Kyle Pandorn: Stranger in a Strange Land

[SteveJW]

18 years...

Has it really been that long? It was just yesterday I was standing in front of that waterfall near Blackford pledging my love to Ferrit and now we have a house...2 kids...and a horse. Do I have any regrets? Not a one. I look at Ferrit and she is just as beautiful as she was that day...and even though I show a few wrinkles, she says I'm still as young as ever. She fibs with the best of them...Ilsare bless her.

Sonya asked me to show Sarah how to use a blade. Seems she saw Tristan with his weapon and wants to see if she can handle one. We shall see. Sarah doesn't seem to be the fighting type but everyone should know how to wield a blade properly. Even the mages can use a dagger.

Well...I better get back to Ferrit. We will go get the kids from Jenna and give her a break. We'll even take Krindo from her for a while so she can get out and about.

She deserves it...

[SteveJW]

It is a mixed blessing...

Ranewin has been invited to join the guild. While we could use another healer...she is also a very capable warrior. With her and Dora...we will be alright. We could come out of trips to Dregar in good shape.

Why is this a mixed blessing?...

Because my blade seems so weak compared to theirs. Especially if there are others who skill with a blade is better than mine. By the time I get to a position to help in the fray...the foe has already been killed.

It makes me feel small in front of Ferrit. Like I can't protect her anymore.

I feel so useless...

[SteveJW]

Time to catch up...

We went to Hurm to talk to the Black Dragon. I had mixed feelings about it since it was the one who almost destroyed Hurm and caused Ferrit and me to catch its plague. And we didn't get what we needed. A cauldron that could combine artifacts into a really powerful one. We wanted to get it before Selian could...but the dragon wouldn't part with it. Well...at least Selian won't get it. We gave many expensive and rare items...most notably Ozy's spear. The one that slew Blood. A very hard sacrifice he made. This satisied the dragon and now as long as the merchants of Hurm gove 10% of an increasing number...the dragon will leave Hurm alone. Or more exactly...protect its shipping lanes. Which would help Hurm prosper...I hope.

We may have saved the lives of the people of Hurm. Not that Serissa Tir'ein would think so. She evacuated people on a ship that was attacked by another black dragon...and blames us for it. Quantum believed the ship to be a pirate vessel...which is why the dragon attacked. Serissa is responsible for that...not us. She judges us by her own standards...and pity those who don't agree with her.

Well...she better get set for a lot of disagreements...

[SteveJW]

I am getting stronger by the day...

My attacks seem to have become more lethal...and quicker. Well...maybe not quicker...but I do get an extra shot in sometimes when in combat. I can see it when my foe is stunned for a moment. Dalan has been watching me for a while now...doesn't say anything...just watches. He seems amazed when I do a Whirlwind...and I think he is trying it out with his axe. He can become a force to be reckoned with should he master his axe. I will show him what I can and wish him luck.

Rain has run a foul of the law in Hlint. Seems he bought a slave with the intention of freeing it from a Drow slaver. Turns out that this slave could have been an undead...which would have been loosed upon Hlint. They destroyed it...but since Rain bought the slave...even with the best of intent...Garent says he still must stand trial for it.

If Rain needs to go to prison...he has asked that I resume as leader of the guild. But...I don't think it will come to that. I never really wanted to lead...I just led to get the guild on its feet. I will wait and see.

Daniel has been accepted as a Squire of the Order of the Wyrm...Barion becoming a Knight. It was what Daniel has aspired to be all his life. I am happy for him and for Barion too. Daniel can finally shake that 'coward' label that Barion's bride to be pinned on him and can truly now be the Knight he can be. Good luck Daniel.

Ferrit...my love...has become more skilled in the bow than I have with my blade. I am proud of her. This gives me incentive to push myself even harder to become as skilled with my katana. I...want to be able to hold my own with her in battle. I do not want to become so...useless to her.

Time to hit the practice area again....

[SteveJW]

Two more have gone to their final rest...

Melanna D'Jaern...hope I got the last name right. I never got along with her...I thought her too full of herself and arrogant. But since she was a friend of Hanna's and Daniel's...I respected her. But that aside...I never wish anyone to have the last part of their soul ripped from them. Well...maybe a certain dwarf... Daniel seemed to be getting attached to her...and it was he who brought her body to Rofirein's temple in Velensk. He was distraught. I didn't go to the temple...but I will express my condolences to Daniel next I see him.

Neppakayo...the father of triplets. He fell in Storan's Crypt. Drogo said that he fell to mummies in Storan's and was carrying his body on his back as a cheetah...and buried him in Krandor just outside my house. Nepp was a good sort...but his failed relationship with Ash...hardened his heart. I hope his heart softens in the afterlife...so that he may be at peace. Rest well Nepp.

And a dear friend surprised the Hells out of me...

Honora works for the Prantz government. For that dwarf. She has her reasons...and I  agree with them. But...I can't help but wonder if Broegar truly trusts her and doesn't have her watched. Ferrit and I are helping to investigate an assassination attempt on the head of thr Rofirein church in Prantz. We are in the company of people who just by being seen with them could get us hung. We have to be really careful.

Sonya had yet another baby....

Thank the gods it's only one this time. Elyam is his name. He was born at a toga party at the Arms. One that I couldn't be at. Seems that Rain and Sonya are taking this family guild thing literally...heh. 6 kids. Poor Sonya needs a break.

Ferrit missed me at the party. And I feel terrible. I swear...next party at the Arms...I'm there. For now...I'll shower Ferrit with love and roses and dinner. Just to make it up to her. She deserves her husband there with her.

I must go. Sarah and Cole's lesson draws near. And Tristan too. He needs to be taken down a peg. He is starting to bully his sister and Cole...and I need to stop it. Maybe a trip to path just before the Broken Forest...see how he likes a huge ogre bullying him...

[SteveJW]

The investigation will bring me home...

Ferrit, Jennara, Lex'or and I went to North Point to ask the Aerdinite healer about the poison used to incapacitate Barvanth...the head of the Rofirien church. He is in a coma and will most likely die if we can't find a counteragent to the poison.

It seems that the poison is made from a plant and snake indiginous to...of all places...Vanavar. Home. I regret...I've only been back to Vanavar once or twice since Ozlo called me...and now I must do so again. It will be the first time Ferrit goes there and possibly meet my...no...our family. I wish we could bring Cole and Aylana with us...but we will not be there for a visit.

We have to find the snake and the plant...both of which I tried to remember from the warnings my father told me as a boy...but it was so long ago...another lifetime it seems. The only thing I do remember was the size of the snake...and the sweet smell of a plant that made me passout as if I spent too much time in the tavern. I wouldn't want to feel that again.

Rhynn has found a way to sneak in to Broegar's keep. She was able to show us...with illusory magic...the inner layout of the keep. It may be possible to get close enough to him to deliver the cure once we get it. We will have to be really careful or....

First we go to Vanavar. This homecoming will not be sweet...

[SteveJW]

The feeling in the air is different...

Hard times have come. Routes that we walked a thousand times before have become more perilous now a days. Hlint is almost a ghost town with the closing of the Craft Hall...Merchant building and Smithy. I have relocated to Port Hempstead to be near a craft hall.

The Haven Mine is now overrun with gnolls. I took a peek and saw patrol after patrol of them. I left. I will need to bring back up to mine iron again.

The Red Light caves I hear have a tougher brand of goblin. And more organized and better equippped. Even copper will be hard to get. I have to keep Cole from going in there.

Things we took for granted are now becoming more difficult. Hard times indeed...

[SteveJW]

Well...we didn't sail to Vanavar right away...

We had only one shot at getting to Wyleth in North Point. Broegar knew he was there because his diviner was using Raven to as a scry tool. As long as she didn't cast any magics...we had a chance. And it was a success. We got Wyleth out of North Point just as Broegar's men were getting into town. Suffice it to say...we are committed now. I just hope Broegar's men didn't get a good look at us.

Now we sail to Vanavar for the cure to the poison that afflicts Barvanth. We can only hope we weren't followed...and that Vanavar is far enough away that Broegar can't scry for him. Hope Wyleth will shed some light about all this.

I...however...look forward to seeing my family. It has been so long...

[SteveJW]

I have to be choosy on who I trust from now on....

There are some whom I will not trust from this moment forward. I will not name them. I will just keep them at arms length from now on. I...though...must shoulder some of the responsibility for this mess. I should have stepped up and prevented that mirror from being put in that pool. All of us who didn't think it was a good idea should have. And now we owe Mist a favor. Must be something that can be done to nullify this deal. And something that would set things right again.

I just hate the taste of failure...

[SteveJW]

We finally made it to Vanavar...

And they didn't kill Wyleth. Jennara will bring him before a Justicar when this is done. If Wyleth doesn't get away. The Captain of the guard is letting Pyrran and Galen hold him in the town's drunk tank for now.

And we finally saw Father and Mother. The have taken a liking to Ferrit...even with Mother's usual coarseness. Ferrit was nervous. Something I have never seen her become before. She has stared down ogres...giants...and a few demons...but was real nervous to meet my folks. Guess the hardest things are the least worrisome. We will come back with the kids once we finish with our task.

Our task...

Father told us that the snake we are looking for has almost been hunted to extinction...which would have been a catastrophy...except that old hermit in the hills has been giving them sanctuary. We may be able to coax a live snake out of him. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The plant however will be harder to get. Deep in the Broken Mountains. I haven't been there since they pulled me out when I got poisoned. We will have to find a way not to become overwhelmed by the smell or we may not come out this time.

And what of that caravan of 'spice merchants'? I saw the tents...but none of the merchants.

We may not be the only ones interested in the components...

[SteveJW]

Time for catch up...

We have gotten ahold of a sample of venom from the yellow snake from that old hermit. Wasn't too happy about us killing these COLOSSAL scorpions he lets wander free in front of his sanctuary...and forced Jil to get the venom.

And now she is poisoned. And according to that old coot...she has about a month...unless we get her an antidote. Hope we got enough for two doses of antidote.

We return to North Hampton to sail to North Point. I would love to tarry a bit with my folks...but Jil can't afford it.

None of us can really...

[SteveJW]

*Kyle drops the last vial of queen spider poison into a hole in the vault at the guild hall. He then hammers an iron plate into place over the hole...then an oak plank over that. He checks it for security then stands up...leaves and closes the vault where he checks another repair on the outside of the vault. He shakes his head and begins to write*[/b]

We were robbed...

And 'Thomas' is a part of it. So was Kinai Kinsei...but her part was of unwilling accomplice. A hooded man put them up to robbing the guild...more a test of either our security or of their willingness to do it...since there were way more valuable things that 'Thomas' could have made off with. An elaborate test...since they used rats as a diversion. Nothing was taken that can't be readily replaced...but it was a wake-up call for us. We have become too trusting lately and we could have been burned worse. We wouldn't have even known if not for Kinai coming clean and telling us all she knew. We can and did forgive her part in it.

Hawk actually fought the man...and was soundly beaten. Wields twin kamas that glow red. Either a monk or a Master of the kama. He will be a tough foe...should we find out who or what he is.

Serissa Windword and Barion are investigating for us...but it will be done quietly...so as not to alert the hooded man that we are on to him. We have to catch him before he gets something valuable.

As for 'Thomas'...he is a drow from what I learned. From what Kinai told us...he jumped at the chance to rob us. And if he ever show himself near the guild hall again...I just hope someone is around to stay my hand.

I have to board up some more holes. But...I think they could get back in if they wanted to. We need to be on our toes...

*Kyle picks up his hammer and iron plates...oak planks and spikes and goes into the showroom to board up more of the holes left by the rats.*[/b]

[SteveJW]

Seems that everytime I open this book...I write about something bad happening...

Not this time. Sonya presented the diaries she made out of the materials Dalan Ferrit and I provided. And they have begun writing. Hope it helps them get their thoughts together just as my diary gets mine out.

We were presented with our guild start up fee by Rain. This means that the guild is well on its way. It makes me glad to be part of something successful...not like the last guild Ferrit and I tried to become part of. That was a unfortuate choice we made...being the nefarious things they did under our notice.

Ferrit...

My wife...lifelong companion...my very heart. 20 years we are married and my love for her is as strong as it was when I first declared it on Palden Lake. Anytime I feel down...all I have to do is look at her and I am lifted up. It doesn't matter what she is doing. She could be working over the alchemy table...the gem grinder or tanning vats. She is a part of me.

Well...Stone needs some mahogany cut into planks. I need to see Quillwem for a key to the Freelancer's to get the wood. I find the woodworking curiously calming. I've been on edge a lot recently about this hooded man and his interest in stealing from our guild...that I feel I'm shutting everyone out. Even Cole and Alyana.

Which reminds me...I've been taking terrible advantage of Jenna with dropping the kids off all of the time. One of these times...I'll take little Krindo off her hands and let her do what she wants to do.

Ferrit can be my conscience sometimes....Ilsare bless her...

[SteveJW]

A betrayal by one I had once considered friendly...

Galen Tweed. Honora's friend and one who I thought was mine as well. We had agreed to let the Rofirein church have Wyleth to stand trial in Fort Vehl for his crimes after Jennara made her report to Broegar on the cure...but instead...Galen slips out and brings one of Broegar's men to take custody of Wyleth.

My life flashed before me. I had visions of rotting in Broegar's dungeon...awaiting execution. Never to again see my friends...my children...my Ferrit. I had resigned myself to that. And I prayed to the gods...that it would be swift.

Instead...Broegar thanked us for bringing Wyleth to him...after admonishing the church for 'overstepping it's bounds' and charging Wyleth with various crimes and its accompanying death sentence. And that was it. Free to go. With a 'stipend'. Bah. A week of bathing couldn't wash the stink away.

It wasn't supposed to be. Did Wyleth deserve to die? Most definitely. But even the most lowly gets the benefit of a trial...not summary judgement and execution. And Galen almost got us exactly that.

His Holiness Barvanth got his cure and is recovering. We will have to wait until he is well enough to hear what he had to say before he got attacked. Something tells me it will be world shaking.

Galen Tweed of the Spellguard Tweeds...to me...his word means nothing. I won't even hear them...

[SteveJW]

Well...we broke ground in Stone...

Actually it was the boulders blocking the entrance to Beryl's temple there. Seeing the level of devastation...Ferrit was shocked. To me...it brought back the memory of that day we fought to free it. It was like it happened yesterday.

Well...when this town is rebuilt...they will need some sort of militia. I will have to research this...see if it is outside the agreement's reach...then maybe I can teach a few things to the people that will live here.

It will be good to see a prosperous Stone rise again from this rubble...

[SteveJW]

Sarah needs training...

Seems there is this bully a her school and Sonya is worried about her getting hurt or worse by these boys. She asked me to train her on blades along with Cole. I agreed...but I fear I may be opening a can of worms.

I will try to teach her the Whirlwind. It may get her enough time to fend off an attack without getting deadly. Stupidity is no reason to get seriously hurt. I will instill in Sarah that her training is to be used only if they try to harm her.

As for a weapon...a short sword would be suited for her. However...I'm a little hesitant since I'm not sure if Rain would approve of Sarah handling a weapon yet. Sonya asked me not to tell him. I hope she will.

*A sound distracts Kyle. He looks over to see Cole trying to sneak past him. He just smiles and continues*[/b]

Ferrit is showing Cole how to be stealthy. Seems he has a knack for blending in already thanks to Dalan and Rain training him. But the other day...he came home a little agitated. He won't say a word to me. But he stayed in plain sight for a while.

Aylana is a singer. She hums the lullabys we used to sing to her as a baby...and somehow...they lift my spirit a little. Heh...maybe it's because she is my daughter and that is reason enough to have high spirits. Still...she does have a nice voice.

I have a proposal to the guild. I must put it in writing first...just to see if it has any merit. Back to work...

[SteveJW]

*Kyle coughs as he picks up the quill to write. He is pale as he pulls a cloak over him.*[/b]

I'm so weak. I can barely get my smelting done for the guild because of this. A quick trip to Vanavar to see Father. We talked...had dinner with friends...bragged about Cole and Aylana. Then I started to feel ill on the boat back to Audira. This was a week ago.

Ferrit thinks I may have a stomach virus...but I'm usually over it in a few days. Bah...maybe she's right. I'll bounce back soon.

*A chill shakes Kyle as he closes the journal and goes to bed.*[/b]

[SteveJW]

I have grown weaker...

I fell on a trip with Ben Poetr...Tariana...and Drexia Faison. A bunch of ogre mages let loose and I fell. And saw the Soul Mother for the 6th time. I...am frightened. I don't want to make her a widow.

I'll just putter around the guild hall for a while. I need the time off...

*A fit of coughing and Kyle goes off to bed*[/b]

[SteveJW]

So...as the saying goes...

'Once more into the breach.' Honora, Galen, Daniel, myself, Ferrit, Clarissa, Jil will go into the rift we created in Erylin. We will have Storold Dosescha and AnnaLee with us too. Seems we may have a way to repair the rift but in may mean going back in there.

In the place where I almost lost my mind. I haven't told anyone...but I still hear them. The voices. Mocking me...telling me Ferrit doesn't love me...would see me dead...rejects me even in death. It takes a good amount of whiskey to drown them out. Even then...

First we must repair one of the portal mirrors. The one in Injam is out. The Baroness isn't exactly a friend of ours. The feeling is the Baroness of Green will be more receptive. We are going there now.

The sooner we repair that blasted rift the sooner the voices will leave...

[SteveJW]

Ferrit and I must part to help close the portal and break the Curse of Erylin...that's what I'm calling it....

My task is to glean whatever information from the elves in the Wolfswood about Adwenth...once a trusted advisor to the Barons. Maybe I can find out what can be done to locate the Chalice that cursed them and to break it once we have it. And the tale of the 'ghostly elven woman' who is said to haunt the forest near the tower.

And to see if anyone else has taken an interest in it. The traitor perhaps?

Ferrit on the other hand...has a more difficult one. To acertain what items Athalia Imjam has and whether they can be used to repair the rift. She runs the risk of capture or worse. I pray that she comes back to me.

We need all prayers now...