The Way of the Blade

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I awoke to find myself facing Him...the Dragon of the dreams that I have had for at least 3 months now.  He spoke of Blood and the land of Mistone, and a terrible battle to come, of dragons and more.  My head was swimming and I thought for a moment that perhaps I had been drugged by Red Guild to-ju, but I knew that had the assassins of the Guild arranged this hallucination, I would have breathed my last breath long before this moment.  

Our conversation ended, and I remember only scraps of it, as I strained to understand and clear the buzzing in my head.  He directed me through a doorway in the side of an endlessly tall mountain, and soon I found myself wandering upon a long road, through a forest unknown to me.  I crossed a small bridge spanning a tumbling stream and saw another traveller ahead of me.  I held back, wary, cautious - my training prevented me from approaching directly, suspecting ambush.  I reached for my blade, and found only a meager short sword in its place.  I quickly searched my pack and found nearly nothing - plain rations, a stump of a torch, a few healing draughts.  Even my clothes were not my own, nor my armor.  I shook off the moment of panic and waited along the treeline for a few minutes before moving forward.  The traveller had gone and soon I came upon a woman and a great statue before an endless shimmering wall of colors, as if the heavens had dropped a great billowing curtain of light to the ground.

The woman urged me on, and so I examined the statue, a massive bearded guardian made of solid stone.  There was no other way to go, only forward through the dazzling colors.  I turned back one more time and peered down the road, through the unfamiliar forest, back to.....nothing?  What place was this?  What creature was this Dragon?

I had no other way before me but this one.  I cast off some of the items and stepped through the scintillating wall of colors as the statue directed.

I fell...or floated....or perhaps flew?  I found myself standing in a small lawn of grass, near a healing temple.  The calls of a merchant sounded to my right, a wooden performance stage stood nearby.  A guard in full armor walked a dusty road and turned onto another broad pathway.  Beyond the road I saw the bindstone - a glowing cross that hummed with energy.  I crossed the road and knelt to.....what?  Pray?  Meditate perhaps?  I am uncertain of these things.  At one time perhaps, when I was young and naive, but now, after so much death and treachery and loss?  The mumblings of desperate people to a voiceless cold stone seem to be folly, like trying to grasp the wind or hold the tide back with words.  Argali Valais holds no confidence in the mutterings of priests and their tricks...only in my Blade, as I have been trained.

And yet...I knelt down and closed my eyes and the shrill voice of the merchant and the clanking bootsteps of the guard and the chatter of birds at once seemed to fade away.  And then....nothing.  I heard nothing but the hum of the stone and the whispered crackle of some sort of magical energy.  As I began to feel foolish, suddenly I felt part of myself - my mind? - my spirit? - stir and join with that energy.  But I felt not lessened, but rather strengthened...as if I was now part of something larger than myself.  My spirit joined willingly with the stone, and felt protected, guarded, as if now I had just enough stability to press on in this strange place

I stood and dusted off my threadbare clothes and looked down the road.  Some people stood near a well, talking and laughing, as if they were old friends.  The voice of the merchant returned, and the birds chattered and sang again.  The heavy lolling of an ox sounded in the distance, and I knew that this place was now my home.

I need to keep my head.  I need to remember the training of the Master.  I need to find equipment - and a Blade.  


..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

This day has been long, and I have begun to speak to many inhabitants of this town - called Hlint, so they tell me - and most seem friendly enough, though always there seems to be something else behind their eyes or just below their voices, as if there is an unspoken fear or caution in their manner.  Perhaps this Blood which the Dragon spoke of is near, or has been assailing the town (though I see no outward signs of either of these possibilities).  I remain guarded in my dealings as well, as always I suppose, though this nature of mine has seen me through more than a few tight places, so I will continue to step lightly and "speak as the spy in the courthall", as the Master often said.

I met a man named Fian today - a burly sort with an accent nearly as thick and pronounced as his moustache - and we discussed arms and armor for some time.  He was helpful, though he seemed to be the sort who lacks calculation in his technique, and relies more on a sense of tenacity and sheer strength in combat.  Nonetheless, it was good to speak of these things with another who values martial skill as much as I do.  He suggested many possibilities for testing my skills here in this new place, and was able to provide information about the surrounding area.  I hope to meet him again.

I ventured out and found a few goblins sneaking around the wooden stockade wall of the town.  These creatures are true scavengers and opportunists, barely worth my efforts....and yet, I have found that my skills have waned considerably since being pulled into this world.  I am concerned but will continue to work to regain my prowess.  The few goblins that I encountered fell beneath my blade quickly.

A word about my blade - the tarnished, pathetic katana sold by the merchant in this town is an embarrassment to my Guild, and I am loathe to weild it, but I have no choice.  This must be a test by the Dragon - I have been stripped down to the barest of essentials in order to rebuild myself and thus increase my skill as never before.  I can look at my situation in no other way, lest I become despondent and lose my way.


..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

Today I met a man named Gabriel, and a woman, Melissa Medlock.  Melissa and I spent the afternoon severing the ears from goblin scouts.  Very tedious, disgusting work, all for some gold coins offered by the Quartermaster of the town.  Later we snapped the bones of skeletons in the crypts beneath the town.  I fear that I have become no more than a common thug, but no matter - if this is part of the penance of this new life, then I accept it.

We also managed to find a book of tax documents in the dim, putrid, sewer-lair of a disfigured man-rat, and returned the book to the tax woman of the town.  I doubt the odor of the sewers will ever leave these boots of mine.

The following day I met a man upon the road named Kil, a priest of some sort.  I spoke warily, and kept my distance, and yet he blessed me with protective magics and bid me success in my endeavors.  I was able to slay more than a few of the goblins that sneak about the hills beyond the town gates.

I continue to practice with my blade, though this one pales in comparison to the singing blades of the Guild.  Over and over I run through the moves taught to me by the Master, until my shoulders burn and my wrists ache.  I have lost my sharpness and I feel ashamed, though I know this will change in time, and is due to my "re-birth" here in this new land.

I am surprised (and in many cases, thankfully so) by the generosity of the people I have met thus far.  The ice around my heart has begun to melt, though I resist it at nearly every turn.  I must remain vigilant against complacency, for as the Master has said "A resting warrior gathers only sorrow"...

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

This evening I encountered a man named Denim and his glittering tiny companion named Rayos.  He was an arcanist of some sort, so I greeted him with some hesitation.  He seemed preoccupied with other thoughts, and I tired of our conversation.  Eventually he wandered off to assault the goblin camp, without any assistance.  Naturally, I came across his body within the hour, and watched the goblins chase his pixie friend across the hillside.  I could not believe that he had attempted this task on his own.  I fought the remainder of the vile little creatures and managed to kill them off, and on my way from the camp, was stunned to see Denim walking toward me.  The power of the Bindstone is truly wondrous!  

We spoke briefly and I tried to impress upon him the need for cooperation when confronting such an obviously organized and tenacious opponent, such as the entire goblin camp.  I'm not sure if he understood or not, and I grew weary of explanation.  I should not care for others who do not care for themselves, and yet, I felt somewhat responsible for his well being, at least for the hour or so that we talked.  This was strange indeed, and I spent some time thinking about my place in this new land.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

Spent the morning working with my blade, running through the conditioning drills taught by the Master.  I managed to fashion some crude weights from scrap I found discarded at the town smithy, and have used them on hilt and handle as best as I can.  The things are terribly unbalanced, but with some work, they will provide some exercise and conditioning I need.  

Met a woman named Hali near the Craft Hall in the east end of town.  We spoke briefly and she suggested collecting the bones of the skeletons and selling them by the boxful, as well as traveling to a swamp further east and speaking to a witch.  I was amazed at this information, given so casually by this stranger, and thanked her for her help.

I find myself longing for my homeland lately – a strange thing, since there is certainly no one there to warrant such emotion.  I find that if I focus my mind upon the blade in my hand, crude and lacking though it may be, I am able to shift my mind to performance, control and technique, and thus exorcise this pointless emotion of ‘homesickness’.  The Master would be proud, I think.

I  have resigned myself to begin training more diligently, and to perhaps inquire about some more formal training techniques with a worthy instructor locally, though it would seem that this town has none of such veteran status.  Perhaps adventurers passing through this place may be able to direct me to such an instructor, or perhaps I will need to travel to other towns in search of a suitable teacher.  I recall that Fian mentioned two other towns, Krandor and Port Hampshire.  I will need to travel it seems.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

Searched an area to the east of town, beyond the gates and down the road a bit.  Found the dismal swamp mentioned by Hali – it is populated by brutish lizard-men, and therefore I wisely avoided conflict.  Marked the area on my map, and will return when I am better trained and perhaps accompanied by worthy companions.  

Was attacked by some bandits along the road – a tough fight but managed to draw them out from their camp and tackle them one and two at a time.  They lacked tactical sensibilities and allowed themselves to be defeated by a single opponent.  Their camp was held by an agile thief and an arcanist, and proved to be the toughest part of the afternoon, though in the end, blade and mind overcame spell and quickness.

Followed the road south to a grand castle.  Spoke to a guard walking post along the road, though she provided no useful information and dismissed me rudely.  I shall not forget her failing in manners.  

Camped for a time near a modest stone tower before returning to Hlint.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

There is apparently a lower level of the crypts in town, and the undertaker (a hulking half breed with an eye like a raven and a mouth like a bear trap) has asked me to retrieve some sort of ‘dark essence’ from the cold tombs.  His reasons are his own, though I suspect not everything is above board in this task, but I do need the experience and coin, so I have accepted the task.

Fought my way through the first level and to the stairs of the crypt – skeletons abound in this place, and they are tougher than they appear.  The stairs lead down to a level inhabited by unspeakable things – more flesh than bone, and stronger still.  I fought many of these abominations, but was forced to withdraw after suffering a kind of coughing sickness from the wounds that I received.  I am ashamed of my failure and I will return to finish this task.  

The sickness has left me, through some extended rest and little exertion.  I am angry at the lost time and inability to practice my blade skills.  That damned crypt will not defeat me again…

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I have been fortunate again to meet Hali upon the road in Hlint, for she accompanied me into the swamps east of town and introduced me to a witch who dwells there.  The crone desired skeleton bones and, upon gathering twenty of them, I gave them to her and she crafted me a necklace made from their bones.  It apparently will aid me in battling all manner of undead.  

Throughout the swamps, we fought numerous lizard-men, whose battle skills are impressive – they are not as reckless as other opponents I have encountered, and their strength is great – and we also defeated a strange, nearly ethereal creature called a Wisp.  Hali told me its essence would prove valuable to a mage in the town of Fort Llast.  We traveled there and met one named Dalton, who rewarded me well for the strange glowing substance Hali and I recovered in the swamps – I can only imagine the bizarre arcane things for which one might use the remains.

I am indebted to Hali for her aid, though she dismisses her efforts as nothing special.  I remain at her call should she need my assistance.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

Met a group in east Hlint today, headed for the Mines of Haven.  They asked me to accompany them, and though I hesitated – I have heard the stories of the place, and the extreme dangers therein – my honor and oath of the Blade bound me to accept their invitation.

It was the most harrowing experience I have lived thus far.

The caverns themselves are beautiful: soaring rock formations, deep pools of water and cascading waterfalls, narrow stone bridges and glittering deposits of minerals.  But the place is overrun with lumbering, brutish ogres, who defend the place to the death.  The creatures are ugly, massive things, and their huge fists deliver pummeling blows and grievous wounds.  And among these brutes are some who are able to cast arcane magic, and others who drive themselves into a battle rage, becoming truly fearsome in combat.

Our group was led by Brutus, a heavily armored half orc whose technique in combat was occasionally planned, but more often simply consisted of charging forward and swinging wildly at any opponents.  Yashilla, a benevolent priestess, provided healing and surprisingly took a forward position throughout the caverns.  I was impressed by her balance of healing arts and combat ability.  A scout of questionable motives named Drawna was with us as well, and an arcanist of some sort – he remained a mystery to me throughout the adventure – named Connor showed prowess with the crossbow and was calm and provided a stabilizing force to the whole undertaking.

I was pleased to find Melissa Medlock in the group; it was good to travel with her again and see her safely survive the trip as did I.  Two others, a beautiful woman named Silvra and a woman named Lace rounded out the group.

The mines hold many challenges and many rewards – I marked the locations of the mineral gem deposits and the raw ore (iron, coal, platinum I believe) on my hastily drawn map.  The whole event was bloody, exhausting and extremely rewarding.  The principals of the group were interested in mining the gem deposits and ore, and did so at every occasion and with some success.  We also retrieved the head of one of the ogre chieftains and returned it to the lord of Haven castle for a generous reward.

I have spent this following day resting from this expedition and practicing my blade.  I look forward to finding this group again.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I feel that I need a better blade more than ever – this one is losing its edge and shows some stress from the expedition to Haven mines.  I have posted a note in the Trade Hall, requesting a finely crafted blade from a talented smith.  I suppose the cost will be exorbitant, but the need to work with a true Blade again is very strong.

I should at least write this down as well, if only to remind myself of the thoughts I have been having.  The strength of magic – both arcane and divine – is omnipresent in this land.  The regularity with which both kinds of magic are practiced is astounding, and this has caused me to reconsider my learned mistrust of such a discipline.  I have also begun to think more about the deities which, as far as I can tell, play an active role in this place.  

I do not know what I mean by these considerations; simply put, I have developed a curiosity due to the profound influence the arcane and divine seem to have here.  It would be foolish and shortsighted to ignore the possibilities.  Perhaps I need to seek a balance between the devotion to the Blade and the idea of a spiritual devotion as well, for I have seen the strong influence of the divine in nearly every place I have been, even in these scant few days in this new land.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I fell today in the Seilwood Forest.

I traveled with Pelordaes and Rheav, to get a few pelts from the boar that live in the deeper sections of the forest.  We saw a huge wolf creature, standing upright and crashing through the brush - Pelordaes said it was a werewolf, and we should avoid it at all costs.  We followed the opposite tree line and made our way further, and were ambushed by ogres....at least 6 of them.  We fought valiantly but their strength was too great and Pelordaes and I fell, and Rheav only managed to escape by a hair.

I traveled to a strange dark place, felt myself slipping....and then a buoyancy of spirit, a light and a thousand stars....and I reappeared in Hlint, at the Bindstone in a flash of light and burst of sound.

My body was fragile...like thin glass or brittle ice, my arms weak and my mind slow and cloudy.  Pelordaes was near, and we tried to make sense of the event.  He too was like a mist or a fog upon the water, and we lamented our passing.  I found that my equipment and armor, weapons, everything was too heavy for me to even walk at a normal pace, so I retired for the day and sat in meditation over what had happened.  Pelordaes journeyed to find his grave.

I felt angry....and humiliated.  I had failed myself and my companions.  I had pressed too far and in that moment's lapse of judgement, I paid with my life.  But the Bindstone, the magical nature of this world, had ultimately returned me to life, and had given me a second chance.

I will not squander it.  I will train as never before and strive to never let this happen again.  But more importantly I think, I will learn from this and speak to someone about the deities of this world....for I am unfamiliar with them and feel somehow.....indebted to a power beyond me for this second chance.

...Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

My search for an iron katana has thus far been fruitless.  I will speak to people working at the Craft Halls in an effort to find a smith competent in the crafting of such a weapon, and post another note in the Market.

I have managed to purchase a ring to help my agility – I was stunned to learn that the magic of this world can be worked like metal or wood, even into the most common of items such as rings or boots.  As I slipped the slender band upon my finger, I felt a lightness in my step and a greater sense of balance and movement.  It has helped me in my practice with my blade, and even enabled me to avoid some blows in combat.  I shall keep it upon my finger at all times, for its benefits are wonderful.

I wandered all the way down the southern road through Fort Llast (a town seemingly carved from the stone of the mountain itself) and to Krandor (a quiet town along the Zainge River).  There are tombs here in which I was told lurk very dangerous undead – far more evil and challenging than those dry boned skeletons found beneath Hlint.  I marked the area on my map and left its exploration for another time.

A woman named Freya in the town of Krandor has given me some packages to deliver, thus enabling me to travel further south to the towns of Fort Hope, Port Hampshire and Fort Velensk.  I may spend some time in these locations cautiously exploring the outskirts.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I wandered with Fian for some time east and south of the town of Hlint, past the Haven mines and to the outskirts of a town called Spellgard.  We fought some mercenaries encamped to the west of Haven, and found them to be tough opponents, though we prevailed without any consequences.

Fian has been a great help in mapping these lands, for he has traveled extensively.  He has told me some of the continent of Rilara, and of another land further still called Dregar.  These places are wilder and more dangerous than this land, Mistone, and lure many explorers with the promise of wealth and adventure.  Coincidentally, the Postmaster has given me a letter to be delivered to a man who dwells on Rilara, and Fian knows where this man can be found, so perhaps we shall travel there soon.

He also mentioned that there is a great forest which lies north of Hlint – the High Forest, by name – and told me some of the dangers and challenges therein.  I am struck by the sheer number of places there are to explore and travel to in this place, and sometimes it seems a bit overwhelming.

I finished the day by sending a message to a smith named Gloin, who was recommended to me by a very helpful dwarf named Kobal Bluntaxe.  He said that Gloin may be able to craft a fine blade for me.....I only hope that he is right!


..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I met a friendly man named Aralin today on the road outside Krandor.  He was traveling from Fort Hope to Hlint, and offered some fine iron armor to me for a reasonable price.  My battered chain shirt has seen better days, so I agreed to go with him to his home in Fort Hope to see what he had for sale.

We traveled quickly to Fort Hope, passing through the miserable Broken Forest.  Aralin summoned a great tiger – easily the size of a horse, powerful, quick and beautiful to behold – to aid us against the swarm of shuffling undead which attacked us there.  I was able to slay two myself, and Aralin’s divine magic turned the dozen or so remaining things to smoldering, broken corpses.  Again I marveled at the magical abilities granted to the chosen of the benevolent deities of this world!

Once at his home, Aralin brought forth a fine suit of iron banded armor, tinted a shadowy green color and looking quite sturdy.  He was truly a gracious host as well as a pleasant merchant, for he showed me to a private room where I was able to change clothes and buckle on the banded armor.  It was heavier than I thought, especially across the shoulders, which was to be expected, but  otherwise fit quite well.

I gladly paid him a reasonable sum for the armor, and we talked for a time about crafting, his new home (which was pleasantly decorated), and his partner in business, Tomas Vambrace.  This made me smile, for I had just met Tomas earlier in the day, in Hlint, where he had helped my friend Pelordaes retrieve his grave marker near the town of Fort Llast.  Aralin bid me farewell and told me to contact him or Tomas should I need any other items in the future.  This indeed was a fortunate meeting, and I will keep them both in mind as I progress in my training and skill.

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

I met Pelordaes today in Hlint, and he generous enough to give me a boar’s pelt to fulfill part of my agreement with Johan.  Pelordaes is always careful to stress that he harvests the pelts from the oldest members of a pack or herd, leaving the young and adult alone so as to preserve the balance.  I respect his adherence to such a code of behavior, and find him to be an honorable and helpful friend indeed.

I spoke with Morton this afternoon– a pleasant, quiet soft spoken monk who is beginning the craft of  tailoring.  We talked for a time about the requirements of different crafts, resources, and so forth.  He showed me some items which he has  been able to craft, among them a fine suit of wolf leather armor.  I will keep him in mind should I need some tailored items crafted in the future.  I find his insights into crafting helpful.

I have received word from Gloin, and he is going to craft a fine blade for me from iron – I am greatly pleased to say the least.  I spent the day working harder than I have thus far on my balance, speed and attack and defense stances with this heavy copper blade.  I hope it is the last time I must train with it!

..Argali Valais..

[the_meepo]

*written in a small journal, the cover marked with the icon of a katana*

Success at last!  I met with Gloin today and he crafted a fine katana of iron for me, at a very reasonable price.  His work is quite good – a master craftsman, he even lengthened the handle slightly and tapered the blade to accommodate my fighting style.  May the gods bless his talented hands, strengthen his arms, and keep his mind sharp all the days of his life!

For the rest of the day my time was spent learning my new blade; the whistling of the air across its gleaming surface, the balance of its edge, the spring of the blade and its subtle movements with each turn of my wrist.  I have not been this happy since arriving here, and I am eager to advance my training and sharpen my focus as never before.

..Argali Valais..