It has been over a week since I've arrived in Hlint, and I've accomplished much since then. There are adventuring types coming and going through this small town at all hours of the day and night which has provided me with some companionship if not amusement on nights when I can't sleep.
My new friend Miranda has been at my side the entire time here. I can hardly describe the feelings I feel when she is near. All of these things are so new to me, but I feel that whatever happens I must take things easy and not be foolish in my decisions.
In the local inn they have a card game which I have come to enjoy very much. I find it very impressive that such magic is used merely for entertainment of it's patrons. Not only have I had the hours and days slip by playing there, but have also mastered the game to a degree. I often come away with hundreds if not thousands of gold, much of which I spend buying new cards. I can already tell that this is becoming an addiction, so am already preparing myself to not spend so much time and gold on it. It has to be said though that I appear to be making a better living with my winnings there than the adventurers who scour the nearby locales. Miranda too is catching on to the game. Perhaps sometime in the future a tournament could be held. Already I've been propositioned about such an idea.
I've met a very helpful and knowledgable dwarf named Gloin the other day. I first took him for a mage with his staff and robes when I first met him in town only to discover that he is actually a priest. He mentioned that he owns a store in town and I really should see what he has to offer. Most of the other merchants here in Hlint are no better than common bandits.
In my travels around Hlint I have met a man named Ra'Vair who I have probably journeyed with the most. His decisions often seem rash and I'm not sure I feel entirely safe in his company. Several times I have died or come very close to dying when in his company. Another fellow named Anault came with me to play cards in the inn. He seems to be a seasoned warrior, but I have yet to journey with him much. A few of those which I first met upon arriving in Hlint have not been seen since. I wonder how Dorgarn and Nossyla are.
The other day when travelling with Ra'Vair, we journeyed further from the safety of the town than I've been on my own. Near Haven Castle we entered a mine filled with Ogres where we were asked to slay the Ogre Chieftain. Upon entering I saw some cloaked figures and some of them were wounded. I could tell these were not Ogres. The next thing I know a raging Ogre is attacking them. Ra'Vair and I sent volley after volley of missiles down at the Ogre and soon it fell lifeless to the cavern floor. These adventurers, all female did not appear to very friendly or talkative even though they accepted our suggestion to join together against these common foes. They did say that with clever use of magic and traps they had bested Ogres inside. One even had a black panther as a familiar like myself. Sadly it had died in the very next battle with a single Ogre. Even Ra'Vair almost died and he is quite a hardy warrior himself. Out of magic and no one to heal any of our wounds we quickly left the mines without getting very far at all in our mission.
After we had rested and recovered from our wounds we followed Ra'Vair into the woods outside of Haven following rumors of bandits in the area. After making quick work of a few dwarven warriors we came upon a cave and decided to take a peak. Once inside I had a feeling that this was not a good idea. Just as we were scouting about a monstrous beast with tentacles appeared and my body was wracked in pain just before all went black. As I regained consciousness I fled out the entrance only to find that most of the party had escaped with only severe wounds. When I am able to return to my father's library in Port Hampshire I will see if I can find any information on the creature we saw. There's no telling if there will be any, but I have always managed to find something new from so many books.
The group had split up due to our streak of bad luck and we all went our separate ways save for me and a silver haired woman who travelled with me back to Hlint. She introduced herself as Alyssa and took off her helm. Her eyes shone silver in the moonlight. It was breathtaking. I was beside myself fumbling with words of my own. I could somehow feel a kindred spirit with her, but we did not have much time to talk before we retired for the evening. We both look forward to meeting again. I think we will be paying those Ogres another visit very soon.
