Thoughts of Cedric Tornay

[vasopressin]

// English is not my native language, so please excuse any spelling errors and/or bad grammar

Thoughts of Cedric Tornay

I have now become accustomed to my new environments and have begun to settle in, so it's timeto think about the last few weeks' happenings.
Most recently, I joined a group of adventurers at the campfire in the Goblin Wastelands, when suddenly a mage's apprentice named Lorien appeared and asked us for help. Led by Jeremy Steel, we went to fetch some ingredients for a potion. Other members of the group were Kesa, whom I had already met, also an incredibly annoying bard named Jeremy Buckley, Sho Tan Sei Wu, a rather quiet fellow whose name I can't recall, a nice couple named Sala and Jako and a drow.

The drow elf's story was quite touching, for he had lost an animal very dear to him, a giant spider. It was taken from him for killing spiders on the surface. It seems rather harsh a punishment and I hope he will someday find a new companion. I feel for him.
Ulth also accompanied us on part of the trip - I am growing more and more fond of the wolf.

We covered quite the distance getting those materials and finally brought them all the Lorien's master Kaya, all the while being followed by her imp Cricket.
We solved a riddle (actually, the others solved the riddle, I couldn't figure it out) and got a
nice reward from Kaya.

I have tried to improve my skills at tailoring and tanning recently and managed to make some boots, a hood, a cloak and some gloves. These should keep me warm in the nights in Sielwood.

I met a lot of nice people in the last few weeks, among them Dulan and Geldar, two followers of Toran, Thomas, a paladin of Rofirein, also Dervish (he seems a bit shady though) and, of course, Karana of the Elksoul Tribe. She is a fine warrior indeed. I am really surprised at how many women fighers seem to exist here - that would have been unheard of back home at the farm.

Then there is Kesa Briams, whom I met some days ago. We had a long talk (she wants to become a weapon master, just like her father). Shortly after we met, she asked me if I was a druid. That started thoughts in me that are still here now. I have become more and more fond of nature in my travels and my belief in the Prince of Wolves is stronger than ever. I wonder if I am starting to go down a spiritual path, but I still know so little! Perhaps there is a temple of Longstrider somewhere in these lands that I can visit.

Lately, I have also found a new friend in a wolf that suddenly came to me while I was staying in the Ranger's Vale. I named him Ulth, like the dog we had at the farm. He seems to follow me constantly, hidden in the woods. I have called out for him a few times now and most of the time, he appears beside me. I wonder if this has any connection to Folian S'pae, especially because Ulth is a wolf.

Also, I have learned to work divine magic in the last few weeks. I have to pray to Folian for this every night. I shall have to think about this as well.
Perhaps I should talk to a a druid about all this, maybe I should visit the grove in the forest a second time. Thomas also promised to tell me about the Gods. He seems to know a lot, perhaps I can learn from him.

[vasopressin]

It was a slow day in Hlint, nothing interesting was going on. I asked around if anyone knew of a temple to Folian S'pae and Talen Sgath, whom I had met shortly after I was summoned by the dragon, told me that information on the Gods could be found in the Great Library on Voltrex.
On my way to the Portal at Blackford castle, I met Ketil and Karana, who had just narrowly escaped from a crypt and wanted to celebrate at the Wild Surge Inn. I accompanied them to hear the story. Cursed alcohol! The ensuing headache kept me from going to the library for some time.

A few hours later, when I had recovered, I took the portal to the library. Both Blackford Castle and the Great Library are such gigantic places! I didn't really feel at home there and left after I had read the tome on Folian S'pae.
This provided me with some interesting insights I hadn't known before. So little did my father know about the Gods!
The Prince's clergy is not strictly organised and consists at least to some extent of former rangers. Sadly, there were no mentions of any temple in the book, but apparently temples to Folian are often inside old, gigantic trees.

With my understanding of Longstrider deepening, I'm beginning to wonder whether the appearance of Ulth was some kind of sign. I have never been such a spiritual person until now, but having been to Leilon, Blackford Castle and Port Hampshire, I can still feel the peace of the Ranger's Vale drawing me back stronger than ever to my beloved Sielwood forest.

I also ventured inside the High Forest to search for a temple, but I was attacked by a black bear and a huge spider and after a short fight, the world grew dark.
I am now standing at the temple in Hlint, wondering whether it is even necessary to find a temple of Folian. Perhaps all I need to come closer to my God is in the Vale, right here before me.
I will have to ponder on this for some time, right now I am too confused.

[vasopressin]

Much has happened in the last few days.
I just narrowly escaped with my life when Father Logan, Geldar, Dervish and I went into the Haven Mines to rid them of the ogres. On the second level, we were surrounded and it soon became clear we couldn't escape. Logan and Geldar did the most heroic deed at this point, they gave their lives so Dervish and I could escape! I met Geldar later in town, but have yet to see Father Logan again. I hope the Soul Mother didn't take him!
Dervish and I managed to sneak and fight our way up to the first floor where we were surrounded again. Dervish wanted to fight against impossible odds, but I managed to persuade him to hide and wait for help. Many adventurers come into the mines and indeed, a fine warrior named Cassius came to our rescue! (Really, he was looking for some copper in the mines, but he found us nevertheless.) Together, we fought our way out and finally saw daylight again.
I am truly in debt to all of the adventurers involved and as I said, I hope to see Father Logan alive and well some day.
Dervish sold me a new armor made of jaguar leather, so together with the new bow and boots, I feel much better equipped now to fight those who would defile the forests.

I had put aside all thoughts of Folian S'pae and my confusion for many days, but then something happened in Hlint:
I was just coming out of the crypts with Brian and was telling him about Folian and that I hoped to meet a cleric or druid some day. Right then, I heard a voice behind me: "You found both." Imagine my surprise to see two elves, Sabel and Taeghen, standing behind me who were indeed a cleric and a druid of Folian S'pae. I asked them many questions and they gave me answers which I will have to ponder for quite some time.
I told them I could cast a little divine magic for some reason and that Ulth had appeared to me. Sabel, the cleric, told me that as a ranger, I was favored by Folian and that He had given these gifts to me. Her father was a ranger as well and inspired her to love the forests and to become a cleric of Folian.
Taeghen could also tell me the location of a temple to Folian: It lies in the Forest of Mists on Dregar. I have no idea where that is, but I will find out in time.
Right now, I am content with what I am and ready to meet the challenges ahead of me.

[vasopressin]

I was adventuring with some nice folks in the Sielwood Forest, when they decided to go hunt the boars for their skin. They wanted to get the pelts for Johan, the fur trader. I had been approached by him as well in Hlint, but had declined to help him. I find it appaling, hunting animals for their skins!
I was in a real dilemma there. Though I did not approve of their actions, I could not let the group venture deep into the forest alone, where they would have been prey for the ogres and worse monsters. I averted my eyes when they hunted down the boars. Still, I feel I have failed myself and my God here, though I believe I was right in not abandoning them.
We had a discussion about this later in the Vale. It was then, when Tegan, a sorceress and member of the group, mentioned that she had actually been to Folian's temple on Dregar! She spoke of its beauty, but also of the dangers that lurk in the Forest of Mists. She also said she would perhaps take me there one day, though the journey would be long and perilous. Tegan also mentioned someone named Jareg whom we could meet there.

Later, I met Brian again, a pleasant fellow from a farm in Echo, who has become quite interested in magic. He shared his story with me sitting by a campfire. I like him, his story reminded me of home.

[vasopressin]

I met another ranger of Folian S'pae, Dorena, in Sielwood. She told me about the Longstrider's temple and gave me some directions how to get there. She was married there and spoke of the forest's beauty for many hours before we broke camp.

Later, I went on a trip to the Greypeak mountains with Elladan (a very powerful paladin of Aeridin), Ireth, Geldar and Beli. We were ambushed from behind deep in the mountains and died fighting the ogres. Ulth tried to distract them so I could flee, but to no avail.
Luckily, we all escaped the grasp of the soul mother and met back in Hlint. We were just outfitting a larger party to get back to the mountains when Freldo and Rhynn appeared and told us the most unsettling news. Freldo spoke of the Broken Forest, that the grave had been opened and the forest destroyed!
I was anxious to go there and investigate, but we had to make another trip to the mountains. This didn't go well for me and I was back in Hlint soon enough. I was decided to retreat to the Ranger's Vale for a time and rest and pray. Luckily, I found the Sielwood forest unharmed and very much alive.

Afternote: It seems that the Broken Forest has not been destroyed, but cleansed of the undead by Treants and Vines. Though unfriendly and wicked, they are creatures of nature and certainly are an improvement over the vile undead.
I shall have to see this with my own eyes though before I can have peace.