A Dwarf's Journal (Dorax Windsmith)

[Dorax Windsmith]

Well, I don't know how to start this, so I'm just going to jump in.  Since becoming an adventurer my world has changed dramatically.  Of course it all started when as a stubborn youth I rebelled against me parents by taking on the worship of Vorax instead of Dorand.  At the time I did not know that it would start the chain of events that has led me to this point.  Of course me brothers all fell in line and are good followers of Dorand, at least they were when I left.  Of course being from Lar, really my whole community is centered around Dorand.  I have nothing against Dorand, in fact I truly admire the what they stand for, it just I wanted a choice.  Shouldn't we all be able to choose for ourselves?  Anyway, I chose the Honor and Glory of the true warrior spirit of Vorax and for it me father could no forgive me.  He sent me away, that is when I met the Great Dragon and have since been honing my skills and learning of this threat against my world known as the Blood Wars.  I have come along way in a short time, but I realize I am still a whelp in the eyes of some of the truly powerful beings I have encountered and heard about.  When I first left my home all I really wanted was to become powerful, you know, develop a reputation that my parents could be proud of...Then how could they not welcome me home with open arms?  Well, since my exile, I have experienced life as never before and strangely I am happy to be among fellow adventurers.  There is a common bond between us and I enjoy the company of most who will swing a blade or an axe along side me, or aid me in some other way.  I was sheltered when growing up at home and knew few others outside of the Dwarven race.  I was befriended by a healer of sort, Rawkwin Valerius, he along with a few others have taken me in as an equal.  We have among us a variety of adventurers with different but powerful skills, and I have learned from each of them.  Together I believe we are making a small difference in these lands, and as our skills improve we may one day turn the tide and end this threat to our world.

[Dorax Windsmith]

I will continue with some further explanation on my encounters here in Layonara.  I feel good to be part of a growing house of diverse adventurers.  As I said before, Rawkwin, an Aasimar Human, invited me to join his group, but the others are very special as well.  There are two magic users,Kavil Yodin,a Human, is a rising Sorcerer, and Esimon Clearpeak, a Grey Elf, is a gifted Wizard.  There is also a Ranger, Rodlin Serim, a Wood Elf, very talented with a bow.  Yar D'Ydnar, an Aasimar Human, is a powerful Champion of Toran.  Emerald Skye is a Human fighter, is beatiful and deadly with her Great sword.  Others too have joined with us from time to time, Morton, Annun, Thomas, etc. and I am surprised to find that I like this diverse group.  It offers me a chance to learn and grow.  I have come across some individulas who are more mysterious as of late.  One such person is Tamera Jarded, a human I think, anyway as stange as it sounds, I find myself drawn to her.  She is most deadly as she wields 2 blades at the same time, my kind of woman.  I am concerned about her though as she seems somewhat careless and at times, should I say, evil?  Still I have often found myself seeking her as I continue my travels, we have fought side by side in some very fierce battles.

[Dorax Windsmith]

I have a few minutes to jot down some notes about the brush with certain doom I recently experienced.  I have been been given a strong warning applicable to all adventurers who seek to travel in the Berhagen Mountains.  I have been given the strongest of warnings by the hand of Grannoch.  As I was seeking to clear the mountains of the Hill Giants, the Earth itself began shaking and Great Earth Elementals came forth invoking me and those traveling with me to leave the mountains immediately.  We did not initially heed the warning but continued to fight the creatures and in an instant, I was swallowed up into the Earth and suppressed so as to squeeze the life from me.  I felt the deep hatred to my core and all was lost for a time.  When I awoke, I found myself in Shoufal and I remembered that Grannoch was very angry.  She is angry and will not tolerate the blood of her children to be spilt upon those mountains further.  I will heed the warning and will not longer seek to slay giants in that place, for now.  My battle with giants will continue I am certain, but I will no longer frequent the Mountains of Berhagen while seeking to erradicate the brutes.

[Dorax Windsmith]

Well, I have been really busy lately and have a lot of exciting things to say.  I will start with my weapon making, I am regularly making iron weapons now and it was a good thing too, I purchased a Silver enhancement from Kaizer Thell and when I put it on my weapon, for some reason I couldn't use it, it confused me I guess.  Anyway I was able to make another one in short order....handy skill for a fighter.  After some additional training, that weapon became available to me again.  I find it most useful against undeaders and such.  The really big news is the fact the I am becoming one of the founding members of a new Guild, The Crimson Shield.  The other members are all currently in the house that I share and are all mentioned previously except there is one additional person, Annun Firith, she is a Dark Elf Ranger, initially I was a bit suspicious because she was a Dark Elf, but after getting to know her a little, I don't have a problem with it.  I have traveled with severl dark Elves and have found that most of them here on Mistone are generally okay, and some are quite useful.  Besides, her and Kavil seem to be inseperable lately, and I really like matching his skills with my own.

[Dorax Windsmith]

I have not seen Tamera in a long time, I hope that she is okay.  The guild should be up and running soon.  Starting to spend more time on Dregar as we have found some resources there worth the additional risk.  Had a very unfortunate occurance though, my good friend and mentor, Yar, is being forced into an early retirement of sorts, I guess he has taken one too many hard hits and is feeling the strain of adventuring.  I will miss him at my side in combat, never had I met a greater warrior and tactician.  His lessons will surely guide me in my own future successes.  Fortunately he will still be around Fort Hope and I will be able to consult him on important matters.

[Dorax Windsmith]

I have taken a few hard blows myself lately and will rest a little while in a safe spot.  The Soul Mother is after me and I fear that she may soon claim me.  I have heard rumors that she has Taken Yar.  Well, at least he trained some of us.....
I am hearing rumors that my little brother Fragnath has been out adventuring, I hope he is okay, he was always one to start scrapping though, not too bright, but good natured and quick to gain advantage in battle no doubt.  I have been a part of some worthwhile adventures and should take a few moments to write a bit about them.....The Great Black Dragon Dre' has probably moved from Mistone to Dregar.  While some companions and I (Xiao, Yashilla, Giddo, the others I cannot remember) were attempting to .....

[Dorax Windsmith]

Okay, I will try to finish the story, but there is always someone wanting something from me, gold to collect, things to buy, monsters to kill.  Anyway, we were trying to get some Addy, when this guy in red came to us.  I guess he works for Fisterion, anyway he wanted us to deliver a message....to the Black Dragon Dre'.  After some difficult and painful convincing, we took the message and then wouldn't you know it, that Black Dragon wanted us to do work for him too!  Well, he wanted us to find him a new home, and a way to get there.  Fortuneately for me there were a couple of smart

[Dorax Windsmith]

There were a couple of smart people on the quest....Giddo, Xiao, Yashilla, anyway we were able to convince Dre' that if he transformed himself by polymorphing he could depart with us right then, we were successful and were able to take a ship back to Dregar where Fisterion's Avatar met us and took over the escort duties from there.  Good thing too since I was pretty sure that Dre' did not want us to know where his new lair would be, or maybe I should say wanted a reason to kill us (and I think he would have if we ended up knowing where his new lair would be).  

I have felt a renewed life lately and feel that the Soul Mother may have even restored a part of what she had previously taken.  I don't know the exact reason for this restoral....only that there must have been some brave hero's involved and they probably accomplished something very useful to the cause of good.

[Dorax Windsmith]

*Dorax sits quietly and reflects on the recent events surrounding the demise of Eon*  Well that was close...perhaps the toughest battle I have ever been involved in.  But Rufus did get Eon's phylactery and now he will be banished.  I don't think that I had ever even seen half of the creatures that were guarding it though.  Good thing we had a strong party.  I feel proud to have been a part of this, one step closer to defeating Blood.  One by one his generals fall...Blood himself must be getting worried.

[Dorax Windsmith]

*Dorax stretches sits up and notices the rust on his axe* It's 'bout time I got some exercise.  I'm tired of sitting here rotting and hoping the Soul Mother stays away.  I'm heading out, see if I can find some good folks that I used to know...maybe even meet some new ones.  *He notices how his body has aged but thinks about the fond memories he has and remembers that the world now is different since the fall of Blood*