Memories from unknown heritage

[Beeep]

*written in fluid spidery letters*

Memories of Burr Gjest - in hope of finding my heritage, and maybe my real name

After coming here to Mistone I haven't had much time write. I've been busy helping locals in Hlint with odd small-jobs.
But that is not the most impressive about being here. People are all so very friendly, I met a girl who called herself Maz, she helped me - a very inexperienced lad - get started by helping me complete the first few tasks. I will be her forever grateful for that. Haven't seen her lately though, but I hope I can repay the favor some time. She was so patient with me...
I have met other people too, but she was the first to really help me out.
I'll have to write Thorkel soon. I've met others from Krashin, Geir and Skarp-Heidenn Sigurdson, and even though he doesn't meddle much in others business at Krashin, I think he will be pleased to know that they are doing fine after all that happened...though Geir seemed rather sceptic of my appearing here in Hlint. Can't figure out why, I've only seen him before, never talked to him or done anything to him - that I know of - but he was friendly enough, just more reserved than the others I've met. Maybe he just needs a chance to accept that not all from Krashin are not Egilson's... Which he told me he intends to kill - all of them... hope he doesn't kill me before I can convince him
that I'm in liege with noone but myself and maybe Thorkel a bit.
Now to the letter Thorkel...
Dear Thor*Big blot of ink as if someone has fallen asleep in the middle of the word*

[Beeep]

...whew, that has never happened before. I just had a blackout or something. Don't think I just fell asleep, wasn't feeling the least bit tired. Well all is well that ends well as I like to say, so I'm glad it happened here in quite surroundings and not in the midst of battle. Thought it seems like a good idea to go ask some of the clerics in Hlint if they have any suggestions as to what happened. Or maybe not, they will most certainly see my tatoo, and I'm not sure I want that to happen. Not until I've had a chance to find out more about it. About the tatoo, haven't had any tingling from it since I left Thorkel, wonder why that is...*drawing of an enchanted sword*... maybe it's because I haven't had the misfortune as to cause harm to any of my fellow travellers. But I dread the day it happens, as I'm afraid it's bound to. But I really try my best to be careful, and not get people in more harms way then an average hunt might give of scratches.

Oh, almost forgot, even though Geir seems to hold me at an arms length, he did sell me a ring he made. Suppose to be good against disease or so he said. Doesn't know if it's true, how does one tell if such a thing works? Didn't say I got immune to disease - or was it poison?, so how will I know if I have avoided diseases by wearing it? Well, anyways I thought I'd buy it from him to see if he might have a little more trust in me then. Don't know if it worked, haven't seen him much after the trade, guess time will tell.

Now about that letter to Thorkel, good thing I fell asleep or blacked out or what ever I did, how was I supposed to send him a letter I've written in my journal??? How foolish of me... better go get some parchament that is not attached to a binding so I can get the postmaster to send it for me

[Beeep]

That sure was a surprise, Geir helped me get the goblin head for Ronus. I really didn't think he liked me, maybe I was mistaking. But how can I have been so wrong? Really thought he wasn't going to help me the least bit before I had proven myself - maybe he was just testing me... Anyway he helped me get the head and I appreciate it. As we went to the crafthall afterwards, to do something about the gems we had collected down there, we met Fenrir - a dwarf that has previously said he would help me if he had the time when I was in need of help. They decided to go to Rilea, and they didn't mind that I tagged along. So we got down there and I got to deliver the letter from Postmaster Vale. And it seemed Johan I delivered the letter to had lost a cow. So we helped him with that - or we found the collar of the cow he was missing. And selfish of me I turned the collar in and didn't even think any of the others were looking for it too. To my great shock Fenrir hadn't helped Johan find the collar, and he didn't get credit for finding it, even though he had done most of the work in finding it. Really hope Fenrir will forgive me for that and take me along on other hunts. I must remember to apologize again when I see him next. Hope he will let me make it up to him somehow.
hmm... I really must be less eager when I write, I can hardly read the long sentences myself - there is just so must I'd like so write in such a short time
On my way to rest when we got back to Hlint I met Maz, and a friend of hers called Bipo or something. Her friend didn't say much, but I had a little chat with her (Maz), about this and that and also Geir. He really is a figure most in the community knows and likes. Well I was pleased to see her again, and hope I'll have a chance to go explore with her again soon. She is such great company, and a great deal better looking than most of the ruffians around here...

memo to self:
Help/apologize to Fenrir, there must be something I can help him with even though he is much more experienced then me.
Keep Geir liking me, though I don't know excatly how.

[Beeep]

HA-HAAAA... Finally it was I, that was able to help someone instead of the other way around. Met a pretty lass named Ashiel Relvin, actually I've met her before, but that was not the point, and she asked if I knew where to get a boar pelt. And I did - or do, depends on how you look at it - so we went, but before I could tell her about the stonebirds and Ogres she went in, I ran in after her but couldn't catch up with her, so she was called to the bindstone. Feel like it was my fault since I had led her there, but she just was a bit too fast for me. But all is well that ends well, because on the second try she let me make her invisible, which made it all so much easier. I hope that she will not hesitate to ask again even though I'm a lousy guide. I'm certainly glad, that those that have helped me was better at keeping me alive...

I've also tried different craftings now, but still not sure I've found my true calling. Haven't found anything that come really natural to me, but maybe I just needs to practice some more, haven't given completely up on it yet, but I do find it more exciting to hunt the the tedious practice on useless items. Much like anything else, I'm not that big a fan of tedious tasks, so I'm glad my magic comes natural to me, or I'm certain I wouldn't have had any chance of learning it... I certain I would have been a fighter then, much more fun to practice with a sword then reading in dusty old books

[Beeep]

Well diary, a most disturbing thing happened to me the other day. I woke in the middle of the night from a tingling in my tatoo... that has never happened before. It has always been just after I had harmed someone I wasn't supposed to. I have many speculations as to what caused it, but that's all it is. But the two foremost in my mind is either there was another with a similar tatoo nearby that harmed someone, or someone with it did great evil. But hey, I don't even know if there are others with such a tatoo... I must begin a more thorough invistigation soon... just need to find someone I trust to help me with it first... maybe I should ask Maz - just need to get to know her a bit better first. Hope I find someone before I looses my patience - which I know is hard for you to grasp, being just a little book - but it has happened on rare occations. Better not let Ehlex read this or he will surely make a comment about it.
*written in margin* HA - I've seen it, and if you only rarely looses your patience I'm a pixie *signed and dated* Ehlex

[Beeep]

Well this has been an eventfull day, Hlint was empty so I decided to go have a look in Sielwood mine if I could find the neclace for the lass bard in the Inn. And I prevailed - what a rush, I completed a dangerous task on my own. After I got back to Hlint and had delivered the neclace, I met Ulver and had to tell him about it. He seemed pretty impressed with me doing it on my own. I am rather proud of it myself too. So when Geir turned up I wanted to tell him about, and I started to - but then he just ran off in the middle to talk to someone else. Thought he didn't dislike me as much anymore, and maybe he doesn't, but he still don't think much of me it seems.
Well Ulver was getting restless and the town was beginning to fill up, so we found a group - including Geir, Skarp, Brue the phsyco dwarf and.. quite a lot actually, almost a small army... We went into Greypeaks to get the Oil of Vukas for the horsetrader in Llast. Think it was a long time since she had lost it, because there were quite a few that hadn't helped her before.
Not a bad day, having helped two people with dangerous tasks.

[Beeep]

Well, I have now had the misfortune of feeling that tingling sensation after something I did. It's the first time it has happened since I got here, but that doesn't help the least. I got Ehlex killed. It was my fault, I was feeling overconfident and didn't summon all the help I could before taking on the Gnoll camp in Sielwood. I'll be more cautious from now - or at least try. Not much use making promises that one might not be able to comply to in the end.
On another account also regarding Ehlex, he's gotten more outward, he has now talked to teo people besides me - at least that I know of.
*small drawing of Ehlex battling a gnoll*
Ehlex and the Gnoll mishap
*Ehlex's writing* is that supposed to be me? HA- glad you have other talents then drawing or you would have made a poor living... and next time DON'T get me killed, thank you very much!

[Beeep]

Geir is almost like a woman at some points. First he holds me at a distance and walks out in the middle of my story, next he comes up and apologizes and gives me some gems to practice on. I always thought it was only women that would be this hard to get. Better get a chat with him one of these days to hear what his opinions of me are, just to get it straight. I think he would give me a straight answer - or I hope so at least - since after all, he is a man even though he has the skill of a woman to confuse you.
Met Abigail today, she had made me a nice set of iron reinforced clothes. And she gave me a fair price, said it was because I came from the same Island as Geir, think she fancies him. She also showed me a robe that I'll be buying once I'm skilled enough to wear it, said she would save it for me, and I really appreciate that. She also made me a lionskin sling, which I haven't payed for yet. She wantet spider silk for it, and I can easily gather that. So I believe she trusts me, since she made the sling before I had gathered the silk for her, but I'll do it first thing, so she'll know she was right to trust me. After getting the silk I think I better gather some money, have to save some up for the robe she made, and also it's costly to polish gems when one doesn't have the patience to make all the oil, but rather buys it. Also have to start saving for a new sword, so I have the money once I find someone to make it for me. Maybe I should try and make some rings to sell... if it wasn't for all the tedious tasks involved I would have done it sooner...
I really hope Thorkel will write soon!

[Beeep]

Well, I got talked into getting an ox the other day. I had been against it because I feared I would get it killed, but I finally had to give in and buy it. And what happens? I get it killed. It gave that tingling at the back of my neck too, but not nearly as much as when I got Ehlex killed *written in margin* which I would appreciate if you stooped doing!!! I went walk-about on Rilea yesterday just for the fun of seeing the sights, which there are quite a few of. And today I met Geir and he told me he is making a map - if I had only known I could have made a map of all the places, but he asked me if I would show him some of the places so he could get on with his map - seems like he really is trusting me now. Well I'll remember it next time, for my own good too, told him of a place I'm not sure I can find again on the first try, but guess we'll just see some of the other places too, because I know it's on Rilea - and how big can that be? Seems like something I can answer myself as I was all over not that long ago...

[Beeep]

Talked with Skarp today, met him in Port Hampshire, and we of this and that, and somehow the subject got turned towards me. He asked how come I didn't know if I had siblings and such. So I ended up telling him about how Thorkel had found me, taken me in and given me the name I go by. We also talked a bit about how Thorkel had a great many thing in his home - some of which are quite odd. Not that he knows him very well. If I hear of no others soon that have heard of this I will trust Skarp and maybe Geir too - they are brethren after all. And it seems that Geir has decided to trust me. I went mining with Skarp and Geir joined us along with Slate. And after we got back Geir gave me all his malachite minerals, because they are to easy for him. Skarp also gave me me ingots of copper, so now I have finally tried to make rings.
We didn't get to the tatoo before I managed to change the subject, but I really could use Thorkel's advice. Maybe I should write him another letter...

[Beeep]

Well I have now decided to trust Skarp, and thereby also Geir. It has now been many days since my talk with Skarp and I've heard no mentioning of it from those Skarp often travel with. Think I'll have a talk with them about it when I meet them next. Or sometime at least, no use talking about things like that if all everyone wants to do is go hunt or something...
I made a complete fool of myself last night. Met a young Lass that was new in town, so I said I would help her get a bat pelt. I was going for tough, so I went ahead with melee combat. And I shall NOT do that again anytime soon. Got a good wupping from a few goblins, how sheepish is that... I best rely on my magic if I ever feel the urge to show off again. WEnt down the crypth afterwards just to see if I really was that bad in melee combat. And I wasn't impressive, maybe I better get some bigger weapons, for I really find it envigorating to do something like that by hand. So, new weapons and I'll test it again... just for the fun of it.
On a side note I haven't got Ehlex killed lately, so that is positive thing. *scribbled in margain* much appreciated!!!

[Beeep]

Yesterday I was mere seconds from asking Geir to help me in my search for knowledge about the tatoo at the back of my neck. Maybe it isn't a tatoo, thinking of Kobal's tale of how he had been marked by a curse, but I'll keep calling it a tatoo. Sounds better to have a tatoo then to have been cursed. I had finally gotten my courage up to ask, so we went by the pond in Hlint where Geir said we could have a little privacy. And then - saved by the bell - a lad named... well he called himself the White Ranger, came up and asked for some help in the Red light Cavern and Sielwood Cave. Not in those words, but we went along with it. Really polite chap that White Ranger. Well we just never got back to the conversation, so I still haven't asked Geir. But he seems the obvious choice, being a bard that has travelled most of the world and all.

Oh yeah, later we went to Berhagen. The biggest group of monster slapping adventures I've ever seen. So now I have seen Golems of many kinds, and they are pretty, just not that friendly.  And how did it go? It was a mess. All those tough adventures used to have it their way. They were all over, the best tactic I could percieve was Tactic? Who needs tactics when brute force can do it. So all ahead and bash the first you see... I prefer smaller groups, a wonder not more got killed then there did. I for one fell because the front men ran after a Giant and two other giants decided to come over and have a whack at me instead of helping their friend. Not much friendship between giants it seems. I'm not complaining, about my being called to the bindstone, just making a note to not be in so large a group. Though I have never seen giants go down so quickly, it was not a pretty sight, seeing everyone running in different directions...

[Beeep]

What a weird day, first I kept hitting Klugger with my spells, and not the ones I hit my friends with before. This time it was single target spells. And my what a tingling it gave at the back of my neck, just as bad as when I've had Ehlex killed - I really should get my courage up again and ask Geir for help. For this cannot keep on...

A bit later I was the leader of a group, where some exceeded me in experience and more in power, but still they asked me for directions. Not a bad feeling, and I didn't get anyone killed, so it was a succes - more or less...

Oh yeah, Rolf suggested I take up tailoring as a craft, and also scribeing. I think I will take up tailoring but the scribing will have to wait a bit I think. Still haven't decided which craft to pursue the most so I still dazzle in many of them, but maybe tailoring can hold my attention longer, guess time will tell - it always does!

[Beeep]

Wow, it has really been long since my last entry. But I've been busy crafting among other things. TOld Rold I had taken up tailoring and he seemed pleased. Not that he has asked me to make anything specific yet, but maybe he deemed I needed a lot of practice to make what he needs, I don't know. So I only continiung because I find it not such a bad craft, I find I even enjoy myself af it. Though like everything else I have tried it can get tedious. Maybe I should ask Rolf some time why he suggested I take up tailoring...
In my travels I have heard many tales and weird things. One of the harder - morally speaking - was a problems was with a disease called the Valensk Raps, a leathal disease that had taken hold of a little girl in Valensk, alas we where not able to help her, she perished.
Oh yeah, Elves can be a real pain, there is especially a drow the annoys the color out of my hair. She is by far the worst of all from the different races I have met. I find it really inpolite when in a group of mixed races to start chattering away in a language that not many speaks. I never take up the Krashin dialect with Geir when others are around, they would propably understand as much of that as I do of elvish... enough is said, maybe I should go chop some wood to get this out of my system

[Beeep]

Went with Rolf the other day, and he told a disturbing thought or how his parants apparently had suffered a shipwreck near Krashin. He wants to find out who they where, much like I want to find out about my heritage. He seems a bit more eager to find out, since he's taken actions to find out, so I'll do my best to help him before I continue my own search, or even start it some would say. While we where trying to get information I kindda hit an old man on the head, and wow, that really gave a tingle in the tatoo. But I felt it had to be done and he won't have permanent damage from it, so... anyways it ended up with me "borrowing" 2 books and having to talk my way out of the whole thing. Almost got me Rolf, Skarp Jacc and Noss banned from Leilon. Not part of the plan, but I've returned the book now - with the help of an unsuspecting tough kid that spent most of his time bullying smaller kids, so I feel confident that we won't be banned. But we best not start any trouble there for quite some time, don't know what they've done with the scetches they made of us. And the worst part was that it didn't even get us the information we hoped for, so it might have been in vain. But what the heck, it was a whole lot more fun the tailoring for a bit...