Tristan Morgan (paladin)

[eddiecoyote]

My leather armor is need of a good cleaning.  In the past week I've done much and have had little time to stop and record it all down.  

(grabs hunk of hardened cheese, bread, and some water and ponders for a moment)

I was given a long sword and a set of studded leather armor by the temple of Toran about a month ago.  Donations were down as of late and they did not have any tunics to go over the armor, nor shields, nor holy symbols for me.  This was enough to get me started as one doesn't need banners to fight evil.  I set off on the road to find what I could  find.  

In the town of Hlint I found that there is an undead problem in the crypts.  I continue to make excurions inside to rid the world of skeletons.  Once I met up with a group of fellows and together we banished a darksoul and I returned it's essence to Erag, an odd fellow but one whom must have good intentions else the goodly Queen would not tolerate his presence in Hlint.  

Soon after I've located the Red Light caverns and have made repeated excursions into it's depths in search of the goblin chief.  I've been with a group that nearly made it, and I've teamed up with a mighty dwarf, and I died.  I hurried back to the site, as my soul was bound at the bindstone in the Temple of Toran.  I felt terrible because my death had placed the dwarf into considerable danger in the mines.  He managed to get out before I could arrive, however and I apologized for my brashness.  I learned that day that one must not only take care with one's own life, but also consider the ramifications of an untimely death on the defense capabilities of the group left behind.  To ignore this would be as morally wrong as attacking them myself.

Soon after learning this lesson I met an odd halfling who was covered in armor and had a sword and shield and was hell bent on retrieving yet another darksoul essence from the crypts.  I told him that I would go with him, but that we needed to boost our strength in numbers for such a journey.  He wouldn't listen, as he was anxious to get into the crypt.  I could not stop him and so we entered and began to fight our way down and on the next level we encountered ghouls and zombies and these made short work for him and he died.  As he lay bleeding to death, I was severely wounded and quickly thought what was the best course of action.  I chose to run to the door and lead the ghouls and zombies over to me.  They are slow and the hope was that I could circumnavigate them and get back to the body of the halfling and heal him, or at the least, pick him up and carry him out.  Yet as I made it to the door I saw the flash of light and the body was gone.  I was too late.  With no body left to heal or pick up, I ran for the door and outside.  I met the halfling, who had come from his gravestone.  He chastised me for not being able to turn the undead better and such.  I am not a cleric, however.  I tried to lecture him that I warned him we were not strong enough to enter in the first place.  He had the weird notion that a paladin, me, should rush into battle, death be damned.  I've met a few people already who share this misconception of paladin-hood and I cannot help but wonder the likes who who that has supplanted this stereotype of the foolish, blind, warrior into the minds of the populace and I wonder if they are still alive.  Unlikely.  I offered to help the halfling to get the gravestone and back up, but that I would not go with him deeper unless we enlisted aid.  He declined, saying that he didn't have a gravestone to go to yet and went back into town.

The calling of Toran's service is to combat evil, unlawfulness and injustice in the world.  The paladin is to live an example of moral uprightness, honor, and bravery.  Yet where does the idea that bravery and tactically incompetent go hand in hand?  My grandfather was a veteran of the Elf Wars in Fort Llast and it cannot be said that he was not a brave man.  He has told me story after story of fighting back raids by the elves and going on counter-attacks against them.  Yet he has also told me of times when the fight is conceded to the other side, when the losses taken by one side demand not revenge, but pulling back and regrouping.  There is a difference between revenge and seeking justice and sometimes the two are opposite in manner.  Had the people of Fort Llast sought only revenge, then every elf to pass through the gates would be in jeopardy, whereas with justice sought, elves are now considered friends of the realm (some) and their aid is being sought for the coming fight against Blood and his evil.

In the swamps outside of Hlint I vanquished some lizard folk and encountered a willowisp.  A mage that I've talked to a few times, just outside the temple in Llast, has told me that he needed the remains of a willowisp.  The lizardmen were easy enough to vanquish, yet the willowisp was not.  There is nothing to strike with my sword and it shoots a deadly lightning bolt.  I left the swamp and camped out in the goblin wastelands and met an elf who said that she could handle the willowisp.  I was grateful for her assistance and together we retrieved the essence.

At a later date I went back into the swamp as I've heard talk of an odd woman living in a hut.  I decided that she must powerful to live in such a hostile environment and I sought her out.  On the way I found that leather armor does nothing against a cloud of mosquitos.  They attacked me and I had no choice but to run deeper into the swamp, and a fever was coming over me and blood was soaking through my armor.  There was nothing to fight back against.  I was done for, it seemed, and I rounded a corner, and there was this tall woman, not human, who instantly summoned an odd hound and with her magic she took care of mosquitos.  I thanked her and asked her what I could do in payment for her kindness to which she requested skeleton knuckles.  I already had a box filled with them, saving them for a cleric's use, and I gave them to her in thanks.

In the wastelands I met a very kind woman named Talon and we were talking when her brother suddenly appears, wounded and out of breath.  He was being followed by mercenaries. Sure enough, behind him were some in pursuit and I rose to the defense.  Some would say 'duty bound' yet this seems to give the sense that one does something because one has to... but how can good folk not want to rise to the defense of other good folk?  It may be unpleasant or harsh work at times, but is there ever a question as to the purpose or need?  Perhaps, then, duty bound is not a set of rules one must follow, but instead this sense of justice and honor that is so deep inside of one's heart that guides one's actions... binding one to a path of action.  Talon was very thankful and has since made me a set of armor, which I am paying her in kind for, and is currently in work on a new long sword and a lighter set of armor.

Later, at camp in the wastelands, I met a lady named SiLool, a follower of Xeen.  I am unfamiliar with Xeen or her followers, but silool seemed to be nice enough.  She took me inside of Hlint and introduced me to Sir Justain, a fellow paladin of Toran, who then showed me his residence in Fort Llast.  Later, Silool asked both of us to help escort her to Hurm, by way of boat, to rescue a sister of hers, who was caught without fare back.  Her sister was likewise very nice and well recieved and quite beautiful, though I cannot remember her name, her long black hair was enchanting.  

In Hlint I met a follower of Vorax, a dwarf named Garnet Stonesmythy, who proved to be a very formidable fighter and has since turned into a good friend.  This one I will go anywhere with and battle by his side.  He showed me around the Seilwood forest and together we accumulated a boar's skin.  I was continually amazed at his fighting ability.  If his brothers of Vorax are as strong as he, then our strength against Blood will be considerably higher.

With all of the action in the past month, the swamps, crypts, forest, and such, my armor needs some deep cleaning, so it is off to the temple for prayer and meditation and maintenance.

In Toran's service... Tristan Morgan.

[eddiecoyote]

I have paid Talon for a sword she made.  It is a well crafted weapon and I have named it War Claw.  I find that it cleaves through undead easier than my old sword.  Now I must upgrade my armor... quickly.

I am deeply troubled right now.  I have made friends with Talon and have come to know a few other folks as well, among them SiLool, Justain and Azaria.  I've come to learn of the existence of something called "the Clan of Harmony" that resides in a grove in the High Forest.  I've also come to experience a club run by Justain in Llint.  I partook of it's training room.  That a paladin would run a club was something that I did not put much thought into.  I am new to the order, still wet behind the ears so to speak, and I do not automatically judge my brothers. Still, the question did arise and I did not feel comfortable in the club.  Justain has been nothing be nice to me.

I was approached by Talon today who said one of my order has threatened to kil not only her, but her clan mother as well.  This person was a follower of Toran and said that the laws were for humans, that non-humans didn't matter as much, and there was word that this same paladin slaughtered an entire clan.  I was told that this same person asked for admittance into the clan of harmony, but was refused and since has become very bitter.  

I was told this person was Justain.  

Talon had been doing armor crafting for Justain in exchange for a membership to the club.  She has given me the key to the club to return it to Justain as she no longer feels safe, nor trusts him.  This burdens my heart.

I admit that I am quite perplexed as to why any paladin would wish to join a clan, as well as running a club.  I have no crafting skills because I spend all of  my time in prayer or combating evil.  My strength  is to be spent bringing about justice, not crafting armor, ale, or trinkets.  So why does a fellow paladin of Toran run a club and seek membership in another clan?  Is  not the church our clan?  Is there not brotherhood and protection offered from it's members?  Is there anything that is not offered?  The immediate answer is that the church does not provide ties and connections for making money, whereas there is such merchant connections in other "clans".  I travelled with a merchant group prior to my joining the order of Toran.  Money is a tool, used to combat evil it is well and good... used for personal endeavors it is corrupting.

I have been looking for Justain as I wish to bring these matters up with him.  As a brother of the church I owe him that.  Yet if I am not satisfied with his answers and actions, I shall go to the Justicers of the church.  

Another thing weighing on my mind.  Talon has become a treasured friend to me.  I cannot stress how much I have come to be fond of her.  Yet while she has told me that she will be available to me should I need her, and I said the same to her, she has asked that we stay apart.  The reason, because my answer to a question.

The question she posed was this... if I was given an order by the Justicers to kill her, would I.  My answer was... yes.  This, she said, was reason to not trust me and to watch her back.  The fact that a goodly person would fear followers of Toran is bothersome to me and I pledge to win back our reputation.

I explained that good shines in people, that evil blemishes the soul, and that Toran sees this.  I explained that the Justicers are the best that the order has to offer, that they are guided by Toran in their judgements.  If I am ordered to kill Talon, it is because the Justicers have been guided by Toran, who in turn sees evil in her heart.  This answer did not suit Talon.  She acccused me of wearing blinders, of not following my heart.  I told her that one's heart is easily manipulated, can be set off course with anger, fever, lust, jealousy, and other emotions.  It is like being out at sea, buffeted by winds and tides.  One needs a North Star to guide, an unwavering purpose.  This is not blindness... this is purpose.  It is those without such a purpose that are blind.

Talon was unconvinced.  In my heart of hearts I do not believe her to have any evil within her heart.  It is not her actions that seem out of line with good... but the words of my brother in arms that seem odd.  It is he that draws my suspicion and with whom I must speak with.  

I pray that I am following the path, that I am true, that Toran guides me.  Should I stray from the path of righteousness I pray that Toran strikes me dead with all the fury he has at his command.

[eddiecoyote]

I almost forgot.

There is an entrance to a crypt at the base of the Grey Peak mountains.  This little valley is just a little way off from the road between Hlint and Fort Llast.  I routinely make a side trip to check on the crypt's gate and to see if any undead have ventured out.  I feel that there is danger from within the crypt and I am not strong enough, nor equiped enough, to venture inside.  However I will battle what I see that ventures out.  

There was the routine zombie.. actually a tyrantfog zombie, so the cleric tells me.  These are easily handled.  However, the last few days I've begun to see not only a zombie, but also a shade of sorts, with fire in its eyes and on it's hands.  I told another of this encounter and she told me the name of the creature, but I am better with a sword than I am at remembering names.  It matters not, as long as I can smite it to the hells.

Today, on the way back to the templel, I stopped by once more to keep an eye on things.  There was another zombie, but there were now two shades there... and they were different and much faster.  They looked fearsome with purple flames in their eyes.  I've not seen their kind ever before, but I prayed for effectiveness on my sword, War Claw, and I charged into battle.  I defeated the evil trio easily enough.  

I think that I shall step up my efforts at raising money for more armor so that I might enter this crypt soon and purge it of the undead that is spilling out in greater numbers every day, before it is too late.

[eddiecoyote]

I still have not been able to find Justain.  I've asked around for him, all to no avail.  I've met with SiLool who was not surprised at the rumors nor of their source.  Rumors and more rumors... is not a person's word worth anything?  Someone is not telling me the truth and it pains me, for all parties involved I have considered my friends.  Am I so poor a judge of character as to not see lies when they appear?  

I believe that the best way to solve this is for the accusers and accused to meet in front of an assembly.  Each will state his/her case.  In the end, Justain will be allowed to perform some of his powers granted him by Toran for his paladinship.  Toran can see into our hearts and knows if Justain is innocent or guilty.  If he is guilty, he will not be able to use his powers.  If he is innocent, he will use his powers and the accusers will be shown as liars.

Either way, my heart will be heavy... for if Justain is guilty, I will have lost a brother.  If he is innocent, I will have lost a friend in Talon.

Toran, guide me.  I wish to be worthy of these colors.

[eddiecoyote]

I am.  I am the very thing that I have warned against... one cannot completely trust one's own heart, for the heart is fickle and there are deep currents.  To follow emotion is to go blindly.  I have been filled with emotion of the offenses going on around me.  Somewhere, someone is lying a great deal and harming the lives of others.  And for what?  It appears for personal gain and revenge.  I must spend more time in prayer and meditation, asking for Toran's guidance.  

My belief in Justain's innocence is strengthened greatly after talking to more and more people.  I do not bring it up, others have been talking about it and I ask questions.  It seems that there is a wide consensus that Justain, while not a "typical" paladin, is still a goodly and noble person.  It has also been said that Talon is a goodly person who is caught in the lies of someone she trusts.  However, when it comes to the name Azaria, I do not get strong opinions from anyone as to her innocence or righteousness.  Instead there are even more rumors.  The web has grown considerably.  Yet the two people that I trusted most... are those with the most glowing character witnesses are Justain and Talon.  The one lacking in such high praise from different people, so far, is Azaria.  

My concern is for truth.  If Justain is guilty of the rumors about him, I will do what I can to stop him.  If he is innocent, then I will do what I can to bring the accuser that started it all to be accountable.

Pyrran was right... with the evil of Blood looming on the horizon, we should be joining forces and making alliances, not playing petty games.

[eddiecoyote]

I saw a group last night, Pyrran was one of them, and he asked to speak to me.  I went with him around the corner  and he accused me of being the one who stole the armor out of Justain's club.  At the time that he did this, I was in a foul mood having been told all the things recorded above.  I flatly stated that I had no time for his foolishness and if he believed it was me, then bring me up to the Justicer now, I am willing, and let us be done with this, but that I will not play any games.

It appears that I am being entered into the web.  I will not be party to the pettiness of this.  Any accusations against me will be faced head on and with nothing to hide.

I wish that I could find Justain and speak with him.

[eddiecoyote]

things are worse than I feared.  I have not been able to find Justain, yet I've been to the temple and have asked for information about Xeen.  I have been blind all this time to what Xeen is and have accepted that there is good in her clerics as I've been given healinng potions from them, wine, and have been treated nicely.

I am told that one of the names of the constellation for Xeen in the sky is "Xeen's Ensnarement" and that, above all, a follower of Xeen must seek personal pleasure, even at the expense of others.  While some of her followers may be good, others are evil, I am told, as Xeen bring to her followers that have no regard for laws, putting self above all others, whether they have good hearts or bad.

This pains me.  For I still truly believe that Talon is good.  Yet I've met a few others Xeenites as of late and there has not been an obvious connection between them all.  With followers of Vorax or Toran, you can see the commonality of desire to fight evil... but with Xeenites... one cannot tell.  

I am told that Xeen and Toran are enemies.

This makes it clearer still.  As I meditate and pray, a picture is forumalating... the two sides to all of this web of deceit seems to be Toran's and Xeen's followers.  Have we been ensnared?  As the weapons of Xeenites are whips, causing pleasure and pain, are they also bringers of pleasure and pain?  

I must meditate and pray more on this... Great Leader, give me wisdom and insight that I may walk the path of righteousness.

[eddiecoyote]

I met Talon's brother again today.  I have learned that he is a follower of the Runner... Kithairien, whereas I am unsure if Talon is a follower of the Wolf Prince or the Runner.

Having talked to the clerics in the temple I have learned that Toran considers the Runner an enemy, and that he is friendly with the Wolf Prince.  This would make things complicated, to say the least, in my dealings with Talon and her brother.

I spoke with SiLool today, and have told her of my findings on Xeen.  I told her that I am awaiting official word from the church as to whether I consider her an enemy, as Xeen and Toran are both enemies.  It gets complicated for some of Xeen's followers are good, some are evil, but all are without the law.  Without the law we have nothing.  

This complicates things with Justain also... running a club that associates with a person who is a follower of a god that is an enemy of Toran.  

If only things were as simple as just using a sword.

I almost forgot... checked out the valley at the base of the Greypeaks today and saw something that I've never seen before.  It floated in the sky, had many sharp projections coming out of it, and lashed out at me with great claws.  It wasn't able to penetrate my armor and I was able to vanquish it easily enough... but this is the fourth type of undead that I've seen there in a week... I must get some more righteous arms and enter the crypts and cleanse it of the growing evil.

[eddiecoyote]

There is talk of Blood's ships being sighted off the cost at Port Velensk, as well as a recent killing of a dock worker by his kidnappers, some men in black hoods.  I talked with a brownie in Hlint today who said a man in a hood kidnapped his entire family.  Is there a connection here?

I will go to Port Velensk and see what I may find.

[eddiecoyote]

After mornign prayer I struck out for Velensk.  In the Broken Forest I met Ayla and Thrain.  Ayla has a quiet, but notable reputation as a fair and good person, so it was a pleasure to meet her.  Thrain I've met once before.  He is a follower of Vorax and a good fighter.  While in the Broken Forest we looked for undead... nothing.  So we ventured out of the wood.  Just as we were leaving, the restless dead came out from everywhere.  The three of us took care of the evil and went into Fort Hope and rested and then eventually continued toward Velensk.  Along the way we saw man, Samil I believe his name was, fighting ants.  After ridding him of the ants he went with us to hunt for cougar for Thrain before all went their individual ways.

I continued on into Velensk to find signs of the cloaked men and learn more about the death of the dock merchant.  I found no signs of the men anywhere, and along the docks I found a dock merchant.  He wouldn't talk to me about anything, interested only in selling me fares.  Is this the same man who is supposedly dead?  Is this a competitor that swooped in to take his place?  I could not find out.

Going back to Hlint I met a cleric of Toran and a lady friend.  I find memory is not suiting me as I cannot recall their names.  I informed the cleric that I would not be able to make the meeting at the Temple.  I also briefly discussed the issue of working with clerics of deities enemy to Toran.  He admitted that it was tricky but to remember my oath... to do good.

I spent the entire night and morning in prary atop a hill in the Goblin Wastelands, asking for guidance and clarity from the Great Leader.

[eddiecoyote]

Today I came to Hlint after prayer.  I thought I felt a presence in town.  It popped in and out of different spots in Hlint, the Ilsare Temple, the great tree near the bank, and Ronin's Wagon train, as well as near the campfire outside and the hill that I frequently pray at.  It seems to move around, though I cannot discern anything about it and others think I am imagine it.
  I asked the few people I did see if they had felt or seen anything.  Nothing.
  I met a Bard and asked him, he replied likewise, yet he added that a great woman had died tonight.  What?  Who?  He said someone named Ayla.
  I was shocked.  I had just seen her yesterday and had given her skeleton knuckles.  She was very nice to me and warm and caring.  I lost control of my emotions and flew into a rage.  I turned and took off for the mines.  The bard followed.  I told him I was going in to kill as many as I could before I fell, to not follow me for I could not gaurantee his saftey.  He replied that he wanted to follow to see the site of her fall and record it in song.  So be it.
  Inside I went and found a gravestone.  It wasn't hers.  I moved down a hallway and into the third chamber.  There were ogres there and I launched into them, killing them all.  In the process of killing and being battered severely, my emotions cooled down and I was calmer.  Clear thinking returned and I stood in the room, breathing heavily, trying to get a grip on things.  The bard had already taken off for the surface. 
  I heard a voice from the hallway I had come down.  A woman's voice.  It said that she had found a weak soul and she gave an order to rip it out of the body for her collection.  Down the end of the hallway I could see a large, black demon.  I was dumbfounded... but soon I recalled where I was at and I charged down the hallway to the attack.  When I got there the demon and the Soul Thief were disappearing.
  There on the ground was Ayla's broken body.  The bard was there also. I knelt on the ground and tried to think of what to do, wishing that I had a cleric with me to raise the body, if possible, praying for Toran to give me guidance, asking Ayla to give me a sign on how to rescue her soul, willing to pay whatever price... and I heard her voice... "tell Geir that I love him". 
  I turned to surface and walked to town.  I barely knew her, yet I feel an emptiness... she was a great soul and ones like hers are rare.  The world is indeed a darker place now with her gone.
  I will spend the next few days in prayer, thinking of her and asking that her soul finds peace.
 

[eddiecoyote]

I spent a great deal of time in prayer over the memory of Ayla.  I knew her briefly, but it was enough to imprint on me her goodness.
  Passing from Fort Llint to Hlint I came upon a group of travelers.  I recognized Aries and Rylok from conversations and I agreed to join them into the Greypeak mountains.
  The party, about six or seven of us, made good progress, cutting down ogres easily enough.  We got onto a large valley floor and were flanked by several ogres, ogre mages, and a summoned grizzly bear.  Before I knew it, several of the party were dead and I was severely wounded and near death.  I ran around a group of ogres to try and reach Aries, who laid bleeding to death on the ground but was unable to reach her in time before a gravestone appeared.  With only three of us left, we ran for it.
  Up the stairs we went and at the top I turned around and formed a defensive posture.  With only a single flight of stairs I was now able to tackle them one on one instead of being surrounded.  The other two had their bows out and began shooting at the ogres that followed us.  Rylok, who was actually a fourth surivor, fell while nearly reaching the top of th stairs.  We held the stairs and killed the pursuing ogres.  It was close, had it not been for some timely and fortunate blows, I would have died as it was all I could do to continue standing upright.  With the theat gone I drank a healing potion.
  Then we when down the mountains in search of our comrades who were likely to be returning to us in hopes of visiting their gravestones.  We managed to get all of them to the sites without much trouble and made a final sweep through the valley, killing a gathering of ettins.
    I saw Justain.  He was on his way to Fort Llast.  I gave him the key that Talon had given to me to return to him. 
    While in Hlint, Acacea had come running by and screamed "A Coranthite".  I followed her to behind a building and she had no recollection of it at all.  She was shaking, and had odd head jerks in her behavior.  She said she was fine, but she didn't look like it at all.  Then she yelled "Corathite" again and somebody, her I thought at the time, cast a darkness spell, and when i wore off she was gone.
  Have I just witnessed a kidnapping?  If so, why did they not strike at me or any of the others nearby?

[eddiecoyote]

I came upon a group that was headed into the Sielwood Forest.  My time in the forest is scant and I decided to go along.  It wasn't long before we ran into a group of ogres.  Before anyone knew what was happening, Milanna had rushed forth to do battle with the ogres.
  I was left with one option... to rush forth into battle also.  The reasons are 1) she is a lady and I'll not let a lady go forth into harm alone, and 2) I saw an ogre mage beginning a spell.  I have had first hand experience in the Greypeaks of their cunning and I had good reason to expect an invisibility spell, followed by a well place cone of cold.
  My intent was to disrupt the mage with my sword.  I got a good two hits in but was cut down instantly.  I was surprised at this and I returned to the hill in the wastelands to meditate that Ael came and spoke with me.  He said that he had begun casting a confusion spell before we rushed in to the fight.  Milann, he explained, had got hit by the spell and hence turned her devastating blade onto me. 
  I have seen Milanna in Hlint and have talked to her.  She was greatly worried about having killed me and apologized, however, I bore her no ill will.  The only real problem I saw was that she charged in without consulting the party leader.  However, death happens in combat and she did not mean to kill me. 

[eddiecoyote]

In Hlint I met a group engaged in a discussion of good/evil and law/chaos.  It seems that some people believe that we paladins equate chaos with evil.  Such is not the case.  One can be good and not follow laws, just as evil beings can enact laws upon their lands for others to follow.  Law is useful in that it brings better livelihood to a society, better protection, better equality, better chance of living a good life.  Yet without good in place of the rulership, such laws can, and usually are, not good and it is up to those of virtue and nobility to stand against such laws.
  Aries, a friend with whom I've fought alongside with before, spoke of maintaining the balance.  This was confusing to me.  If there is evil in a land, it is necessary to bring in good in order to combat that evil.  Yet does one stop fighting evil when an equal strength is enjoyed by both sides?  Is it not preferable for good to continue to fight in order to diminish and eventually vanquish the evil?
  To this Aries said no, that good needed evil because the restrictions placed upon the population would be unbearable  It seemed that the essence of her argument is one where personal freedom and lack of boredom is preferable.  This also illustrates an opinion stated earlier that many equate the ideas of good and evil as the same and that if one were to follow a good and lawful life then one must also give away one's ability to think and to have fun.  I do not attend festivals because there is evil to be fought.  But I can imagine a world where I do not have to spend my waking moments in combat and can instead enjoy a life of leisure and farming.
    Later, a group of us went into the Haven mines.  I had doubts as to the feasability of such a mission, having seen larger parties encounter trouble.  Yet I am a protector and this wasn't a fool's errand... and so it was likely that my presence might help some in the bolstering of their safety.  So I joined the party, at which turn they made me the leader.  However, leading in caves is something I have little experience with and I did not know who was in the party, what weapons and resources I had at my disposal, nor of what dangers lay ahead.  All in all my leadership of the party was poor as I did not utilize scouts, didn't utilize magic buffers, did not utilize nor seek out additional healers, and did not have an egress plan.
  We fought some hard fights to get down to a lower level where at such time we became pressed with wounded.  I had ran through all but one of my healing potions and I longed for still better armor as I was getting thoroughly pounded upon by the clubs of the ogres.  Coming back I was pulling up the rear when we were jumped by a group.  I ran down a corridor to find the rest of the group for support and must have run past the wizard.  Perhaps I missed him through my helmet's visor, perhaps he was being stealthy.  The ogres found him and began hitting him.  I turned and ran back to his defense, as did the rest of the party who now heard the sounds of conflict.
  Caelon died and we were sore pressed to rid the rest of the ogres.  I tried healing potions and bandages and laying on of hands to no avail.  The party turned to leave and I was looking at the grave, when more ogres appeared and attacked yet again.  This time they did me in and I lay bleeding on the floor.  I emerged back at the temple at Fort Llast.
  Meditating again on the hilltop, I did not see the beetle follow someone from the forest.  The beetle then attacked me and I, slow to respond, died again.
    It has been a humiliating week.

[eddiecoyote]

(walks into the room, lights some incense, and meditates)
  (after a while, pulls out paper and a quill and begins to record events of the last few days)
  Things have been very busy for me as of late... where do I begin.
  I came upon a large adventuring party that was going off to the Gulf of Bagira.  I was told this place was exceedingly dangerous.  I was not going to go at first lest I warrant too much attention on myself by way of healings.  I didn't want a healer to drop his guard to heal me and get wounded in the process.  However, Trysk invited me to come and said that I could learn a lot.  I really wanted to go.
  The trip there through the Sielwood brought an encounter with more undead and eventually we made it to the gulf.  There we met up with Celgar who joined the party.  The land here is riddled with giant-kin and a favorite tactic of theirs is to throw huge boulders.  I learned that they have a grenade-like impact on those that are in the vicinity of it's impact.  Give them a wide berth.
  We ventured forth and found a cave and ended up clearing the cave.  I mostly watched and tried to learn.  However, whenever I could I would flank an enemy and add my own sword to the fight.
  When we came out of the gulf region, three of us went into Dire Wood.  This was my first time and it was indeed a dark and terrible place.  Toran, give me strength to clear this wood of it's evil someday!
  The next day I met up with Quinn, the innkeeper of the Leilon Arms Inn who asked if he could tag along while I went on patrol of the countryside.  I welcomed his company, yet before we could go, Ricco comes up and asks if any would accompany him to the Haven Mines.  Derrick, a friend of Quinn's shows up and says that this sounded like a good idea.  So the four of us took off for the mines.  I must confess that I felt uneasy about going as I've been with a larger party that didn't do so well in the mines. 
  Just inside the mines we met Terril who joined our party.  Ricco left for a forgotten engagement, so the abridged four man party went deep into the mines.  Any doubts I had quickly left as I watched Derrick close in battle with the ogres.  Being the most inexperienced person in the group my job was to keep any from coming up from the rear, and to flank the enemy.
  After clearing the mines, Quinn and I went to dig for copper in the Sielwood Caves.  This was easy enough and when we made it out I saw the Ettin afore me.  I thought it easy enough so I charged it, eager to pull my weight of the battle after going with Quinn into the Haven Mines.  I got good hits on the Ettin... yet was completely unprepared for the phase and dire spiders that surrounded me and cast webs upon me.  In no time at all I was poisoned and killed, even though Quinn made a valiant attempt to save me.
  In Hlint, Derrick made me some new armor, while Khana and I went to my grave and then back into the Sielwood Caves for Tin. 
  Now I need a day or two of rest to ease the aching joints and muscles of wearing plate male on long marches and big hits from ogres and the like.

[eddiecoyote]

(not recorded in writing, but thoughts while putting away armor and sharpening sword)
  What was that group all about yesterday in Hlint?  A large party gathered near the East Gate.  I've seen three of them before... or so... though I don't really know them.  Why did they gang up and attack me verbally?  Just a steady stream of accusations, jokes, and denials of any nobility in the Toran paladin ranks. 
  One of them was bothered that a former Justicer had fallen in his character, had been tried by his peers, and the results of this trial were kept secret.  Others asked if I would fight them if they were evil.  Is this a serious question?  Another halfling chided me harder than I've ever heard anyone chide before!  It is a good thing I am above petty brawling, for this little one was a talker.  In my days before coming to the order I would have tossed him off a wagon.
  But I'm better than that now... I have a code to follow... the code, remember the code.  Remember that I am an example.
  It wasn't easy to do while standing there in that.  Yet my beliefs are upon rock solid ideals... theirs were not.  I just focused on my beliefs and the emotional anger melted away.  Is the reputation of paladins of Toran so low now?  Or was this just an element of children and malcontents who naturally rebel against whatever they can find. 
  Perhaps they had a brain fever?  To not want order and justice in the world?  Odd...
  Oh yes, what was with Talon?  From out of the blue she walked up to me and said that if I tried to take Caeli from her she'd destroy me.  That was odd.  No, "hello Tristan" or anything... just a threat of destruction against doing something I haven't planned to something or someone I know nothing about. 
  I have come to believe that Justain and SiLool were right all along and that Talon is indeed a very odd woman. 
  Note to self, keep a distance away from all women.
  No... can't do that... how could I protect those women that needed my protection?
  I am going to sleep for a day... at least!  Then I'll get up and roam around the countryside some more, go and check to see if I can find Mo, and check on any new reports of thugs in Port Hampshire.

[eddiecoyote]

Today while making my rounds of the countryside around Hlint and Fort Llast I went into the valley at the base of the Greypeak Mounains as I regularly do.  Undead creep out of the crypt here on a regular basis and this is no out of the way forest, this is a valley adjacent to an important road.  I've gone inside the crypt several times and have come across locked doors.  I thought of bashing them down... but I did not do so in the thinking that perhaps this might be one more buffer in slowing down any undead from coming out.
  Today, however, there were five undead milling about as I entered the valley.  I was injured from dealing with some mercenaries, but I used my helmet of armor, cast deafening clang on Warclaw, and charged into battle.  There were four zombie lords and some new skeleton that i"ve neve seen before  Recently I came upon an ogre skeleton.  The zombie lords began casting spells on themselves and were tough to beat with my sword, however, they were not able to touch me very easily and I  managed to kill one, and was severely damaging the other one, surrounded by them, when all of the sudden they all disappeared.
  What?  Was this some play of the gods?  Was this the hand of Toran?  I mounted the hill nearby and yelled my battlecry, giving a praise for Toran, and continued on the road to the temple.

[eddiecoyote]

I must make it to Pranzis.  I have no idea where it may be.  The headquarters for the Order of the Shining Hand is there.  I've been wandering the land here, helping where I may, fighting evil where I find it, yet I am still in need of more training.  Yet I am also the arm of the church.  I seek direction and instruction.

[eddiecoyote]

(pulling off armor and cleaning it of muck and mud)
  Today I was in Hlint and speaking to Charon and a dwarf named Urgas.  We were going to make some rounds about the countryside to see if perhaps the orc war was still in activity.  While we were discussing such, some nearby listeners came over and asked to join us, Vire, Barleycorn, Khul, and Tre.  After discussion, we decided to check on the activities of the lizardmen in the nearby swamps.
  The lizardmen were quite inhospitable.  This might have something to do with the fireball tossed at them by Tre.  Normally I would have been angred, yet recent memory serves me in that the this clan has always attacked anyone they meet.  They have a reputation of viscousness. Perhaps if we can clear this swamp of them we can drain the swamp and turn it into farmland.
  The first group we encountered was easily handled.  Urgas and myself were frustrated in that we never got a good hit in on anything as the arrows and spells of the others were faster than we in dealing with the threat.  That would soon change, however.
  Further into the swamp we met another type of lizardman, a larger one who used magic on himself and attacked with a sword using slashing movements.  He was quite tough and I positioned myself between him and the party, we had several members of the party that had no armor and would he to reach them, there would be many gravestones added.  I was nearly killed, but with the help of Urgas the lizardman slasher was done with.
  Deeper into the swamp we could see another group of lizardmen.  They hadn't spotted us, yet they were arrayed with armor and weapons.  A raiding party?  We waited for one of the volleys of fireballs or arrows from the rest of the party, but nobody offered.  Tre flatly refused as she noted some of the lizardmen carrying crossbows.  We sat for a while.  We were in danger of being spotted, and if one of them was a shaman, then they could use the same tactics against us as we were effectively using against them.  With some of our party being unprotected and at risk of dying from such an attack, there was two options... leave or someone going after them first.  Since they were arrayed for a fight, and Hlint is somewhat nearby, I went first.
  Charging their position, yelling out my battlecry, their attention onto me and crossbows lifting up at me, a fireball streaks over my left shoulder and hits them, the force knocking me back a few steps.  I was severely wounded and took a few steps back to gather my wits.... being so hurt changed my tactics.... but we were in the fight now... and I was the armored one... I had to protect the likes of Barleycorn... a young adventurer perhaps over his head in all of this.
  Healed, but how?  Not caring from what, I charged into the fray and took some hits... got knocked down again, and healed again... never resting, never relenting, I charged again. 
  After it was all over, I find out that it was Tre who had healed me first.  The other two I do not know.  I was still near death and angry with the fireball.  I lashed out at Tre, calling her dense, why would she use a fireball?  She said she had warned us not to get in the way.  I countered that she was afraid to use it before until someone did charge, that she was too careless with the lives of others.  We fought and argued and finally I grumbled and walked away from her.  There seems to be no talking sense into women!
  Or is it that I have expectations of women being something different than strong and independent?
  We left the swamps and I apologized to Tre.  I had fallen, again, into the realm of emotion and I needed to chanel it better than it chanels me.  She seemed cold to any apologies.  I let it go at that.
  I must now clean my armor, rest, and pray to Toran for guidance in future behavior.
    (O.O.C.  no real arguments between Tre and Tristan, just RP... both of us thought it was fun to play these parts of our characters)