Armolas Folian, ranger of the Prince of Wolves

[Desicardo]

It has been 2 years since I have left Ulambree and over a year since I ended my wanderings and answered the summons. I have learned much in the last year, battled many foes, learned new skills, and started my own business. In many ways the innocence of youth has left me, yet there is so much I do not yet know. So much of what I used to see as black and white I now see in shades of grey. I have met many good people on my journeys and now call a few brothers and sisters in the very best of senses. I have not yet told anyone the full circumstances of my leaving Ulambree and not sure if I should as the risk is so great. Still, I walk under the watchful eye of Folian, Prince of Wolves. I have heard of a group called the Valkher that are Folian followers and guardians of nature. I hope to learn more of them soon. I recieved a letter from my mother today. While it is good to hear news from home, the letter was not well received. Here is the jist of what it said:    Armolas,  Things are well in the wood. Your brother is being received into the Priesthood of Folian this week. We are so proud of him. Do not return home.  Mother    Some things never change.

[Desicardo]

This is the wisdom of a Father taught to a son prior to his passing:  
 

 

• Never fight a mage in his own workshop  
• Never surround an enemy completely. He will fight to the death with rage and fury. If you leave him a route of escape, he will fall quietly, believing he is able to escape at any time.  
• Always fight in a place and time of your choosing.  
• An attacker has a tactical advantage as they know what it is they are trying to do. A defender has a strategic advantage as they have what the attacker wants and has only to hold on to it.  
• Never pay for the same ground twice. Advance always and never yield ground or you will only have to fight for the same thing twice.  
• Make your enemy think you are strong where you are weak and weak where you are strong. He will then attack your strengths while leaving you weaknesses safe.  
• When facing a numerically superior foe that is better armed, use gile and trickery to even the field. Deceive your enemy in any way you can. Confusion is a powerful weapon.  
• When possible, attack from two angles.  This causes confusion in the enemy and two fronts to defend.  
• When possible take enemies at range so they do not have a chance to do you harm.  
• Never underestimate the value of a good sucker punch.  
• Stealth and surprise are a fighters best friends.  
• Always clean your sword and keep it sharp so it will care for you when your life depends on it.  
• Fight like your life depends on it, as it likely does. Fight like there is no tomorrow, for if you don't, there probably won't be.  
• Attack swiftly and decisively.  Press the attack until no enemies remain.  
• Strategic retreat is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of experience.  
• In battle there are three ways to attack: hard, fast, and continuously.  
• Always underestimate your abilities rather than your enemy's.  
• Watch your back.  Plan on your enemy knowing at least as much about how to win a battle as you do.  
• The left flank is always the weakest.  Cover it well.
       An ancient saying prior to battle (paraphrased):    Lo, do I see the face of my Father.  Lo, do I see the face of my Mother and my Brother and my Sister.  Lo, do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.  Lo, they bid me come and take my place beside them,  Under the hallowed branches of the Great Forest,  Where the brave shall live forever.
  A wise person once said "The Soul Mother waits for you at the bindstone.  Make her wait as long as possible."

[Desicardo]

It has been a while since I have made an entry, mostly because nothing of particular interest has happened until recently.  On the upside, I have advanced in my woodcrafting skills enough to finally make use of the advanced crafting hall in Port Hampshire.  I have been able to start working with mahogony which I truely enjoy.  It is a beautiful wood in both appearance and texture.  Something about it reminds me of my childhood.  Perhaps my cradle was made of mahogony or something though I remember not.  I have been able to craft several quarrels of bolts for Tegan and Jin and was able to make a very nice crossbow for Tegan.  She seemed quite taken with it.  My luck seemed to flee when trying for a second crossbow for Jin.  He loaned me a special ring that enhanced the odds of success but without luck on your side, the best odds still end in failure.  I will try and obtain more wood soon and try again.
  On the downside, while on an expedition through Dregar, the Soul Mother got her first piece of me.  It was an odd feeling, like somehow you are less complete than you were before.  The gravity of life seemed to way down on me and death seemed so much more real.  It was like I was cheating it before and it finally caught up with me.  I have been hesitant to go out on my own now as the fear that the Soul Mother's hunger is not yet satiated weighs down on me.  I know that I must face this fear, but the news that Glenn is not long with us has driven this fear even deeper.  I must root this out as I cannot live in fear of what may be.  I need to focus on what is.  Perhaps I have lost my focus and need to return to the wood for a while and get my head together.  I have spent so much time indoors as of late, I have lost touch with the call of Folian.  It used to be restful to wander Sielwood and Ranger Vale, feel the earth beneath my feet, hear the rustle of leaves and watch the gentle sway of the branches of the stately trees there.  Anymore I find myself on alert for the growing dangers there.  I fear that what happened to Ulambree is destined to happen here in Sielwood.  I pray Folian will not allow that to happen.  I sense a dark time coming.  Folain give me strength to stand against it.

[Desicardo]

At long last, with the help of some very good friends, I have found the temple of Folian in the Forest of Mists and fullfilled a lifelong goal of praying at the alter of Folian.  It was a hard fight through some very nasty Satyrs that were determined to stop me from completing my pilgrimage but with the help of Tegan, Rem, and Karana, we prevailed and I finally crawled through the small entry to the grove where the temple lies.  The feeling was indescribable to actually be standing in the temple.  I removed my boots and let my feet feel the earth and felt the greatest oneness with the Prince of Wolves I have ever felt.  I bound my soul to his stone, then knelt and prayed for a bit at the alter.  I think I have found the focus I have been seeking.  It was over all too quickly as I could have taried there for days.  Alas, I shall return again soon now that I know the way.  Folian guide my steps and show me the path of true harmony with all nature.  Best of all, I didn't die today.

[Desicardo]

I have been pondering an event that occurred a couple weeks ago.  It was a trivial event in the grand scope of things but it stirred me none the less.  All these thoughts went through my mind in a blink of an eye as I was leaving Hlint heading to Lake Alon.  I had just left the city gates when I encountered a young female drow, battling a halfling mercenary from the glade outside the city they are fond of setting up camp in.  She was injured and faring poorly against the little bugger and I could see that without intervention it was very likely she would fall.  At this point, my thoughts followed these lines:

        She is a drow.  It would serve her well if she were to fall.  It would be one less drow that could bring harm to me or my friends.  But, wait.  That is my mother's thinking.  Hate for hates sake.  This drow has done me no wrong. Is hate something we are bound to or is it a choice?  My mother would have me believe that we are bound to it as the drow are bound to evil.  But my experience has taught me otherwise.  I have met drow that are good, or at least appear to be.  There are a couple I would actually call friends.  My mother would be appalled.  But I am more than a product of my mother's teachings.  I choose who I will hate, and I will choose why.  Today, at this time, I will choose not to hate this drow.  What good would come of it.  If I choose hate, I will only reinforce this drow's mother's teaching that we are the evil ones.  No, I will not take that path.  I choose not to hate this drow.

I helped her.  I dispatched the mercenary and offered the drow healing.  She looked at me almost amazed and asked "Why did you help me?  Do you not hate me?"  I told her I helped because she needed to be helped and no I do not choose to hate her.  Perhaps in some small way, the cycle of hate was cracked a little.  It has pained me lately to see those whom I should admire, treat people that have done them no harm with contempt and hatred, simply because of who they were born to.  Are they choosing to hate that person because they were wronged by them or because of something someone else is responsible for?  To say I will hate someone for the actions of another takes away responsibility for ones own actions.  If the tables were turned and I were held accountable for the actions of my people, I would likely be hated too.  I wonder.

[Desicardo]

I have submitted a letter of interest to Commander Enzo of the Wolfswood Rangers.  I am feeling like I should be doing more in the fight against Blood than make glass and mine copper.  Not that these things aren't needed, support like this is vital too.  But I also feel I am and can be more.  If I am lucky the Rangers will find me worthy and in time, I can take my place among them.  Now I must be patient, which is harder than making crystal rods.

[Desicardo]

Am I wrong to take some measure of ironic pleasure in Kiva being drowned while kicking a pig?  While it is a most unfortunate turn of events, it was somewhat hard to surpress a chuckle.

[Desicardo]

I love spring.  The wood comes to life after winter's dormancy.  Flowers bloom, all is green again.  Folian loves spring and blesses the renewal of life.

I hate spring.  All around I see happy couples.  It is a time when men and women of all races seek each other out and find happiness together.  I never thought about it much until lately.  I have always been focused on my training, my crafting, my hunting.  But now, I find my heart strings being plucked like a well made bow.  Herein lies my difficulty.  She is with another.  I want nothing but happiness for her and she seems truely happy with him.  He is one I could never compete with, either in skill or in what he can provide for her.  I am forced to bury my feelings and go on as if there is nothing happening inside.  If only I could tell her how I feel, but I will not add to the difficulty of her life.  Each moment I am around her is the greatest pleasure, and the greatest pain as well.  I must find a way to refocus on my training and crafting.  To do elsewise would drive me crazy.  Perhaps I already am.

[Desicardo]

It happened again.  The soul mother caught up with me.  We had been so careful the whole trip to Dregar.  I had gotten through the whole thing  with nothing worse than some bad scratches.  But then we became careless.  After dispatching some ogres in the hills by the Bay of Carocsa, we met up with a friend of the Farstriders.  Foolishly we stood talking on the hilltop for a time.  I tried to warn everyone to move off the hill to safer ground in case more ogres showed up.  I knew that if we were ambushed we would be caught totally flatfooted and feared the result.  My fears were realized a moment later when about a dozen or more ogres appeared from nowhere and quickly surrounded us.  We fought valiently, but one by one we all fell with the exception of Tegan who was smart enough to get clear and invis herself.  I was glad she had the quick thinking to do that, I hate to see her come to harm.  Axe after axe fell on me and I felt my life ebbing quickly.  I tried to flee but as I was halfway down the hill, one last axe blow dropped me like a rock and there she was.  Towering over my body, with the most wicked, insatiable look on her face.  It was only there for a split second and then she was gone.  She had other work to do as she also caught Luann and took a piece of her as well.  It seems her thirst is never satiated.  I should have been more insistant.  I should have at least protected myself and hid myself from the ogres.  Perhaps I would have been more help if I had, maybe not.  We were totally overwhelmed.  This one was not the trauma of the first though since I had seen her face once before.  On a better note, after the journey back from the bindstone and I found myself whole once more, Tegan and I set out in search of more Crag pelts.  We traversed mountain and glade, passing by the dark rangers that stand guard over the mahogony trees.  We were able to hide from them easily and were successful in retrieving 3 pelts for her.  The return through Hurm was fairly uneventful.  We did come back with a good many nuggets of silver.  Hopefully Jin will be able to craft another silver topaz ring or amulet.  The one I have is serving me very well.. when I am smart enough to use it.

[Desicardo]

Something is afoot.  The animals are restless and pacing.  It is as though they wish to flee like from a forest fire but do not know where to run.  I have tried to speak with several deer and boar and they are too fearful to speak.  What is happening?  Something is coming, something big.  I fear it has to do with the recent spider attacks that are occurring all over the land.  I and my companions have encountered a dark spider by Leilon, the first I have seen on Mistone.  Yes, something is coming, something bad I fear.  I only hope my preparations are enough.

[Desicardo]

Each day grows in dread as what I fear is inevitable approaches.  Open war is coming to our doorstep.  There have been petty skirmishes here and there, seemingly random attacks.  I can see several purposes to these attacks.  First, they are probing our defenses to find our weaknesses.  Second, they are causing fear and chaos among the ranks.  And third, they are weakening morale by demonstrating they can strike at will even deep in what was safe territory.  There has been much infighting and racial distrust of late.  I hope when the crisis comes we will be able to put that aside and unite to fight the true enemy.  Our group, the Farstriders, is solid.  We work well together and fight as a team, each supporting and looking out for the others.  I fear who will be fighting beside us.  I have seen much disregard for tactical planning and reckless abandon of strategic advantage by people seeking to be the hero.  They usually end up dead or causing the death of another.  I have done some scouting of the areas I feel may come under attack.  Lorindar and Castle Raxwell are easily defensible with strong walls and narrow gates.  The docks of Twins Watch could be held by a small force and even if overwhelmed could fall back to the castle gate.  Hurm would be harder to defend an attack by sea as much of the town is open and it would be easy to become surrounded.  Best to station on the docks themselves to channel the enemy into a narrow defensible spot.  The gates are strong and easily defended by land attack unless Bloods forces use seige weapons to batter them down.  I fear for Saudria.  Open desert is indefensible and once Blood establishes a beachhead, he can advance in any number of directions and then strike at Pranzis from any side.  If Pranzis falls, Dregar falls and Mistone will not be far behind.  We must hold fast regardless of what happens.  We are but in number, but together we have the strength of hundreds.


Dear Mother,
  War will soon be on us.  I am sure you have heard news of happenings on Dregar and Mistone.  Subversion, clandestine attacks, plots within plots point to one thing.. Blood is making a move and soon.  I have pledged to aid in the battle and hense I write this letter to you.  I wanted you to know that I have met a few drow that have come to the surface seeking sanctuary from the underdark.  I know you would simply have them killed for being drow, but I have fought beside these dark ones and have found them worthy allies.  If there is a gap in the line beside me, I would bid them come and draw swords with me, that we may face this enemy together.  You may call me foolish, and perhaps I am, but it may very well fall that these whom you would kill without thought may be the very ones that save my life and perhaps the battle.  I fight with a small but well trained and skilled group called the Farstriders.  In these I have absolute confidence and trust.  I pray Folian that the day will be ours when all is done.  If it is not, know that I have lived my life well and the Longstrider has been my constant companion in my journeys.  I will write more after the war ends as I suspect that communication will likely be disrupted for some time to come.  If things go badly, and Bloods forces take the whole of Layonara, I pray that you would live long and die well, and join our ancestors in the Great Wood, where the brave live forever.
Your Son,
Armolas

[Desicardo]

It has come and gone.  We have stood against the foul minions of darkness.  We have failed.  Pranzis is fallen to the dark one Blood.  We were too few, too ill equipt, too green, too tentative.  We defended when we should have attacked, we ran when we should have fought.  I have only the battle skill my father taught me, yet I grow weary of these that enter battle in fear and break at the first losses.  Yet, I am but a ranger, a woodsman, a creature of the wilds... what do I know.  I know we could have held the city.  I know many fell that did not need to.  I know that we did not deploy our forces to fight the enemies weaknesses.  We let him come to us on his terms.  The city guard was next to useless and was slaughtered with ease.  Serves them right, the cowards.. I almost slayed one myself for wanting to flee his post.  It sickens me that our great Layonara is defended by such as these.  Next time will be different.  I will train myself not only in the skills of the wild, but I will also seek out those that can train me in close quarters fighting.  The battle still rages in my mind, the fear, the horror, the loss.  I let Tegan fall in the second wave, and soon followed myself.  The shame.  I had vowed to protect her and I failed at that as well.  She was not upset with me as much as I am with myself.  I have the knowledge of how to fight in my head..locked away.  But I need someone skilled to teach me how to use it.  Perhaps Xan will help.  He fought well, and kept a head about him in battle, though he needs further officer training to be a truely great leader.  I must hone my skill with sword and shield, and learn to use heavy armor (Folian forgive me, but times are desperate).  I will finish the training I have begun as a ranger, then focus on my new endeavor.  I feel for Tegan, her new house is now in occupied territory.  I hope she does not try to return there.  We stopped at the Inn in Hlint after returning from battle.  She was as rattled by the fighting as I was, perhaps more so.  I wanted to give her more comfort, to hold her and make her believe that things will turn out for the good.  But, I cannot.  It is not my arms she wants or needs.  I try to be with her as much as I can even though it is hard for me to not tell her what I feel.  I hope against hope that someday I can tell her what is in my heart.  But for now, I must hold it in.  I spoke with a young girl named Drawna today.. a strikingly beautiful girl.  Her family was in Pranzis at the time of the attack.  I felt sorry for her and shared an ale with her while filling her in on what information I had about the battle.  I am not sure if they survived, but we fought hard to give all the people of Pranzis the best chance we could.  Something about this one draws me.  I feel torn inside.  It is like I am being unfaithful to Tegan though she is not mine to be unfaithful to.  I must try to free my mind of this hope that she will one day come to me.  Perhaps this girl could be the one that could help.  Who knows.  All I know is that I am feeling cold.  I need to rest.

[Desicardo]

Much has happened since the battle for Pranzis.  I took the girl named Drawna to Pranzis to look for any sign of her family.  I was expecting it to be hard for her.. I wasn't prepared for how hard it was for me.  I basically ended up reliving the horror of the whole battle, right down to finding the blood spots where I was wounded and my friends fell.  It was like standing there while it all happened again.  I had to fight back tears at the thought of what could have been, while trying to be strong for Drawna.  It was a hopeful trip.. no sign of bad guys, and Drawna found no remains and most things at her families house were yet in tact.  She remains hopeful that they escaped, and for her sake I hope so too.  Her brother was in the Pranzis guard.  I couldn't bring myself to tell her about what happened to the guard on the west wall in case he was stationed there.  She kissed me before we portalled back.. I was not expecting that.. but she is a Xeenite, though not like other Xeenites I have met.  I am not sure what to think about this.. it is unmapped ground for me.  Xeenites can be fun though.
    On another good note, Commander Enzo sought me out in Hlint the other day.  We spoke at length about the Ranger Corps, Folian, and the ranger lifestyle.  Once I got over being awestruck and actually was able to speak intelligently, it was very enjoyable.  I think he was impressed by my knowledge and interest in the Corps, but he was concerned about my lack of experience.  He was right, they are a very well trained and disciplined unit.  He encouraged me to start training though and said he would gladly welcome me when I was ready.  I think Tegan was more disappointed about the outcome than I was.
    Tegan and I have been spending more time together which I have really enjoyed.  I am not sure where Remiel is, but he has not been around much.  She is becoming a very skilled and powerful mage!  We went to the lower level of Haven mine just the two of us and retrieved some platinum, iron, and coal.  I hardly had to lift a finger other than to do the mining.  Funny how I can't take down a couple ogre berserks but I can knock rock like a dwarf.  She clears a whole room of raging ogres but can't chip a piece of plat to save her.  We make a good team.  After Haven we went to Valensk to join with a group of people in the mountains.  We ended up going to the topaz cave and felt quite unneeded.  Tegan was rather offended by how she was treated and ended up walking off.  I left soon after and tracked her to the outskirts of Leilon.  We swam out to the small island and sat and talked the better part of the night.  I was able to open up and share some of my heart with her about how much I cared for her and about her.  She is hard to read and I am not sure how she took it all, but she has continued to be very close to me so at least she wasn't scared off.  I hugged her when we got back to the den for the first time.  That was wonderful.  I have never felt so good in my life.
     Yesterday we went back to Dregar to find some mahogony before the trees go dormant.  We had a small party of varying degrees of experience.  Mith tagged along.  I found him to be a bit brooding and dark for my taste.  I can't see what a nice girl like Lee sees in him.  He is like a person that has been seen to much for his days and is a little bitter about it.  I hope I never get like that.  When we got to Highpass Fort, we encountered several irate giants.  I came close to falling when I bumped into one at the fort gate while unprepared.  I ended up running and getting away, but a couple party members fell to them.  Tegan and I then entered the grove where the mahogony was.  There were a couple more giants and 3 dark rangers there, but the druids must have been off doing druid stuff because they were nowhere in sight.  Tegan made quick work of the resitance with her spells and hound friend.  I am starting to really like that hound friend of hers.  I wonder if he freelances.  Anyway, we cleared the woods and I was able to get a good number of branches suitable for arrows and bows.  We made a quick exit in case the druids showed up.  I doubt even Tegan, as strong as she has become could have faired well with them.  Mith was rather surprised that we had not died in our endeavour and left company with us after Tegan shared some cherries with him.  The trip back was stealthy as we kept hidden most of the way.  We did decide to play with a few giants outside Saudria just to hone our skills, then headed back to Pranzis.  I had to return to Mistone at that point and Tegan walked me to the portal.  We spoke briefly before I jumped into the tunnel.  We hugged again.  I could get real used to that.  I hope she does not think I am being too forward in hugging her.  She hugged me back but I am not sure if it is because she has feelings for me or sees me like a brother or something.  I think I will kind of hang back  a little and see where she wants to take it.  If she pursues it, I will know more of where I stand with her.  If not, it is a good time to know before either of us ends up hurting the other too bad.  I hope she feels like I do, though I am not sure where Remiel will fit in with that.  I hope he is not upset by it.  It would not be a good thing to be on his bad side I would think.  Time will tell, and I will have to let things play out.
     While standing in Pranzis a plan started to form in my mind about how to defeat this General Broager that holds the city.  It is very doable with minimal loss but could put some at considrable risk.  I will take my plan to Xan as he is a capable soldier and would know if it is feasable to do.  He can then take it up the chain of command if he thinks it is worthy.  It would be my legacy if my plan becomes reality and it ends this scourge on the land.
   I will try to write more later.  For now, I have wood to work.

[Desicardo]

Perhaps my Mother was at least partly right.  There are those that live simply by the grace of their gods or by more luck than I will have in a lifetime.  Reckless, selfish, self absorbed, people that act with out a care or thought.  Others always pay for it.  I am a ranger and a scout.  I put myself out in front of a party to give a heads up of what is ahead, and help them set themselves to take best advantage of the land and resources so as few people are hurt as possible.  It is a noble job and I enjoy doing it.  Yet, I am out doing my job, and 3 fighter types run past me and engage a whole crowd of giants.  Stupid, stupid, stupid people.  That is how people get killed.  For some reason it is never them though, it is the others that pay.  So cocky that they can take on the world and it causes suffering in so many.  And then the ungrateful little buggers don't even realize I am there because I am not in the middle of the giant hoard hacking away like a barbarian meat packer.  I finally gave up, and just sat under a tree and let them have their fun.  Even after Tyrian fell, they still would not change their ways.  Xan saw it, I saw it, yet the bloodlust was so strong, they hacked on.  Not my type of party.  I will go where my skills can be used by people that know how to listen.  I do not want gold stained with the blood of those who are foolish enough to act without thought or reason.  Never again..Never again.

[Desicardo]

Glenn is dead.  We knew it was coming.  But it is not easy.  Glenn, my role model, my advisor, my friend.  He was what all Ranger's should strive to be.  May Folian welcome him to the Great Forest and walk with him forever.  Until we meet there once again, May the longstrider guide your steps.
Farewell my friend.

[Desicardo]

It has been a long time coming.. hours and hours of studying in the wild, countless miles of tracking with the wolves, dedication and prayer to Folian to teach me what he would have me to learn.  It has paid off.  Folian has sent me a new friend.  A friend to me, and a brother to Stringfellow, and a powerful friend he is.  Together, String, my new friend, and I set out to High Forest for some adventure and a few oak branches.  Until now, it is a trip I wouldn't dare take without Tegan or a few stout fighters.  My pack went straight to work on the spiders and beetles, fighting valiantly.  While String has some to learn about fighting (I have not let him do much fighting as of late as I fear for his safety, perhaps too much, but I don't like to see my friends get hurt), I have found my new friend to be quite the s...ping fighter.  He engaged the spiders and beetles and handily put them all down with only a couple minor scratches to show for it.  I gathered my oak and gave him a quick brushing to smooth his fur, and sent him on his way with my gratitude.  I think String learned a few things even though I had to pull him from the fight after a spider got a bite on him and he started looking a might green.  I healed him and sent him of to rest for a bit while I dropped the oak off at the den.  Then, I set off for Haven to see how my new gift from Folian would do against the Berserks that tend to frequent the mine.  Again, after a bit of a fight, he put them down and came back to me with narry a scratch under his fur.  Tough fighter this one.  I mined some iron which I will use to attempt to make some bow parts.  A few weeks ago, I met an old friend I had made years back before I came to Hlint.  Erik Kendal is his name, and our reunion was a happy one.  I helped him find his way around a bit, showing him some of the dangers and a few ways to turn some gold so he could support himself.  I fear for him though, now that I have fought beside him on several occasions.  He seemed down a bit today, and he didn't seem himself.  Tegan has also seemed distant the last week or so, and more tired then usual.  Perhaps it is just growing pains as she adjusts to her ever growing powers as a mage and as a person.  She has been spending a good deal of time with Kiva lately and I must say I really don't think he is all that good for her.  He is a very controlling person and she is one that does not take to being controlled and ordered about well.  I know he has feelings for her as he has told me so.  If he loves her as he says he does, then he would want what is best for her as much as I do and would see that his personality will only give her grief and stress and she doesn't deserve that.  I made her a new bow, the best I have made yet, a compound mahogony bow with extra strength in the string and handle.  A real beaut if I may say so, though I feel it barely worthy to be in her hand.  I wish I could tell her how I really feel about her, and maybe if the time is right I will do so, but she has not opened up to me at all about where she stands with Remiel or Kiva.  I do not want to add complication to her life.  If only she would give me some clue or sign as to what she feels.   Women are so hard to read and understand sometimes.  If only they were wolves.  Speaking of which, Jin has been having dreams of wolves lately.  I think it is Folian speaking to him even though he is a devout Aeridinite.  I hope I can speak to him at length about his dreams.  I would like to take him out and sit him on a hill and let him watch the wolves for a while.  He would learn much about leadership from watching them.  Tegan and I are journeying to Folian's temple later to ask a blessing on her bow.  Perhaps it will be a chance for her and I to share what is in our hearts.  I hope I can get her to open up about what is going on with her.  More later.

[Desicardo]

It is whispered among the animals.. a few have seen her on Dregar and also on Mistone.  Tegan is back.  Folian has answered my prayers.  I sleep well tonight.

[Desicardo]

*Armolas finds his old Journal buried deep in a chest in his room at the den.  He takes it out, dusts off the old tome and opens it reading over his past entries, laughing at some, growling at others, and almost coming to a tear with a few.  Finally, after a long while he takes up a quill and turns to the next blank page*

Many years have past.  Memories of the Blood war still haunt my mind though they are as a part of someone elses life.  Things have changed so much since then.  Friends have come and gone, though the pack remains strong and Jin as tenacious as ever in his pursuit of doing good for the land.  Tegan is married though not to me with a teenage son.  They have a good family though I have yet to meet her son.  The sun shines once more and nature is rebounding nicely as I knew it would.  Unfortunately, with the end of Blood, there are still many evils left in the world, many enemies to face.  The dragons have returned, both good and evil.  I never thought I would actually see one in my lifetime and yet here I am, not only having seen several, but actually touching one both with my own hand and in my spirit.  The story is long and I will not put it to pen here as it has likely been put to history by far better writers than I.  Suffice to say, the images I have seen in the dragons consciousness haunt me.  They have set my resolve stronger to route out the evil in this land and set such magestic creatures free.  There are those that seek to manipulate these proud beasts, an evil cult let by a green dragon we have yet to find, and I believe, along with Jin, that Fisterion is somehow involved.  By Jin's suggestion, the pack is hosting a dinner soon to bring minds together and share information that may be the key to unraveling the source of this evil.

*sighs, rubbing several sore muscles*
One evil we hopefully won't see again for a while is Essrantor, a very powerful Arc Giant that leads a very powerful army that dwells in the Thunder Peaks near Dalanthar.  For almost a month we have toiled in preparation for battle with this giant as he threatens not only Dalanthar but all of northern Dregar.  Tasked by the High Boyer himself, a sizable group of Adventurers were dispatched to Dalanthar to parley for allies, investigate dissapearances, and find relics that may be used against Essrantor.  For my part, I was included in several diplomatic missions starting with the Misted Village.  Fortunately we never had to fire a shot but we did have some tense moments as the deal was brokered.  Eventually smooth tongues prevailed and the alliance was sealed.  As part of the deal, those of us present agreed never to enter the village again.  A small price to pay for their bows and swords against the Giants.  After leaving the village we followed up on a cryptic message spoken by what many of us believed to be the Village leader.  After battling a good number of Trollocs, we found a hidden passage in a cave that led into an ancient tomb.  There we found the Lord of a long forgotton clan of dwarves called the Losthammers who dwelt in the mountain long before the giants disposed them.  By Abi's gift with the dwarven language we were able to secure another ally and a parchment that had something to do with the destruction of three pillars in Essrantor's fortress that create the anti magic zone that engulfes the whole Thunder peak area.  The parchment was passed to the dwarf Fenrir and what he did with it I do not know.

Next we set out to find a hermit creature that dwells deep in the mountain named Ilarian.  This hybrid wyvern and wyrm was feared and prized by the Dalanthar authorities as we learned later that his scales are harder than steel and were sought after by many.  This creature held an amulet that granted the power to summon an ancient dragon spirit.  After a bargain was brokered he allowed us to use the amulet and gain the support of the dragon spirit in the battle with the giants.  *hangs his head as he writes*  I almost caused the mission to fail when the extremely frigid weather began to effect me and I began to dispair and want to turn back.  The last effort to finish the mission was by the grace of the Longstrider alone as my will was all but broken.  We managed to succeed and another ally was gained.

*his spirit picks up some*
After resting in town, we were met by a guard that told us of missing people that we had heard rumor of.  The rumors were true, in fact, the situation was even worse than rumored as the number of missing was greater than was generally known.  My first thought was that it was the work of the dark rangers that dwell in the woods and hills between Hurm and Dalanthar.  Others however thought it may be the work of a brood of werewolves that dwealt on the mountain.  In our investigation we encountered a werewolf hunter that confirmed that this was indeed the work of the were's from the mountain.  We surmised that they may be using cliff caves in the Bay of Carocsa as a hiding place or that they may be using ships to transport them off continent.  As we approached the bay, we encountered one of the weres who was quite formidable as he moved with great speed.  After defeating him, we pressed on to the bay itself to speak with those in the temple of the Sea Elves that lies on the coast.  As we spoke to the priests there, one of the group came in to inform us there was another were outside.  Upon investigating, we found several in fact and after putting them down, we found a cave in the side of the cliff at waters edge.  We cautiously entered the cave and had many skirmishes with were's before we found a room that held about 40 prisoners that had not yet been turned.  We freed them and after leading them out of the cave we returned and continued our search.  After dispatching several very powerful betas we managed to free another sizable group of unturned victims.  Pressing on we found the leaders chamber and in the course of the battle with his guards, Brian was bitten hard.  We did what we could for him and pressed on to the leaders chamber.  The sight of the carnage therein has haunted my nightmares ever since.  Literally hundreds torn assunder and wails filled the cave.  There we found the largest werewolf I have ever seen.  We launched an all out assault on it and after great difficulty, were able to bring it down and destroy it.  All in all over 500 captives were freed and once the leader fell, Brian began to recover.

*pens the last few lines as he grows weary*
I do not know the full extent of the final battle yet, but I know that for our part, our group did everything we could to give the best odds possible for success.  I did hear that Essrantor was indeed thrown down, though whether it is for good remains to be seen.  At least for the time being, the people of Dalanthar can rest easy as the threat he posed has been dealt with.  Now, if only we can end the threat of this green dragon cult and their evil allies, perhaps.  Time will tell.

*written as an afterthought*
There are rumors about of daywalking vampires.  I pray this is not the case, but I will be wary of such things just to be safe.  May Folian continue to guide my paths.