Far wanderings of a lone outcast.

[FlameStrike]

*you see several tattered pages as you read through this journal, most of them containing nearly legible  tales and adventures of past times, until you start reading something more recently written*

 "My faith in You drove me to the deepest places, highest challenges, unholy wars, and yet I never failed You, but now I am confused. As I arrived to these new lands, everything is confusing to me. The loss of my trustworthy blade, Dobluth Waer'honglath, along with my armor and other personal belongings, was very painful to me, but yet I endured. However, I found something that is beggining to shake me and weaken my faith... I found that no one heard about You in these new lands, and that I am unable to use the powers that You granted me, which I always used for the greater good... Are You testing me? If so, please send me a sign, I need to know, because I am becoming more unstable and i couldn't stand the thought of You, abandoning... me. I... do not wish to return there, to that place, not without You, not alone and not again..."

 "I am struggling to help people in these new lands. I need to, for I must remember my duties as Your paladin. This also keeps me alive. I vanquished the undead in the crypts of the town, and retrieved an essence to a human named Erag. I also helped a lady with the retrieval of a book from the sewers. But I made it and yet, I couldn't feel Your presence at my side... What's going on? I feel... empty."
 
 "I have met several adventurers since I arrived. I would consider them as good friends, if it weren't the fact that I am a... drow. This always seems to hinder my efforts in earning trust among surface people, for the more they seem to say they trust me, less I believe, because of my past experiences... Betrayal is something I am most used to. I wish things weren't this way... How can I prove myself worthy of their confidence? I would do anything, but I can't do it, alone... I need You by my side... If only You'd send me a sign..."

[FlameStrike]

*the author seems disturbed and nervous while you read through the journal, noticeable by the handwriting on the several scattered entries*

 "I have lost track of how long I am in these lands, for my mind is not at ease ever since I found out that the blessings I had upon me seem to have vanished... My prayers are still unanswered, and my strength is far from what it once was, yet I shall continue fighting for the right cause, whatever may it be now,  helping those in need, and smiting evil wherever it may root."
 
 "Sadly, I found out that my... brethren are mostly evil as well in these lands, ever since they declared war upon Hlint. I volunteered for town defense, even thought that Captain Garent did not wish my presence in Hlint, and, along with many other defenders, we stood against my... dark brethren. It was a battle that saddened my heart, knowing they could turn from their dark gods, whoever they may be, and strive in the surface if they would stop being so blind..."

 "Amongst the several people I have seen since my arrivel, were Drow as well, although I keep myself from getting into further contact with them, for I even fear that betrayal can come from then, more often than even from other surface folk. I... don't know, but perhaps I should stop acting so reclusively, it doesn't help in establishing friendships with others..."
 
"In some of the incursions I have made so far, I was pointed as leader, although I am not used to that... I don't want to be a leader, I never was one before, nor it is my will to become one now... Perhaps if I had removed my helm, they would think again before pointing me as leader... Perhaps not...Oh, "
 
 "I met a paladin of Toran, which he claims to be the god of paladins of these lands. We have spoken for some time, and I believe he understood what was happening to me, although I can never be sure. Surface paladins usually see me as one of my... evil brethren, and they don't inspire any trust to me, although he seemed to be sincere, and I didn't notice any hostility in his words when we spoke. Perhaps I should speak with him again soon, for the conversation we had was sort of a temporary relief from my confused thoughts..."

 "Should I put aside everything I thought it was possible to achieve at Your side...? Should I honor what I have done before I arrived to these lands and continue my life as a simple fighter...? Should I struggle to keep my faith alive...? I am deeply confused, and still waiting for a sign, although it seems to take forever to get my questions answered... Perhaps I should open my heart with someone who I can trust, although I don't seem to be able to trust anyone easily..."

[FlameStrike]

*the author seems more calm, as you can tell through the handwriting, although still confused*

 "I continue roaming through these lands, without any purpose in my life, other than helping those in need, ever since I learned that my goddess is far away from me... Oh, how I wish this wasn't true... But I must embrace the reality as it is, whatever the consequences may be..."

 "Recently I joined with what seemed to be a rescue party, to retrieve a kidnapped woodsman, who was supposedly taken from ogres. A note was left, but I arrived shortly after the briefing from a witness, and only learned about this later on. The woodsman daughter held a note from an ogre, after being scared from her sleep during the night.
 The group ventured into Sielwood, in search of clues, and before we could venture deeper into the woods, we found a rather uncommon group: several ogres, with one Drow warrior leading them. After we dealt with the group, I figured that the best would be to reveal myself, and try to fool one of the ogres, in order to obtain information. I was hoping it would go well, but ogres are by far, too mistrusting towards other races, and I wasn't able to maintain a peaceful conversation, being unable to stop bloodshed. The group setup an ambush, like we agreed, and I was thankful I could rely on them, since my wounds didn't look well, and I cannot use any... divine powers to heal myself or others...
 That note surely held more and crucial information for our success, and after examining it, the group headed towards the Greypeak mountains, where we found a rather unusual ogre, which we followed through the mountains, until he begged for mercy. We learned that the ogre wasn't truly an ogre, and a most vile plot was uncovered: he was the missing woodsman, who was taken into some sort of ritual, where he was turned into an ogre after being forced to drink a mysterious potion. The woodsman was able to run, after punching the one who made him drink the potion, using his newly acquired strength to achieve success and run.
 After the conversation with the woodsman, which refused to return to civilization due to his aspect, the group headed once more into Sielwood, where he fled from, claiming that he fled from an encampment near some ruins. We made our way through ogre parties, initially alone, but then led by Drow, once we reached the encampment area. A drow wizard was guarding the encampment, who we took care of, with no casualties suffered so far on our side. A notebook was retrieved from the wizard's body, but was written in Drow, which I managed to translate for the others.
 The plot thickened, and we discovered that the plan was to use the potion, later discovered to be a polyjuice, according to the notes, to turn humans into mindless ogres, ready to follow orders, and that a spy would be in charge of poisoning Hlint's main water supply, which he wasn't able to accomplish due to the high security in Hlint after the battle with the drow. The notes mentioned that someone else was to do it.
 As we returned to Hlint, in order to warn Captain Garent, the little girl also came along, ignoring our group, who previously spoke to her, and strangely heading into the well at a fast pace. It would become a threat to every human in Hlint, if the vial she tried to throw into the well actually reached it, but I managed to grab the vial in the air and stop it from happening. The vial was delivered to the priestess at the nearby temple, which began examining it, while the group brought the woodsman back to Hlint. The vial contained the polyjuice, which was successfully worked on to be made an antidote to cure those turned into ogres, starting with the girl's father..."

 "My will is far from being what it used to be... I continue aiding those in need, although I remain silent during the journeys, keeping my pain to myself, and observing most of the time when bloodshed isn't necessary.  I've recently helped someone who also had faith issues... apparently his god stopped granting him his powers, due to disrespecting his oaths. To amend this, he had to travel to another continent, to North Point, in order to reach his deity's temple, where he was redeemed for his mistakes, through praying."

 "I was resting from the previous journey at Port Hampshire, when someone joined me, I wasn't keen on having any sort of conversation, like always, but this time I actually talked more than usual. While we talked, a female drow overheard our conversation, and proceeded to join our conversation. As usual, when too many people tend to join, I usually remain silent, although I noticed something... different in that drow female, I felt like sharing my feelings with her, after several attepts by her part, to make me talk, of course... I told her what troubled me, the fact that the powers granted by my goddess had vanished, that my prayers weren't being answered, and my loss of purpose in life... She encouraged me to seek the aid from other god, who shares the same goals as my goddess, and I asked her about gods, since I haven't even thought about that issue, such was my devotion to my goddess. The god which would match my goddess', and my own ideals, according to her, was Toran, and she indicated the location of the temple, which I shall visit soon..."

[FlameStrike]

"I have visited the temple that the drow female pointed me. It is located at Fort Llast, but I didn't notice before, due to my ignorance towards the deites of these lands. I must learn more about them, but first, I should learn more about my own... I entered the temple with the company of a fellow, and proceeded to explain my situation to the priest, although I felt uncomfortable by doing it.
  Soon would I ease my worried and confused mind, when I learned that what the drow female spoke about Toran was true, his beliefs and ideals match mine and my goddess'. The priest also handed me a scroll with the oaths and obligations I should take and have in mind, and told me I should head into Pranzis, where another temple of Toran is located, should I truly want to prove that my will is to follow His path of righteousness and valor. I thanked the priest and left the temple, having now to meditate about my new task."
 
  "Before my departure, I must ressuply and finish a few tasks that are left. The journey to Pranzis will grant me plenty of time to reflect about the trial I will take, that is going to be held in Toran's temple there. I shall prove myself worthy, for it would be my goddess' will, that I should seek other god's assistance should her grasp be far away... at least I believe so..."

  "I am nearly finished preparing myself for the journey, dyed my armor accordingly and worked on my sword, for I don't wish to cause any wrong impressions to the priests of Toran, since my preferences for dark colors wouldn't be well accepted the priesthood of Toran. Only my equipment was dark, though, for my heart belongs to the light, as well as my will is to uproot any evil and undo any sort of injustice made. I feel that I have changed, and I feel well about it, let's hope I am accepted for what I am on the inside, and not judged by the outside..."  

[FlameStrike]

"The journey went well, no encounters along the way ocurred, and Chrio accompanied me. Upon arrival at Lorindar, we headed into the city of Pranzis, seeking Toran's temple. We reached the temple, and I spoke about the trial with the priest of Toran, immediately accepting it. He had been informed about my situation by the priest at Llast, and that spared us time for the trial of faith."

  "Chrio agreed to help me, on his own free will, and the trial began. I stepped into the light, felt a divine touch, and the first part was completed, as soon as the priest said Toran sensed that my soul was worthy.  The second part, however, would require all our efforts to be completed..."

  "The priest asked us to head into Rofirein's temple, and inform that we were being sent to deal with the moonlight assassin, and so we did. The priest of Rofirein told us that seven murders took place in several areas of Pranzis, the assassin only acted at night, and that the victims were found dead with death wounds inflicted by a large blade. No one saw the assassin, not even a glimpse, and the unfortunate ones who did were the victims of those foul acts. The seventh murder victim's corpse wasn't yet removed, leaving time for us to investigate, although no clues were found on it, leaving us to ask the guard for any details."
 
  "The victims were all merchants of lower nobility, there was no connection between them, either from family or business, and that hindered greatly our efforts of finding any suspect. We spoke with a prostitute, and after the appropriate payment, she revealed that rumour had it the assassin was a female, dressed in black, but before we could get any more information, a sudden death scream was heard from an alley, and the eigth murder took place, right before us. Another victim with death wounds inflicted from a weapon that could only be either a longsword or a bastard one, was still bleeding, although there was nothing we could do. Upon searching for any clues, something blinded me when I glimpsed at the tree in front of us; a white and very long silvery hair, leaving no doubt in my mind, the assassin was a drow female..."

[FlameStrike]

"Moonlight blinded me, as I looked at the tree near the place where the corpse laid, blood still flowing from the massive wounds. I picked up the white, silvery hair and immediately recognized that it belonged to a female drow, mainly due to the length of it. As I examined the hair closer, it reminded me of my goddess, but I should focus on the murderer, and leave these thoughts for other time."

 "We had to search for the assassin, having this new clue in mind, although on broad daylight it would was most likely to be impossible for us to achieve success. Perhaps the local innkeeper would know something, so we searched for him. He told us nothing else more than we already knew, but then Chrio thought of something that could work out: he took off his full plate, put several rings on his fingers, and split his gold between pouches, which he hanged on his belt, providing an efficient lure for any assassins that were interested in wealthy merchants..."

 "A very simple plan, that in part worked out as we expected. Chrio was the wealthy merchant, and I was the town guard, a role that convinced others quite well. We acted like that during all day, hoping that it would lure the assassin. When night came, we headed into the merchant's square, the most likely place for another murder. Chrio headed to a dark alley, and soon happened what we expected..."

  "She wasn't wearing any clothes, her skin was black as night, and her long hair silvery white like the moon itself, and the large blade was indeed impressive, a bastard sword, which she was wielding against one of the town guards that was patrolling the area. We didn't arrive in time to aid the town guard, who was swiftly taken down by the assassin, who climbed a tree once she spotted us. Chrio searched for a place to climb up to fight her, but I just stood there, not sure of what to do... the resemblance was amazing, every detail matched, it was like my goddess had descended to my presence, and her gaze was charming enough to break the concentration of a raging barbarian. Only when she spoke to me, I realized there was something to do. I slowly walked towards an unsuspecting Chrio, took a dagger out, and struck him between the plates of his armor after whispering him to his ear, leaving him in the floor..."

 "I asked her to come down, to have the honor of her presence as the reward of my actions, and so she did, only to find out that she was fooled, and as soon as Chrio stood up, we struck her together. Her voice had something wrong about her, and the murders came to my mind, leaving no doubt, she had to fall. Despite how hard we tried to take her down, she dodged most of the blows while striking at us, hitting with ease through our plates. Several moments later, Chrio and I stood heavily wounded, her hair was also stained with her own blood, proving that our efforts were being worth it,  and when we charged together to finish the fight, her skill  proved to be far more superior... she struck me down, but before darkness took over my eyes, I saw Chrio fall aswell, and then everything went black..."

[FlameStrike]

"I opened my eyes, wary of what I would face now, but only to find out that I was in the temple of Toran, and soon discovered that things didn't happen like me and Chrio thought they did..."

 "The priest spoke: "...it didn't really happen, it was only a test, and you have proven yourself worthy, by acting right and giving your life to fight evil.", yet I couldn't stop thinking I failed in stopping the assassin, although I resisted her charms, despite her nearly perfect resemblance with my goddess... I must go on, now that I have Toran's blessing and defend His cause, just like I did before."

 "After reflecting about myself, and how I led my life, I can clearly see now that fighting alone isn't the way to achieve the goals that both Toran and my goddess have in mind, and without Chrio's help, I would have failed in passing the test, so now I must seek those I can trust, despite how hard that can be..."

 "Upon meditating and preparing my spells, I readied myself to cast them, after all this time. I held the ankh tight in my hand, and began, successfully enchanting my weapon before the undead that went towards my direction could distrupt my concentration... Toran's might is now present in my heart aswell, and with it I vanquished the group of zombies that roamed in the Broken Forest, putting an end to their tortured existance. Evil beware, I shall save the same fate for those who incur my wrath and befoul all that is sacred..."

[FlameStrike]

"The time has come for me to leave my lonely path aside, and join others in their struggle against evil. I have learned that there is a cult of worshippers that belongs to Corath, operating in the areas near Hlint, and one of the main members is a bard whose name is Nethro Vigors. More information must be gathered before any attempt to strike is to be done."

 "Despite trusting no one, there are a few people I can rely on to aid me in my never-ending struggle against the dark forces of these lands. Quin and Michaelis Draego are among them, fellow worshippers of Toran, who pursue the same goals as myself, and which I shall gladly aid whenever it is needed."
 
 "The issue of being a dark elf has its disadvantages towards others, but I have took some time and finally dyed my full plate armor, helm and clothing, in order to change the impression I might have caused on others... The colours of Toran's church are now my standart, and I now wear my necklace over my armor, for others to see who I truly belong to. I have not forgotten my goddess, though I removed her symbol from the necklace and I'm now keeping it on a safer place: close to my heart, inside my armor, to be remembered forever..."
 

[FlameStrike]

*from the handwriting you can clearly tell that the author is not at ease, noticeable by the parts where the page was nearly pierced*

 "This is not happening again... Hlint falling victim of the drow once again, no... they shall be driven out once more, just as before! Now more than ever, I hate my dark brethren and their vile plots... they shall be brought to justice, Toran's light shall blind them, and my blade shall strike swiftly!"

 "I have learned about their scheming, how they plan to weaken Hlint's defense...  A new type of poison, which acts only when the controller desires, inflicting instant death on the victims... *the author pauses for some time* ... a cure must be found for this poison, for it is holding several people hostage, preventing their lovers and friends to stand up against the drow."

 *a large stain of ink is noticeable in the page, as if the author was staring blankly at something, lost in thought*
 
 "The time for idleness is now to be set aside, for if we don't act soon, Hlint will fall... The keys that will hopefully lead us to the twin sisters are now safe with us, perhaps this shall prove useful to swing the tides to our favor..."  

 "I've yet to unravel the cause for this attack, however... *pause here* ... the damned assassin shall pay for his actions, for the suffering he caused, this I promise. The poison he is using isn't noticeable, though it leaves the mark on one's skin... a spider tattoed, symbolizing his presence... he shall pay for this, indeed, this shall cost him dearly and the payment shall be his head..."