The Legend of Owen Lo'Kiar

[regnus]

Herein lie the chronicles of the greatest hero ever to walk the face of Layonara, Owen Lo'Kiar.  In an effort to bring my greatness to the biggest audience, I am chronicling my experiences in these journals.  I am going to speak frankly and openly so that readers of all ages, races, and backgrounds can come to experience all that is me, Owen Lo'Kiar.

*The Beginning*
Well, I left the temple today.  I just couldn't take the constant nagging from the priests.  Justice this and justice that.  I dont have any plans on being a zealot for the all knowing Rofirein.  I need to get out and stretch my legs and see what this world has to offer!  

I got my chance.  More than I bargained for actually.  I woke (or at least think I woke) to find myself facing a dragon.  A dragon!  He claimed that he had brought me there to help save the world.  Ha!  Is he serious?  I have no intentions of saving the world but I also dont have any plans  to tell that to this dragon's face.  I guess the reality is that I dont have any plans at all so this is worth a little investigation.  He doesnt really expect me to save the world anyway right?


*several days later*
Well I found myself in Hlint along with another Drow.  Interesting that.  Did that dragon plan this or was it completely random.  Either way I found myself spending time with Iradril Arkenrahel.  He apparently is a violent person, carrying around that massive sword of his.  I guess I shouldnt complain.  He is my muscle to keep the unworthy from touching me.  Where are the ladies?

*several days later*
I bought some equipment to make some money today.  I also harvested some barley.  I hope this recipe for brewing ale is a good one.  I could REALLY use a drink.  Speaking of which, where are the ladies?  Iradril wants to explore the sewers her in Hlint.  Not sure I want to go down there.  I might get dirty.  No way to impress anyone that.  Iradril says that we may find some money or other treasure though.  I can always use more money.

Infernal rats!  They are everywhere.  We kill them and more show up.  Someone should clean this place up!  Wait a minute....I guess that is what we are doing.  Well someone else should clean this place up.  We did find an interesting room down in the sewers though.  We had to squeeze through a tiny opening in the wall to get there.  It was a room with squares of alternating colors.  There was a door there but we were exhausted from the endless stream of rats down there.  Someone should really clean this place up!  We will have to investigate this room further.  Are there any ladies in Hlint?

*a day later*

I met a fine little lady today(finally!).  When I say little I actually mean little.  She only came to my waist!  She was very nice to me though which is a nice change.  She actually was needing help so I suppose she wasnt going to call me names and spit on me.  She apparently decided to take a nap in a cave of all things.  Notice I called her fine not intelligent.  Anyway, she dropped a necklace or something and wants me to go retrieve it for her.  All I can say is that she better have some money once this is done.  

*a day later*
After we got directions from a dwarf(more unusual friendliness), we traveled to Sielwood.  Along the way we ran into another Drow.  Talk about haughty and full of themselves!  He only seemed to want to talk about how Drow are the master race and other nonsense.  I mean I am a perfect example of perfection but that doesnt mean all Drow are.  I mean lets be realistic here.  Look at me and tell me I am not a marvel of nature.  Yeah just take a look at me......

We finally reached the Sielwood.  A rather dense forest for my taste but we are here so lets get the necklace and get back to Hlint right?  Wrong.  We never did find this cave our halfling "friend" supposedly took her nap in.  We did find a Gnoll camp and in turn our death.  I guess I must have a strong spirit (of course I do!) since I found my way back to my body.  I have to laugh here though.  Iradril got killed by a deer!  Yes you are reading that right, a deer.  I am a little worried about my so called muscle.  

Upon returning to Hlint, my little lady friend asked about our progress.  After hearing about our troubles, she recommended I talk to a lady at the courthouse.  Now there is a dilemma now isnt it?  Here is another lady in this male-centric town and where is she?  The courthouse.  I dont know about you but I honestly am in a quandry. (you like that word?  I know what you're thinking now.  How can he be so nice on the eyes AND so smart?  Now you are starting to realize the gift on Owen Lo'Kiar)  I dont know what to do.  Do I talk to this lady or avoid her.  Those courthouse ladies are almost always stuffy.  Then the halfling lady (what was her name again?) told us that courthouse types are usually loaded.  Well she didnt actually say loaded but you know what I am saying here right?  Anyway, that pretty well seals the deal.  I can overlook the courthouse thing if she is willing to pay.  Plus how could she resist me right?  Tomorrow, Iradril and I will go see this rich courthouse woman and see if we cant talk her out of some gold.  Perhaps if we can purchase higher quality equipment we may have better chances of surviving.  That is unless another killer deer attacks him!

[regnus]

Well, well, well.  And I'm not talking about three holes in the ground.  These last few days have been eventful!  My partner and I talked to our contact at the courthouse and she had a task that needed performed.  Apparently a rat man had stolen some tax papers!  Now, this normally would be hilarious to me, well, actually it is pretty funny.  Either way, I needed the money and that was that.  Iradril and I went down into the sewers and put that rat man to rest for good.  We scooped up the tax papers and headed for the surface as fast as we could.  Again, the rats were everywhere!  Someone should really take a look at the problem down here.  Our contact was overjoyed at seeing me....and the tax papers.  So much that she gave us both 200 gold.  Now that is what I am talking about!  I couldnt very well impress the ladies with no money.  Well I could, but a little gold smooths the way.  Of course this place is a barren waste of male domination apparently.  The only females I have encountered are stuffy or have some job for me to do.  

A couple of days after the rat man debacle, we decided to take some time to fish in the pond here in Hlint.  I have never been one to just sit and pass the day away, but fishing seems to have a calming effect on me.  We spent quite some time there.  We met the undertaker while fishing today as well.  Surprise!  He was in need of something.  These people of Hlint are the neediest people!  Well, of course the undertaker had some problem in the crypts.  There was some creature down there that was causing problems and he wanted the creatures essence.  Well, I may not be the smartest person out there...well wait a minute.  I am the smartest person out there.  Well it seems to me that the job of the undertaker is to lay the dead to rest.  Once that happens, they should stay dead.  I mean, this is his territory right?  Why am I going to have to go down and tangle with the undead?  The answer to that is money, money, money.  As long as he pays, I suppose I will do what he needs done.  The women love the rich and powerful.  That is for another day though.  

*the next day*
We met a half-elven priest today who is going to start traveling with us.  His name is Tha'Azail Neverborn.  Kind of struck me as funny (what doesn't?) but if he was never born then how are we talking to him now?  He is a priest of some such religion.  I let him know right up front that there would be no converting talk and no talk of JUSTICE and the Light!  I left the temple to get away from that talk.  I dont need a walking temple following me around speaking that giberrish.

I met the most beautiful woman today!  Eylianna was her name.  She was a disciple of Lucinda and a sorceress.  She was stunning.  I saw her walking past and stopped her with a "How you doin'"  Of course she couldn't help but stop to admire me.  We were having a wonderful conversation and talked for several minutes.  I think I was close to getting her to come back to the Inn for a drink when Iradril stomped up and jumped into the conversation by saying hello to her.  I really have to talk to him about this.  Anyway, Iradril begins to go into his rant about how he dreams all the time of some woman.  Well big deal!  This one was mine!  I met her first.  Anyway, Eylianna starts talking with Iradril and tells him that the woman of his dreams is actually the goddess Lucinda.  Well I am a bit skeptic.  Unless she is the blind goddess of magic, she would have picked me over Iradril.  I mean look at him.  Nothing special there.  At least not when compared to me.  No disrespect to Iradril but there is no comparison.

Well Eylianna and Iradril are just the best of friends now.  I really have to talk to him about this.  I guess after hearing that Iradril dreams on Lucinda, she cast some spell on him.  She said something about how he has the light in him of on him or something.  I dont remember exactly.  I was only half listening at that point.  What happened next was really astounding though.  An angelic being appeared before our eyes and and tapped Iradril's shoulders.  I can honestly say I was at a loss for words.  That doesnt happen often mind you.  I know I am not a person of faith, but I am not faithless and that was exciting!  Well that sealed the deal between Eylianna and Iradril.  She convinced him to take us to Blackford castle to visit the temple of Lucinda to thank her personally.

It was a long trip and I continued to try my skills on Eylianna but it was apparent that she was only interested in Iradril.  It is probably best anyway.  She seems to be more of the devout religious follower than the playful type I am interested in.  She was nice though and I went along for the chance to see some of the surrounding area.  Blackford castle is massive!  

We found the temple (actually I found it thank you very much) and Iradril paid his respects.  He was gifted with a book (Ha!  A book!) that I can only guess will help him find his way.  I pretty much sat on the floor and watched Eylianna.  It was a better alternative than looking at Iradril or Neverborn or praying.  Once we left the temple, we had to head back to Hlint to take care of some of the commitments we had.

We stopped outside Hlint to take care of some goblins.  The guard in Hlint wants us to bring him 5 goblin ears.  The goblins are nasty creatures but they are good with the bow!  They are fairly organized as well.  They would strike at us from higher positions before we could get to their camp.  We were weakened before we even started the battle. We did prevail though which was of course never any doubt in my mind.  I was there so how could we fail?  The lady Eylianna left us after this battle.  She received word from a friend that her assistance was needed.  We bid her farewell and went back to Hlint.

I have noticed lately that when I sing it seems to make everyone feel better.  Not in a healing way but in a way I cant really put words to.  We seem to work better when I am singing or playing music.  I knew I had talent but this is excellent.  Ladies love music and being sung to.  I will have to investigate this further.  

*several days later*
So, there we are discussing our next move and Neverborn jumps at the undertakers task.  I am a little apprehensive about following a guy that is so excited about playing with the walking dead.  I mean who gets excited about going into a graveyard and tangling with things that should never exist?  They died once already.  Why cant they just stay that way.  Iradril wanted to go with Neverborn so the decision was made to get the essence for the undertaker.

Wow!  I cant say I am excited about fighting the undead still, but Neverborn has his uses here.  He mumbles something and waves his arms around and those undead just sort of sit there and wait to die again.  I am a little more inclined to follow him in here now.  The undead just seem to keep coming though.  Like the rats in the sewer there never seems to be an end to them.  This town is infested!  Why has no one done anything about this?  We eventually did kill the creature and I took its essence to the undertaked.  He was ecstatic to see me.  Oh and he was happy to get the essence too.  You know for being an orc and all, he really isnt too bad of a guy.  At least for one that handles dead things all day.  I was going to mention how he was not performing his job very well with the dead coming back to life and all, but why ruin the moment.

I was resting after the fight in the crypts when the most stunning woman walked by.  She of course stopped to admire my presence when I said "How you doin'?"  We got to talking and let me tell you.  This was my kind girl!  We moved the conversation to the Inn where we shared some drinks.  Well we shared many drinks.  I think I remember her saying something about Xeen and pleasure and pain or something.  She kept talking about how she was a bad girl which was not helping me think.  We adjourned to my room at the Inn and well, I better leave the rest to your imagination.  When I awoke the next morning she was gone.  It's just as well.  I think I see the most beautiful woman I have ever seen....

[regnus]

So, my legend grows...  Which is of course only natural.  You can't expect people to not know who you are when you are this talented.  

Today I ventured out into the golin wastelands to grab some goblin ears.  This is truly beneath me but the quartermaster needed help.  Who am I to turn him down?  I mean, I have a heart.  The guy needs help.  So there we are, Iradril and I that is, stalking the hills for these stupid goblins.  We ended up meeting up with a playful woman sitting at a campfire.  We struck up a nice little conversation when this priest walks up.  Now you should know that I am not very fond of the pious folk.  Not necessarily that I dont like them, but I am just not fond of them.  Well this priest starts whining about how the undead were harrassing him in the crypt.  This is unacceptable.  I dont mean the priest.  I mean the undertaker!!  If this guy is getting paid anything it is too much!  I was just down there a couple of days ago and cleaned it out.  No undead survived....or whatever.  Now there are more undead in there?  I need to speak to whoever is in charge here about this problem.  (This is what I have to put up here.  If everyone around here were like me these problems would be solved.)  Well, Iradril and I decided to help him.

Once we cleaned out the crypts(again!), Iradril and I found quite a few people gathered outside the bank.  Now what is this?  A beautiful woman standing there all alone?  This is a travesty!  I walked over and said "How you doin?"  This lead to a very strange conversation.  I am standing there, trying to talk to this lady and her 'pet' starts mouthing off to me.  Now, if this lady wasnt such a pretty lady I would have smacked this little creature.  But of course that wouldn't have been very smart would it?  So I played nice.  It didnt work.  Some other creature came flying over and started talking to her pet and they began discussing how they were going to take various parts of my body.  Thinking back on it now it actually was quite funny in spite of the fact that I was on the wrong end of the joke.  Let it be known that Owen Lo'Kiar can take a joke.  This was all well and good until one of them called me ugly.  I dont care where you are from or what plane of existence you reside on, there is not a single bit of ugliness to this body.  I will not stand for being called ugly!  After a few insults, I was convinced to let it go.  Another thing to know, Owen Lo'Kiar can turn the other cheek.(It looks just as good as the other one!)

Iradril talked me into patrolling the goblin wastelands again.  We actually delved into a cave out there.  I think we found more salt than goblins though.  But then something wonderful happened.  We ran into Eylianna again.  She took us to Hlint and showed us how to craft gems.  I was already intrigued by this and now this was perfect.  Think of how impressed the ladies will be when I can present to them jewelry.  I may out do even myself!  For her 'troubles' I let Eylianna know that the first piece of jewelry that I craft will go to her.  Could I be any better?  I dont think so.

[regnus]

These goblins are starting to pose a problem for me.  If one of them by some miracle makes it past my arrows, I am forced to unleash my sicle.  I really dont care much for this close quarter fighting.  I may get dirty.  The last thing I want is for some nasty goblin blood to get all over me and then have some beautiful lady walk by and see me like that.  Not even a "how you doin?" would get her to stop.  What makes it worse is...well, not that I am saying I am not skilled enough, but these goblins are actually touching me way too often.  My blood all over me is a lot worse than goblin blood!  I am continuing to train on these goblins and hopefully will be able to make these goblins pay.

[regnus]

I was training on the goblins again today.  I have to admit something here that I will never admit to anyone else.  I was sent to the bind stone today.  These goblins a such a nuisance.  I was felling them with arrows when they rushed me.  I had no choice but to pull out the sicle and take them down.  Well, I could only hold off so many.  They continued to hit me and then one came over the rise and shot me with an arrow.  How humiliating.  I was laying there watching my blood pour out and could do nothing but wait for the end.  When I hit the bind stone I sat down in front of it and considered what to do next.  It is painfully obvious to me that my skill with the sicle is lacking.  Dont let anyone else know though.  I have to keep my reputation intact!  So I decided that my next steps should be to find someone to assist me in training so that if the situation arises, I will be able to hold my own with the sicle.  I am not sure at this point who that is or what type of training it will be, but it is a task I must complete.

I met the postmaster of Hlint today.  Of course he had work for me.  He needed a letter delivered to someone on the other side of Hlint.  Sys something or other.  All I know is I searched the town and couldnt find her.  I asked around and no one had heard of her either.  I was about to give up for the night until I saw Eylianna walking through the town.  She was coming to town to practice crafting gems.  I asked her if she knew who the letter was addressed to.  Of course she knew.  It was addresses to the crabby girl by the fishing pond.  That girl needs to lighten up.  She didnt even crack a smile when I joked with her.  She did thank me which was a surprise though.  

Anyway, Eylianna met me after I delivered the letter and we talked.  Wow is she beautiful.  Um.  Well, anyway, I talked to her where to find mineral gems and she gave me some much needed guidance.  She let me know that she wanted to practice her gem crafting so I let her know that I would go get her some to practice on.

These goblin caves are interesting.  The goblins here are even tougher than the ones outside.  I must get training.  If I am going to continue exploring places like this, I will not survive without it.  I found the minerals though and took out a few goblins in the mean time.  I found 3 minerals and returned to Hlint.

I found Eylianna in the crafting house and gave her two of the minerals I found and kept one for myself.  I need to practice myself.  I had not had any rest since I had ran from the cave straight to the crafting house.  Eylianna was very concerned for my health and basically forced me to go to the inn and have a meal.  At the inn something happened though.

It was very embarrassing and I was very upset that Eylianna had to witness it.  I was verbally assaulted by a woman.  She kept yelling for the guards to come take me away.  She was calling me all sorts of names.  I wasnt sure why until Eylianna let me know that there had been troubles with Drow attacking the town.  I guess they took prisoners as well and had tattooed them with spiders.  This woman had the tattoo.  It is a shame that she thinks I was involved but I really feel pity for her.  With that attitude she will never get to experience the greatness that is Owen Lo'Kiar.  I finally just walked away and left the woman grumble about Drow.  I know it isnt like me to walk away from verbal sparring, but I was thinking more of Eylianna and how upset she might be if she had to listen to it all.

Inside the inn, we sat down and Eylianna bought me a drink and a meal.  I asked about her past and it is as sad as my own.  I will not go into it even here.  She told ME and I am sure would not appreciate me repeating it to whoever reads this.  Suffice to say it is a sad tale.  I am not sure if it was the drinks or just being near her but I actually told her of my own past.  I have never told it to anyone.  This is very strange.  What is it about this woman that makes me act like an idiot?  

After a long conversation, Eylianna attempted to get up but was a little woozy.  It must have been the drinks.  I was genuinely concerned for her safety, especially after she was seen defending me from the prejudiced group outside the inn.  I let her know that the room that I bought at the inn had two beds and that we could share the room.  She agreed.  I tucked Eylianna into her bed and kissed her cheek before I went to my own bed and retired for the night.  

*scribbled beside this entry*
  What is happening to me?  Why does Eylianna make me act this way?  I must be careful around her.  But she always seems to make me feel happy.  That cant be bad can it?  I MUST be more careful around her.  Remember who I am....Lo'Kiar.  Owen Lo'Kiar.

[regnus]

Wow.  It has been an event filled couple of days!  It is becoming increasingly apparent that I am not welcome in Hlint.  It may be time to move on.  I was accosted today again!  This time it was from the Captain of the Guard.  He better appreciate the fact that I capitalize his name.  Of course he wont.  He wont ever read this.  He is such a closed minded .... Ah well.  Better to just recount the event (as is my way) and let you judge for yourself.  

Iradril and I were minding our own business after a nasty encounter with.....yes you guessed it, goblins.  We were both sent back to our bindstone.  This is getting ridiculous.  How can I live up to my reputation and legend if I cant dispatch with a few goblins?  There has to be a better way.  Anyway, there we were thinking about what had just happened and deciding on our next course of action.  Well we see a group of people talking and I recognize Caela from the other day.  So I go to say hello.  Well then she starts talking in Elvish with another woman.  So now I have two Elvish women talking around me.  I love a woman who can speak another language and now here are two!  Well I tried to warn Caela that the town may not be safe since I was so rudely attacked with Eylianna the other day.  She seemed to brush it off as if that were nothing new.  Strange.  I never felt unwanted before but then again it is me.  Anyway, along comes this guy at the well.  He just stares at us.  For a long time he just stared at us.  So I walked over to him and politely let him know that I was not interested.  I introduced myself and was actually planning on leaving Hlint when the captain of the guard comes up and starts yelling at me.  He kept telling me to leave town and that I was scaring the children.  I tried to explain to him that I was not going to attack the town and I wasnt spying but he would not see reason.  Quantum the priest even vouched for me but the captain would not budge.  Finally, left Hlint.  I almost got myself in more trouble (and I could have mind you) but I am trying to be a little better with opening my mouth.  Eylianna would be proud.  The funniest part of the whole thing was that Iradril is standing there and pretty much keeping his mouth shut.  He should have stayed that way.  He blurts out something about how WE are helping the town.  Well the captain snapped that up and figured out that under that fancy helmet was another Drow.  HA!  Iradril got himself into trouble.  

After that, with the help of another Drow sister, Ardul, we visited our grave and made some goblins pay.  It was interesting to see a paladin of Lucinda who happens to be a Drow.  This place continues to amaze me.  There are so many stories here that I could never in my life recount all of them.

We met a huge beast of a creature today named Hrorth.  He wasnt the smartest thing but he seemed genuine.  He likes to smash things.  This could be useful....

I must get better with this sicle if I am to survive this place.  I fear I am trapped in Hlint until I can find a way to become more proficient in close quarter combat.  My bow will only work for so long before I have to defend myself.


//I want to thank whatever DM it was that took control of the captain in Hlint.  That was pretty cool.  Depending on how things continue, Lo'Kiar may start to change a bit.  Not too much though. I am having WAY too much fun with him right now!

[regnus]

I met with Eylianna again today.  I am like a fool when she is around.  I dont know what it is about her that makes me act this way.  Other women dont make me lose my thoughts and ability to speak.  She is special I guess....

Iradril was with me today as well.  We ventured to the Sielwood looking for boar for the fur trader.  His wife must be one heck of a woman to have been able to gather these furs for him!  We ended up traveling a little too far and ran into ogres that were seriously hurting us.  Eylianna arived though and ended up turning us invisible.  She really is very talented as well as beautiful.  So, we talked for a while in the Ranger Vale and Iradril decided to go study his books on magic.  It was just as well.  It gave me more time with Eylianna.  She took me to Port Hampshire.  

WOW!  This place is amazing.  The fountains alone are worth the danger in travaling there.  The statue in the middle of the square is very impressive as well.  Unfortunately, it is to remember the fallen heroes who regained the city from the Drow.  I have never really been concerned with my heritage or the fact that I am a Drow, but this is very disheartening.  I have never been one to feel the need for  violence.  It appears my brethren are so bent on the destruction of all else that they do terrible things.  I must live my life the way I always have though and not judge anyone but on their actions and not those of their race.  I can only hope that others do the same to me.

Eylianna gave me gifts again.  This is not how it works.  I am the one supposed to give gifts!  She gave me some cut gems that I can practice polishing.  Her kindness never ends.  We spent some time crafting gems together before she showed me the inn.  This is a great step up from the inn at Hlint!  The common room was massive and there were other rooms with a unfortunately the only performer at the time was a local drunk named Mo.  The bedrooms here are much nicer than Hlint as well.  Eylianna took a liking to a chair that made her look like a queen.  She must have thought so as well since she started barking out orders to me.  It was really fun to see her acting silly.  

We left Port Hampshire and traveled to Krandor.  Eylianna has a house that she shares with someone there.  (I wonder who?)  Anyway, she was going to retire but I still had some things to do.  We talked for bit in the inn there at Krandor before I left.  I was stumbling all over my words.  It was truly embarassing.  What is it with her?  She did let me kiss her again though.  She told me that she really enjoyed being with me too.  She is a loner for the most part but she is enjoying my company.  I hope to see her again soon.

Eylianna cast some magical protections on me and I went back to Hlint.  I think I will just rest here and finish my work later.  I have traveled far and I still cant get Eylianna out of my head.  Maybe a walk through Hlint will give me someone...I mean something to take my mind off of her.....

[regnus]

I am very worried.  I have not seen Eylianna in days.  I was out exploring the land around Krandor for the last few days.  I had hoped to see her around since she told me that she was there a lot.  I decided to head back to Hlint and was shocked at what I found.  The town had been attacked!  In short order I talked to several residents and found out what had happened.  Apparently, Blood was taking out some sort of revenge against Hlint for some heroes finding a great library.  Several people died in the attack and some buildings were completely destroyed.  A great library.  I bet this journal will find its way there one day.  

I asked around to see if Eylianna was one of the dead but no one had seen her.  I am getting very worried.  Why am I getting so worried?  Not that I shouldnt care about Eylianna, but why am I so concerned?  Maybe I will see her if I venture down to Port Hampshire.

[regnus]

I journeyed with Iradril again today.  We were hunting for boar in the Seilwood forest again.  This time we brought help.  A person by the name of Kil ventured into the forest with us.  We met the ogres once more but this time with Kil's help we vanquished them.  Kil cast a spell that made blades rise up out of the ground and they shredded the ogres as they ran toward us.  It was a gruesome sight.  Certainly it was effective but crude.  It was a little strange to just sit there and watch them die.  I may kill from a distance but I am still drawing the bowstring and letting the arrows fly.  I am not just sitting there.....

Regardless of the means, the end result was a boar pelt for each of us.  Johan was very pleased to see us.  He needed a cougar pelt as well.  So, Iradril and I asked around.  One man told us that cougars are near Fort Velensk.  Seeing as how we didnt know how to get there, he was nice enough to take us there.  Iradril and I explored the area around the fort and the only thing we could find were jaguars.  Nice but no cougar.  We were ready to give up and return to Hlint when we came across a pack of cougars!  It was a serious fight.  These cougars were not willing to part with their pelts like nice cats should!  We prevailed though and headed back to Hlint.

There we ran into a mercenary named Cole and the priest Neverborn.  We paid Cole to help us tackle the Red Light goblins and get their leader's head.  The wagonmaster was overjoyed as now he can get back to work without worrying about a goblin raid.  I got a nice pair of boots from the wagonmaster too.  These will come in handy I think.

Iradril hasnt seen Eylianna either.  I dont know if he is as worried as I am though.  I think I may go back down to Krandor and Port Hampshire to see if I can find her.

[regnus]

Iradril and I did some travelling yesterday.  He had never been to Port Hampshire so I told him I would take him there.  Along the way we ran into the guard at Fort Llast.  He was looking for some people to gather some weapons for the troops.  We helped out a bit but had to push onward.  We camped outside of the broken forest and got a good rest before making our way into the forest.  It did not help.  We had just ventured into the forest when a creature that was like a humanoid wolf pounced on me.  Iradril fought it off of me but was hurt in the process.  I attempted to shoot it several times but my arrows did nothing to it!  In a desperate attempt to finally slay the beast, Iradril made a powerful attack.  Unfortunately, even though he hit the creature it hit him back and he was mortally wounded. I tried to use my somewhat limited healing powers but the cursed creature took me down.  I was laying there thinking that it was all over when my savior arrived.  She came running in and slew the creature in a mighty blow.  She had a bear following her too.  It was almost like it was a pet.  She then turned and healed me.  It was too late for Iradril though.  He died.

I waited for Iradril to return.  I watched over him while he prayed at his grave.  We camped again outside of the forest and quickly made our way through to Port Hampshire.  Iradril was amazed at Port Hampshire and the incredible plaza.  We wandered the plaza and Iradril wanted to stop and read the monument.  I warned him that it was a story regarding the Drow attack on the city.  I didnt want him to not read it, but I just wanted to warn him before he started reading it.  It is getting increasingly difficult to go where we like without getting harrassed about our skin color.

As Iradril was reading, I noticed a woman sitting at the fountain alone.  I couldn't let her sit there by herself now could I?  So, I introduced myself and asked how she was doing.  She replied with a now typical "What do you want, Drow?"  I tried to carry on a nice conversation with her but she continually insulted me and was very condescending.  I offered my condolences to her since she was going to lose the opportunity to ever really know me and was leaving when she started talking to me about how her dark lord Corath was going devour my soul or something.  You know people call me evil and this lady wants her drak lord to eat my soul.  The irony here is evident.

We left her shouting at our backs.  These people are just not worth my valuable time.  After failing miserably at roasting my barley and corn, I headed to the merchants to get Iradril and make our way back to Hlint.  He was going to take some time to study his books.  He is always reading that book that he got from the temple of Lucinda.  I guess it works for him.  He did blast some ogres with some bolts of light before.  I guess the time he spends is well worth it.

On our way back we ran into one of the people that were giving me grief in Hlint the other day.  I am such a horrible threat to the existence of Hlint, you know.  Anyway, he again starts with his evil drow mantra and I had just about enough.  I am sick of being judged by my skin.  This is ridiculous.  So, I told the man that I had decided that anyone wearing green is stupid.  Of course, he was covered in green clothing. Ha!  Take that.  He was not impressed.  

Once I entered Hlint, I met a newcomer to Hlint.  Her name was Emerald Skye.  Of course, the man in green was shouting about how I am an evil drow spy and other such nonsense.  I offered to give Emerald Skye a tour of Hlint and warned her to avoid the village idiot over there in green.  I got a nice response that he was going to find me on the field of battle and kill me.  In typical fashion, I let him know that I was a lover and not a fighter.  I think the confrontation scared Emerald Skye away unfortunately.  I am growing weary of always having to explain myself to people.  I have shown my worth to several of Hlint and they have expressed their gratitude.  Why is it that I am now being judged and harrassed by these people?

I was brought here for a reason that I can only assume the dragon knows.  I wish I knew so i could at least see a reason to put up with this.  I guess I can only push on and keep to the people I trust.  Iradril, Eylianna, and I suppose Neverborn.  It pains me to think that these people will never get the joy of knowing me but I am finding that I really dont care anymore if they know me or not.  It really doesnt seem worth it.  

I wonder if there is a place where I can go and not be concerned with how others will treat me simply because I have dark colored skin.  I understand that my 'people' have done so many evil things, but I am not representing my 'people.'  I am representing me.  I hate to say it, but maybe I should go back to the temple and seek guidance.  No.  That is pushing it.  I suppose if things continue though what choice will I have?

[regnus]

My day started so well today that I should have known it would go downhill.  I ran into Iradril!  Seriously though, we ran into Neverborn as well.  It was looking like a good day to go out and explore the land to the east of Hlint.  We had not ventured far that way.  We ended up picking up another explorer on the way.  Her name was Kahna.  She was easy on the eyes so she was most welcome!  Her sword was a nice help as well.  We would have headed east but Kahna mentioned that she knew where there were brown bears.  Since Iradril and I needed brown bear pelts we headed to the High Forest.  It was north of Hlint from Fort Llast.  Kahna had a friend join her.  It was a little goblin named Squee!  I was a little worried since I had been practicing my archery skills on the goblins outside of Hlint, but then I caught myself.  I make such a big deal when people judge me and here I am judging this goblin!  I talked to him and it turns out that this little guy is a great addition to our party!  His magic made the obstacles in our path a lot easier to deal with.  

We headed to the High Forest and picked up a brown bear pelt.  While we were hunting for more, we ran into a treant!  It was a giant tree like humanoid creature that was fierce.  In one swing of its mighty arm it knocked me through the air and I landed far from the battle.  I was hurt so badly that Neverborn's healing could not even help me.  The bindstone had me in its grip.  I awoke in Hlint and had to travel the distance to the High Forest with Iradril who appeared next to me.  We made our way to our graves and meditated on what our mistakes were.  I believe that one was easy.  Never take on a Treant!  Afterwards we ran into another brown bear.  Lucky for Iradril!

We travelled back to Hlint and turned in the brown bear pelts.  That wonderful Johan now wants another borwn bear pelt!  ARGH!!  We were set to return to the High Forest but something wonderful happened.  Eylianna showed up!  My heart was so relieved at seeing her.  I was so worried that something had happened to her.  She looked as beautiful as ever too.  Iradril spread his lies about me to her as he always does.  She did notice my new outfit.  I was ecstatic.  I know every hero needs a cape.  Plus the ladies really go for a guy in a cape.  I think it's the hat though.  Definitely the hat.  Eylianna also noticed that the colors of my outfit matched hers.  It was a little touch that I was not sure if she would recognize but she did.  Unfortunately, she had to leave.  A prior engagement apparently.  I hope to see her again soon.

[regnus]

So there we were in Hlint, Iradril, Neverborn, and myself.  It was a day to hunt bear.  I wanted to be done with this Johan.  Let his wife get better and do his hunting!  We were standing around the well and noticed a group of people standing there talking.  There was a young lady playing a tamborine and joking it seems with another young lady.  How could I resist?  I approached the crowd to introduce myself when something strange happened.  The young lady with the tamborine started glowing red!  It was only a brief instant, but it was strange.  It felt....ominous I guess.  We talked to the other people there and one warrior type mentioned that he thought he might know what was happening.  We sat and listened.  There was the warrior, named Bid from what I gathered.  There was another female warrior named Lara.  I think they were together if you know what I mean.  Anyway, there was a paladin named Remiel as well as the two ladies.  The lady that glowed red was named Kali and her friend was named Lindariel.  The last one in the group was Talan I believe.
 
Now that introductions are done with....  Bid and Lara were exploring some dungeon.  I dont remember the name of it.  Bid was fighting a Xorn whatever that is.  It hurt him pretty badly so he and Lara were resting.  Then someone named Arindor appeared to them.  Everyone seemed to know who that was.  I am going to have to ask around to see who this Arindor was.  Anyway, he appeared to them and placed some sort of curse on them.  They were to go procure for him a 'vessel'.  I was unclear what that meant until Bid explained it all.  Arindor wanted a vessel to possess.  I guess the method of possession involved splitting the vessel open and spilling their blood on the ground.  This is horrible!  I guess from what Bid and Lara explained, Kali was the chosen vessel.  That was what the red glow was!  I could not let this go on!  How dare someone try to harm this fine young lady!  Neverborn must have felt the same way.  He offered our help to do whatever we could.  The paladin, Remiel decided to take the entire party to the dungeon and confront this Arindor and have him remove the curse.
 
We went east of Hlint and followed the road for the most part.  It is funny that Iradril and I kept trying to explore the lands east of Hlint and now here we were going on a mission of sorts that took us there.  Funny how these things work out.  Unfortunately, as we were leaving Hlint, Lidariel and Kali were talking about how I was trailing them.  I tried to explain to them that I was only there to help but they said I was stalking them.  It was upsetting.  I was only trying to help Bidwick and Lara as well as Kali.  I couldnt let these two women go into danger without lifting a finger, right?  I stayed towards the back and tried to be quiet.  I was trying to help so not drawing attention to myself would be the best at this point.  I kept my mouth shut even when Lindariel made rude and abusinve comments toward me.  As a matter of fact, she was quite rude for a lady the entire time.  Perhaps it was because she was nervous or scared for her friend Kali.  I dont know but it would be a challenge to get her to come around.  Oh well, we will haveto see what comes of that later.  We travelled east and then south.  I think we were near Haven?  I am not positive, but I believe that this is where we were.  We ended up in a forested area just west of Haven.

When we entered the forest, I noticed an area ahead that was darker than the rest of the forest.  I attributed it to a more dense overgrowth preventing the sunshine from filtering into the land.  I was wrong.  It was more of a darkness emanating from the earth itself.  Bid and Lara were still leading the way.  They walked on as if nothing were out of sorts.  Odd that.  They had expressed regret and maybe a sense of helplessness about their situation while we were in Hlint.  Now they walked on as if nothing were wrong.  We all should have realized this but I think we were on the trail of righteousness following Remiel.  It is strange how I keep trying to get away from that type of thing but keep coming back around to it.

As we approached, I saw that the area of darkness was actually a gaping hole that bore down into the land.  There were steps carved into the side of the cliff that led down into the hole to a doorway.  Bidwick and Lara walked in as if it was the Wild Surge Inn.  I stopped at the top of the stairway.  The air coming from the doorway had a warmth that actually made me shiver.  It was foul air that had the stench of death.  Or rather, the undeath.  We made our way after Bidwick and Lara with Remiel and Talan leading the way.  I stayed toward the back with Neverborn and Iradril.  We were warned by Remiel that it would be dangerous but I could not turn away when a damsel was in distress.

We were met by huge creatures that seemed fierce and overpowering.  However, Talan and Remiel dispatched them quickly.  Surely, Remiel must have the righteousness of his god to be such a powerful force against the evil inhabiting this cavern.  I was in good hands it appeared.  I was happy to see that Kali was as well.  I did what I could with my bow but in truth it was mostly Remiel and Talan.  I sang my song to aid everyone in the battle and I was even happier to see Kali singing as well.  We had something in common!  If I could just get her away from Lindariel perhaps we could have a nice conversation.  Why is Lindariel so hostile to me?  I wonder if she had some bad experience with a drow in the past.  I wish Eylianna were here to talk to her.  Now why did she come up?  I am trying to talk about Kali, not Eylianna.  Why do I always seem to go back to her no matter what I do?  No matter. It was not to be anyway.

We made our way down several levels of this ... dungeon.  There is no other way to describe it.  It was dank, dark, and ...evil.  Again, this is the only way to describe it.  There was a presence there that looking back on it was manipulating us and forcing us to continue moving.  Moving down.  Down to who knew what.  Down to a confrontation with this presence.  And onward we went.  Hacking creatures that were in our way.  There was nothing stopping Remiel and Talan.  We must have travelled for hours.  It felt like days.  The dungeon went on forever.  We stopped in a large room with another staircase exiting from it.  We rested there to regain some strength.  It was here that things got bad.  Well, I guess things got worse.  Bidwick seemed to go into some sort of trance.  He began walking slowly toward Kali and he said something about Kali that I did not catch.  I knew I had to do something though.  So, Remiel and I stepped in front of Kali and blocked Bidwick.  He reached past us to try to touch Kali.  It was as if he wasnt in control of himself.  His eyes did not reflect himself but someone else.  I turned just in time to see Lara acting the same way.  Kali ran back to the side of the room away from Bid and Lara.  Lindariel moved to guard her as I moved to push Lara back.  Both Bid and Lara seemed to realize they were not going to get Kali so they left and climbed down the stairs.  We followed at a distance.

I feared we would never reach whatever end was fated for us when we came down the staircase to a mazelike set of platforms.  Each platform was connected by a bridge of stone.  There was a LONG fall off of each bridge.  It was time to walk very carefully.  As I was preparing myself to make our way through this maze, I noticed that Bid and Lara just walking along the platforms and almost shambling along.  Talan followed them very closely but Remiel and the rest of us stayed behind with the ladies.

We made our way across the maze and through several chambers before coming to a pit.  Again I swear I heard moaning from the pit.  I began to get a little scared at this point.  Even with Remiel's skills in battle and his deity's help, I was afraid we were walking into something that we would not walk out of.  I mentioned this to Remiel and Iradril.  Remiel buoyed our spirits and talked of courage.  We had to save the girl, right?  I had everything I needed.

Or I thought I did.  We entered a chamber with a raised platform.  Bidwick and Lara were on opposite sides of the platform and were chanting something I think.  I was overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom.  Evil lived here and it was not pleased that we had disturbed its slumber.  Bidwick and Lara began saying things like "He is coming" and "We brought you a vessel, master!"  It was disturbing.  Remiel called out for the presence to show themselves so they could be vanquished.
 
The ground shook.

The walls shook.

It was unnerving to sit there and wait for death to arrive.  It's the waiting that was so bad.  It felt like it let us suffer for hours.  Then Bidwick and Lara were trapped behind cages!  We turned and saw that Talan was trapped as well.  It seemed like it would get us all.  I moved to protect Kali and Lindariel when I was pushed back by a cage surrounding them as well!  I was failing.  Neverborn called to us that he was trapped as well.  For some reason, Remiel, myself and Iradril were spared.  Why I do not know.  Neverborn knelt down and began to pray.  Perhaps it would help.  I do not know of these things.  I was quite worried about Kali, though.  Lindariel as well even though she was a bit hostile.  I grabbed the bars and pulled as hard as I could.  Nothing happened.  I called to Iradril to help me but even the two of us could not budge them a bit.  Lindariel was shrieking and actually climbing the bars.  Kali collapsed.

Waiting....

Waiting....

The wait would kill us...

A booming voice called to us and asked us what we wanted.  It shook the very earth itself.  Remiel turned the question back and asked what the voice wanted.  It replied said that we could leave but the caged ones were his.  Remiel was not willing to accept that.  He told the voice that we were not leaving unless we ALL left.  Needless to say, the presence was not happy with this.  It called down angrily that we would all have to make some sort of payment in return for allowing us to leave.  Remiel negotiated an oath as payment.
We each had to offer an oath to whatever god we chose that we would never return and we would never let any companion return.  Neverborn and Remiel offered their oaths in a split second after the deal was struck.  This made sense.  Iradril was not far behind making an oath to his goddess, Lucinda.  Of course.  I really didnt know what to do.  I knew the teachings of Rofirein but really didnt follow him.  I can honestly say that I disagree with most if not all of his teachings.  What was I to do though?  I knelt down and made the oath.  I can only hope that Rofirein heard me.  I dont really recall who Lindariel made her oath to.  Kali was confused though.  I dont think she really had a deity that she followed.  I can relate.  Remiel told her to make her oath to Toran as he did.  Once Kali did this, the cage disappeared!  Neverborn was free as well.  Talan was still trapped though.  Apparently he made the oath to himself.  

The voice boomed from seemingly everywhere..."This one has not made the oath.  He is not free"

Both Remiel and I pleaded with Talan to make an oath to any god.  Well, Remiel made the suggestion to make the oath to Toran, but you know what I mean.  Talan resisted momentarily, but I think he realized his situation and hastily made his oath.  The bars shattered and Talan was free.  We wasted no time in leaving.  We made our way back up each staircase.

We were assaulted by an onslaught of undead.  It was like Arindor had let us leave, but was going to attempt to keep us forever.  What a cruel joke.  Again Talan and Remiel led the way and made it safe for the rest of us.  We travelled slowly due to the constant skirmishes.  Unfortunately, I got a little impatient.  Or maybe I was a little scared.  I dont know.  I went up the steps and was immediately in excrutiating pain.  My body was tense to the point that I couldnt move or even unclench my fists.  The pain was so intense that it was like fire was coursing through my body.  I fell to the ground and lay there.  

I was dying.

I seem to remember a couple of things before the bindstone snatched my soul.  I remember Neverborn making an attempt to save my life.  I must thank him for that.  I also remember Lindariel stomping on my dead body.  I think I remember that.  I must ask Iradril to make sure before I confront her about that.  I mean honestly, do I deserve that?  I went down to certain doom to help and protect her and Kali and that is the thanks I get?
 
My eyes opened to the familiar sights of Hlint and the cursed bindstone.  I left the bindstone and made the journey back to the pit in the ground.  I could not retrieve my grave since I had swore and oath to never return.  This was very unfortunate.  So, I sat down to meditate and wait for the rest of the group.  Something must have happened on the way out since they seem to take quite a while to exit.  As I was waiting, Iradril arrived.  He had gotten hit by a trap and the bindstone caught him.  He informed me that this was what happened to me as well.  I guess that teaches us a lesson on watching we step.  He also said that the floors of the dungeon were littered with traps on the way out.  Arindor really did not want us to leave!
 
After some time, the rest of the group made their way out of the pit.  Bidwick was helping Lara and carrying most of her weight.  I was concerned but couldnt really voice it since Talan was calling me names.  I tire of helping these people that do not appreciate it.  The hostility I receive is the only thanks I ever get.  Of course Eylianna never acts that way to me, though so I guess some people appreciate it.
 
We left the forest area and went back to the little village outside of Haven.  Bidwick and Lara owned a house there.  We bid them good night.  Lara needed to rest and recuperate.  I expressed my thanks to all involved by allowing me to offer my assistance and headed back to Hlint.  I had to rest and recuperate myself.  
 
All in all, it was an eventful quest.  I was really quite satisfied with myself.  We had saved the girl and even though Iradril and I had been caught by the bindstone for silly mistakes, we got the job done.  Mostly.   I still have work to do to become the hero that everyone sees me as, but I am holding my own I think.

[regnus]

I spoke with Bidwick the other day.  He is recovering from the ordeal in the dungeon as is Lara.  That was good to hear.  I asked him about what happened and why Arindor was hanging around down there.  There are two versions of the story.  Well, at least two versions.  Who knows if either are the truth.  The one version describes Arindor as a wizard that journeyed down into the dungeon with a group of adventurers.  In the course of delving into the deep, they were overcome by a great evil.  The more evil version makes Arindor an evil wizard who lures a group of adventurers to the dungeon.  Once there he performs a gruesome ritual to become what he is today.  I tend to believe the latter of the two.  He certainly seemed like an evil being when I was down there.

[regnus]

Where to start?  Well I was in the Wild Surge and overheard a conversation regarding the shadow dragon.  That’s right, a shadow dragon.  There apparently is some effort to get the chromatic dragons allied against Blood.  Sounds like a good thing except the chromatics are quite nasty I thought.  Although, they are not fond of Blood either so I guess the enemy of my enemy is my friend in this case.  So, from what I gathered from the conversation, the dragons are all onboard except for the elusive shadow dragon.  The group had gone down into the Underdark to talk him into joining but instead had destroyed an undead army that he was using for protection.  Not a good idea.  Afterwards they went to the black dragon and asked him if there was anything that would entice the shadow to join the alliance.  He told them that he wanted the Orn’s Tear.  It was scrying orb that would pierce the veil of darkness that the shadow hid behind.  
   The orb was retrieved but instead of giving it to the shadow, it was given to the red, Fisterion.  I am not sure why this was done and I leave it up to the group to determine if it was the best decision.  Unfortunately, the only bargaining tool we had was now gone.  The plan then was to get as much equipment as we could and offer it to the dragon as compensation and to convince it to join.  I thought it was a bad plan, but I had just joined the conversation so I let the rest of the group decide.  I did voice my opinion that we needed more information before making a decision.  There was one who really was not enthusiastic about this mission.  Actually she was quite mad about the orb being given to Fisterion.  I didn’t catch her full name but people were calling her Rev.  She was gorgeous but a feisty one!  Of course the fiery red hair should have been a clue.  There was talk of letting the shadow dragon know that Fisterion leveled a threat that he was watching the shadow and it should obey his command.  This was met with apprehension among some.  The thought was that the dragon would become quite irate and take it out on our party.  It was finally decided to just go talk to the dragon.  The equipment offer was still brought but in my opinion, it was pointless.  I was just intrigued that I was going to see another dragon!
   So we headed off.  We left the inn and went to a house by the pond in Hlint.  I guess it was Rev’s house and there was a portal there!  I stepped onto the portal and after a momentary flash of light, I was in another city!  I don’t recall where it was though.  I can tell you this, though.  The creatures that we ran into on the way to the dragon’s lair were formidable.  Several people were killed and had to be summoned back from the bindstone by some powerful members of the group.  I for one thought that some of them should have been let go to the bindstone.  They got themselves killed by jumping into a fight they were not ready for.  I stayed behind and added my voice to the battle.  It has been improving with practice and is quite a useful boon to the fight.  My bow was of less use but I employed as best I could.  I had to do my part.
   We arrived at the dragon’s cave and there we sat for hours.  There was an acid cloud steaming from the cave.  Several of the group tried to venture near but were burnt.  Again, they should have known.  The people that were here before laid out warnings.  We nominated Remiel to speak to the dragon.  I made the suggestion to at least announce ourselves rather than barge in and make the same mistake made before.  So, Remiel yelled down the cave to the dragon.  There was no response.  So we sat and waited.  And waited.  Finally it was decided to just make our way to the dragon but try to avoid any more confrontations with his undead.
   Here is the part where I probably should make something up to cover myself.  But then that would not be a true retelling of the story then would it?  We climbed down into the Underdark.  I was excited and full of curiosity.  I had never been in the Underdark, contrary to most opinions out there.  I was curious to see if there were other Drow in here.  Of course, they would as likely kill me than talk to me.  I am a surface Drow, as strange as that sounds.  I was also very excited about the chance to see another dragon.  A shadow dragon on top of that!  Unfortunately, in my excitement I lost track of my group.  I lost myself in the cavern and wandered for hours.  I finally found my way to the exit and ran out.  The acid steam burned me pretty badly but I survived.  I had to use every bit of my skill at stealth to make it back alive.  I traveled the route we took and made it back to the city and hired a boat to take me back to Mistone.  I am so embarrassed!  I am also even more intent on finding more information on the dragons.  I missed my chance this time but it will not happen again.  

It makes me wonder though.  If we are working to get the chromatics involved, are the metallics already on board for the fight?  I am curious because I have not heard a thing about metallic dragons since I arrived in Hlint.  

Interesting…

[regnus]

I saw Remiel today.  He let me know that the mission was a success even without me!  He said that the shadow dragon was willing to accept Ausir’s Tear.  It is an object similar to Orn’s Tear.  Duh.  We should have known there were two.  Orn is the name of one of the moons so, obviously there is another.  Oh well.  I was lost anyway, right?

I noticed that Plenarius and Talan were sitting and telling tales so I sat down to listen.  Ozymandius came and was watching as well.  The conversation turned to dragons by no action of my own.  It must have been meant to happen though.  I mentioned that we had been talking about chromatics but no one seems to be talking about metallics.  

The only response I could get from Plenarius was that he was bound by a promise to never speak of the metallics.  Strange.  Talan chimed in that he would not speak of them either.  Again, this makes me even more curious as to why this is.  Ozymandius made it seem as if he was under oath as well.

Iradril arrived then and we were talking about where we were going to explore when I thought of something that they would be able to answer.  I turned to Ozy and asked him who I could talk to or where I could go to get the information on metallic dragons.  He told me to talk to Aeridin’s strongest.  Surely this has to be the head the order.  If I could get to the temple of Aeridin I may get some answers.  Iradril mentioned that Tha’Azail Neverborn was a follower of Aeridin.  I must speak to him.  Perhaps he is willing to take me to the temple.

I dont know why I am so intent on finding this information regarding dragons.  It is like something inside of me is pushing me forward.  Pushing me to ask these questions.  Driving me to find answers.  

What scares me is what happens if I don't find them?  

What happens if I do?

[regnus]

Toran has been attacked!  I did not see it but the constellations were dancing tonight.  Tha'Azail and I were travelling to Blackford castle and ran into Bidwick and several others.  They had seen the constellations do their battle and had travelled to the temple of Toran.  The priest there had told them that Toran had been attacked and that they should spread the word.  We returned to Hlint with them and found Remiel.  He told us that Toran had indeed been attacked and it was thought to have been perpetrated by the Scorpion and the Viper.  Bidwick asked the question that was on everyone's lips.  Who are the Scorpion and the Viper?  The Scorpion is thought to be Milara and the Viper is rumored to be an old god that has returned.  Apparently Milara has set his sights on the gods before.  He has been focusing on Rofirein but now has attacked Toran.  

This is troubling.  If the gods themselves are in danger from Blood then what can we do?  I have been putting it off because I thought I didnt need it, but perhaps it is time to actually get some faith.  I know the tenets of Rofirein but it always seemed like a joke to me.  Then again perhaps this is a sign that I am finally on the right path.  I say finally because there is something inside the back of my head that has always been there.  Call it a conscience or what ever you will.  It is a voice that I have ignored until now.  Perhaps it is time to stop putting it off and return to the temple and ask for some guidance.  Is this the reason that I have this desire to know everything I can about dragons?  Is it Rofirein guiding me or someone, something else?

[regnus]

My personal issues must wait.  As much as I feel compelled to push onward with my quest for knowledge, I must make sacrifices for this little town that I have come to call home, Hlint.  As usual, I was with Iradril and Tha'Azail Neverborn.  We had decided to go to the Grey Peak mountains to search for Juanita the Horse Trader's lost horse.  I suggested we look in the doorway carved into the mountain.  So, we journeyed into the mountains.  What we found was not expected.  As we rounded the corner of the mountain, we stumbled into a....man?  I am not sure.  I was behind Iradril and Tha and saw them come to an abrupt halt.  I sensed from their stance that they were surprised by something and I nocked an arrow.  He was wearing blue robes and carried a staff-like weapon that seemed to be glowing.  I dont know if it is from fear or maybe a sense of self preservation, but I let loose the arrow.  It flew true but simply bounced off of the man.  The funny thing is...or rather the scary thing is, he did not even seem to notive that I had shot him!  Actually, thinking back on it, he didnt seem to notice the three of us there either.  He just studied the mountains around the doorway and the rest of the surrounding area.  I apporached him to at least offer my apologies.  Now, he noticed us!  He turned to the three of us and it said: "Leave or Die."  It was so cold and emotionless that it seemed like he was just stating a simple fact.  If we dont leave here, we will die.  It was like he was only acknowledging us as if we were bugs and he was giving us a head start before he swatted us down.  We all ran away but my curiosity got the better of me.  It always does.  I crept up to the top of a hill and peered over it back to the doorway.  Iradril followed me up as well.  We just sat there watching him for a while.  He seemed intent on the mountain and kept looking up and studying it.  Then he was gone.  I wont say that he disappeared in front of our eyes, but one second he was there and another he was gone.  I cant say that he was evil, but I did not get a good feeling about him.  Obviously he was someone powerful.  I had to know who this was.

We ran back to Hlint to see if anyone there had ever seen anyone matching his description.  Curiously enough, Hlint was empty.  How is that for a strange occurrence!  We went into the Wild Surge Inn to see if anyone was there.  No one again.  I figured I would try my luck talking to Ragrian.  She actually stopped what she was doing and talked to me!  How fortuitous.  I asked her if she could answer a question for me and her subtle nature shone through.  She waved a coin purse in front of my nose.  I consulted with Iradril and Tha and they agreed that it was worth the cost for the information.  We pooled our gold and I waved a bag of gold in front of her.  She agreed ot answer my question about this person we encountered.  

Unfortunately, she had no information about the man, but I did find out what the doorway in the mountain leads to.  It is Storan's Crypt.  Ragrian suggested that the person was Storan, but I dont think so.  I feel something more sinister is going on here.

After a night's rest I went back to the Inn and posted a message regarding the incident and asked if anyone had seen this person as well.  After a few hours I returned to the Inn and noticed someone had wrote a note attached to mine.  It was from someone named Zemik.  He described an encounter almost identical to my own.  He claims it was Milara himself that threatened him!  

So now you know why I must sacrifice my own quest to help Hlint.  If this truly was Milara then I must do what I can to thwart any plans he has.  I dont know what I can do, but I have to try.  I have posted another note calling on adventurers to aid me in investigating this person and the GreyPeak Mountains.  There must be some clue as to why he was there.  We just have to find it.

Owen Lo'Kiar
Resident of Hlint
Bard Extraordinaire

[regnus]

Iradril and Tha'Azail and I were standing in Hlint by the bank when something happened that I have never seen.  A horse came galloping down the road!  Yes you are reading that correctly.  A horse!  Apparently there was a package delivery for Garent.  We all stood there and watched him look over the package.  The captain looked us over and then told us that the package was meant for Lieutenant Stirmore in Fort Valensk.  We all chimed in that we would deliver it for the captain.  Of course, Garent didnt choose me to bear the package but a paladin named Tobin.  He was a paladin of Rofirein so I shouldnt complain.  He would be the most trustworthy of the bunch of us.  

We left for Fort Velensk.  Along the way there were several packs of dogs that attacked us and targeted Tobin.  I thought this was quite strange.  What was in this package?  We made our way through several attacks by these animals and finally reached Fort Velensk.  Lieutenant Stirmore was outside and we handed him the package.  

As we were talking to him, a raggedy man ran out and spoke some gibberish.  I say gibberish because it sounded like no language at all.  Then he ran.  The guards made chase and the party did as well.  The guards fell back though.  We finally cornered the man and forced him to talk.  He claimed he was a prisoner and that the guards were beating him and starving him!  I repeatedly asked him what his crime was, but he dodged the question.  Several of the group offered food to the poor man as well.  When he finished eating though, instead of thanking us, he ran away!

Brisbane suggested that we investigate his claims about the prison.  So back to the fort we went.  Inside the prison we were confronted by more rats than live in the sewers of Hlint.  I know that is hard to believe but if you were there, you would agree.  They seem to come from all angles at once.  The floor disappeared in the onslaught.  Brisbane however must be a powerful mage of some fashion.  She called down lightning from the sky and it fried the rats instantly!  The smell was almost too much to bear.  

The guards arrive then and the ensuing conversation revealed much.  The guards were using the prison to store meat.  I guess there was some market for the meat and money to be made.  However, it was illegal.  We asked where the prisoners were since they were not in the prison.  The guards were keeping them in the citizens' housing!  This was unacceptable!  After unsuccessfully trying to find more information, we ran into an old man.  He was the only one willing to talk to us.  He asked us to inform Garent of the goings on here at Fort Velensk.  

On the way to Hlint, Plenarius joins us.  Well.  He joined Bris.  We just happened to be there.  I had many questions for Plenarius and said as much.  Thankfully, he agreed to try to answer some if he had time.  So, we headed back to Hlint.  Once there we informed Garent of the situation.  He let us know that he was going to start an investigation.  Let's hope they are brought to justice.  Who lets prisoners out of prison and then lets them stay in their house?

Finally, I could talk to Plenarius.  I asked him about Blood's generals.  Both he and Bris described them to us, but while useful, the information did not solve my dilemma.  I still did not know who we saw in the mountains.  Plenarius and Bris were obviously curious now why we were asking of the generals.  I relayed our encounter with the man in the Grey Peaks to them.  They were skeptical that it was a general until I told them on Zemik's run in with Milara and how it was so similar to ours.  Now, they were very interested.

We went over the details of the incident again and after some discussion, it was decided that it must have been Milara or Eon.  Plenarius seemed to think it was Eon and after finding out that Milara was drow, we agreed.  I would hope that Iradril and I would know if we saw a drow!  So, it was decided that Eon was snooping around the GreyPeaks.  We now turned to the reason why.  

I informed them that I had called together a team to investigate the area to search for clues.  We all agreed it was dangerous, but the risk to gain information was more than worth it.  If we could avert an attack on Hlint or another on Fort Llast?  That would make some people stand up and take notice.  Maybe then they would see that I am not just another drow.  

We thanked Plenarius and Bris for their time and headed of for some rest.  Tomorrow was a big day.

[regnus]

I stood outside of the Wild Surge and waited for my group to arrive.  There were more than I expected and I was beginning to contemplate if I was going to have to ask some to leave.  This investigation required a small and quiet group.  Once everyone arrived, there were 6 of us including myself.  Tha'Azail was still meditating but I knew he would find us when he was able.  So there were seven of us in total.  This was going to be interesting.  We moved to the Inn and headed to a table in the back.  Once we sat down I told our story of meeting Eon and how we needed to find clues to why he was there.  Some were quite impatient during my telling.  What can I say?  I have a talent at weaving a tale.  Some just did not appreciate it.  A few left.  That was just as well.  If they had stayed it may have landed us in trouble.  Not that we didn't land there anyway.

Once Tha'Azail joined us we ventured to the GreyPeaks.  We scouted the area and dispatched of some ogres so we could safely investigate.  It was slow going.  I really was not sure what we were looking for to be honest and I had let the group know that we may not find anything.  Unfortunately, Zemik grew very impatient and decided to leave.  I posed the idea of venturing into Storan's crypt to the rest of the group.  We all decided to look into the crypt.  

We should have stayed out.  Let's just leave this part of the story out.  Suffice it to say that we were overwhelmed by the creatures that inhabit the crypt and quickly left.  Some by other means than walking, myself included.  

At this point, we were standing near the hills that lead to the GreyPeaks.  The group was very discouraged by the turn of events.  I tried to boost their spirits by singing a song with my newly crafted tamborine.  They must have felt that the tamborine is not exactly my style because they were still in a sour mood.  After some discussion, most of the group left for other tasks.  Iradril, Tha'Azail, a man named Peto, and myself were the only ones that remained.  We decided to continue searching but further into the GreyPeaks this time.  Peto seemed to be a good scout and could warn us of the ogres that stood in our way.  Unfortunately, the number and ferocity of some were too much for us.

I was in such a sour mood now that I said as much to Iradril and Tha'Azail.  They must have sensed it as well.  I dont know if they felt as storngly about this as I did, but I was quite upset.  This was my chance to really do some good for the town of Hlint and Fort Llast.  It was something that would perhaps convince the peoples there that I meant no harm.  Unfortunately, it must not have been meant to be.  

Or was it?  We made our way back out of the mountains.  We were on the road between Fort Llast and Hlint when we saw him.  Eon.  He was making his way into the mountains again.  We must really seem insignificant to him.  He did not even acknowledge us again.  He simply walked by as if we did not exist.  My curiosity grabbed hold of me once more.  That or maybe my desire to prove myself.  I dont know.  I followed him into the mountains.  I tried to stay far behind him and just try to see what he was doing without being seen.  He must have recognized me from the last time we met.  It must be the hat.  He looked right at me and said "Do you want to Die?"

Well you know, I really didnt know what to say.  I know it is hard to believe from me of course, but what do you say to someone like that?  A lich!  I stammered out a "No sir."  He stared at me a minute and said "Then leave."  Well, I must be foolhardy.  I turned to leave and then circled around again.  The others must have accepted the terms and did not follow me.  I crept up a hill and peeked over the top.  Eon was still scanning the mountains and looking for something.  What could it be?  

I must have made a noise or maybe he saw the hat again.  I dont know, but he turned and looked right at where I was hiding again!  He chased me back to the foothills leading out of the mountains.  My party was there waiting for me.  I yelled "RUN!" but Peto must have decided to try to hold him off for us.  I think it was Peto.  I was running so fast that I was not sure.  Why did Peto stay?  I had told them all to run.  I looked back in time to see Eon sending some magical circle of death or something towards Peto.  He was killed instantly.  Why didnt he run?

The rest of us ran as fast as we could to Hlint.  I had to find Plenarius or Bris.  They would know what to do.  I couldnt find them though.  No one seemed to know where to look either.  Ragrian was busy with her show at the Inn.  Then, fate smiled upon me.  Talan arrived in Hlint.  I pulled him aside and the three of us described what happened.  We were joined by Gulnyr, a dwarf that apparently Talan annoys all the time.  He cast some sort of spell on him that made him "sparkly."  Gulnyr was quite mad at this!  We were discussing Eon's purpose when Talan saw someone he thought would help us.  He introduced us to Rhizome.

Rhizome agreed to tell us about Eon and why he was here on Mistone.  There is a Bloodpool here on Mistone!  Or at least there will be.  Eon's purpose is to build one here.  However, there is a glimmer of hope in all of this.  Katia apparently thinks that Eon is still able to be saved.  Or so Rhizome says.  I must consult with Plenarius and Bris on this.  If we could save Eon then we could deal two significant and damaging blows to Blood.  He would have no new bloodpool and he would lose a general.

My personal goals must be put on hold while this matter is dealt with.  Although...Rhizome seems to be very knowledgeable.  Perhaps he knows who Aeridin's strongest is.  I must remember to ask him later.  Dealing with Eon is much more important than my quest for Draconic knowledge.  Although if I can get a little bit of information it wouldnt hurt.

[regnus]

Questions....

Answers....

And the answers bring more questions....
For that matter, are the answers really answering my questions?  

Divine riddles and demons haunt my dreams...  

But they are nothing to the dreams of Dragons.


I met Iradril and Gulnyr the dwarf in the goblin wastelands.  Soon Tha'Azail joined us.  I met someone named Pang as well.  She was a dancer and thought my music was wonderful.  I must remember that.  Perhaps we could put on some dance and music show.  Wouldnt that be grand!

I received word from Rhizome that he would meet us to listen to my questions.  He seemed to be full of wisdom the other night when he spoke to us about Eon.  We met him in Hlint and journeyed to the Ranger's Vale in the Sielwood.  We sat in the woods and rested ourselves before we spoke.  Rhizome took a deep breath and began.  I guess he had overheard me speaking about my questions the other night.  He took it upon himself to investigate them further.  Was this a stroke of luck or some divine gift?  I was thinking this to myself when I was shocked by what Rhizome said next.  He was meditating on who the strongest of Aeridin could be when Aeridin himself appeared to him in a vision.  Tha'Azail nearly fainted when he heard this!  Truly Rhizome is Aeridin's strongest.  Aeridin gave Rhizome a message regarding the dragons:

"To gather life around oneself there must be balance, to preserve life one must have goodness, to recycle life one must have a solid cycle and often that includes evil.  Those that are lost destroy this process."

A riddle.  From what I hear though, divine messages are always in riddles.  Something lost in the translation I suppose.  Once Tha'Azail recovered, we discussed what this riddle might mean.

The goodness must refer to the metallics and Rofirein.  The evil then refers to the chromatics and Pyrtechon.  So the real question was what or who are 'those that are lost?'  We pondered this question for a time.  The metallics seem to be lost or hiding.  That is why I began this quest for answers.  Tha'Azail chimed in about undead being lost.  I ignored him since he always seems to guide conversation to undead.  

As we sat in thought, Rhizome mentioned that there are rumors that the Green was slain by Blood's forces and the body carried away.  It must have jarred something loose in my brain.  I connected what Tha'Azail was saying and what Rhizome was saying.  What if Blood is killing the dragons and then by some dark and corrupted ritual, turning them into undead dragons under his control?  As Tha'Azail had said, the undead are lost to the cycle of life.  Rhizome seemed to think it was plausible but it required more investigation.  It is the only theory I have to explain the riddle.  I must contemplate more on this later.  
 
I was saying something about secrets when Rhizome told us that he thinks he remembers when all of the secret keepers went on a quest and gained that knowledge.  He was also willing to tell us!  Apparently, they went to the Great Forest to speak to someone that lives there.  A powerful wizard by the name of, Ozlo.  He is apparently Katia's first follower.

I was more than excited now.  Perhaps this is a chance to get to the bottom of this secret and help the metallics!  Rhizome must have seen how anxious I was and to my utter disbelief, he offered to guide us there.  I wanted to leave that instant.  Then I heard that the Great Forest was on Xantril, home of the demon general.  Not a nice place.  So, I pushed my excitement down and we all made the decision to wait until a party of hardy and skilled adventurers could aid us in the cause.  I must post a note in the Wild Surge.

We thanked Rhizome and all headed to the campfire in the vale.  It was peaceful there and it seemed like a good place to sit and think.  Lost ones.  What else could it be?  I hope Ozlo has more answers for me.  But then my answers always seem to bring more questions.  I must push forward though.  I am closer to my goal.  I can feel it.