Lino's Notes

[Odranoela]

140 days ago:
I've made friends with a wizard named Tialle, and I've met Valmara and Shiff.. They are nice folks and we adventure around Hlint when we can.. I'm learning much, and I keep on hiding.

180 days ago:
I started out preety good in Hlint. I've met some folks and soon I was working for a drow, opening locks for him. I trained much in the shadows while in that crypt, it was a good pratice, and the pay was good. Too bad I ended up laying dead on the floor.. But still got paid. I guess there's a downside for everything.

[Odranoela]

40 days ago:
I visited Dregar for the first time. Some of the places are just as preety as they are deadly. The desert is insanely hot, and the creatures roaming it are gargantual. There is a kind of scorpion that has practically the size of Port Hempstead's Bank building!!! I mean it, a building, and not a small one.. These ons were a hard kill, but whoever harvested them, could find all the poison they dreamed of. They also carried a lot of loot inside their belly. Poor eaten adventurers. More loot for me. They were so big i didn't even make much effor to remain hidden. Other than my sling, I'm also using throwing knifes, or darts. and they work preety well when aimed at the eyes of such huge beasts. I met a couple of shadows, and their skill really amazed me. Everytime I watch them, I learn more and more. So i try to stick around them as much as possible, without them noticing it. I must learn this art, but I hall not ask anyone about it. I don't feel a mentor would be something I can afford to have at the moment. Heck,I can't even buy food and rest sometimes. I met some lady traders that were real nice to me, and they make nice prices for sweet redheaded halflings. Well, at least it's what it seems.. While browsing at their goods, I made a list of all the equipament I need badly, to continue my adventures. Too bad it totals in over 50.000 True. I have no idea how I'm going to come up with this sum, but Mistone Noble houses better lock up preety good. I -want- that equipament, but I refuse to steal from the hard working traders, street merchants, poor peasants and regular citizens. Only the nobles and the rich are my targets. Why should Trent - the guard captain be on his huge house eating lamb, turkey and drinking the most expensive elven wine, as the barracks have only a couple of old ale bottles and dried rations? Perhaps it's hypocritical of me to steal from the rich, and not give to the needy. But if you think about it, I'm needy as well and once I help myself, I will be able to help them. Shadon has been pleased with me as far as i can tell, for many tricks and pranks are being played. Like leaving small bits of iron in the place of the coins I gather, and watch them curse the skyes when they want to buy something and all they find in their pouches ir Iron.


80 days ago:
I now know much of the surroundings and Mistone is indeed a massive land, I guess I'll be needing three lifetimes to get to know all the places I want to. i keep hearing about a place called Dregar, that upholds great danger but great  opportunities. Perhaps I'll find someone willing to take me on a tour. targets are becoming easier by the day, most don't even see me sneaking around them, and I've actually managed to sneak by a guard in broad daylight. Ofcourse the merchant tents and the shadow it created helped but you have to be at the least decently good to be able to pull that off. I don't think the Hempstead guards noticed what I've been doing and I hope they keep blind to the situation. I purchased a nice Cougar Hide armor and dyed it dark grey. Makes it easier to work at night, but i've been told that it draws unecessary attention. Well, I don't really care if I -look- like i'm something bad. As long as I'm not caught -doing- something bad. *grins* I also found a nice sling, and my aim is much better than what i expected it to be. I can throw one, maybe two bullets at a kobold's face without much effort before they get real close, then I pull out my shortsword and it's only a matter of time.. I'm not bing hit as much anymore, I'm guessing it's cause of how I'm developing my skills. Very agile and nimble, I can fight two kobolds at the same time and still i don't get hit a lot.




110 days ago:
I've set foot on Port Hempstead for the first time today, tall-folk and their huge stone walls and confided cities. It's nice none the less and I see many opportunities for me here. I started out by trying to solve a problem with the city sewers, but I never though rats could be so  tough. It also seems that the goblins near Hlint have switched the weaker scouts for stronger ones, and I've even seen a witchdoctor in the small camp outside the caves. Guess it's going to take me some more time to collect those ears. The shadows have been good to me, providing me cover as I fight and I am learning some good fighting tactics for my kind of "profession". I meet many people in my adventures and several times we have gathered a nice group and went out on great hunts. I also found out a small kobold camp, really close to Hempstead.. Why they would make camp so close is beyond me, but I know that their pockets are full and they provide easy training, close to what I'm calling home at the moment. Must keep moving, must keep learning.

[Odranoela]

30 days ago:
I ran into Shiff today for the first time in a long long time. I've been away travelling and exploring, but all journeys seem to bring me back to MIstone, in the area around Hempstead, Krandor, Hlint.. I have explored the Mariner's Hold, and the Dragon Isles. There is so much to be seen, and such short time to see it. Coins are coming by but not as much as I wished they were. I haven't been involved in any major thievery for some time now, and now that I'm somewhat known i don't think I want to, at least not in Hempstead. It would draw too much attention for me. I've seen what these adventurrs do to evil folks, they are excluded. I cannot be excluded, I must know what's going on at all times, keep informed and training. Speaking of training, most of the enemies i face, can't see me coming until they have a foot of steel in their gut. Then I have to finish them fast. I might consider more before adventuring alone to some places. I'd be better off with a group with mixed skills. Tialle is a great wizard, and Shiff and Valmara are frontliners,  good at that. I met Rose, a sweet lady that is a cleric of Toran. She didn't seem to mind me serving Shadon, i think she judges people by their actions, not their dieties. It may be easier when she finds out what i do for a living if she already has some kind of friendship with me. But I guess she wouldn't mind, if she knew i do it for the sake of .. FUN! If she does, I'll just have to find another priest to come with us in our travels. G'ork is a one eyed half orc I met.. He's death-on-a-stick.. Or better death-on-a-doubleaxe.. One of the most fierce wrrioirs I've met, he lets me follo him along sometimes and we "bash" as he says, many things on our way. Even with one eye, he is -always- aware of the loot. hehe. Today I also purchased an Iron shortsword, and some enchanted rings.. They improved a lot my ability to hit things with the swords, and also my ability to hide and move silently.. I'm getting real good at it, but I'm nt able to learn the shadow technique by myself.. I guess I'll have to ask someone for some directions eventually. I'd go for Kinai, a preety lady that loves playing with the people around her, especially men. Once, joking, I said she had to teach me that skill, and she said she would. But then I reccieved the spider.. Yes the spider with a note attached, this shadow has been contacting me and offering me a job, didnt say who he was, nor what was the job, and he was very secretive about it. I won't write down anything else, in case this journal is lost, or taken from my dead body. he tells me not to trust kinai, that she is a traitor,but that only leaves me thinking, traitor to what cause, traitor of whom? Perhaps i'll find out more when this guy contacts me for the job.. I sure do hope hes ready for the many questions I have. The equipament list has not some items crossed out, I managed to purchase them, but still I have a long way to go and a lot of coin to gather.. I hope I can complete more jobs and collect more bounties, but what i really wanted was to join a guild.. As is I would even find a rogues guild in this land, they must be so hidden, that is, if they exist. Every land has a guild of rogues and assassins, It's just a matter of learning, completing tough jobs, that they will eventually have their eyes on me, and I hope they'll invite me.  I've been thinking in asking around the camp, at Gloom Woods.. The halfling there seems to be real lgood in hiding and shadows, so he may know information i need. the only thing is if I'll be able to cover his price.. Seeing I already brought him the head of Zanin [ hopefully that's the correct name] he must be easier to convince, and I also have my persuasion tricks. I can fasttalk enough so he will give the what I want to know without even being aware of it.. Let's hope I can findout more about the people who can teach me, becuase I begin to doubt if i will develop these skills by myself so Kinaii is my best option, snce I can't find mystery man. Perhaps I won't trust her completely, but she has shown no wrong in her actions. She has actually proved trustworthy to some point. Maybe I trust others too much.. What do I have to offer for someone to willingly teach me these skills.. I don't want to owe my soul to anyone, or be trapped doing jobs for someone the rest of my life in debt.

[Odranoela]

OOC - I'm keeping a development journal in-game, but I thought I'd pass it on to the forums, to give GMs something else than just a request for no reason when I request for PrC.

10 days ago:
Still no news of mystery man. Still no news on a rogue/assassin guild. Still no news...
Tialle now is an accomplished spellcaster, and she can preety much do well in any place you throw her in, I wish I had that dedication sometimes. I am advancing slowly but not much, The best thing for me to do now is to start my qyest for the shadows training. I'll start with asking around to the right people.

[Odranoela]

Today was very profitable. Starte out as a dull day but not much time later we found ourselves exploring Dregar.. We went to some dark woods, ridden with spiders and treants..The shadows again helped me and most of the things we faced could be heavily damaged by my surprise attsacks. I purchased an Amulet that makes me more agile, and my attacks are now even better. I've seen a vampire for the first time in my life.. Mystery man contacted me today.. And when I asked about the job I was told "you either execute the job or you'llbe executed" or something along those lines.. Eep, I didn't like much what I heard but oh well, I'll play along for now. Kinai says she wants to speak to me. I wonder if this is where the plot thickens. I shall wait and see.

[Odranoela]

The day was tense. I've met with miss Kinai and a friend of hers to talk business, but i couldn't bring myself to bribe them or use them for my own personal gain. What's wrong with me!?

Maybe it was the deal i was satisfied with, now I'll be able to learn the shadows... Maybe it was self preservation, or even concern. Maybe i'm finally growing a conscience. Or maybe I am just out of the game for too long. I can't remember the last time I pulled a major job, and I miss the action, the thrill. Hmm, what's that? I see a possible target. Get beck to you later, journal.

[Odranoela]

This last week has been profitable and isightful, been spending time on Dregar and meeting a lot of new adventurers.
I managed to create nearly the same effect of the shadowdancers I know, if I manage tio slip out of view for a moment and hide, or maybe if I hide while everyone's still resting, I can preety much walk around totally unseen. It's even funny when folks go "Wait, We lost Lino" and I pop up from the shadows.
 
But I still haven't learned the shadowdancer trick itself, though I'm more than adequate for it and I meet al lrequirements, As i've been told, with miss Kinai's wedding and pregnancy I think i'm preety much without a teacher.
I will manage to get some tips from Trajan, my friend who is learning aswell, and I will venture into trying to learn it myself.. How hard can it be, really, when I already play with the shadows brilliantly?

[Odranoela]

Good news! Miss Kinai isn't too busy to teach me, and today, after my first travel to Serpent Isle to see the Fey-folk, she started our lessons. I have hope that I will be a good learner for those lessons. Shadow realm, here I come!

[Odranoela]

It has been so long since i've pulled a decent job, I think I'm growing softer with  my profession. It's just that the lands have so much trouble and folks are so paranoid that it's dangerous to make any major moves. I will keep looking for the perfect job. Not risking my neck for something that's not very, -very- valuable...
Some of the possible targets I have been spying on proved too dificult at this point. I shall keep observing them and taking my notes...

The Dull Thief is one of the most likely to be targeted first. Always loved easy pickings...
The Bard will have to wait until I'm certain of all of my skills. But new information arrives everyday.
The Arrogant Mage is asking for it, but he might have wards on his belongings... More observing needed.
The Brute and The Drow have simply disapeared from the faces of Mistone. Oh well, I'll keep looking.

Other unimportant targets are still in stalking state. More information will come up when I have more time...

Just another day at work...

[Odranoela]

Now this day and night have been insane.. We were hanginig out at Stormcrest, me Bumblebee, and some other guy I didn't know.. Suddenly a Wild Chicken starts running around and nearly beaks Bee's eye off! Some tried to attack it but it was in frenzy.. We tried to track it down and I managed to track it down from Stormcrest till Hemps Fields, well not brilliant work at tracking, but I'm no ranger... Getting there we ran into Tragor, Gudelsky and an Ogre, didn't catch his name.. We joined efforts and there we went looking for the Wild Chicken.. Suddenly it started attacking randomly, it even hit me a couple of time, and it hit HARD. After a casuality or two we found Coyote, he talked with the chicken and found out something really bad had startled it. We followed it back to Vhel, tracking together. Just before the path to the Mountains, we found some blood and a hole, and we decided to go in there and see what was going on.First we faced a bat-like creature, with an aura of fear that drove many of us mad screaming for their lifes like little girls.. It was insane as we stumbled upon a giant worm that rumbled the floor and popped up from the earth attacking fiercely. We then found another giant worm, a purple one, and that one took the lives of two of our adventurers. Took some time to kill it but eventually we got out of there alive, and the chicken was never heard from again.. Talk about a Bard's Tale!!!

[Odranoela]

I've had it with everyone!
Most people I considered friends are too busy doing something [or someone] else to have any time left for anything[ ME, in the case...]. Others just seem to have grown distant, by choice or whatever.
I'm tired of being nice.
I'm tired of holding back on jobs because of these people.
Listen to this:
I met a fella, same training as I and preety much the same skills. He was seasoned and more advanced in training, but didn't look like he was "active".
To be honest I think he never stole a  fly from an Inn...
And comes saying I should be careful of where I work, that some people will dislike me if I pull jobs in certain places.. Why? The house was so old that nothing was even worth taking, I was just wishfully thinking that there could be a basement full of shiny thingies... Anyway..
Have they claimed those places as their territory? Have they ownership, or power over the places?
Is there some organization behind this? I remember meeting a woman named Rhynn on my first days, a blonde grumpy girl, that, promissing a organization, introduced me to some lizard-like ugly Tall-folk that hissed more than spoke. I couldn't even understand what it said!!! It basically said "If she likes you we like you, make her happy and be nice". What the hell does that mean!?!?
I'm tired of being nice...
Members of an organization should be picked carefully, chosen one by one, considering all outcomes.. Raise them to be your meat shields, escape goats, should you ever need.. Hell, -I- should start an organization.
So what does a rogue like meself does? Just lower me head to the more experienced and I'll be fine?
I'm done lowering my head.
I answer forth the calls of the shadows, and embrace them as my own. My focus is at it's prime, I'm nimble, young, alive...
I'm gonna go after my own, and to tha hell with the rest of you.
The Lino Bildert you all bastards knew is going to change, and for the worse...
I'm tired of being nice...

[Odranoela]

On a side note:

Last night was really profitable.
A Dregar trip without going to the same spots and a nice trip down Firesteep. We were doing okay, but then it got ugly.. As it usually goes. I hid, some died some fled. It was fun.
My skills with the shadows surprised me again when I literally walked amongst the baddest kobolds you'll ever see and they didn't even dreamed about spotting me! I advanced my training a bit last night, learned some new tricks, now I'm a half-seasoned adventurer!
Haha sounds so sad, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere.
Get back to ya soon, dear journal.
-Lino

[Odranoela]

There has been a major change in the way the shadows watch me and I watch them. It's as if they are trying to pull me inside them. I already creeped out most of my friends, sneaking around them and popping up, toying with them a bit. However the final step seems to be the hardest and even though i won't give up. Keep training, keep learning what I can. Maybe others can teach me. i wonder if I should have taken the darkest path... I'd definatly be where I want to be if so. But maybe I just need to give time some time. For now, I'll keep praticing.
-Lino

[Odranoela]

Looks like I have yet much to learn before I take the path i was aiming to. I'm going to leave that aside for now and focus on learning some sword singing, to hold myself properly in battle. I've been watching the front liners when I hunt in groups, they provide some basic learning but not much. Been thinking on asking G'ork some tips. Who better? I'm sure I can find some stuff to pay him for a couple of "lessons", maybe Ore or Venom...

[Odranoela]

Then again, I -do- hold myself good in battle, just not as good as a front liner and that's not my goal. I assume it'd be boring, and I value my skills. So no sword swinging for me by this time.
Earlier I ran into Kinai and she delivered some disturbing news. Hawlen is gone from the lands to some kind of planes called Pandemonium and that bothers me greatly. Who will take care of the kiddo with Kinai, what about the wedding that was about to happen? Well, guess I'll have to stay tuned for news on that event. Other than that, life has been a bit quiet and I'm thinking of changing that. Someone must need one of my skills around, either I find work soon or it's back to takin' from the rich and giving to myself. And just now.. Well life's a hard game to play, and to contrary of popular belief, it doesn't get any beter or easier...

Lino out.

[Odranoela]

-06-23-07-

Throughout these weeks I've been usin'g the blade quite mote often. Even if I'm better with the sling at close range, I want to learn the combat techniques.

Shiff had me cuttin' damned gems before he will actually teach me anything, I have no patience for that, so I decided to just put the sling down for a while and use my blade on battles, and watching people like Steel, Wren, Seth, Shiff, I found that much can be learned..

-Some months ago-

*picks up a dusty journal*

I also put up a combat dummy in the room I live in. Spent weeks practicing the swings and thrusts combined with my surprise attacks. Started attacking from behind, practicing some backstabbing..
Got really good at hitting the kidneys and lungs areas with one fast and tough strike, rending the enemy nearly incapacitated. Tested it in the trips to Haven Mines and it worked well.
Then I stepped up to the front combat. Using my evasion and dodge skills makes it easier to front in a combat, with the dummy, I trained attacks in the stomach and neck, even jumping up and striking sometimes. Worked well on live trainning. Seth held off some ogres in the Ore Hills but one escaped and chased me, it was one of the weaker types, not the armored ones nor the ogrillons. I switched to melee and took it down preety fast, without getting hit. Got one sneak attack in, on it's stomach, from there, it was front combat, and it went better than I expected.

-Present Time-

My doubts about acquiring a new kind of training are extingushed after these last months. Hells, I've been swingin' swords everywhere. I purchased a nice enchantment, and then applied it to the Adamantium Shortsword I got from Acacea at the Leringar Arms and Inn Opening. This blade allowed me to learn much more, and it enhances my skills.

Pfft, what a cheap combat dummy they sold me, I had to patch it up four times already, i'm seriously considering dressing it with some cougar skin or something resistant... Obviously it also means my attacks are getting stronger and more precise.

I have trained a lot with tough opponents, always under supervision of a warrior, so that I can get the most out of the fight, and even participated in some arena situations, though I don't really enjoy them. Watching Seth is the most advancing for me, though, he combines th surprise attacks and front combat very well. WE have taken countless trips to Dregar, facing Forest Giants, Desert Giants, Ogres, ogrillons, Spiders, Treants, Snakes, Vampires...

I have handled myself very well, I hear many other adventurers speak of the Soul Mother, but I have to say she has been very good to me.. I have never lost any soul strands to her, not even Once, and I have reached a somewhat decent stage of training, I like that she likes me.. Or perhaps it's a coincidence, but I still like it.

Watching Steel lecturing about mercenaries and combat lessons have also helped and will help further. I just have to ask Seth to cut me a gem and tell Shiff I did it, so he can pass some tips and tricks on to me.. Afterall the man is a weaponsmaster... I feel this extensive training will take me somewhere...

[Odranoela]

Took the day to help out some new adventurers today, too bad I didn't find any.
It turned out to be a preety boring day until I ran into Boltar, the dwarven bard and a new friend of his, Lara. We took a trip to the kobolds camp, to get yet another stick and then headed to the Gloom Woods to solve a problem over there. Wes joined right before we headedinto the Gloom Woods and Boltar had to depart.
I used my blade all of the time, and with West's magics I had no problem fronting the Bone Golem and zombie warriors.. Took out the bounty with one hit.. It was a rather precise hit, and strong. West complimented my skills as he noticed they have grown. Where the hell is G'ork, I sure could use some tips from him aswell.
For now, this is all.

Lino out.