and white mushrooms which I included after he revealed himself to be an alchemist.
Day 10: Evening. Strykr has offered to display his techniques for me to record. At last, I may begin fullfilling my purpose.
Strykr began by demonstrating the Rukani Uni - a style that uses the heel and toe to follow through when stryking an opponent.
(diagram of style)
This appeared to be extremely effective against the Rabid Wolf Clan who seemed unable to erect a proper defense against it. Unlike the encounter with Illin, I sensed Strykr's mastery over his body, and over the Orcs. They could not harm him and his stance was flawless.
Next he demonstrated the kata that must be performed to enable one to employ the Rukani Uni.
(diagram of kata)
We then travelled to the sewers of Hlint, where he showed me Hattori No Uni - a style of many rapid blows of the foot whereby the side and heel were employed the most often. Extremely effective in disposing of rodents or foes who reside and attack low to the ground.
(diagram of style)
I showed him the passage to the back room, which he recognised as the celler beneath the local pup in Hlint. There he demonstrated the Hattori No Uni kata. I shall practice this daily as well as the other.
(diagram of kata)
We travelled through the sewers and into the second level, where Strykr demonstrated his mastery over poison and disease, slaying spiders and wererats whose infectious bites are well know and documented in the Great Library.
A thing of curiosity was discovered on one of the wererats. Apparently a ledger had fallen into their hands. The checks and sums belonged to a neat if hurried hand. I can only hope that the owner of this remains alive after observing the visciousness of the beasts who posessed it.
We travelled again to the surface, where Strykr paused to get his bearings.
(meeting with Strykr) - I still need to finish up the writing up of this encounter as it happened too quickly to record in my journal at the time it took place.
Day 16: Early Morning. I met a travelling dwarf today, who introduced himself as Tarval Garstone, a follower of Beryl. Tarval posessed a tolerance I have not encountered in a Dwarf since my departure from the Library. May he always keep such an open mind in the days ahead.
He has offered me a chance to earn his friendship, which I shall not pass up.
Our adventures took us deep into the goblin mines of the Eastern Wastelands. Through perservereance we came through and emerged from the tunnels with the heads of the two highest ranking goblin leaders. While it is a bit barbaric for my taste, Ronus the Gold dwarf needed these heads as proof of the goblin leader's defeat.
In turn, Ronus granted each of us a pair of boots which make it more difficult for our enemies to strike us.
And so it has passed that I have earned the friendship of Tarval Garstone. The first of many I would hope. Having a companion this close to town who is willing to assist me is a good thing, I am convinced.
Day 18: The siege of Hlint. Tonight began an assault on Hlint by the deep drow. Their leaders claimed that the assault was staged because Hlint harbored the drow criminal Reventage, and further dared to house her temple to Illsare.
The drow have never needed an excuse in the past, so something must be driving them to this now. An unseen opponent which will reveal itself when the time is most opportune. While the drow may seem flighty and chaotic on the surface, their ability to improvise battle tactics would be the envy of the surface races... should they ever choose to admit it.
Of special note: Three of the Hlintian resistance force were also drow, though I know not their names. One was a tiny creature, though with drow, I know they are born and bred savvy into the sociopolitical arena of inter-house politics. Underestimating a drow based on perceived helplessness has claimed the lives of many would-be opponents.
Whether the three defending drow were sincere or merely planted by the army remains to be seen.
Day 19: Siege on Hlint continues. Tonight for the first time I encountered something that I could not outwit - a drow mage. By violating my neutrality as an observer, I stepped in to aid a seriously wounded companion whom I have travelled with on the road with once before. The mage, on seeing this, cast a spell of such devestation that the last thing I can remember was the sensation of my lungs exploding outward through my chest.
The words I recall were part of a special cant reserved and cast by only the highest of Baraeon Ca'Duz's followers. I imagine the companion I attempted to aid was just as surprised when he fell.
I came to, with an aching pair of whole lungs and to the sight of a priest in high favor in the goddess Katia's clergy, staggering away, and telling the others "See? This one has done exactly the right thing! I have lost so much of myself this night..." I can only assume he meant that I had fallen correctly prepared, for the soulstone I always carry upon my person was gone.
I shall have to acquire another.
//This is Stonesoul's live Journal kept in game which I have copied as is from my local vault and am pasting here so that others can get a chance to see a bit into his character. Enjoy!
