Observations by Zaraun

[EdTheKet]

Zaraun opens her journal for the first time after she has come to Hlint and starts writing.
  Only moments after entering the town of Hlint it happened. A male, calling himself captain of the guards, wanted to sound the alarm, shouting 'Drow attack!'  Also, I was greeted with hostility by some other people in the streets of Hlint. Remarks like 'Do they allow drow in the streets of Hlint now?" and "Whose throat have you come to slit?"  filled the air.  If it hadn't been for a small halfling, a male no less, I would probably have been linched on the spot. Apparently, prejudice is not restricted to those who live below ground, surface dwellers have plenty as well.
  Another strange observation I made was when a dark goblin entered town. He was looking for a warrior to fight. I remained in the shadows a bit, observing. The female half-elf wizard I had a conversaton with went to summon a fighter. I expected her to either return with with a powerful swordmistress of sorts, or for her to take on the goblin herself. But no, she returned with a man. It looked to me that she even deferred to him to a certain extent! The goblin was defeated, and the fighter was offered some cup of sorts, but instead of passing it on to his half-elven Mistress, he kept it for himself. Most strange, I'll need to observe them some more...
  On another note, the knowledge of surface dwellers about the Underdark is slim to say the least. They ask quetions like "What's the Underdark like?" and "Can you take me there some time?", as if it is some peaceful glade one can go to! At the moment, I have no intention of giving them any specific informations, who knows what these surfacers will use it for...

[EdTheKet]

//OOC. For those of you playing an Elf character, please also read the History section, in particular the 'Second Generation of Layonara'. http://64.127.106.66/history.asp Here's a quote: "The Elves are now split up into two distinctive groups, the Dark Elves and Top Elves. The Dark Elves tend to live below the ground while the Top Elves, of various sub-cultures, live above ground. The Dark Elves used to follow the Dragons of Color while the Top Elves followed the Metallic Dragons. When the war ended their war began in earnest, it seems Elves are not very tolerant even amongst themselves."
  So if you are an Elf, please don't start a conversation with a Dark Elf with how lovely she looks. ;-) Thanks!
  end of OOC//
  Zaraun scribbles an additional note in her Journal.
 I have made yet another striking observation. The two or three surface dwelling, forest-loving Elves I have met up to now do not appear to realize the age-old feud between Dark Elves and Surface Elves. Could it be they forgot, or are the old tales of the Betrayal no longer told?
 

[EdTheKet]

I had heard of a procedure called a 'hearing' which was going to be conducted regarding, if I understood it well, a woman called Selian, killing a group of people after they had killed her sister. I had assumed this hearing would give me some more insight into the surface dwellers. If this had happened in the Underdark, she probably would not even have been charged but rather applauded for avenging the death of her sister (in her own home no less!). Although it could have been done more subtle...  The hearing was in the Hlint courthouse, there were 3 persons, 2 females and 1 male sitting facing the crowd. For some obscure reason, the male was sitting in the center, on the biggest throne, flanked by the two females.
  What followed was a desription of what happened recounted by the various 'victims' and in the end the three people wanted to know if the 'victims' wanted to charge Selian with murder or not.
  Strange thing was, that during the proceeding, matters not related to it were brought in. Apparently, there is a council who is involved with seven sisters who seem to be rather important for some reason. It was pointed out that these seven sisters might not want to give their help if one of theirs was chraged wiht murder. Arestes pointed out that that may be a moot point since one of the sisters was already killed, but that point was dismissed.
  So in the end, the elvish male who had started the entire issue, did not appear to be strong willed and dropped his charges for the sake of 'the greater good'. Also, the halfling female, who first defiantly claimed she would press her charge, now, for reasons utterly unclear to me, first wanted to consult with her husband?!?
  It seems that things on the surface are not as different as those in Underdark. People of power, influence or importance seem to be able to get away with more than others.
  I do not doubt, however, that if it had been me being charged, things would have turned out differently.

[EdTheKet]

"Well, I've certainly been putting this off for a long time." sighing, Zaraun takes out her journal and grabs a quill.
  Shadows. The night is beset with shadows. Terrifying as they may be to most people, they roam the lands during the best time of day, night. Safe from the glare of the sun, the night more and more becomes their domain. However, I refuse to stay inside the walls of homes or inns or cities after Darkness has fallen across the lands. "Night is wasting" is what I usually tell one of my new-found "allies". She chuckles as she writes down the last word.
  These shadows fascinate me. Where do they originate? And who controls them? And more importantly.... can I do the same thing?
  I wonder if the shadows have ntoiced me too. Recently, the darthiir Llunienique, the half-elf Maddison Trenton and some smelly dwarf whose name I cannot recall where trapped in or near the Plane of Shadow by some shadow lich. They needed to find she-who-walks-in-shadow to return them to the real world. For some reason nobody but myself was able to communicate with them. I did not feel very inclined to help them so I tossed a coin. Heads would be I help them, tails would be I would not. Since one never knows when a favor is needed, I decided to toss a coin with two heads, but they did not know that. She chuckles coldly as she remembers the shouting.
  They needed me to act as a conduit between the plane they were trapped on and the 'real' world. I had hoped to get a glimpse of the Plane of Shadow in order to better grasp how to gain control of Shadow. Alas, it was too much to hope for. Using me as a conduit worked to get them back, but did not give me any deeper understanding, let alone control, of Shadow.
  She looks up. "Ah, dusk. Night is wasting." Chuckling, she takes her short sword and kukri from her bed and heads out.

[EdTheKet]

Zaraun sits at the desk and writes a some short sentences.
  A couple of days back, a darthiir almost shot me. Almost, since he hit a trashcan, although I am quite sure he could have killed me with a single shot, had he dared or wanted to... Apparently, the might of the Dark Elves is still feared by the surface elves. As it should be.  *chuckling she closes the book and heads out again, where the moonless night awaits*

[EdTheKet]

Zaraun sits herself down at her desk, the room only illuminated by the light of a moon that shines from behind a cloud. She looks outside with her eyes squinted and observes the few people that are still out and about at the fourth hour past midnight. Going through her pack, looking at the various poison vials she has, she mutters "They're not even remotely close to the elegant poisons of the Underdark.... But I guess they'll have to do for now."
  She takes out her kukri and her short sword and starts oiling them in order to have the slide out of their scabbards quietly next time she draws them. "Lil alurl velve zhah lil velkyn us", she says, then thinks "Venorik would be better than velkyn in that saying".
  Finished, she returns the oil to her pack and takes out her journal and starts to write.
  As the eigtheenth month of my sojourn on the surface comes to an end, I find myself understanding more of the surface world. It is a shame that the surface's crude structures and buildings do not even come close to the shimmering spirals and the green glows of Olath Chath, but I admit that the night sky with its stars has its beauty.   As for the people, I have come to suspect that they are not plotting and scheming against one another all the time, except for, of course, the accursed darthiir. But even they do not show to be particularly adept at the sava game and seem to have grown complacent. Of course, it could all be a ruse so I will still have to watch their every move.
  If my suspicions are correct, however, then this should also mean that they are not adept at discovering or anticipating every move in the game, which could prove advantageous.
  Some have even come to trust me it seems, and for the time being, I will not give them reason to believe otherwise. At least, not until it is time for the next move on the sava board.
  A smile plays across her lips as she writes down the last sentence and then she starts laughing her cold and devious laugh. Looking out of the window one last time before grabbing her weapons and heading out she whispers, barely audible, "Zhaunil dal waerr'ess, conbluth, zhaunil dal waerr'ess".

[EdTheKet]

Due to some series of events which I do not entirely comprehend, I found myself stuck in a demi-plane of sorts, being on trial for a series of events I did not partake in.  
It started in Leilon, with some girl who later turned out to be a construct. Arestes, Remiel and Tarradon were in a hurry to bring her to a temple of Toran in Fort Last. After dropping her off, Remiel and Arestes were poisoned in quite an elegant way, the poison was not only in the water they drank, but also on the outside of their waterskins.  
In the mean time, inside, the construct girl was threatened to be killed by some darthiir mage. I sent the Toranite healer out to tend Arestes and Remiel.

Naturally, I did not want the darthiir to succeed in her plans, whatever they were, so I expertly threw a shuriken into the middle of her wrist, making her drop the dagger.  She laughs as she recalls the image of surprise and pain on the face of the elf mage.  

Upon closer examination, the dagger had markings in High Drow, making it a holy dagger of the Quarvalsharess. By some foul magic, the darthiir transported me and my companions, Arestes, Remiel and Tarradon to the headquarters of an organization called “The Brotherhood”, led by some intriguing woman called Aerellan.

Of course, she tried to reclaim the dagger, which I refused at first. However, as it was soon apparent, keeping the dagger was not the wisest move in the sava game, so I returned it. I trust the Goddess will eventually deal with this sacrilege.  
Aerellan decided that, regardless of wether or not I actually partook in the crimes my companions were accused of, I was also to stand trial for my insolence.  

A cold smile plays around her lips “Insolence indeed, Aerellan, may darkness take you.”  

We were sent to some kind of demi-plane, where we would stand trial. However, we were fully stripped of our weapons and armor. We first faced a deva and had to pray at an altar of our choice. Not having prayed since I left the monk, I uttered a half-hearted prayer to Aragen in my own language. “Lord of Knowledge, I have not prayed to you in a year, but my search for knowledge of the surface lands is proving effective.”

Apparently, the deva was satisfied as my armor was returned to me.  In the second room, we faced a balor, who, just like us, wanted to get out of this demi-plane. He had to take seat in one of our minds for a while and that way we would be able to leave. My companions refused flatly, but I was intrigued by the offer

However, considering that the mages of my people never summon these fiends without adequate protection, and the fact that they usually turn against their summoner, the mages usually have contingency plans, always planning ahead their moves to stay one step in front, as this too can be considered part of the sava game.  

However, with a balor inside my head, there is no way to plan my moves, as he would probably be aware of my thoughts. So I declined his offer.  
My weapons returned and his minions attacked. Naturally, they were easily defeated.  
The third test involved three piles of clay, indicated Self, God and People. For some reason, a drider explained that we had to throw the clay into a burning brazier in an order we would like. Remiel took bits of all three types and threw them in, however, Arestes and Tarradon made a ball of all three types and threw them it into the brazier.  

As I am not one for Gods, I decided that my order would be self, people, self.  

I then awoke in the Brotherhood’s headquarters. It turned out I had been unconscious for a longer period than my companions “Probably from an excess of Self.”, according to that woman, Aerellan.  
Regardless, we had withstood her Tests and could go on our way. However, we shall meet again, Aerellan, count on it.[/I]

[EdTheKet]

Returning to Hlint after a while, Zaraun sees a poster tacked to Hlint's wooden gate. She starts reading: "The drow have declared war on Hlint..."
  She raises her right eyebrow at the first words of this sentence, then looks down at the bottom to see that the poster is from Garent.  "The drow", she chuckles coldly. "More likely just a minor House or two trying to gain some stature by raiding this insignificant little town." She pointedly looks at the wooden gate. "Or some streeakh needing more coin to survive." Then she notices Garent in the street and she stares at him from the shadows, muttering: "Foolish human."  She continues on to the Wild Surge Inn and packs up, "L' alurl velvel zhah l' velkyn uss." she whispers as she looks at Hlint one last time before disappearing in the dark.

[EdTheKet]

I have recently traveled to Rilara with quite a large group in order to stop a storm or a mist. Who or what is behind that storm I will not commit to these papers but I have my guess.
Apparently, this storm prevented all shiptravel, and my companions immediately sought to resort to the use of magic as means of travel, forgetting the magic of gold which can open ways and change the mind of many a male in ways that magic will never be able to.  As I suspected, there was no magical way of transport so we set out to Port Hampshire, having lost valuable time to place and move our pieces on the sava board. There was hardly a captain to be found, but one seemed to be… willing. He first charged the outrageous amount of one thousand gold pieces per person but a few well placed words convinced him to cut that amount in half. Naturally, he invited me to his quarters. Little did he know whom he had invited.  She laughs soft and cold at the recollection and takes a sip of wine: “Foolish male.”   It was not hard to convince him that his crew was more than adequate to sail us across to Point Harbor. At my request he locked the door of his quarters and blew out his lanterns so we could enjoy our privacy.  After pouring me the best of his wine, which, from its odor, smelled more like vinegar, I turned my back on him and took off my helmet, shaking my head slowly making my hair spill across my shoulders.
“Ah silvery hair,” he said, “I like women who be different!”
I laughed softly and turned around to face him, knowing the reddish glow of my eyes in the gloomy darkness and smiled. “Do you now?”
His screams were drowned by the roaring of the storm and the rain on the deck, but let’s just say that this was one of my more…. entertaining sea voyages.  Upon arrival I disembarked and noticed that there was a strange and almost sticky fog hanging in the air, it did not seem to dissipate at all.  I did not think anything of it at the time as I am no expert on surface weather.
So we set out towards the Wolfswood, which was somehow linked to the storm as well as to snakes by the Rosewyne daughter.
We fought many creatures, including maraliths, but also some I had never seen before but which others named abishai, as well as other creatures nobody had a name for.  As we approached the Wolfswood however, my companions veered southwards, while the wood was to the east. Considering we had to link the wood with snakes I proceeded to go east. Alone.   This did not prove to be a good toss of the sava dice, even though I did eventually arrive in a region filled with formidable snakes. I could not find a way to get past them so I wandered through the woods, southwards. During my wandering the mist changed and became more gray.
I then arrived at Fort Himlad, where I had been before, and found my companions. They then set out into the wood, at the direction of the Spinner of Lies to talk to a druid, called Raven. I mentioned the snake area but to no avail, the Spinner had them bound with his words. I returned to the area with the snakes, but couldn’t find anything of interested so followed the group to the druid. This druid was, of course, of no use as she was not at her home.  The fog then changed again and disappeared, and I realized we had lost this round of sava...

[EdTheKet]

Finishing a crude picture of a spider Zaraun starts to write.
  Something large is afoot. The picture above was shown to me by Buppi Fallenleaf, a halfling cleric of Lucinda, it was tattooed on her shoulder. She claims she has been poisoned by some of my people and that they have changed her true name. They told her to serve or die. Whether this poison is real or not remains to be seen, but at least the nearly hysterical halfling was barely able to keep a hold on herself so she firmly believes it is real.
  Also I have heard that the city of Spellgard has been taken by My People. I wonder if that is true, as it would take several Houses to be able to bring a force to the field to conquer a city like that.
  She looks up and surveys the wooden wall that surrounds Hlint, then continues.
  It wouldn't take more than a minor House or two to take Hlint, but to take a city like Spellgard would require a force of several Houses. This is most certainly a move on the sava board I never expected to see, but it is further strengthened by a note from a dwarf who stated all Houses have united. Of course, the notion of all Houses uniting is virtually impossible, but at least several is not unheard of. It was done before with Port Hampshire.
  What is even more surprising is what they told Buppi "Once the tower of the sky falls and blue turns to black, we will rule."
  She looks up again, thinking. Then she raises her right eyebrow and writes down her last sentence.
  Could it be that the return of my People to these sun-blasted lands is finally at hand?
 

[EdTheKet]

I have travelled to Spellgard to see this occupation of it by my People. However, when I finally made my way there, they had left. I am assuming that, at least for the time being, they acquired whatever it was they were looking for and continued occupation of the city was no longer required.
  Considering Spellgard is a surface town whose inhabitants dabble with magic a lot, I assume that it was something of great power my People were after. Or, as they held it for some time, were looking for something near to it and have the town as base of operations. But that is just speculation.
  I have not ventured into the city to see if they left anything, as its inhabitants will have lost any tolerance they might have had for Dark Elves, and I value my skin. From what I have heard from the shadows in the inn and on the streets of Hlint is that Toran's first paladin, Navarre, whom I had never heard before until then, is now an undead creature, driving my people forward. Also, there is talk of a Dark Bride which he is supposedly looking for. However, that is probably ignorant peasant talk, discussed over too much surface quality ale, as my people would not unite easily under some paladin of a surface god, whether he is undead or not, and if he is undead, he would hardly have use for a bride.
  I am curious about what the true story is however, as well as about what board this round of sava is, or was, played on...
  Her red eyes glowing in the dark, Zaraun closes her journal, crosses her legs and slips into reverie.

[EdTheKet]

Travelling southwards from Fort Hope towards Port Hampshire, a dark elf who stepped from the shadows. He knew who I was and where I was from and called himself Elamshin of House Lairilweki. A name vaguely familiar to me.  He told me it was time to end the life of the lost I was now leading and that two options were open to me. Turn back north, to Fort Hope and the life of the lost, or south to meet with one who commands. The man must have thought my time on the surface had cost me my senses if he believed I was just going to go by his word. However, he then pointed towards what the surfacers call the Silent Watch Mountains.  Looking toward those mountains, I saw them shrouded in shadows and darkness.  The Watch is lifeless and grey, strange pulses of deeper blackness than night spring from the mountains, enveloping all light that strikes forth. Wild storms and violent claps of lightning and thunder echo around the peaks, leaving the whole facade eerie and chaotic.
He tells me it was the Council who did that, from the Realm of Shadow, the Realm of Dreams to make it what it now is.
To say I was not intrigued by the shadows and darkness playing around the mountain tops would be untrue, but when I pressed him for more information, Elamshin would not tell me the nature of this Council. Instead he told me to travel to the Wolfswood on Rilara, where a task would be set for me. The path ends not, but if I didn’t take it now, it would be closed to me forever. This path of the damned would be my only release.   Shadows then seemed to spill from the environment and surround him before he vanished from sight.  I think I stood there for maybe a minute, looking north towards the pathetic wooden walls of Fort Hope, then west to the shadow-covered peaks of the Silent Watch, and then southwards, to where the continent of Rilara, with its Wolfswood waited.  I knew what lay behind, the dreary life of a surfacer, what lies ahead could be more control over shadow, if the tricks with shadow of this male with his nice words were any indication. South it was.  However, I still had trouble getting my bearings so managed to bypass the Wolfswood to find myself in a village called Lannisport. Here I met a female, who bore a shield with the emblem of the Goddess, as if that was not blasphemous enough, she also was not of The People, but a surfacer.  I challenged her, and asked who would dare display the emblem of the Goddess. She smiled and said she was Lithany Delmir and that she was the one I was supposed to meet. The name Delmir sounded familiar and she told me she was the daughter of that paladin, Remiel. Very strange.  She then told me I would learn secrets within secrets that night, and she told me the story of the Council of Shadow and the Voice. A story I will not commit to these pages.  Suffice it to say that the story interested me. The Council’s dreams touch this world and several have been called. This woman, Lithany, was called, as well as that undead paladin Navarre, I heard about earlier in connection with Spellgard.  Apparently, there is now a struggle going on between Council and Voice, and whoever the victor will be, it’s probably best to be on the winning side.
If I wanted to learn more, I would need to undergo a test first, to determine my suitability and join the order that Elamshin belongs to.
They are thieves and assassins, but more importantly, masters of shadow. As Lithany mentioned that, the name Elamshin finally clicked. In Olath Chath, he was an almost mechnical killer, heartless and overly efficient, his techniques having become renowned and feared throughout Oloth Chath.  The first task would be the retrieval of a book that was stolen from Spellgard, and now stored in a house in Krandor. Only those skilled in the arts of stealth could pass this test. She then blessed me in the name of the Goddess, and I left, to Krandor.  When I arrived at the house in question, I could see shadows moving inside through the windows. Also when peering through the keyhole of the front door I saw shadows walk the halls. I did, however, manage to slip in.
Sticking close to the walls, I made my way through the house, to find the book I needed underneath a pillow of the bed. As I slipped out again unnoticed, Elamshin appeared.  He gave me a pin with a ring made of obsidian attached to it, the book I should keep and study. He told me of the second test, which again could only be passed by those skilled in the arts of stealth, as well as of the last one, which only those who bear the love of darkness can hope to succeed on.
  I should think well on this, for the third is no longer a matter of nimble feet and hands, but a matter of the gift they may see within.  Shadows then removed him from my sight again, and I snuck out of Krandor, book and pin hidden in my pack.  Life of the Lost or a chance to return to my People, Voice or Council, light, shadow or darkness. The sava board just got more interesting, but no time to toss the dice just yet…
  //March'05 CDQ