Author Topic: Freldo Jabutica's Journal and Letters, Volume One (Read 1847 times)

SuperMunch · « **Reply #40 on:** April 05, 2006, 07:36:21 AM »

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Return to Freldo's development index

I really should start writing about Drezneb's attack on Blackford Castle... I sit down to start writing about it but then something less important comes up and I get distracted. Oh look, shiny!!!! ...in a slightly different ink... Nothing of intrest there, just a brownie running around with a polished iron shield. Where was I... Yes, Addison... I find I enjoy having her around, she's a brute that lacks a gentle touch but she's well meaning and she does look good in a dress and her green hair does add a certain charm. Annalee and I were listening in to Masters Plenarius and Ozymandias talk about their plans for Eon and Drezneb when Addison showed up and kicked me for getting killed on our trip to Rodez. Annalee was visibly upset (thanks Addison, you klutz) and went to sit closer to Masters Ozymandias and Plenarius and I was left with Addison, mad at me for telling Cole what she felt for him. Fortunately, others heard her complaining and told her she was very obvious in her ways so she relaxed a bit and just came clean, or slightly clean - you can never truly understand women - to me about her feelings to Cole. Poor gal. Brave enough to face giants, strong enough to strike down elementals on a single swing of her curvy keen sword, corageous enough to follow Cole without hesitation but still a woman with feelings. I should have suspected that, after all one doesn't go through the work of fashioning plate mail into the appearence of a dress if you're not intent on looking vaguely feminine. As I like Cole for some reason - might be the fact that he is crazy - I sent him a bird telling him of Addison's feelings so that he can, if he wills it, treat her with more gentleness (HA! But I must do my duty to Ilsare in these matters). I embellished the message quite a bit, but I had to make him understand how much Addison likes him and, in a way, how much we all like him. I really should get back to writing about Drezneb's attack... But I probably won't, Annalee's doing a fine job of telling everybody about it - I might talk to her later and get her input on these matters and transcribe them for public records. Good girl, doing a fine job with spreading the facts, I fear I distort them to much. That's good for me, gives me a little more time to hone my fighting abilities, especially with my little friend! I haven't seen her for a long time... I'm starting to miss her and my poems are showing it.

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Edit: Added the header up above. I hate correcting old posts, it takes their original meaning away but I had to add the final line at the end. He has a lot of poetry written on the subject but since they haven't been written in his journal yet, I had to make a mention to her.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #41 on:** April 07, 2006, 09:09:52 AM »

... Nearly Ninety Days ...

So
Long
Ago.
Still no word.
Heart stops with longing memory.

It's true what they say, nothing like bleeding to know you live...

Lots of new folks in town, a bit of a distraction from my vagrant thoughts of events dearly transcribed.

Let me stop thinking about her for a moment...

There!

Lots of new folks in town! I've taken a few to see what Hlint has to offer from the merchants to the crafting house to the city's sewers. How I fondly remember the rats! How I panicked every time I saw one and now I feel sorry for the poor critters and if I could simply not engage them, I wouldn't but the new folks must work a little so I sing for them and let them attack - healing them if they're ever so injured.

It has been said that one should stop remembering the names of the dragon's new recruits to avoid missing them when they're dead and gone. Whoever started that cared very little for the memories of youth for most of us are born of love and each deserves to be remembered, if only as a footnote in the annals of lore... There I go again, depressed again... Time to stop and take another breath...

So, new folks... I took Brian (farmer's son, prefers fighting with bows), Aurvang (dwarven cleric, strong fellow), Thomili (prefers "Thom", nice fellow) for a trip around Hlint with the every lovely Rhynn. We showed them some of the sights and sounds, not to mention how to customize their armor and gear - it should be intresting to see them in the near future, a bunch of slightly less green folks.

Then we plunged into the sewers after meeting another brownie, Shyloch (or "Shy" but in our party, the only shy one was Rhynn), twice... Well, it was a rough trip for most of them but it wasn't my fault. I kept them safe but the world conspired to keep the rats in there safe from us.

Upon surfacing I saw the ever lovely Annalee with Remiel (I met him a few days ago, but I hadn't really talked to him and I still haven't yet).

I fear for Annalee, I know little of Remiel but I do know he has been around the world quite a few times and I despair to think what troubles he might take her into. In fact, I even went so far to threaten Remiel of hurting her. "If you hurt Annalee... I'll be sad." Pretty lame, but that's probably the best I could do considering he could crush me with a bat of his eyelashes.

Anyway, that's been the past few days, tonight I am ready to submit to Kharl's punishment at the Arms and I do hope things go well.

Now, I must find something to do before suffering returns to me in waves and waves of despair and solitude. I really must drop this quill and leave before I recall the warmth... yes, the warmth that drew bright splashes of red upon my closed eyelids as we...

... abruptly ends ...

SuperMunch · « **Reply #42 on:** April 10, 2006, 09:04:31 AM »

... 90 days ...

Over three months.

Good thing I've been busy the past days.

Let's see... A dress with apples, hill giants, golems, lizardmen, kobolds, goblins, spiders, more spiders, earth elementals, female, female fury, more female fury, even more female fury, female jealousy and dragons. Well, maybe not dragons... but the rest is all true.

Start with the easy bits, lizardmen, goblins, kobolds and spiders...

I'm trying out my hand at actual hand-to-hand fighting and I'm pretty happy with myself, I manage to leave a wake of dead, if they're slow and weak fiends, wherever I pass. It's wonderful to not feel so useless anymore, in a little more time I'll be able to handle tougher foes, maybe even some undead or ogres.

Golems, hill giants, more spiders, earth elementals next...

Renji took me along on two of his little trips... One into the Cavern of the Eye and one to the mountains east of Fort Velensk.

Berri, Jay, Tegan and the Count were my companions (along with Renji) to the Cavern of the Eye... and boy was it quick. We made quick work of the gnolls and dire and wraith spiders in the first level of the dungeon but the next level, with the massive earth elementals, was as far as we got. Tegan fell, despite fighting with all our resources - I was drained of my song of help and curse and of my healing spells and in the end I did what I do best. I ran away, I fled clear into Fort Hope - when I recovered, I made my way back to find the party fragmented but I did manage to help the party's retreat.

Next time with Renji, it was the Berhagen Mountains and Shoufal. Renji, Tegan, Jareg, Ifion (a bard with clerical powers), Ash and another fellow whose name I missed, plowed through to Shoufal. On arriving, Renji and Jareg insisted on going to some cavern nearby for some reason. I accepted, after all, they are both very good warriors and Ash is also a good warrior and I took up the role of warrior also - shield and rapier in hand with spells of protection and aid.

Another series of tough battles that I survived, despite all indication that I wasn't going to make it. In the end, I was almost killed once but I did survive and when retreat was imposed on us, I led the way out... again... Eventually, Freida showed up and her battle cries were heard, ringing through the valleys while I rested from another near death experience.

There, two down...

Female fury, more female fury and even more female fury...

After leaving the mountains I finally gave up and accepted Freida's invitation to fight it out in the Fort Velensk arena. At first it was Freida versus Ash so that I could see what had to be done in combat. A quick fight between them with Ash prevailing.

Next was Freida versus me. Done and I won an easy battle - if you count Freida's retreat to enrage herself while I healed myself.

Ash versus me. Done. Ash went down with barely a trickle of blood of mine flowing... I taunted her so much I actually felt sorry.

Ash and Freida versus me. Quick work out of Ash while I dodged Freida and quick work out of Freida and then quick work out of Ash again.

How I laughed! Invincible against long legged elven women that wear dark hoods and brownies!

Then Freida did something cruel, she went to call Addison to beat me up.

Thrice in a row I fell at her lovely feet and I only knicked her once. Even with a rose she managed to knock me unconcious, not that I mind being felled by a fair flower wielded by a fair (yet brute) maiden. I could write poems about that but then Addison would probably kill me for being so happy to get knocked out by her... Wait! Got an idea for something to write for her!

... a little while later ...

She'll want to kill me now for sure.

Now we swing around to just "female"...

Perhaps the dress bit should be addressed first... no... a little later.

"Ee ceela bunch-of-vowels". I should have learned elvish but I never thought it would be useful, but at least I'd understand what she said to me. Wait... I do know, but I'm just not willing to admit it, after all I do know what "ceela" means.

She doesn't want to admit to me what she feels for me in common and, frankly, I'm not ready to listen to it, especially because I have already been snared - but currently I'm just bleeding in the slow torture of not seeing her. At least Sabrissia has seen her, which is a comforting thought.

So... She said those three words to me and invited me to visit Lar with her, to watch over the land from the top of the waterfall. A scenic view, one that I will probably never forget, with company turned from foe to friend in an instant. She may be rugged and may have a hard time opening up, but her eyes have a spark that I have seen before in quiet pools and polished mirrors and I do not have the heart to put her down.

Yes, I do not have the heart to put her down. It may seem like I like to keep my options open but I swear that's not the case - she's a flower... made of forged iron probably... but still a flower and I do not wish to crush her for no reason.

Wait... I am being selfish. I would feel bad for this if she was a frail maiden that depended on me (as Annalee was with Kiva) but she isn't. If she needs me as a dream, I will not deny her this wish but I cannot realize it.

So she told me, in words crooked through lack of use, of how we got off to a bad start. We sat and talked on the hilltop of things light and airy and a change passed over me, she's as dear as one can desire but just a little out of tune with her feelings. I don't blame her, being 128 years old and living the life of a ranger must really turn your attention towards might and rage, away from grace and beauty.

Yes, the change is subtle, I cannot feel at ease to jest with her in my usual ways - which is a pitty for I loved taunting her. Now her armor is no longer just the focus of my jokes.

Oh well... Fickle are my intrests but deep is what I feel for one that has gone from my life.

Now for the dress with apples...

After laying myself at Kharl's mercy I took up his punishment and dressed myself as Gweneth Pom Pom for my evening's work at the Leilon Arms. It was a blast! A shame Kharl's appearence was so brief it took the heart out of me.

He is a good teacher because he is such a cruel punisher. If it wasn't for all the ribbing I got for the costume, I would have been depressed because of the way he just blew my hard work off. I sent him a letter confessing my humiliation at his "don't be stupid" statement and promised to learn to at least respect the dead. I hope he finds it in him to pardon me for enjoying myself while I was being punished.

Anyway, it was a fun night, a shame Derrick and Kali weren't around and the drinks all went missing (strange, considering they were all there the week before).

Oh, an intresting thing happened, while prancing around, I heard that the party I was a part of the week before was gathered near Blackford Castle - I quickly ran over there, despite being dressed up as Gweneth (but at least I managed to pull my own clothes on) to try to listen in. They were all there quietly waiting for the decision to be made and instructions to arrive. I did manage to wish Cole good luck on the possible adventure to the Great Rift (if they followed up on their previous intentions) or wherever else they would go (if Master Ozymandias had his say on things).

Finally... After another LONG entry... Female Jealousy...

While guiding a new fellow in Hlint, Honora and Kyle told me of troubles near the great tree in the west side of Hlint. Since I was busy with the new guy, I didn't rush over there to get a look on things but when I did... All the hells had broken loose.. At least a part of the hells had broken loose.

I managed to fish out some information...

Master Ozymandia's fiancée (?!?!?!), Kae, appeared and wanted to know why Rhynn was flirting around with Ozymandias. (!!!!!)

Well, I had to laugh. If not to others, at least to myself. Who would have guessed that such powers could be bothered by a single lovely example of beauty as Rhynn!

I sat with her and we talked a while and I believe I managed to calm her down, good thing too because she was quite a bit upset.

Wow...

SuperMunch · « **Reply #43 on:** April 12, 2006, 06:05:08 AM »

Transcribed from another source, the handwriting's neat and organized... Good Bye With your kiss, you said goodbye. Upon the pier I stood and watched, The ship slip out from the bay. Point Harbor, Rilara, So far away. One kiss is all we shared. Moments before you had been there, I could feel your breath sweet. After saving me from death, You sailed away. I miss you. You sought me out, from north to south, Upon Bear Island, to say farewell. You saved me twice that day, From death and solitude. I see you when I close my eyes. Knowledge I lack but emotions I have to much, You left, from the deck you waved. I love you, you slid away, I did not understand. In dreams, you're here. I am now left alone in the darkest of times, My priestess, my mistress, my love. Your absence, I greive, Please return. I never said goodbye. Despair. ... Well, that's it then I guess. I haven't seen her for quite a long time but I know she's around. Calise told me she had been around Hlint as did Annalee but I never seem to see her around and that tears at me. It's like we're night and day or hot and cold - always so close to each other but just... never in the same place together at the same time. Long have I tried to find a way out of this place but solace resides just out of reach. I've made new friends and done a few new and different things but they seem empty, as though I'm trying to fill a bottomless ditch with dirt and sand with a miniscule shovel. Joy for me resides in friendship and company but the moment I'm alone I return to my ditch to gather my useless shovel and continue the chore. Comfort, completeness and true happiness escape me. Unease, emptiness and despair are the tripod that sustains me. I stand close to the wheel of fire, it's heat slashes me yet little strength do I have to resist it's calling. I wish I knew how to handle this in a better way. I've asked Annalee, if she ever sees her around to tell her how much I miss her, however, I fear the gulf between us might have sundered our bonds - subtle as they already were. Is life a series of moments of joy sandwiched between suffering? Is this the spice of life? Am I to be happy I suffer because I suffer for greatest of emotions? Why am I asking so many questions? Best get out of here and find something dangerous to do to bring some blood into my tears.

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/* A happy-go-lucky bard repressing depression caused by projected/narcisic romantic love, desperately trying to cover it up... This is so much fun. */

SuperMunch · « **Reply #44 on:** April 14, 2006, 07:53:14 PM »

Quickly before I head off to Firesteep.

Trysk's back and I heard Ranewin talking about him at the Leilon Arms with fondness - I guess old love never does die.

Guess that's over... Good thing though, no more dilemas about that.

Now, how does one forget?

No, really... HOW does one forget?

SuperMunch · « **Reply #45 on:** April 17, 2006, 06:25:12 AM »

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/*
These letters will be sent via LORE.
*/

Letter One: To Ranewin

Fairest Ranewin,

When I saw you leaving from Point Harbor so many months ago, I knew something was going to change between us and it did.

Your fiancee has returned and I leave you to your recovered love and to your new life.

I will see you around of course, we did manage to bump into each other from time to time. Our bonds in faith still hold and our bonds in friendship will forever stand while my spark of brief life holds, I can swear upon that.

Be well dear Ranewin.

Signed,
Freldo

Letter Two: To Ash

Dearest Ash,

I know only one word in elvish - taught to me so long ago - and it's "ceela" or however it's spelled. I can only guess that either you love me or you love something that happens when I'm around - who knows, Ferocious Ash may even have a crush on my laughter.

Nevermind the teasing, the fact of the matter is that I know.

I've know since the day Annalee convinced you tell me. If you remember, that same day you took me to Lar, you told me a touch of yourself and I was so happy for it for I know it musn't be easy for you. I think you're most relaxed around me trying to pummel me in the arena and I'll happily accept your challenges to see you happy - even if you can only run me through when I'm using my undersized short sword.

Ash, I hold you dear to me - very dear.

I recognize what you do when you take off your hood, I know that you know what it means to me. I enjoying seeing you fight and I won't turn down the chance to fight along side you - wherever it is and even if it's with Larry or Curly.

As you may have guessed, after building up hope in you, I must mine it, at least a little bit.

Ash, I'm not entirely whole.

I have suffered a wound that has ripped the heart out of me and I have sought solace in spilling my own blood and maybe having my heart ripped out. Poor Calise, at my temple, has had a rough few days patching me up.

I've since started amending this out of my self-sworn duty to Rhynn but it has opened in my a facet - that of the joy of battle - that I wish to explore with you, if you permit it.

When you first confessed, I was not yet injured but events have brought me to this state in which I languish. Time will heal it, I'm sure but I may not be the same as you have wished near you before.

As a matter of fact, you've seen it already - I'm not the coward you once knew and that does bleed a little of the one you were attracted to.

Ash, understand that I do like you. You're a pleasure to talk to and a perfect target for my taunts but I'm not sure I give you what you seek in me.

I'm frail, human, a bard and with a broken heart - I'm not sure how you can like me still but if you do, after this letter, I'm sure we'll form a new bond.

Who knows, we may even be called the Beauty and the Beast (I'm the beauty, of course).

With my deepest affection.

Signed,
Freldo

Letter Three: To Rhynn

Dear Rhynn,

When we talked near Lake Rillon - before the terrible incident in which I failed to protect you once again - I never said a great many things - as I'm sure you noticed. Selfishly, I let you speak of the great harm done to you by your master and when my turn came, I said nothing. If I did speak, maybe the crazy gryphon would have spared us or at least spared you - maybe, just maybe.

I feel guilty of being so selfish with one as giving, to me at least, as yourself, so much so that I've had a terrible night's sleep because I've seen three great issues that need to be resolved in my life.

The first is to obtain closure for my ailing heart, the seconds is to reveal what I know to one I care about and finally to confess why I've been like I have for the past days.

As I write this letter to you, I've written letters to try to obtain some comfort for the other burdens I suffer. Now it's your turn - I will tell you what I did not tell you on the banks of Lake Rillon.

I'm a simple man, a scholar and an innkeeper's son with the knack of song, jest and upmost loyalty to my friends but a terrible cook and very easily distracted. That much you know and have warmed to - those are my qualities.

However, I'm a coward but I've also never had a keen sense as to what "danger" is. I've seen myself in perilous situations only to run away from them - perception of possible peril is not something they taught me in school or something my bardic master, Eldar, instructed me. This is my failing.

Quick to rush and slow to perceive is my downfall in where I'm most naive: love.

Long before the Dragon called you, I fell in love - against my wish, mind you. However I always knew my love was doomed, fragile on many sides - not a house build with foundations of stone but a quickly pitched lean-to with a termite-ridden beam and old dried leaves for walls.

A few boulders were set to roll down the mountain and crush my little lean-to - the first was that her fiancee had set off to sea, the second was that as human, I'd be dead before she aged a year and the third, she didn't need my around - self sufficient as she is.

Ranewin's her name, the same elven maiden that came with you and Annalee to the Leilon Arms at last opening. That same night, the first boulder rolled and it crushed me, tore all the goodness that comes with that feeling I felt away in the blink of an eye. Empty shell of myself stood, will to live drained away into some unseen pit.

I don't know if you've known love but I can tell you that you'll know it when it comes but it'll make that burden you carry, Anger, trivial when it leaves. Grasping onto love is dangerous, if there's a lesson to learn in this story.

I needed to feel the blood in me again - I had to feel it, even if it was seeping away upon the soil. I wanted to die at Firesteep, but I didn't want you to see me fall in such an silly way so when we returned, I slipped away and got beaten to a pulp by the first ogre I met.

I felt good to be in physical pain - as I told you later. Losing Ranewin to the outrageous tides of her greatest fortune brought a drought upon my shore and my own blood was all I had to satisfy it's thirst.

That sounds very pathetic and overly emotional, but that's what I felt at the time.

Then you came along - as the metaphorical melting of the great expanse of ice to the far north and further south, you slowly seeped away my willingness to seed the soil red. In fact, it was at the Arena in Fort Velensk that you all but blew it away when you crushed me in our little duel, I cared very little about the wounds you inflicted on me - I cared about not harming you.

No your trip to Arborea, my being killed laughing (which was definately fun - I had never managed to time dying and laughing so well) and awakening to see you furious with tears in your eyes brought me down to the ground in a new way. If I wasn't there to try to cheer you up I would have broken down from the look on your face.

I'm the youngest of my house so I've never had to look after anyone - which explains a lot of my selfishness - but now you're here and I feel I must take care of you, however pathetic an attempt I make at it.

I guess that's it Rhynn - I was losing it until you decided that you had to care for me. Now the tables are turning and I'll do what I can to care for you - on your permission.

Pre-PS: I've actually taken a liking to fighting hand to hand so I'll take an old friend's suggestion and start doing more of it and I will still use it to vent my frustrations but I'll try to be safer now, I won't charge in bare chested anymore.

Thank you for your being around Rhynn and I'm sorry I took so long to confess all this to you.

Signed,
Freldo

SuperMunch · « **Reply #46 on:** April 18, 2006, 07:42:20 AM »

I got a letter yesterday after sending my three letters... and my left eyelid started twitching. I feel like a piece of metal sheet that's being stressed. If stress is an applied force that tries to deform a body, I'll add a "and soul" and apply it to myself - not that I'm a piece of a sheet or anything, but... well... forget it. First things first, the past few days in as few words as possible.

Leilon Arms Inn, good story with Master Plenarius and broken heart.
Firesteep with Master Plenarius, Cole, Jennara, Acacea, Owen, Kali, Rhynn and a few others.
Getting killed by an ogre after being turned to stone by a cockatrice.
Lar, Chubby, Craftsman, Shoufal, Ulgrid, Lar, Craftsman, Chubby and Book.
Arborea. ARBOREA!! With Rhynn, Annalee (I miss talking to her), Mith (Fiddle!!!), Durthak and others. There were a lot of folks, but I was there for Rhynn so I just payed attention to her.
Taunted Grympint... I'm still waiting for him to invite me to see the sights in Fort Velensk - that is, take me to the arena. Such a grumpy dwarf, I don't think he'll ever know how much I like him.
Kicked the snot out of a lot of lizardmen with Caighd, Maev (she got upset at my blood lust and I bet she has never seen a man with a broken heart before), Daniel and a few others.
Another worthy death, at the hands of some bandit near Point Harbor.
Velensk Arena with Addison, Rhynn, Master Ozymandias and Ash.
Kicked Ash's butt, stayed attacking Rhynn and got creamed by a half-naked Addison with her flower of Death.
Beat the snot out of Dervish (but told everybody it was the other way around) and got knocked out by Ash (but told her I know that 'ceela' means love).
Fishing trip with Rhynn, got her killed by a stupid gryphon.
Reworked armor for the thousandth time. Looks better now. Maybe? Dunno - but it's turquoise and easier to put on.
Sleep.
Hlint.

that

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/* Freldo was gonna go bipolar but NOOO some of you conspire against my wishes for a bipolar bard. Now he goes back to a sense of normality, a naive bard lead by his heart - which is great considering he's a follower of Ilsare. One thing though, he'll do some strange stuff from now on - spasms, begging foes to kill him, bashing the bodies of the fallen, etc. He's not nuts, but he's not well. */

SuperMunch · « **Reply #47 on:** April 19, 2006, 10:25:34 AM »

Let's see... So much in such little time that I'll have to try to abbreviate things Good gifts I got:

After many, many days of avoiding Annalee a thought passed over me... She's a bard yet I have never seen her with an instrument, not to mention that I did have a little present for her - an extra cougar bag I had but wasn't using. So, I quickly tore apart an ettercap, dire spider and a hoard of beetles to get some silk and I shredded a clan of orcs to pick up some hickory. With a litle luck, I managed a mandolin, a violin bow and guitar. I'm still not to sure of my skill to make a violin for her but I'll work hard on it. I practically shoved the bag with it's contents (no bow, I want to give the violin to her whole, not in parts) into her pack while she was gathering with Ireth, Rhynn and Elladan to stop Addison from facing that Koralawyn person (as per Ireth's request). She was obviously happy for the multiple gifts but was too busy to try them out but I think I gave her a little joy and the mandolin did seem to fit her - I don't know about the guitar though. Time will tell how her talent on the instruments go.
I had forgotten about the letter I had sent Ash with so many things happening (more later) but we sat and talked. I told her about my complicated relation with Rhynn and how she needs me right now and I was as honest as I could be with her. This is listed as a good gift because we forged a new bond, so to speak, and she told me of herself and her hard life. I felt so deeply for her, such loss and treason she suffered over her young elven life - I don't know what it is, but she seems a lot more fragile than I ever thought her to be. We talked seriously for the longest while, I heard a little of her tale with Glenn and of other things. Inevitably, my talk led us to some lighter subjects and she accepted some nonsense, I suspected she wasn't that hard a person. We exchanged a hug and parted ways.
Kali sent me a message stating that Room 101 in the Leilon Arms is now mine! Great! The only problem is that I never really paid attention as to which room is which. Might as well go looking in there.

Tyrian and a few others decided to explore Storan's Crypt and that turned into a mess in no time at all... Our party's cleric, Voom got confused with so many people that he mixed up his blessings and resulted in the first tragedy. Shouts and cries of battle, sword and scythe in hand, charge! And four dead in a moment. Oh, what to do? I stood by the door waiting for the fallen's return and helped them on their way. A few got upset at what happened and left the party - a wise choice considering things to come. We went further into the Grey Peaks, not that much further, just a little further and again death plagued the group. I was helping the fallen wymic return to his grave when a storm of arrows and flashing of knives cut the valley - our companions decided it best to clear our way - again without thought for reasonable possibility of escape. Ash had escaped twice from the fight but decided, stupidly to charge in a third time - the final time that was her last in the excursion. I was in my clothing hailing arrows upon the ogres bellow and by the time I got ready for any kind of battle, I arrived too late to be of any worth. Nearly all fell and I left the mountains enraged at the colective stupidity that plagued the group - I only stopped and turned back to help Tyrian and Ash return their graves. All the gold I picked up went right back into buying more healing potions for the next time a group decides to go crazy in the mountains.
Rhynn and Addison. Not that they're bad (they're not!) but they've been overly... let's say... strange? For as much as I adore Addison and Rhynn, their actions of late are a bit... exagerated. Upon returning from my conversation with Ash, Addison proceded to slap me, kick me and throw me into the trashcan near the bell tower and the reason was because I was toying with Rhynn and Ash! Addison's pretty strong and I didn't really understand what was going on until she shoved my head into the barrel. When I understood I said something that I doubt anyone paid heed to - so I won't even repeat it here. Addison was blood thirsty - her wild eyes told tales of how her indulgence was driving her - soul aflame and lust for blood. Come to think of it... It was quite attractive in a very sick and twisted way. Rhynn's turn... First... Before I went to the Grey Peaks - Rhynn came to find me and she said Ash was teasing her because of the way I was treating her (Rhynn). When I spoke to Ash in the Ranger's Vale, she denied this of course, but I tried to explain that this was because Rhynn needs me - I probably didn't say it but if it was her (Ash) that needed me, I'd do the same for her, without hesitation. Next... While I was out at the Peaks and with Ash, she tried to drown herself! At least that's what Addison told me - I thought it was silly to try to drown in the pond in Hlint but, she did bear the proof of such silliness. Sopping and furious with Addison for kicking me around like that. When I finally found her we sat and talked and she told me she wanted to run away... so I suggested we do just that, and we ran to the lookout point near Haven. I guess it was the proper thing to do, run away, if only for a little while - indulge her a little, soften her worries, allow her to talk and calm her anger. I let her speak but I did talk more than I should have - I definately try to hard at times, at times it's just better to quietly listen and not become one of those knees-bent holier than thou paladin types (preachy). I saw something that was at once beautiful and sad - she took off her hat she wears from time to time and tears flowed from her eyes. "Oh" was my only word, despite it not being technically a word. So much lays on her or maybe she has taken more on herself than she should have. She insists she isn't helpless and frail, that her past ordeals have driven her into self reliance yet she all but comes undone when we're together. I don't mind this of course, tenderness in hard times is hard to come by and I do have plenty of it to spare.

Ranewin

Grympint

SuperMunch · « **Reply #48 on:** April 20, 2006, 07:26:57 AM »

Fantastic!

I need to use that word a lot more - has a nice ring to it, not to mention that it does remind me of Eldar and his black leather jacket, serious gaze when he wasn't amused and with his accent from the north. He used to say he had many names and that one day I'd also have many of them.

I don't think much of him anymore but I guess that's the way things are, master teaches student, master leaves, student goes back to serving and singing, student forgets his master, student gets called by a misty dragon to save the world against General Bloodstone, student has to fend for himself while avoiding showers of arrows, student gets trampled upon, student dresses up as a woman, student snaps, student gets unsnapped, student goes twitchy, student starts snapping again.

Same old story, with only varying amounts of commas.

Yup, that's reminiscing, something I don't usually do but I guess I can spare some time now that I'm writing this in my own room! Two of the chests are full with my junk and I can't wait to start accumulating more trash - wait, I should bring some of the stuff that's in Oxfordian III's pack here.

So here I am, in my room again, where last night's events started... No, not really, they started in Hlint but passed through here.

I packed up my gear from near the temple and stole away before Calise missed me - after pestering her for so long, I think she would actually miss me. But, as I was passing by the Great Tree, I saw Rhynn curled up in a ball. I tried to talk to her but had no initial success... Suddenly, Annalee comes up and throws a waterskin of water on her and leaves... What?

You know, I'm not gonna describe everything I remember, I'll just cut through the next half hour or so...

I sat with Rhynn where she went a poured out despair, solitude and fear. She was sure that everyone would abandon her, she was sure she'd be left alone and had to fend for herself and upset with all the lies she had heard. She was in tears but tried to hide it under her hood and explained her wet face on Annalee's waterskin prank (?) - I played along of course, I pry into other's lives but I won't dig into it if one doesn't want it.

I told her I wouldn't leave, that I wouldn't abandon her but this got her upset - and she was right, I could be lying to her. So I told her the truth - I don't know about the future, but right now, I won't leave her. She managed a slight smile and then dawn broke in my mind.

It was this... I know little of the other "riders" but what I know of Addison, Annalee and Rhynn - they are all sliding down a hill into a swamp of gods-knows-what-but-it-is-foul and I'm tagging along on my volition.

Addison has always been compulsive - which I always found attractive - but trying to throw me in the trash for another's problem is not like her. Rhynn told me that Addison was going to try to challenge that Koralawyn person, even if it meant death to Ireth's daughter - she may be quick to battle, but that's just stupid impulsiveness!

Annalee has faded into someone sad and far away, so far that she told me she had lost her song. I dearly miss her, it's painful to see her like that, not a smile, not a twinkle in her eyes, only a void of apathy. It's so very painful I shamefuly find myself avoiding her.

Rhynn is languishing with problems that are way beyond her - she worries about things small and large, worries about simple and complex. I have noted she's been having terrible mood swings, one second she's curled in a ball silently sobbing and the next she's skipping and laughing.

All their current states are dangerous to them selves but little do they know how much I suffer to see each of them like this. I hide my feelings with certain ease - all I have to do is remember Ranewin and my suffering for them are numbed. I wonder what will happen when remembering her ceases to stab me back - I only hope it'll lessen after the girls are in better shape.

So then... Rhynn curled up in a ball...

I haven't found a foothold in Annalee to help her take her mind off of things for a little while but since Rhynn has a huge fondness of me, I convinced her to go for a little trip of exploration but first... A stop here, at the Leilon Arms. I unloaded my extra gear into my chests and fixed things up while Rhynn explored the Inn.

We left for Rilara, to explore it's regions trying to make it to Karthy (which we failed, mostly because I'm very bad with my compass). We saw a lot of Wolfswood, giants and rangers but didn't pick any fights (thankfully).

When we passed Farmer Part's place and she told me she thought she remembered the Thalos River and when we ventured beyond Greywatch Tower she told me that she knew where she was now. When we passed by the bridge near Farmer Part's she pointed to the distant lands and said she remembered the river because she used to sail it's waters. Outside, all I did was smile. Inside, I felt strange - so strange that I have no word for it, except maybe SKEJASLARTE (I just made that up, I'll give it meaning later).

We returned to Mistone safe and sound, I stayed here in Leilon while she left for Hlint

I should end this entry now, especially considering how tired I am, but I need to put another two words down...

Confused
Skejaslarte

SuperMunch · « **Reply #49 on:** April 24, 2006, 09:26:18 AM »

It has been said that the most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the mind to correlate all its contents. That's what I think and that's how I live.

I'm blissfully ignorant of many things that are happening in the world but I know that dark tides are brewing and when they manifest themselves before me, I quickly shun them to a dark recess. At least that's what I think I do.

I shall relate the expedition that took us to the purging of the disturbance in the Haven Mines and it's possible origin, but the next step is not yet known.

A hearty group gathered before the mines:
- Brisbane
- Cole (looked tired and beaten, later I found out why)
- Geir (a bard that I had never met before)
- Sabrissia (I've still got to get used to her new "fully clothed" look)
- Key (she tried to eat the illithid, heh)
- Jin
- Dervish (looting faster than I could)
- Voon
- Karana (part of the group that discovered the disturbance)
- Vell (depressing person, and part of the group that discovered the disturbance)
- Xan
- Rhynn (pretty as ever)
- Dulan (our spokesman and a part of the group that discovered the disturbance), at least I think his name is Dulan.
- Me.

The following were also part of the group but I don't think I caught their names.
- Big cleric woman
- Elven cleric (part of the group that discovered the disturbance)

After assembling, Kit told us to report to Lord Rodor for a briefing.

We chatted a little on the way to his office and when we arrived he was talking to Saviar Morgensen who was leveling threats at him ("I'll send my own men down there and you don't want that" and something about Lord Rodor knowing the man's position).

We were informed that we had to clear the mines of the squidmen (illithid, mind flayers, a bad thing to eat even with lots of lemon as Key found out) and find their origin. Our reward was to be five hundred gold, Dervish got all happy because of the mention of gold and Brisbane exchanged it for a tree to be planted in the courtyard. Meanwhile, that annoying Vell woman kept trying to put us down with mentions of all of us getting killed and such - such a depressing person.

I found out, during the briefing, that these were not the Alhoon illithid, they were in a small group, mostly assault ones - not the most deadly kind, dog-like attack creatures and umber hulks. The ogres themselves were being controlled by the illithid but were no part in the scheming. It was also conjectured that the Umber Hulks might have burrowed the way from the Underdark into the mines.

Anyway, the mines needed to be cleared, and we were there for that.

After much talking we discussed each's role and prepared for our descent. The tougher ones of us took the front and the rest prepared our volleys of arrows and bolts. In a group with so many clerics, I stuck to protection spells and buffing the front lines.

The descent wasn't much of a problem, Cole, Brisbane and a few others made short work out of the stubborn ogres, the umber hulks and dog creatures were handled in the same way but with considerably more work (we even lost Dulan during an assault, fortunately Jin revived him). After bursting through a large group of Umber Hulks and a few more of those dog creatures we reached the lair of the ogres.

The chief, by some unknown hand (later I discovered it was an invisible Brisbane in her bear form), was dragged the chief to our party where he was interrogated about the illithid presence in the mines.

What I managed to gather from his interrogation:
- They came in from "the big entrance" (might be the entrance to the mines or it might be that they tunneled in from above or side tunnels, who knows)
- The illithid had sent an ambassador to the ogres
- They took the iron, coal and gems to make the dog creatures
- They hauled most of the iron and coal away
- The leader of the illithid was a "big brainy guy", but he hadn't come to the mines
- The ogre chief does not understand commerce, so establishing a working relation between the ogres and the Haven Castle to explore iron mining is out of the question. Poor ogres, getting slaughtered like that so the craftsman can extract raw ore - how I wish I could educat them so that they'd better exploit their position of dominance in the raw iron market without needless bloodshed.
- There were more squibbles in one of the corners of the lair.

Yes, that came as a surprise.

We rushed in there, not really organized and we met pleanty of resistence from a number of the dog creatures, umber hulks and ... a full illithid (at least I think it was a full illithid)! Battle was intense and many of us were seriously injured but the guards all fell and the illithid "constructor" was left.

Key interrogated him in a very delicate manner (that ended with it's accidental decapitation) but all we got out of the mind flayer was the image, planted in our heads, of a town in flames and on top of the town was a sword.

We explored the lab, I tried to pick up a few things but being as strong as an orc is smart (not very) I gave up but Cole picked up some machine that was surrounded by several incomplete dogs and umber hulks and hauled it back to Lord Rodor.

Ascent was easier than expected, I think the ogres were actually gracious for our ridding them of the infestation - they're smart enought to be gracious, but not smart enough to strike a lucrative mining deal - payment could even be made in cows or any other beasts that they might wish, strange how their brains work.

On returing to Lord Rodor, Dulan served as our spokesman (might as well let him take some of the glory, he was well prepared and he did "discover" the invasion). We transmited the information above to Lord Rodor (I tried to keep quiet and let Dulan talk) and we were graciously rewarded.

In the end, the sword over the town was tought to be either:
- A symbolic representation of the illithid's desire to attack a town
- Port Hampshire or Lorindar - they have some sort of sword statues
- Hurm - home of the Seven Swords guild that buys a lot of iron from Haven
- Some protected city (like Haven)

Many other speculations were thrown but these were the ones that seem the most reasonable to me and I am known to be wrong.

Anyway, we departed after splitting the gold I managed to gather from the mines and I'm sure Dervish picked up a lot of gold on his own.

Rhynn was upset near the end of the whole shebang, her mood swings seem to kick in when heavier problems arise.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #50 on:** April 25, 2006, 08:03:18 AM »

So much to write, let me see how I can group all recent happenings...

Addison
Rhynn
Ranewin
Acacea
All the rest.

Let me reorganize that:
Ranewin
Acacea
Addison
All the rest
Rhynn

There... Don't know why that order, but I might as well write this entry in that order.

Ranewin

I met her while I was digging for clay - to make myself arrows, I didn't do that bad considering how my mind was focused on meeting her, the word "awkward" was just scratching the surface of what I felt.

I had a lot to tell her... no... that's not true... I had very little to tell her, I never thought a letter could give me so much closure but it did. Add to that my keen ability to stay distracted, I found myself over her - I miss her but I no longer hurt the way I did.

I hope I really have moved on. I'll only know when I see her and Trysk (despite never meeting him before) together.

Acacea

At the Leilon Arms I heard the tale of a noble group's adventure to bring down Eon told by Master Plenarius and it tore at my heart to hear the tale. It's hard to describe why I was so hurt when I first heard the tale - the ending of the tale was the clearing of the path to the destruction of Eon but the path was marred by missplaced trust, a risky maneuver and even a hint of betrayal.

It seems that the downfall of Eon might bring about evil in the future - an evil that might be a part of my generation's bane since the Blood war seems to be coming to a close (with the defeat of Bloodstone's generals).

I saw Acacea listening to Master Plenarius' tale with the attention of a monk and I also noticed how she avoided Cole (and Cole avoided her). I noticed how quiet she was, as if something drained all the joy from her "right sized" frame...

You know, that's why the tale struck me so deep. Acacea's reaction to it. If the events surrounding the elimination of Eon's phylactery managed to drain her infinite lake of mirth, there must have been terrible things surrounding it.

After the group seperated she came to the bar where I retreated to after the shock and told me her account - it wasn't at all different but gave greater depth to the matter.

It seems that the rush to get things off to find the phylactery led the party to the very unwise decision to accept help from a group of dark wizards - in the end the dark wizards kept their partial word, to empty the phylactery of Eon's soul, but have kept the vessel whole for their own use.

Acacea told me that this was going on while another feasible plan was being worked out that did not envolve any party except the world's current heroes. She was upset that the mob, as she called it and I've since adopted, stupidly chose a risky course because of haste and a few words given by trusted members of the party.

I was happy to know that the Priestess of Ilsare Reventage (that I met once, long ago) stood with the reasoning that it was better to seek out an independent solution without help from the dark wizards. It might seem silly, but it's good to know that my own choice would have been a reflection of the choice of one of the high priestesses for the Lady of Dreams.

It was a depressing night. Acacea only made it worse but her keen observation of the matter made sense of the gloom that settled over the patrons and myself. Mind you, she made it worse but a good shot of reality is always better than a lifetime of fantasy. Anyway, I am once again in her debt for teaching me much of things that I ignore and gloss over.

Addison

She's mad, MAD I tell you! But, she is a lot prettier now. Maybe she's become passable as woman in her appearance and her ways. She removed the green dye from her hair, changed her manner of dressing and seeing her around Cole changed the image I had of her.

Cole is doing her a wonder of good and I think that's fantastic.

Except when she's nuts.

So, she was there at the Leilon Arms next to Cole, I kept hearing them whispering of sweetly to each other and my first reaction was to empty my stomach somewhere - imagine that, the two hardest fighters I know talking amenities in a public arena. Yuck... but that's when I noticed Addison's change, it was like looking a picture for years and not seeing what it represents but then, suddenly, noticing that it's a picture of a vase with flowers.

I liked it.

A shame it didn't last long.

I was walking through Hlint when she grabbed me and told me I was going to the Haven Mines with her, lucky for me I had been withness to the cleaning out of the illithid threat. It was a fun descent with Riley and Angela (not THE Angela, an Angela) - since we were in a small group, it was a very lucrative descent and she was back to the gal I know.

I thought my fun with Addison was over until, as I stepped out of the bank in Hlint, she dragged me off to fight some Gloom character.

lots of scribbling, words like "crazy freak", "wacko", "less coffee", "smite her" can be seen

To make a long story short, she chased me around when I went invisible with that gnomish lens of hers but I did manage to run away from her into the crypts (then she gave up and left me alone).

I also saw she bought a horse. Feh. Now she'll be able to trample me when she's up for some "entertainment".

There's more to be said about her, but I'll stick with this - I have a lot to write about.

All The Rest

I met the Angela, she might be insane but she sure passed herself off as a predator. Asked me to turn around for her and she was licking and kissing everyone around. Kinda strange, in a good way.

Brisbane has a sense of humor, who would have guessed a druid with a sense of humor. "All the good ones do" is what she replied and she's probably right. After receiving our reward from Lord Rodor, I was outside splitting the gold I picked up and along comes Brisbane with a cow on her heel, she makes the cow walk up to me and "lick his head". I was too distracted counting coins to notice the slobber but the folks around me did step away. I guess that's why one of them make a yuck-face when I handed them their money.

That Vell character really depressed me but good thing she's nice to look at.

Rhynn

Last but first.

Oh my.

Where to start?

No, really, where to start? I've been spending a lot of time with her and it's been a well invested time.

We adventured into the Haven Mines together - she was upset down there and when we returned, but it was nice to see her blasting away with her magic, it's exciting to see her in action. She got injured with most of us during the final confrontation with the illithid but she made it out in one pretty piece.

Later that day, when she arrived back from a trip to Dregar with Ash and company for some giant bashing, she stayed at the Leilon Arms Inn to hear part of Master Plenarius' tale of the fall of Eon. She had missed the first part but I think she caught on listening to what Acacea told me and the tiny bit I told her.

As we were closing up the Arms, Rhynn was beyond cute helping Jharl, Acacea and I out in cleaning up - so much so that Jharl and I talked about suggesting her name to Kali as a new employee. I'm not an unbiased party in suggesting her and felt I had to tell Kali that. As we left the Arms Inn to find something to do, I suggested Rhynn take me to her home and her face lit up like a clear spring morning after a night of swift rain. I don't know why I proposed such a trip, it felt the right thing to do, I guess... Well, that was that and we were off to her home in Rilara.

Seeing her in her home was different - she took great pride in the surrounding area and in knowing her way around but she was defensive in the begining - especially when her sibblings showed up. I laughed to myself when her sisters thought I was her husband and she tried to explain that we weren't married ("yet" I swear she said that once) but I kept mostly quiet around them because I saw how delicate her relation to her family was and I didn't want to ruin it with some measured words. Her brothers were a different story, we spent time fishing (which I do a lot these days) and I taught them a song or two, mostly the funny ones - they took to it better than the ones about the strife that covers the world. I found out very little of her past but then again, I rarely pry into such matters. As a side comment, she kept her family's beauty mostly to herself - lucky me.

I could have stayed there forever if there wasn't a need for another bard in the world. Wait, what am I talking about, the world doesn't need another bard...

Anyway, she took me sailing - it was nice to be in her steady and able hands, a change from my taking care of her. I felt whole again for some reason - it might be from looking into her face while she maneuvered the boat (while I held the anchor down in the water), despite her hard work in handling it, she was still smiling. Yeah, I'm a bad person, but I'm a bad person for the right reasons - at least that's what I try to convince myself.

Again, as I pry little into such matters, nothing was spoken of Saebhel. I hope she manages to surpass her hatred, or whatever feeling it is, for him. She seems the happiest when she's thinking of now and the future, not of events before the dragon summoned her.

We returned, much to my chagrin, and we've been even closer since then. I don't know what happened but when I finally talked to Ranewin again and felt that I had nothing there to hurt, I longed to be with Rhynn. Strange, this thing called...

We've been around a little, but I don't feel she's ready to go out exploring with just me, I appreciate her tutor - Mith, a pretty mean fellow but seems nice enough and he does take care of her, when she doesn't err. It must be terrible to become a mage, the training is brutal because of the power they wield - so much so that the master must teach the pupil that failure and error are not acceptable options. I believe Mith teaches Rhynn that, he even let her mind be garbled by Chanda - it might seem cruel, but it taught Rhynn to not trust Chanda and other followers of Corath - a lesson I'm sure she'll never forget. If I was a wizard, I'd be dead in two shakes of a stick, being as lazy and resistant to lessons of good practice as I typically am.

Oh, a funny story... Well, not really funny, but amusing at least. I had ordered a ring from Ireth but I had forgotten I had done so and I ended up buying the same ring type from Kat, I also had a ring I bought LONG ago. That left me with three rings and only two fingers so I did the next best thing, I made a present of the extra ring it to Rhynn.

I felt a little stupid for giving her "leftovers" but I reasoned that she might be able use the help the little help the ring gives, not to mention that I did give her the ring I had since I had first learned to wield the rapier with more agility so it wasn't the newest ring, it was the one I had on the longest. I'm trying to justify a silly gift, but it is a part of me and I told her such - I might be her strength when we're together but that ring will give her a little boost when I'm not. I even engraved it with "FRELDO" the other day but I think I ended up writing "FRELOO" insted (hard to make the curve for the D so I squared it off).

About her garbled memories, I had a lot of fun with her - many things went through my head as I talked to her, trying to bring her mind in order. I though she had been struck on the head or her memories wiped from her by that Koralarwyn person so I took it easy - I asked her about things she remembered and heard and she told me of her old Master Saebhel turining into a dragon and I remembered she had told me that Mith could do that, then I started exploring her relation to Mith until she snapped back, good as new, with memories of Chanda's taunting.

I did learn one terrible thing about Rhynn's past - she was beaten by Saebhel, almost for his own perverted pleasure. My heart skipped a beat and I felt her, as if I understood some of the origin of her cute and not-so-cute quirks. I want to tell her what I feel so much but I don't want to hurt her, I'm not a virtuous man and I'll never become one, she needs a man to undo the perversion done upon her and I'm not sure I'm the right one for it.

I'll be with her, caring for her, loving her in the way she needs it.

Oh my.

I love her.

...smeared ink from the journal being hastily shut...

Quote

I did not reread this entry because I'm a day late in posting it, it should be funny to read how my mood swung from when I started writing it to how I ended it.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #51 on:** April 26, 2006, 12:48:39 PM »

...On a loose piece of paper in his journal...

I spend my days talking with you,
Yet I wish the days were longer so we'd have more time.
...
I tell you a great many things,
Yet the one I most want you to know, I cannot utter.
...
How I wish I could tell you, but in you things are already a chaos.
...
I want you well, even if, in the end, you might turn away from me as if we never were.
...
I'll go with you not for your sake, but for my own need to be with you.
...
We've yet to share a moment but I know it's fire will consume me. The flames rage within me and words are violence against my silent desire.
...
Your spell enchants me beyond any and all magic that can be spun from the weave, ask me and I'll do it. Whisper it to me, and it'll be your willing servant.
...
To whisper into your ear a word or four, might unlock in us a place where we might not wish to go for you are of the weave and I'm of the air. It might not be wise to tamper with such powers.

Yet love rarely attracts wisdom.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #52 on:** April 27, 2006, 05:56:29 AM »

Now I've done it.

I've taken a course that I had thought didn't exist and now I'm commited to it, in my own way.

Right about here, I should make a joke, as I usually do, but... well... let me try...

I'm doomed. Completely. Half of the women I play around with will want to kill me (or her). After so much playing around I'll be sure to get a good crushing after, what will probably be called, taunting them and teasing them.

I can see it now... Gingerly walking through the wood and bam, back at the Temple of Ilsare with a Bard-Killing arrow stuck in my back. I can also see a Staff of Turquoise Bard Killing turning the corner, right before I pop up under Calise's frown for another stupid "accident". When news of this spreads, I'm sure the forges will glow blue in heat while mighty weapons of Frilly Smiting are churned out by the dozen and unleashed upon the general populace.

I'd better start donating to the temple again, Calise will, once again, grow tired of seeing me dropped there.

There, joke's over...

It started off innocently but it has now come to bear fruit.

Not a bitter fruit, not a violation of trust, but an impulse - savage and hot threw me to prepare a snare - sweet and stupid, gentle and simple - to steal her kiss, the next was given, but the first... aye, the first, tenderly usurped.

It's as if a whisper - a hushed suggestion blown in upon a cool autumn breeze - unlatched my manacles and cut me loose from restraints of reason, respect and responsability. For an instant, I was unbound and free... and I tenderly cheated a kiss.

We stood stupid, of course, she didn't expect it and neither did I - it happened and we stood like slow-witted children while the world spun around us, or around me at least. It was appropriate, kind and warm - as things like this should be.

"Strange, to give rather than to receive, to take rather than to ask." was what I thought as she gathered herself in her lovely black dress.

All fantasy aside, I still do not know what is happening.

Customs have taught me to not play others, I have danced around the fire to avoid plunging into it but what I've done is to step into it with very little regard for myself or for her - I'm a dim, vagabond bard (with a room) and she's a slightly naive caster of the weave. Together, even in our most earnest desires, we're no more than the equivalent of a pile of uncooked beans - we'll be able to feed a few ogres if well cooked - but not much else.

Another point, I fear I'll just grow tired of her quicker, now that it has been fulfilled, and move on. It's an uncanny thought but one I must ponder upon for I know myself - if any of the few that I sight were to give me a subtle movement, I might plunge and it's a good thing they don't. I care for her deeply and completely but I don't know if a wanderer is what she wants.

Yet another point - it has been ages since I've been out to stretch myself thin. I adore being with her, but I miss the call of ringing blades and the rush of blood before the charge. I want to take her along, but I can barely defend myself - I know she can take care of her self and she can do what she wants - but I see her as a gentle maiden and treat her as such. That's why I think her choice of necromancy and being accepted as a master's pupil is good - then, at least, I'll be able to treat her with the highest regard (as one must).

The wild calls but she does also - one seduced me, the other is seducing me, which is the greater?

Now I'm in need of a good fight, or do I need to hold her tight?

Tough choices... I'll have to deal with this soon.

Quote

/*
I need to level to get See Invisibility ASAP... There are a lot of curious folks hounding Freldo.
*/

SuperMunch · « **Reply #53 on:** May 02, 2006, 06:53:01 AM »

There we were...

After a great ritual of binding - that, in the end, was useless - descending into Pandemonium, exploring a netherworldly city, stopping at a tavern in that city, entering an insane asylum, hunting down Koralawyn and trapping her, bringing Aranna (Ireth's daughter) back to Layonara and restoring some strange balance to the planes.

But what mattered is that we kissed on the shores of the Lake of Tarn in Celestia.

Come to think of it, it was a very long, hard and heartbreaking journey where many fell, myself included (twice). Despite the group's size, a great many foes inflicted a great many wounds upon the mightiest of warriors, the wisest of clerics and most powerful of mages - even Master Ozymandias himself was hard pressed to keep us all alive and well.

Yet, despite strife and toil, in the end, we kissed upon the shores of Lake of Tarn in Celestia.

No slaadi attacked us - and I even met a few wonderful and nice frog men - one was Slorg, now a resident of Celestia (Ilsare bless him) and the bartender Buggup of the tavern in that city in Pandemonium. However, the journey wasn't without it's share of fiends, the infamous animated chests, that Cole was taking me to see so long ago, petitioners of pandemonium, insane patients of the assylum, strange floating skulls and beings that could crush your soul just by looking at you - I fell to two of these. Not to speak of Koralawyn's killing of Remiel (so I heard, I was dead at the time). She fell only once, at my side, as we watched Koralawyn taunt us holding the amulet that was to bind her, she fell moments before I did and my will was gone in that instant.

Despite the bloodshed, in the end we kissed upon the shores of Lake of Tarn in Celestia.

When we returned, Addison was back to normal, as was Annalee - I've yet to see them after we returned but their spirits seem so might lighter that I end up grinning stupidly when I recall them. Oh, how happy I was to see Addison's bright face when we returned to Layonara, not the face of a woman obsessed with blood, drink and lust (not that I really mind the last part), but that of the feminine warrior that managed to touch Cole's heart. Annalee is spending a lot of time with Mith, who's also back to normal, but she seemed pretty happy. Mith is Mith again and on the hard road back to regaining his fame as a grumpy wizard - we're going to help him out of course.

For us, the best thing was that we kissed upon the shores of Lake of Tarn in Celestia.

We did as we planned, both of us stayed away from the focus of battle - I ran around healing the wounded and casting protection from evil spells, while she offered magical support and a volley of bolts from her light crossbow. We tried hard to not burden the heroes and I think we did a good job despite being little more than fleas in a party of that power. When despair hit her after Mith was killed in the Sanitarium's Catacombs, I told her what I've been wanting to tell her for a long time, to help her regain her focus - I told her I loved her. Amoung the insane figures of planes beyond our understanding, on the cold floor of stone hewn from the netherworld, under lights that shined with sources alien even to scholars, I gave her my heart with three simple words.

And when it ended, we kissed upon the shores of Lake of Tarn in Celestia.

I would say that I don't care for the things mighty and small that passed on our path but I feel their importance and understand, even in small glimpses, what happened. However, in my selfishness, I know that the greatest thing that has ever happened started on a filthy floor of a forsaken plane and was sealed on the shores of a holy lake in the plane of the lady of dreams.

We kissed upon the shores of Lake of Tarn in Celestia.

Under Ilsare's eyes.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #54 on:** May 02, 2006, 07:44:34 AM »

Good news everyone!

Actually, it's good newses (plural).

I don't write home much mostly beause I now live close to home and I steal away in the middle of the night to steal some of mother's cookies and leave cryptic little pieces of paper just to mess around with everybody. That and the fact that I regularly visit.

First of all, I've finally reached an agreement with The Weave as to which spells I want! Now, when I'm home again, I'll be able to make stuff invisible and find it later - so that invisible chair that has been haunting the common room will now be found and placed in a decent spot... for folks to trip on.

Second, I've taken mother's recomendation and I've decided to learn how to cook. Well, not really cook well but at least well enough to not shame myself when I have to water down the wine for the paladins - remeber that time I added distilled clear spirits to the wine and drove those Toranite Paladins into a blood frezny? Yes, good thing they were too drunk to remember it.

Next, I now have a nice suit of armor, a nice iron chain shirt, just like the one I used to wear long ago and a nice big shield to go with it. I'm actually something to be seen, a bard with a taste for hand to hand conflict. I'm still not a great, good or even standard warrior, but I can pull my own weight in melee - I can prepare myself with a few spells, use a few items that I have to boost my abilities, sing and plunge into battle. With two standard warriors at my side, I can actually take on an assault on ogres! I'm still a coward when rushing into an army of poisonous creatures but I'm close to passing over that hump.

Finally, things are looking better after that gal I wrote about so long ago got her fiancee back. It's strange how much I suffered when news of his return came over me but now I'm fine. Time healed that wound.

That's about it for now!

With love,
Freldo.

PS. Postmaster Vale promised he'd stop eating the cookies mother sends me.
PPS. Please do not take heed to the tales that have been circulating about me.
PPPS. Except for the one involving a girl called Rhynn.
PPPPS. And the ones involving my trips to other planes, those are probably true.
PPPPPS. As an afterthought, let me tell you all about Rhynn...

We met a long time ago, a little before she got thrown into the pond in Hlint for developing a crush for a certain archbard that I'm sure you've all heard of before.

I tried to ignore her but seeing that she was defenseless and frail - at least I think so - I couldn't help but hang about her like a fly to a wad of sticky but sweet smelling paper. It's a terrible analogy but it was a truthful one.

Anyway, our friendship bloomed and when the bottom fell out from my love of the elven lady I wrote to father about (he'll tell you all the whole story another time), I clung to her even more - out of friendship at first. In a letter she told me of her feelings for me and there we started spending more time with each other - and still, I kept her close to avoid harm to her.

Time passed, wounds that were to have healed and faded were cauterized and in me a storm began to brew. I knew I would never be the same after my love for the elven maiden and new surge grew in me, one that brought the desire of glory, seared in when Rhynn came along.

So my need to care for her has changed, I am with her because I want to be with her - I know she's strong enough on her own but we're working on how to best combine our skills. Together we're a formidable pair in abilities and with the ringing of steel, the smell of blood and the scorching of my rapier's it brings out my savage side - which she seems to like, so I make no great effort to hide. Bloodlust, I understand it now - savage and nearly uncontrollable.

However, together we're almost sickening as a couple. That much I must admit, the amount of gagging and dry heaves I see when we're together is more than enought to prove how much we're a nice couple.

She had declared her love of me a long while ago, but I only did so on a slight detour we took that lead us into the bowels of Pandemonium - not the tavern in Hurm, the PLANE of Pandemonium. We've been together for quite a while and things look good for us, I'm sure I'll take her home any day now to visit and steal some of mother's cookies, that will probably never make it out the door, as they never seem to do.

One might say I love her completely, of what I know about her past, she's quite a person for having grown way beyond what her family desired. Out of her family of zealots and priests, she's the only crafter of the arcane which makes me all the happier to be able to swap scrolls and spells with her.

All I want to know is what she means when she calls me a fiend, maybe mother can explain it to me.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #55 on:** May 02, 2006, 10:26:46 AM »

/* [SIZE=+1]This is all out of character[/SIZE] Two months after the first post, here's Freldo's current state of mind... His State of Mind: That is, what he's feeling... Ranewin leaving him marked him, he was going to go bipolar but instead, with Rhynn picking him up, he has taken his bipolar "need of pain" and transformed it into lust for blood. Now he buffs up and charges into the thick of it if he has any chance of helping out and stays back and supports whenever he can (because he's not stupid). His support style is based on Acacea's way of participating - running around healing folks invisibly and cursing or singing the fighters. He's only been whacked twice doing this - once in the middle of a meteor swarm and the other by those killer vines - so I think I'm gonna stick with it when he's not actually in the middle of the fight. On party interaction, he's starting to be more aggresive in groups and parties, usually taunting the slowpokes, the mages that fire off magic against dead foes (he is an arcane caster with lots of points in spellcrafting, so he _does_ know about magic) or the ones that talk a lot - he doesn't consider himself as a loudmouth but he will keep quiet for a few minutes if someone tells him to shut up. He knows he's not useless in parties anymore so treat him well if you want to be healed first in battle (except if you're Grympint, he'll heal him first just to spite him). The ones that mistreat him will also be healed, just not first. Inter-characters, he's taken his slightly raised aggressivity into that as well and added a large heaping dose of flattery. He's been taunting folks a lot more these days, especially the ones he doesn't know and the ones that offends him in a personal manner. However, if you're a semi-attractive woman, he'll flatter you. Heck, even if you're an ugly woman or a married one, he'll flatter you as well. The usual stuff but, as Casanova, he's not intrested in taking advantage of them - it's all about the game, not the score. His relationship with Rhynn depends on a great many things, most of which belong in the section below this one... Personally, he's reached a new high - he's gained confidence and he's begining to feel that he might become something useful. The time might come when folks will want him to come along, despite all the yapping and propositions to establish trading alliances with the ogres of the Haven Mines. His Direction: That is, how he's played... You guys are all fantastic! I play almost exclusively off what you guys do and how you interact with Freldo - rarely do I introduce something in his interactions that wasn't presented and twisted by him. I still intentionally keep him yapping, even in battle, and doing things the strangest ways I can just to make the characters react to him in some way - and it usually does. Some examples of great reactions from you guys: - Kharl's reaction to his crossdressing was golden, and despite not talking to Freldo anymore (OOC knowledge, of course), Freldo still likes Kharl very much as it's not anybody that managed to knock him off his horse. - Ozy's reactions to him are also great - whenever Freldo says something REALLY stupid it seems like the archbard is there to reply. - Grympint. Anytime the two interact I have a ball, be it Freldo throwing shiny coins to make Grympint go away or Grympint telling Rhynn he's been charming the boys. About Freldo's relationship with Rhynn, it was against my wishes for Freldo but I had to cave in because it would have been pretty harsh on his part to just dump her after the Pandemonium Horses arc ended. Yes, I was going to have Freldo dump her, but I reconsidered because it would have been a REALLY cruel thing for him to do after so much interaction - it wouldn't have been like him to seduce someone and dump them because he wanted to move on. Still about Rhynn, in a player-to-player point of view, LynnJuniper and I have similar typing speeds so our interaction is pretty fluid, which makes the whole interaction between them so crisp, sappy and mushy. As usual, I play by what I'm given and Lynn gives a lot to play off of so I have a great time and I'm always throwing in Freldo's not-so-bright side. I try to keep their atmosphere as charged as possible because it's in his character to toy and tease her when they're alone but I will tone him down if it's requested and roll with it, who knows, it might even add darkers tone to him by repressing this angle. Come to think of it, I should ask LynnJuniper if she minds it... As things are going, I'm focusing on getting to level 11 to start strengthening him up and turning Freldo into a battle bard by level 12 (hopefully he'll get Still Spell as his feat), he'll still have 75-ish HP by then but with the +16 HP from the song, buffers, buffs and curse song, he won't be that bad at fighting (hopefully). Well, as for other things, I've been trying, in vain, to reduce his journal entries but with his interaction Rhynn changed the focus of the entries, which is refreshing from my simple reading of events to looking at events through a different set of glasses. That's about it for this month's state of union address! Stay tuned for more... in a few weeks or months. */

SuperMunch · « **Reply #56 on:** May 04, 2006, 05:40:54 AM »

We are born to die one day...

At least that's what most of us do.

The rub is to fill what's between those two dates with things that make each day worth it. Some live it out to extremes: spitting in the face of death or challenging powers from beyond the circles. Some live it in quiet contemplation by atoning with the world, living in harmony and correcting the wrongs done unto the world.

I live to live. No moment is wasted, be it sitting on the bench in Hlint waiting for something to happen, cooking and crafting or lying down on the hills near Castle Blackford just talking of things small and smaller. Every moment doesn't need to be lived as thought it was the last, an hour might be lived as a pause before the next or every second of an hour lived in it's fullest with all the senses tingling in a constant euphoric explosion wrapped in warmth, comfort and ease.

I know very little about what's out there, a stone's throw into the shade held back by the frail light of hope, but a touch and an embrace have given the frail light a new companion to stay the dark. When I look back, there was no need for actions to frighten the blackness, for it was already there, but the bonds tied with deep crimson ribbons seared into me.

Fire and water, course and smooth, quiet and loud. The song was danced to music unseen in time unknown on the stage. No strangeness, no awkwardness.

Sights and sounds were fused into a rush of spinning lights and hums before a curtain of sleep fell... When I awoke, the air still bore the slightest memory and the room was as it used to be, still.

To think that it begun with a drunken confession to foul lashes dealt in the past and promises of future we have no way to control.

Cuts and burns and scars deep into her very self, poison suffered yet guarded by defenses worthy of mighty fortresses but unlocked by the humble key of kindness. These lashes, seen and unseen, are deep and uncureable by my hands - maybe vendetta, maybe reflection, maybe time or even maybe myself can cure them of it's sting.

I know more than I cared to know and I know my time will come to stand by her, the one who stole from me the sweetest of deaths.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #57 on:** May 08, 2006, 09:12:14 AM »

It was another opening of the Leilon Arms Inn and I was late, as usual.

It was Acacea's birthday (or something, I'm willing to bet that she tells everybody every day is her birthday), and all the other halflings were also honored guests so we had the presence of Jay, BB and Triba.

A fine night with the feature drink being Firewood Lager (Jharl must have had a lot of ingredients to spare), served by an enigmatic elven woman, Shielle. She said she was helping serve the drinks because of some kindness Kali had shown her. We talked a little, she told me that she was from Voltrex and had something to seek here in the west - a fine woman, polite and well meaning despite being strict in her moral ways.

The evening pressed on in a whirlwind of events, Addison and Treana were talking about Treana's training while Addison tried to force me to buy a necklace. Cole, who had left before Addison showed up, was dressed up in a white costume that I had never seen before...

Something struck me while he was out of his traditional "casual" armor... Cole isn't a young man, in fact, he hasn't been a young man for a long time and I'm afraid his legend might be forgotten if something bad happens to him. I remember him as the first veteran to lead me around (to Firesteep, no less and where I first set my eyes on Ranewin), I remember him taking me to Roldem to see it's devastation (which marked me more than I care to confess), leading me around Dregar to the desert and introducing me to so many other veterns. I owe him so much that I know I cannot repay, not in this life or in the next few hundred. I worry his thread grows thin, his ties to Layonara are stretched to within breaking yet I know little, far to little to adequately recount his story and, as one that I greatly admire, I cannot let the story of such a kind and generous man be forgotten.

That was one thing on my mind, how much I need to learn more about Cole.

Rhynn was there, got her cards read by Kali (which moved her greatly) and was around for the best events of the evening.

First, Daeron bribed me into pouring a bottle of whiskey on two pies, one for Acacea and one for Triba. I accepted his money, as part of it was to cover the price of the pies and whiskey and went ahead with his plan when Acacea slipped into the kitchen and caught me with the bottle in hand and the pie in the other. I had to tell her the truth after a quick interrogation and we decided that we would pretend I poured the whiskey on the pies and she'll find a way to tell Triba of our ploy. Unfortunately for Acacea, she couldn't keep the guise up for very long, the humor of the situation must have really gotten to her especially with Triba saying the pie tasted like an old boot.

Second, after nearly everybody left and I was cleaning up, Rhynn started chatting with Triba and Acacea. Rhynn was typically reserved and didn't want to talk at first but with a little nudging and Acacea's curious nature she said a great many things - including a few things that I didn't know - like her real name, which is pretty funny but she'll kill me if I say it or even write it down.

Finally, Rhynn touched upon the point that I had greatly wanted her to speak of in front of Acacea - the Arcane Alliance. I had suspected a great many things but I knew it was not my place to say things that might be considered poison to her ears - so I let ones that knew for certainty talk and they did their job true and struck, confirming my suspicions. I might be willingly ignorant of a great many things but I do pick up on things and I'm glad that once again I was confirmed. Point for me!

Anyway, Rhynn and I talked after both the little ladies went their own way and I told her of the basis of my suspicions, how I met some of the people involved, why I trust Acacea's word on such matters and of other things that I had caught wind of and seen. In the end we departed in search for something to do when Addison and Cole showed up and invited us to the Barbarian Isles - for some "fun in the snow".

There we went, the two couples, for a double date in the freezing north - romantic if you're into that sort of thing. Rhynn managed to stay out of trouble for the most part as we struck down the same caverns as when Cole led Ranewin and I so long ago. The warg riders and kobolds were as tough as ever but Cole and Addison made very short work out of them - how they work well as a team, all they need is someone to cast a few wards and protection on them and they're ready for battle.

Again I return to Cole, after talking quickly to him at the Leilon Arms and feeling him thin, I ventured a few questions into his past and I learned a few little nuggets, he is an orphan with his bloodline coming from the isles, there is a mage fellow that calls himself Cole's cousin, the first time he ventured into the mines of the north were twelve years ago and that Addison fashioned her armor to resemble Cole's.

Speaking of Addison, she is buying a new house in Pranzis. I have no idea why that's important but it is an intresting bit of information, maybe I'll actually start venturing into Dregar if I can find a way out of that continent and back to Mistone!

On our way out of one of the mines, Rhynn rushed up and was caught in the exchange of arrows and I went into panic - I fumbled with my potions and healing kits and spells in my panic and if it wasn't for Cole and Addison's clearer minds, I would have lost her. It wouldn't be the last time she ventured too far into dangerous waters with dire (or nearly dire) consequences in the past few days.

At least getting back to Leilon was nice, very nice... Oh, so very nice. Warm, wine, wow!

Next up... Dregar desert with Cole and Bjorn (or "Fat Dwarf" as Cole affectionately called him) for some giant slaying with a sizeable party but with no supporting clerics. Giants, giants, giants and giants! Oh SO many giants.

A drake trapped Lam and as I called out for help, I saw the drake kill him and to my horror, the Soul Mother showed up and took a bit of Lam's soul off with her. To my continued horror, Cole was stunned the instant he attacked the drake and was being eaten alive by it before I could heal him back into fighting condition. I was taken off guard, shocked and I almost panicked again - in less than two minutes. But worse was yet to come.

Yes... worse...

Rhynn got caught in a fireball leaving the silver mines and was quickly killed.

Everytime she gets killed and I'm around, I try to pretend like it doesn't bother me, but it does. I try to teach her restraint and caution in battle but it seems like she's very good at ignoring me.

We returned to Vale to where she was bound and led her back to the mine to recover her grave.

She was lucky and the Soul Mother spared her.

I was upset with her, even as we headed back to Leilon from Hurm. She's not a stupid child with constant need for care but she does get herself envolved in stupid situations, ones that even I know how to avoid.

We talked a little and I gave her some of my scrolls before she went off for a well deserved rest.

I stayed up organizing the boxes of the Inn, adding to it the foodstuffs I managed to find in Dregar. I find that I actually enjoy helping out at the Arms Inn, I used to see myself as a pensioner paying his stay with work but as time goes by, I'm feeling myself a part of the group. Now that I've actually started to learn how to grind, press and cook - I'll be trying harder to be more useful.

So then there was Silool, Addison and I mining topaz for Rhynn. Rhynn was supposed to come with us and I was supposed to try out my new bow I bought from Jil (such a wonderful person, with a marvelous sense of humor). Well, it was supposed to happen but I took up my rapier and shield and fought beside Addison in the mines with Silool healing us. In total, we gathered 20-something crystals that Treana made into 35 bags of dust - a VERY lucrative trip especially for Rhynn.

The problem was that Rhynn wasn't with us. Silool caught up with her in Port Hampshire while I was at the Rebuilding Hall... I know of this because I left the hall invisible and saw them both talking about why Rhynn didn't go along (she felt she was abandoned when Addison rushed off) and about us (Rhynn and I) near the docks. I let them talk but I felt something was wrong with Rhynn.

She has a funny way of hiding her true feelings - something that I only found out later when we returned to Hlint when she told me that she learned to repress her being upset. It seems she got upset that I ran off with two women but only one of them I can actually call a woman, the other is temptation manifest - but that goes with being a priestess of Xeen. What more, she was upset that Silool didn't call her when she was sitting with the chickens in Fort Velensk.

She knows what I feel for her and she knows that it's very hard for me to not look but I don't want her to feel disrespected so I told her to nudge me, kick me or do anything to me, when I'm being inconvenient. I'd better get a Ring of Protection from Rhynn soon.

Well, back in Hlint I modified a nearly spent staff I picked up to go with my new turquoise coat and teal hood that I got.

Stick is nearly dead! All hail Stick!

I think that's about it for today.

Cole, Addison and Rhynn are today's key words again.

Wait, there was Eighty-Six-Percent! A fellow with a peg for a leg, a hook for a hand and a patch over one eye, 86% whole!

SuperMunch · « **Reply #58 on:** May 10, 2006, 12:34:51 PM »

Eon and Drezneb have been vanquished, at least that's what is being said.

Eon's death blow was struck by Lady Reventage and Drezneb was killed by Cole - Ilsare's High Priestess and my friend were both instruments in setting the stage of the final battle. In a way, I feel lucky and honored to be a follower of the Lady of Dreams and one of Cole's bards.

There were, of course, a myriad of other heroes that participated in these two battles and I'll be sure to gather their names to make sure history doesn't ever forget them, be the future what it may. Triba, Master Plenarius, Ozymandias, Connor, Jennara, Sin and Remiel were amoung them, I believe, but there are more names that must be remembered, even if I do not know their owners.

I am no historian nor am I a wise man but my part in the story might be that of just being one to remember the names of the mighty men and women that turned the evil tide, or - if hope flutters and dies as a candle left in the wind - the ones that stayed it long enough for the world to prepare for the fell winter under General Bloodstone's hand.

I desire no credit for memory, but I will do my best to keep their names alive. Maybe those that come will be hear the name of Cole Norseman and smile as they remember the long dead tales of how he beheaded the greatest lich that ever was.

We are the dead walking, those that will walk Layonara in the future ages will not ever know my name nor that of all that now live but my hope will be that none shall forget those few that made a difference. Be them those that triumphed and who's names were celebrated or those that failed only at the very end - for tyranny is never eternal and their most valiant efforts will be celebrated again, whenever the wheel brings an age of wisdom.

Imagine in a thousand years from now the names of those that I know or are my friends become words of quality, valor and dignity.

Time will tell and fate will govern the spinning dice of fortune.

---

Ozymandias told us of the hunt for Drezneb and Eon's phylactery and their destruction - I knew some of it from rumours I've heard and of Cole's telling of it but with his telling I was able to paint a broader picture of the events that shook the world and broke open the doors for the final confrontation.

Many names were mentioned but I'm sure many more are also involved and I must get at least two more versions of the complete story before I feel confortable with my knowledge of the events that unfolded on the other side of the world not so long ago.

---

Rhynn has been swinging up and down lately and I know I had my part in it.

I have been treating her as a defenseless child and I confessed it to her, it seems everytime we venture out she gets seriously injured and I end up fumbling around not able to heal or help her. The fumbling's cause is obvious - I fear to much for her and that's not good for either one of us. I will allow her to enter harm's way and I'll keep the worries to myself.

On top of that comes her insistence on necromancy and how that's begining to effect others around her. I don't really care where she decides to focus her skill of the weave but I know that the art of the dead is very badly seen. She makes no real effort to justify her preference nor her reasons - which I kind of understand, but I'm not very confortable with - and that also doesn't make acceptance any easier on others.

Chance threw Acacea and Triba into our midsts to warn her of a bad decision she took and now can't get out of. I consider leaving it to chance to warn her of how this silly plan of hers isn't necessarily the best because I don't want to impose my will on her.

I wish I could tell her to forget her plans but... well... maybe I should, tell her how much it saddens me to see her follow a path that typically leads to darkness but I fear the rage in her blood is stronger than our bonds of love.

Aye, the old dilema - others or self. I chose the mix of both, I am myself until I feel others are bothered at which point I walk the line teasing the other side. Most find the line tough to encounter and live their lives for others in selfless existence without personal pleasure or for themselves with no regards for others and their well being. This is a lesson I cannot teach Rhynn and she must find it on her own but it aches deeply to see her talk of isolation.

I want her well and that means I want her whole - happy in arts, friends and love - it seems like she is neglecting one or two in favor of just one.

I must act on this matter soon before things progress beyond the point of return.

SuperMunch · « **Reply #59 on:** May 15, 2006, 06:53:29 AM »

I write this as Rhynn sleeps peacefully.

Curled up in a little ball from a time that I wish she knew how to forget.
Facing the opposite wall, in full view is her fair yet deeply scarred back.
Snoozing softly and happily.
At least as she sleeps no demons torment her.
At least when she sleeps here, with me.
She'll awaken and I won't be here.
But I'll find her soon, I'll find her like I usually do,
And with that little absence I'll tell her once again how much I missed her.
How much I love her.

...

When I first heard that Annalee was to marry Mith I was shocked but then again most of what Annalee does shocks me in one way or another. I have my reservations with Mith, especially because his alliance still isn't clear to me, but ever since we returned from Pandemonium he has shown me very little of his grouchiness. He has even gone as far as buffing me to help him dig sand and fight ogres in the Blood Desert!

Well, they were married in a lovely elven-ish ceremony on the bridge in the High Forest near Katia's temple. I even heard Mith's true name - or so I think it is, and when he started speaking it I almost fell over in a fit of laughter - "Mith" is so elegant and powerful, "Whatever-it-is" wasn't so elegant but it did sounded elvishy.

So that was that, on the bridge Annalee was wed to a grumpy wizard. Long shall their union persist.

And Rhynn sleeps peacefully...

Rhynn and I are the same as we ever were, which is perfect since it's always on shakey ground - I have to work to deserve her affection and she has to work to deserve mine... Well, she really doesn't have to work to deserve mine.

Anyway, we were together at Annalee's wedding and she was as lovely as ever and for the first time... well... second really... I saw her cry tears of joy. The ceremony was much more significant for her that it was for me - being a woman and being much closer to Annalee and Mith.

She glowed as she looked upon the couple, as though a little flame in her was being licked by tender winds. I know her and I know myself enough to know that what we have is perfect for us, but in the shine of her eyes and the light of the exchange of everlasting love, she seemed to radiate light and I loved her even more.

But things took a strange spin when we arrived at the wedding reception at the Freelancer's tavern.

Suddenly, as Ash and I talked, Rhynn got up and left. I followed her and saw her in a trance like state, as though charmed or being called someplace. I tried in vain to stop her but she just kept walking to the place that we went to a long time ago, after a house of some sort, at least that's what she told me when I caught up to her.

Then, as she sat there waiting for the house to appear, I tricked her into following me - I told her she was at the wrong place and that I was going to take her to the right place.

She's asleep here, not more than a yard away, with an air of comfort and with sounds of rest but during our slow return to Point Harbor she was stiff and in turmoil.

Eventually we parted for Port Hampshire, leaving Rilara and Saebhel's grasp one more time.

I gave a very bad excuse as to why we weren't at the reception anymore because I didn't want to scare her at that moment. Eventually, just before we came to bed, I told her the story, might as well let her know the truth of the whole thing so she might stay away from the southern continent (for now at least).

Captain Garent decided to talk to me, at last, and comissioned me to retrieve the head of the lizardmen chieftain. Kharl was nearby, offered to help me out and accepted that Rhynn come along. It was a tough fight as the world seemed to crawl slowly along during the battles and once I even managed to get so confused that I almost didn't make it to Kharl in time to heal him but we managed alright. Before we left, however, we were assaulted by a pair of shadows that are haunting the land - Rhynn was seriously injured by them but Kharl managed to wrestle victory from the hands of defeat and we left before more of them could pop up.

So that was about it with Rhynn.

Sweet fair girl that sleeps in peace on the bed.

And Addison...

Poor girl.

After plunging into the Bugbear cavern on Bear Island to retrieve feldspar and gold from the caverns near Point Harbor I told her she must be happy to getting her own house in Pranzis. I told her it must be nice to have her own place for her and Cole to settle down to raise "Addison Junior", I joked. At that she stopped and started crying.

She said Cole has no intention of settling down and that he seems to want to part from the world - to die his final death and part from this world for good. Addison was in raging tears as though she would never accept his parting, as though all the world would collapse when he passed on.

I hugged her and told her that if it matters at all, I'd be there for her if anything happened to Cole as a friend and companion.

I think I'll send Cole a bird asking him for a few minutes of his time in the next few days.

...

Sleep sweet fey,
I'll leave you now to rest without my quill's incessant scratching.
I'll cover you tightly before I leave to stay early morning's cool,
I'll see you soon my darling.
Sweet dreams, my darling.