A few words by Samir Al-sheck

[Salad]

I have met two adventuring clerics of Lucinda, one Celgar Magnus, and one Tia’Sar’ru  Silversmith .  The Celgar fellow seems quite accomplished, although when I met him he was having a bad day.  He complained about undead venturing out from the Greypeak Mountains and assaulting travelers between Hlint and Fort Llast.  Tia has been quite kind to me, taking word of my good health to family in Spellgard and generally being protective and maternal.  I helped Tia gather honey, and I have settled into one room in her house in Leilon, along with some other folks.

I met a singer from the Greypeaks named Jharl of the Scarlet Hawk, who also lives in the house in Leilon.  Jharl is an accomplished warrior as well – to see and hear him in battle is an impressive feast for the eyes and ears.  Jharl has moments of careful meticulousness, and heartwarming moments of generosity.  His discipline and focus is a bit intimidating; I am glad to be his friend and not his enemy.  Jharl has come around to following Lucinda as well; I’d like to think that positive experiences with Tia and I (and others I do not know) have helped to steer him in this direction.

Also of note, I have met a warrior named Rylok.  His appears to have some orc blood, but is quite sturdy in battle.  There is a merchant group in Fort Hope, and I have taken to regular commercial interaction with Esimon Clearpeak and Rodlin Serim.

Finally, there are rumors of war and death as the forces of Sinthar Bloodstone have assaulted and taken Stone on Rilara.  I can empathize with wanting to end long-running centuries of war and destruction and the almost total eradication of our human race.  I understand building up armies and power to stave off those who wreak this destruction, and I can comprehend a desire for vengeance against banishment.  However, it is tragic that Blood has become exactly the type of force of destruction that I suspect he once set out to eradicate; it is doubly tragic that he is such a master with the weave that he will take many of us with him on his journey into utter madness.

[Salad]

While walking the streets of Pranzis, I ran smack into opportunity today.  I joined a group led by a man with wings.  The man's names was Plenarius Ashaley, and I later learned that he is the Bird Lord of Katia.  He took us on a long journey into dangerous territory on the island of Xantril.  We fought strange men, giants, and even amphibious things.  We then hiked a long distance through a forest, eventually coming to an area heavily guarded with allies.  Plenarius then began a sad tale, of a time when the birds were disappearing and he was wracked with bad dreams.  It turned out the Eon had cast a horrible transforming spell upon the then-current Bird Lord, and upon its completion would gain the Bird Lord's powers.  The Bird Lord's hands had already turning into nightmarish mechanical golem parts when Plenarius met him.  Plenarius and two allies were able to partially thwart Eon's plan, by recovering a staff once used by Eon and halt the transformation enough for Plenarius to be tested and then become the new Bird Lord - the old Lord shattered into many small pieces and presumably perished, while Plenarius sprouted wings.

While completing the tale, Plenarius also took us to view the Great Oak from a distance.  We then headed back - I made the party invisible so that we could move quickly through hostile territory - and met an elf named Rhizome.  To see such sights and meet such people; I have certainly traveled a long ways from Spellgard and the Blood Desert!

[Salad]

On my way back to Pranzis today I ran into a dwarf (Exodus) who was rather upset.  The way to Orc's Watch was no longer safe - a flying green lizard (perhaps it was even a small dragon ??) was killing all who attempted to venture into the town Orc's Watch.  So, I summoned a golem and we investigated.  When we spied the creature from a distance, it looked badly wounded, but was perched on a small mound of its kills - a gruesome testament to it hunting prowess.  The lizard attacked my golem and while the creautre was distracted, the dwarf waded into combat and slew the creature with four quick blows of his axe.  Thanks to the dwarf, aided by the Weave, Orc's Watch should again be able to get supplies.  As for the heroes who perished at the mouth and claws of the beast, alas, I fear little can be done for them.

[Salad]

Soul Mother scolded me today for traveling in a large group and not having all my wards up - sloppiness evidently leads to tragically avoidable pilfering of a piece of my soul.  I took this as an admonition to be protected at all times, rather than as a sign to avoid traveling with others........

[Salad]

Dear Jharl,

Your carpentry has always been exceptional, and it is with great pride that I have wielded the mahogany staff I purchased from you so long ago.  It gives me great sadness to report that the staff is no more, and that its end was mundane rather than heroic.  I got distracted while loading an ox-pack full of wood and apparently set the staff down without noticing.  I left the ox-pack on the ground too - another story - and led my ox off on a hike.  Upon realizing that I had left things behind, I returned and recovered the pack.  Alas, the staff was gone.  I fear that one of the local badgers took a fancy to the staff and hauled it off to use to sharpen his teeth...

On a more positive note, I have met a man with the heart of a Giant-Slayer; his name is Seril Garlmon.  He seems a wee bit fresh off the farm, but should common sense temper his enthusiasm for wielding his scythe in combat against fearsome foes that are perhaps *ahem* currently beyond his abilities, I think Seril will be destined for great things.

Lucinda keep you safe,

Samir Al-sheck

[Salad]

I have discovered that golems can be difficult to control.  While accompanied by an iron golem, I ran into a small group of lizardmen and dispatched them without receiving a scratch.  In the process of combat, the golem breathed on me, and I was poisoned.  What I did not realize until it was too late is that golem poison is fatal.  To make matters worse, the stench from the poison was so bad that I could not convince a ship captain to take me on board to sail.  (// lag was so bad that area transitions were VERY slow - could not have a successful conversatin to sail to Port Hampshire from Leilon to walk to grave site.)    For future reference, avoid iron golems - more trouble than they are worth.