While not ordinarily inclined to keep a careful record of my adventures, relying on memory to recall the important details that would make a good story and embellishing where memory fails me, of late I feel somehow compelled, no, DRIVEN, by perhaps some higher power that I don’t fully understand but will call "Jeff", to carefully note the events of my wanderings. So I will attempt to first write of the events that have led to our current situation, using approximate dates where possible, and once up to date will faithfully enter relevant details (I don’t feel it necessary to tell you, the reader, what I had for lunch on each particular day, as this hardly seems important enough in the story. Unless it happens to be a particularly GOOD lunch, and a rather slow day....)...enter relevant details each day, as long as I am conscious to do so.

-G-

31/1I will begin the story with Rokk Krinn, the Ork of Legend (echo, echo, echo). Surely you have heard of him, and read his brochure. Well, we were on the trail of Darvis Trollbane, a slaver scum wanted by the government of Throal for crimes against the state, including slavery. The bounty on his head was considerable, and doubled if it was attached to his still-breathing body. Certain clues (namely people telling us it was so) led us to believe that he was in Iopos in the northwest. So we set out from Bartertown to capture our quarry. We rode north to the river and stopped over in Gonneril to buy supplies and hire a riverboat. There we met a T’skrang captain, Tarquin, and purchased passage aboard the Vanglorious. Setting sail under a flag bearing a red "S" on a white background, we were granted a peaceful journey west, at least until the last day. It was then that a murderer in our midst decided to strike. A yellow t’skrang with blue stripes, plain head, and stubby tail ran out from belowdecks and dove overboard, with cries of anger and sorrow following in his wake. The body of the cabinboy was brought to the deck soon after, eyeless and with the letter "I" painted on his chest. It is a theme to which we would soon become accustomed, even desensitized, to. With the killer having made a clean escape, we resigned ourselves to the futility of pursuit, and continued on to dock in Gevin just hours later. Here we met a group of adventurers who had also recently come across a child similarly desecrated. In this case it was an "S" left behind.

As it turned out, they were also heading in the direction of Iopos, so we decided to travel together, strength in numbers and whatnot. 31/3 Along the way, we passed through the town of Forriam, or more accurately, the former town of Forriam, since its inhabitants were all dead of some strange affliction. It was later discovered that it was the work of a horror known as Ristul, or rather his cultists. This belief was reinforced when they attacked us on the other side of the river. After forcefully convincing them (or those left standing) to let us pass through, we continued on to Myric where we stopped to get the obsidiman’s cart repaired, as it was damaged in the battle. With a new axle installed, we continued on toward Kaer Bryhn.

32/5Upon reaching the northern plain where several Kaers were located, we spotted a plume of smoke on the horizon. Thus began our following of the trail of destruction that, from descriptions, had been left by none other than Darvis Trollbane. His group did not stop at destruction however, but took captives most likely destined for slavery.33/2 It was during this journey that, while I was out scouting, the party encountered a horror spawn or some similar creature, a large spiderlike thing. After defeating it, Blue found an amulet of unknown function on one of its former victims.

33/4We ended up in the town of Tereme, and there met with the human wizard Tarquin who has a shop above an equipment shop. He agreed to divine what purpose the amulet serves, if we would deliver a package for him to the Blood Wood, and bring back some blood ivy that the elves would give us in exchange. It was in the same direction that Darvis was heading, so we agreed. 34/1 Under the protection of a symbol given to us by Tarquin, we entered the Blood Wood. While the symbol assured that the elves would be friendly to us, or at least not kill us on sight, it turned out to not have the same effect on other inhabitants. We were attacked by needlemen and our troll illusionist was struck down, fatally. With a new, sad burden we continued into the woods, and were eventually approached by the elves. Meeting with their leader, we were told that the exchange will be made if we agree to do some scouting for them. It seems that one of their number is working with Trollbane, and we were asked to go spy on the slavers and see if we could discover who it is.

34/4It was rather easy to locate Trollbane’s group, as large as it was, and leaving a large trail behind them. In watching them go by, we were able to see cages with elves, humans, even a windling. We decided to follow them and see if we could find out who the elf is that was working with them. 34/5 At one point, the woods filled with mist, and I was separated from the rest of the party. Eventually I managed to stumble upon a clearing with a tower, and a small village, and was almost captured by its inhabitants but managed to escape. Flying back I discovered that my friends were locked in the tower, and went to help them. Blue released a fog ghost upon our jailers (see quote at the top of the journal), and we made our escape. Actually, they made their escape since I was never captured. While waiting for the rest of the party, I noticed the slaves being led into some catacombs, and decided to go investigate. A short way in, I was attacked by what I thought was a dead body and decided to wait for the rest of the party, aboveground. 35/1 They finally got to the ground floor, and Rokk and some others of them had gone up to the top first and found a spirit there that told them there is a horror here, and that to destroy it we had to bring its essence to the room with a statue to Garland, and light all of the hearths of the Kaer, which turns out to be called "Akarim." With strength of numbers, we descended into the catacombs, and were able to put the dead back to rest. We found an old wine cellar, an enbalming room, and a room with a fountain, were we were attacked by a mist. After a pitched battle, it coalesced into a small sphere. After searching the room, I managed to find a secret door, which lead to a room with a large pile of bones and items in the middle. After some searching, we managed to find some basic equipment and the staff of Akarim, which Akasha took for study. We then took the sphere to the room dedicated to Garland. After some trouble with narcolepsy, Akasha managed to use the staff to dispell the trap, and we performed the ritual and the sphere disappeared, freeing the Kaer from the horror’s enchantment. The whole Kaer started to fall apart then, and we went outside, only to see all of the people of the village walking up steps on the side of the tower. Apparently they had been held here by the horror, never to know the peace of death. I suppose hundreds of years trapped in the same little village could get tiresome, but it was still sad to watch all of those people walk off to the next realm, no matter how happy they seemed. After resting, and giving Rokk time to carve the story into the very walls of the ruins of the Kaer for any who might pass this way, we headed back to the elves with the knowledge that Kallorin, a high ranking member of their society, was the traitor. We were too late in giving the elves this information, as Kallorin had already fled. But they were grateful for our help, and granted us the unheard-of honor of an audience with their queen, who bestowed upon us a rose as a symbol of friendship. Upon catching it, Rokk cut himself on a thorn, and the flower drank the blood! After some speculation and joking that this could be the source of the elves’s affliction, and that Rokk could become the first "blood ork", I couldn’t help but to sneak into his room the next morning and glue some thorns to his arms and face. He didn’t find it nearly as amusing as I did tho (although some blood elves did. I have never before heard of them actally laughing out loud) and flew off the handle. Actually the handle flew out of his hand. I actually believe he would have killed me with that mirror, if it weren’t for all our noise waking the warder, Takeris, who managed to cast a sleep spell on us, or so I am told. I was too busy at the time inspecting my eyelids for leaks. When I next awoke we were outside the Blood Wood, although I didn’t find this out until one of my companions let me out of the sack I was unceremoniously dragged out in. Thankfully I slept through the journey, as I can’t imagine that it would have been very comfortable. As a parting gift, however, the elves gave us Darvis Trollbane’s head. Apparently someone finally caught up with him. 36/1">Returning to Tereme, and Tarquin, with the blood ivy, we fulfilled our part of the bargain. Rokk and I were downstairs looking at the various weapons, with the others going upstairs to make the exchange, when sounds of combat upstairs reached us. I rushed outside and flew up to the window to see what was happening. Kallorin was there, with some henchmen, fighting my friends. He drew out an amulet, and a familiar looking mist appeared, causing him great agony. The henchmen were defeated or jump out of the window, and then the battle with the mist moved to the astral plane with Tarquin’s help. The party managed to disbatch the mist (again!), and Tarquin assured us that this time it is truly dead, that it is necessary to defeat horrors in the astral plane before they are truly destroyed.

Upon returning downstairs, a dead man is waiting for us, lying on the weapon rack, eyeless and with an "A" on him. Six guards were dead in the doorway. In the man’s eye socket is a scrap of leather that has written on it " greetings again. I have been waiting. Hope you got the gift sent through the Blood Wood" We think he meant the head but can’t be sure. All of us went to an inn to eat and drink, and talk over everything that has happened. Tarquin believes that Kallorin made some kind of a deal with the horror, and that it was more than he had bargained for. Upon returning to Tarquin’s shop and studying the bodies, it was found that at least one of Kallorin’s companions was a Theran agent.

36/3After a few days of resting, we decided to go to Bartertown, to collect the bounty and take care of some previous obligations. Our last planned evening in town, 3 city guards in full plate walked into the inn, and "requested" that we go with them. Another body had been found near the marketplace. It was just past dusk, and upon reaching the marketplace we could see an alleyway with guards clustered around the entrance. Sure enough, this was where we were brought. Lord Protector Lieman was there, and informed us that there were witnesses this time, who identified Blue as the killer. In the alleyway was a kid, hung on hooks outside of the tanner’s shop. Another was lying on the ground, a 15 year old elven female, with a blue mark on her neck, like that spell that Blue has. The boy on the hooks was eyeless.

Upon taking him down from the hooks, we noticed that his back was caked with blood. Removing the shirt revealed that his back was cut up, something actually written on him. The witnesses claimed to have seen Blue go into the alley with the kids, and leave a short time later without them. We couldn’t read the writing on the boy’s back, but the "L" on his chest was easily identified, even expected. For those of you keeping score, the letters found so far have been S I R A L. I forget where the R was found. Geographically, that is; we all know by now where it was anatomically. The only other feature of interest was a grate in the alley that hadn’t been opened in a while. I wanted to get Tarquin and see if he could read the writing, but the guards wouldn’t let me leave. The first witness was brought into the alley, the windchime merchant named Neekis. He claimed to have seen Blue go into the alley with the tanner’s children, and leave without them a half an hour later. When he was going home, he stepped in some blood at the mouth of the alleyway, and looked down the alley to see the children as they were when we arrived. At this time, Blue was escorted into the alleyway, and it is suggested that someone go get Tarquin, which is what I wanted to do HALF AN HOUR AGO.... sheesh. While we were waiting for the next witness and for Tarquin, Blue says he hears voices from the grating. In his characteristic brash manner, Gort jumped through the grating, to the consternation of the guards. We all made our way through the grating, and were met by a mob collected by the tanner ready to lynch the supposed killers of his children, us. The ensuing battle was confused by spells and fog, but in the end, Gort is dead, killed by one blow from a disguised swordsman (if Rokk is to be believed, and I do believe him amazing as the story may seem). We of course are blamed for the whole thing even though WE were attacked and forced to defend ourselves, and were then given 2 hours to leave town. Which is what we wanted to do since around lunchtime, so we didn’t really argue the point. Someone found a hidden tunnel in the basement, and we followed it out, all the way to a river near the Blood Wood.

36/5We began to head south, to find a passage to Bartertown. Two dwarves approached us, and turn out to be fans of Rokk. He has been busy keeping his own journal and has already published it. They wish to follow him and record his feats for themselves. They decide to tag along while we go to the Skull Mountains to return Gort to his heartrock. Eventually we come to a troll village, and an obsidiman there is from the same heartrock as Gort. He offers to lead us there, and the next two weeks are spent in a ricitus of boredom, waiting for the obsidimen to finish their ritual.

39/3Our obligation to our departed friend fulfilled, we again set out for Bartertown. 39/4We came across the village of Basta, population 176 according to the sign, but our own quick census reported a population of 0. Everyone is dead like that other town we saw, and some even crumble to dust when touched. Someone then decided to torch the whole place, and it is the biggest funeral pyre I have ever seen. Not wanting to be around when someone comes to investigate the fire, we set out again and found an abandoned campsite not too far away. I forget who was on watch that noticed a fire burning in the distance, but I volunteered to go investigate. Turns out to be 9 Ristulites, and they must have had a spellcaster with them, cause they managed to detect my presence. They mounted their horses, and charged towards our campsite, guided by our fire no doubt. After a pitched battle, I managed to take out a troll with my arrows, and the others dealt with the rest. Rokk was convinced that the new party members, a T’skrang called Sanjuro and a human wizard, Maxwell Highcliffe, led us into this ambush. With nothing solid to back it up however, we vowed to keep a sharp eye on them and make sure they do not cause any mischief. A futile endeavor it turns out, but we did our best.

11 Raquas
I will start numbering now since it was soon enough to the present day to be fairly sure it is somewhat accurate. Anyway, the next morning we followed the trail back to their camp, and there was a trail leading up into the mountains, perhaps to a Ristul stronghold. Deciding to go south to the next town for reinforcements, we passed through the first town we burned down. Settlers must not be too happy with us, but at least the towns are abandoned when we find them... The next town we encountered was Camil, and we were greeted by the glares of 20 soldiers standing on its wall. A welcome change to the blank stares we were getting from the "inhabitants" of the last few towns. A 10' palisade surrounds the town, and we were let in after assuring them our intentions were merely to rest. The mayor is a T’skrang female, and we were allowed to stay. A drunk beggar we talked to rambled about darkness, and spirits to the north. Rokk graciously offers him a bottle of wine, and I have never seen Blue’s eyes bug out like that, or his hand move faster than Rokk’s, as he snatched the ancient elven vintage from the beggar’s grasp. (This same bottle, incidentally, is ageing in some farmer’s barn near Samon. I hope he hasn’t found it yet, or, if he did, that he enjoyed it, cause it may be his last when Blue finishes with him.)

13 Raquas
So in the morning, we talked to the mayor and offered to scout out the possible stronghold for her. Going back to where we started, I went on ahead to make sure the way was clear. A sentry posted in a bend in the trail proved to be easy to sneak up on, as he was already dead, eyeless and with an "E" carved in him. This clue-leaver seemed to be one step ahead of us all the time. A little further on, I found a hole in the ground with steps around its rim. Its a big hole, 20' wide, and we head in to explore since it is where the trail ends. After fighting mudmen that are actually shadows, and some Ristulites, and a large tentacled thing, we found a hidden chest and a pair of gauntlets and some money. Sanjuro’s arm was withered by a toxin in the beast, but he bravely continued on. Further into the structure, we found a section that was submerged. Sanjuro went in, and after a time Maxwell detected other forms in the water. After a few spells from Maxwell they moved off, and Sanjuro’s unconscious body floated to the surface. We managed to get him out, and according to him (when he revived) the other forms were albino t’skrangs and they had a relic that they took back from him. He also managed to find the name of the place, Kaer Fornor. Having had enough of the damp and dark, we headed back to Camil to rest and recover, confident that the "stronghold" is no longer a threat.

16 Raquas
After arriving at the village, we talked to the elders and told them what we found, and then rested and trained for a few days. The gauntlets turn out to be those of Elost the Vengeful, who traveled in Barsaive and had some powers over the elements. They are too big for me, but Sanjuro took them for use in the time when he is whole again.

20 Raquas
Well rested, we headed to the kaer where some dead elementalist’s lab is located. His apprentice helped us get through some wards on the place, and we found various items of use to us, mainly booster potions, and some blood charms, including a targeting eye that I took for myself. Upon returning to Camil, we were told that the last messenger sent to Gevin to the south didn’t return. Having requested him sent to possibly ask for help, and to warn them of the possible invasion by Ristul, we decided to go see what happened to him.

21 Raquas
En route to Gevin, we encountered the swordmaster, Tural by name, from Tarquin’s lab that had jumped out the window rather than face Rokk’s swift blade, who warns that we shouldn’t go to Gevin. There were new people there protesting the present government, and the true governmentwas in exile. It was at that time under a triumvirate, and we would not be welcomed there. A party of Iopos people were also in the area, looking for us for killing Trollbane, and we were forced to hide while they passed. The mage in the party was recognized as Feran Denairastas, of house Denairastas , travelling with some orcs and t’skrang from house Ishkarat, who had taken over the town. The swordmaster then took us to a cave where 2 leaders of Gevin were hiding, in hope that we could help get them to their airship on the other side of town so they could go to Throal for help. We decided to try that night. The wheat fields seemed to offer the best cover, but near the end we were spotted and attacked. After a pitched battle, and almost getting clawed by Blue’s fog ghost, we all made it to the airship and escape, and headed for Bartertown.

22 Raquas
Peaceful ride so far on the airship, almost as good as flying myself.

23 Raquas
The lookout noticed a Denairastas ship behind us. Since we were approaching Kaer Aidelon, enemy of Denairastas and Ishkarat, they shouldn’t follow us there so we changed course a little. This kaer is held by blood elves and house Cerious of the t’skrang, located on the Serpent and Nightengale Rivers. Upon reaching the kaer, we were distressed to see that they were already engaged. 4 Ishkarat boats and a force of Iopan infantry were on the shore, massed outside the kaer. We landed and the other 2 airships pursuing us veered off. After releasing a bird, we again set out.

24 Raquas
Apparently our optically obsessed opponent was still with us, as we awoke on this morning to see the watch boy strung out on the mast, eyeless and with a "D" on him, and "SIRALE" on the sail in what appears to be blood. The other kid is still in the mast, but he is oddly concealed from my astral sight (13!). After cutting the body down, we noticed that on his back in t’skrang had been cut:

I hope you have all you need, cause it is all I will give you. Or in 2 weeks, all these kids will have died in vain.

As if we didn’t have enough on our minds, a sailor noticed 3 specks off starboard, which proved to be wyverns. All crew was called on deck, and the last one is carrying a small boy, who looks exactly like the surviving watch boy with no pattern. Maxwell was finally able to detect its pattern, and it matches the 2 handed sword that had killed Gort! His guise penetrated, he now takes on the form of a white haired human, who Rokk recognizes as the one who killed Gort. Screams from below decks revealed some horror had been released, but we were occupied as the wyverns attack. An explosion below rocked the ship, and the ship was badly damaged. As the battle turns in our favor thanks to the heroics of some airsailors, whitey jumps overboard, and Rokk dives after him. The horror from below turned out to be a manticore, Whitey’s mount, and it catches him and Rokk. I tried to help Rokk but was suddenly terrified of this evil man, and Rokk was taken away. When I came back to my senses, the smoke trail of the airship led to where it crash landed in the forest, but I was determined to find Rokk again. Summoning all of my scouting ability, I attempted to follow the manticore.

11/2
After a few hours I came across Rokk’s backpack and pouches. Removing the important things, I hid the rest of them in a barn near the village of Samon, which is ½ a mile east of a square grove of trees. ( The barn is west of the grove). The trail lost, I decided to meet everyone at Bartertown. While flying I tried to puzzle out the meaning of the letters we have been given. Rearranging the letters seemed to be one possible solution, so I tried different combinations. "Die, Lars" is a possibility that occurred to me, but I don’t even know Lars and certainly can’t think of why he should be killed. And certainly "earlids" don’t make much sense, and would they have earlashes as well?? "Sir Dale" might give us a clue as to the meaning, but I have never heard of him. The same for "Red Lisa". Perhaps I should ask around. I suppose I could keep my eyes open for a "Red Sail". Or maybe the answer lies in "Ed’s lair", which seems a fitting name for a tavern, but I know of no barkeeps named Ed, and therefore have no idea where it might be located. If it is indeed "Dear sil", then the message isn’t even for us, and there must be more of the message coming, in spite of the fact that it said we would get no more clues. Well, two weeks should be enough for us to figure it out...

25 Raquas
By nightfall I was able to reach Bartertown, and find Blue. Turns out the solution is "Delaris", just reading the letters backwards. And the trail was leading in the direction of those mountains anyway. So we know where to go, and just have to find the rest of the party. We went together into Throal, which is inside a mountain. The guards recognized Sejuro and Maxwell from their descriptions, and told us they went to the Happy Orc. When we got there, it is obvious that they were there but left, as the place is in shambles. The owner, a troll, is placated by our generous over-paying for our drinks, and the royal guards also present drink with us. Sergent Soader is the only name I remember though. A young dwarf came in and reported that they are in the "Ruby Vein." Apparently we are not the only ones looking for our friends. The sergent and his men allow us to accompany them to the Ruby Vein, where we were reunited with our delinquent companions and they try to explain why they started a fight with the troll in his bar. The Happy Ork doesn’t seem the appropriate name for a bar belonging to an unhappy troll, perhaps if his name is Ed I could suggest a new name for it....

26 Raquas
It was on this day that Briana joined our little group. An elven woodsperson, she claimed, and has since proven, that she has a knack for following people. Everyone split up to do various jobs in the city and planned to meet again later. I went to the Chambers of his majesty’s blah blah blah to collect the bounty. A nice dwarven woman, Coral, confirmed it was Darvis’s head, or at least matched some description of him as far as she could tell. In truth, with the beating it had taken, a hairy melon would have looked the same. An idea I should keep in mind for the next bounty.... but seriously, word of something like that gets out and your credibility is worth less than obsidiman dung, that is, dirt. One thing of note was a poster for a "Cyril Mandarodis", who matches Maxwell’s description. 5000 alive or 2000 dead. They must want him pretty bad. He has a tattoo which Maxwell lacks, tho. So I’m pretty sure that its not the same person. So Coral sent me to the treasury with a note to collect the money, and I figure I might as well get rid of some of the loose coins I’ve been lugging around with me. The troll on duty gives me extra (If any Throal officials read this, ignore that last part), probably cause he doesn’t feel like (or can’t) count out the total amount (If any trolls read this, ignore THAT last part). So with lighter pouches but a larger nest egg, I went off to the market and replenished my supplies. That night, I decided to attach the targeting eye, as it would enhance my archery skills. I must say, it was a rather unusual experience, and not one that I would repeat soon, although with only one eye left I couldn’t do it even if I wanted to.

27 Raquas
Maxwell somehow managed to find a poem about the Corinthian somewhere. While I suppose it is a usefull talent to be able to dig such stuff out of the libraries, I think I’ll leave that job to him and stick with scouting. The poem connects the Corinthian to a city called Viln, which is somewhere in the Delaris Mountains. I forget exactly when we decided that witey was the Corinthian, I kind of didn’t really pay attention to Maxwell’s wizardeze, but in any case was eager to set out and look for Rokk now that we had a lead. This is very possibly the first time I have hunted someone that didn’t have a bounty on his head. Briana and Blue also related quite an adventure of the day before, getting ambushed on the way back to the city by Iopans. They were ok tho, thankfully. The elders also showed up at some point to let us know he was heading back. The rest of the day passed quietly.

29 Raquas
After buying some last minute supplies, we met at 3 and set out for Viln. A newly healed Sanjuro came and told us that he met a follower of Garlen, Denjada, that knows about the Corinthian. Deciding that it is best to know as much as possible about your opponent, we went to meet her in the upper class area, to the house of Eleomi, an advisor of some sort and some import, I think. When we got there she wasn’t in, but arrived after a short wait. They graciously fed us a good dinner, and we exchanged stories. Afterwards, we returned to the airship to depart. Personally, if I couldn’t myself fly, I’d never have gotten on the thing it was so beaten up, but the captain assured us it was airworthy, and estimated that it would take 4 days to get to the Delaris Mountains. Armed with new knowledge, and Sanjuro with 2 healthy arms, we began our search.

30 Raquas
Nothing exciting happened this day, and no good meals to speak of.

1 Sollus
See 29 Raquas.

2 Sollus
See 29 Raquas.

3 Sollus
This was the day we crossed the Theran border, and began to look for Viln.
Maxwell spotted some ruins in the mountains, and the captain steers us over to investigate. Our approach is interrupted, and then hastend by, the lookout spotting some large objects heading our way, namely 2 flying castles escorting a behemoth, or flying CITY. Some things just aren’t meant to be airborne, and I think a city fits into this category. But there it was, floating along. With all haste, we set down in the dry lake in the middle of what we hoped was Viln, cause after the landing it was doubtful that the ship would fly anytime soon. Luckily the ship’s decrepit condition was the perfect camoflage to blend in with the other shipwrecks in the lake, and we went unnoticed by the ships. After they passed us by, 2 airships of the normal type flew near, and engage in battle. One was a Theran ship, and the other was from Throal. The latter was shot down and crashed to the east. The Theran ship tossed the body of someone who managed to board their vessel, and then leaves. It turned out to be Feran Denairastas. I decided to go scouting since that’s what I’m best at, and spotted a party of Therans probably up to no good. After returning to the party to warn them, I went to keep an eye on the Therans, only to find that they had moved on already. We decided to explore the canals leading out of the dry lake. Entering one stronghold revealed two wyverns, in fact the ones that had attacked a few days earlier, penned in a courtyard. A lingering scent of manticore led me to believe that we were in the right place. Outvoting Maxwell’s desire to kill the helpless wyverns, we decided to investigate the fire that was raging to the northeast, possibly the crashed Theran airship. En route we were attacked by giant blood bees, and Blue was gravely injured. After getting rid of the last bee (Briana thought of using torches, which seemed to work well), we hid Blue in a building, and continued on to the site of the fire, which was not a ship as expected but a pile of coal. There was no sign of the airship, so we went back to Blue’s hiding place, only to find both him and Briana missing. (That seems rather difficult, or contradictory, to "find" someone "missing".....oh well). Turel is able to track them and we finally found them in the home of a 2-tailed T’skrang, if you have ever heard of such a thing. Or even if you haven’t heard of such a thing, cause he really was there regardless of your knowledge of T’skrang anatomy. He is blind to boot, but can "see" very well somehow, and tells us, over some absolutely wretched tea (it smelled so bad I didn’t even try it. From Maxwell’s expression after tasting it, I was glad I didn’t) that he works for the Corinthian. Furthermore, he told us that Whitey is not a horror, and lives in the Highs, an upperclass section of town. We decided to let Blue rest and then continue our search in the morning.

4 Sollus
A fruitless, and clueless, day of scouting, marked by the return of Akasha and another twist to this whole bizzare affiar. We could see the mansions to the east, but no sign of activity. Sanjuro was able to locate tracks outside the lake area, and Briana was able to follow them, towards the SSE to a door in the outer wall. Opening the door revealed a room with one route out, up a flight of stairs, and we followed the trail that way. The second floor had stairs continuing up and 2 doors in the walls. One door was found to lead to the blood bee hive, judging from the scent of honey and the noise of their buzzing, so we closed that door and decided to continue following the trail up the stairs. They led all the way to the top of the wall, and Maxwell was startled to notice that within the walls is astrally "safe", while outside is tainted. The border seems to be a series of statues that stand right outside the wall, every 100 feet or so. They seem to be children, and Maxwell reminded us all of the poem, which says that Viln children were sacrificed to ward off the horror. In going down the wall to inspect them more closely, Maxwell is almost eaten by some giant snakes that live in the water surrounding the city.

Continuing to follow the tracks (for lack of any way to help those poor kids), they eventually led us to another trap door leading down, and Maxwell was able to astrally locate 12 adepts in the bottom room, probably the Theran party I saw earlier. We decided that it would be best to attack them before they get a chance to attack us, and I decided that I should watch the door on the first floor for when they come out to flee or outflank us. Unfortunately, more of them flee than I expected, and I was brought down by their combined assault. Luckily they were more interested in escape than finishing me off, and it is my companions that help me up. In their haste, the Therans also left behind their packs, and we were able to find a few healing potions that were most useful. While victorious, we were also badly beaten up, and decided it would be wiser to rest the night rather than pursue them.

5 Sollus
With the crystal castle in the east just screaming "come look at me", we decided to look there for the Corinthian. Instead we found the remaining Therans, and in the midst of the battle I was sent to get reinforcements from the base camp. By the time I got back with the trolls, however, (walking is so insufferably slow...) my friends were not where I left them. After a little looking I was able to locate them, and was greatful to find them all alive and mostly well, except Briana who had taken quite a beating.

6 Sollus
Having finally tired of chasing Therans, we recalled the original purpose of our presence in Viln, namely rescuing Rokk and defeating the Corinthian, regretfully not necessarily in that order. Rokk’s skills would doubtless have been well appreciated in the battle sure to result in meeting the Corinthian. Setting out for the Highs, where 2-tail told us the Corinthian resided, Brii and I scoured the area for signs of recent habitation. While the tracks Brii found did not lead anywhere, I was able to pick up on the unmistakable stench of the manticore that served as the Corinthian’s mount. My nose ended up leading me and the others to the shore of the lake that was to the north of the city. 70 yards away, the opposite shore lapped against the base of a towering cliff, into which was cut what appeared to be either a cave or mineshaft of some sort, where the trail led. In flying over myself, I was able to discern humanoid tracks at the mouth of what was indeed a tunnel, and the spot where the manticore landed. With it impossible to go around the lake to the cliffs, my friends faced the unsavory task of swimming with the giant snakes that almost made a meal of Maxwell the day before. Luckily, Akasha remembered a spell she had that could create a bridge out of thin air. While usefull to ground-bound folk, I was made ever more grateful for my wings. We arrived at the cavern with no serpentine interruptions, and cautiously entered.

The rough-hewn passageway led straight back into the cliff. Brii was able to get a fix on the tracks I noticed earlier and we followed them into the darkness, guided by glowing prints only Brii could see (I must get her to show me that trick sometime....) and Maxwell’s lightstone. The rough stone of the walls gave way to a smoother worked surface, and after a few minutes this opened into a cavern, already occupied. The Corinthian stood behind an altar in the middle of the room, which sloped upwards. He held a knife aloft over the chest of a figure bound to the altar. I flew up for a better look, and had my worst fears confirmed. Using my friend’s name as a battlecry, I flew straight at the Corinthian, before he plunged the blade into Rokk’s heart. The blow severed completely through the arms holding the dagger, and the illusion it actually was. Both figures disappeared, to be replaced by an ork skull resting on the altar, and the laughter of the REAL Corinthian, who was standing at the other end of the room. Sejuro bravely stepped forward and challenged the Corinthian, who began to stride towards us. Then, with a gesture of his hand and the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced, my normal eye was torn from its socket and I was struck blind to the normal world. My screams were not enough to cover the sound of another though, as Brii’s cries of agony joined my own. I tried to see in the astral plane, but that sight must have been affected as well. The following battle is but a blur, clouded by pain and by the haze through which I was able to see somewhat, using my targeting eye. More than one of my shafts struck true, but when the manticore joined the fray our situation was dire indeed. Sanjuro and Turel went down, and Brii, even in her blinded state, strode forward to keep the spellcasters from direct combat so that they could magically offer what aid they could. With my strength rapidly failing, the strain of using the targeting eye taking its toll, the scent of blood burning my sensitive nose, and the cries of my friends in pain burning my ears, almost matching the fire raging in my now empty socket, I decided to attempt one final desperate blow on the biggest target so that even in my blinded state I would not miss. My last view of the manticore, sighted along the shaft of the last arrow I had loosed, showed him beginning to lift off of the ground, out of reach of Brii’s sword which had been scoring marks, judging from his howls. And so, drawing my own sword, with a final cry of desperation, guided by instinct as much as by the now familiar odor, I flew forward and swung my blade. I was rewarded with a crunch of steel on bone, before I blacked out and fell to the floor. The darkness hit me like a great weight, and left me wrapped in heat and pervaded by that now-hated stench. I would later find out that it was the body of the manticore, and not the darkness, that had hit me. When I next awoke, it was to find myself aboard a Theran vedette, en route to one of their outposts. After quaffing a booster potion generously offered to me by Akasha, I found out that after I took down the manticore, Maxwell and Akasha finished off the Corinthian, or at least believe they did, with a little help from the Theran archer, Sonorius, that we had encountered on hostile terms the day before. With the Corinthian dead, they managed to drag all of the bodies out to the cave mouth, only to find the vedette waiting for them. Thankfully, none of my companions were killed in the encounter, thanks to Maxwell’s generous administration of a last chance potion to Turel. The loss of my and Brii’s eyes was, thankfully, only an illusion. Maxwell and Akasha were able to retrieve several items of interest from the Corinthian, among which I was given the Nimbus ring, and a short sword, "Voracious", which is half of a set with a dagger that Sanjuro now holds. They were used by the protectors of Viln, until finally both falling into the hands of the Corinthian, and have the names of all their previous owners inscribed on them. Among other items were a crystal visor and a pouch.

9 Sollus 1508TH, 1065TE 1/4/97
We rested for the 3 days of the journey, and during this time realized that the skull is not Rokk’s as I had originally feared. He may still be alive somewhere. I only hope that our "visit" to Triumph, the behemoth that now serves as a Theran outpost, parked on the sacred liferock of Ayodha, will not take long. I know not if Rokk is in fact still alive, or where he is, imprisoned or free. If imprisoned, I fear that he will die of starvation or worse if we do not get to him soon. It has been 4 days since the Corinthian’s defeat, and I don’t know how many more will pass before we are able to return and continue the search.

10 Sollus 1508TH, 1065TE 1/4/97
Now back in civilization of a sort, and good health, I can keep my journal in actual dates so that we can all follow along, and establish holidays on the proper days, as appropriate. We arrived at the Triumph, and the mining ship was landed within its walls. The warship that had accompanied us until now continued on to the north, where Sanjuro’s home city lies. A group of 20 soldiers awaited our disembarkment, with a large troll in rough garb standing at their head. Sonorius walked up and greeted him, and we were all introduced to Drak Windsearcher, the naval commander of the Triumph. Sanjuro offered him a greeting which is rudely disregarded, and we were told to follow him, accompanied by 10 guards. We were led to one of the corner towers in the central section of the city, to find 2 others there waiting for us. After everyone is seated, they were introduced as Hefera, an elf in black robes and obviously a spellcaster, and Lachadeln, a small wiry human. We got the impression that their importance had been understated in the introductions, and guess that they are probably heads of various groups within the Theran bureaucracy.

In typical fashion, Sanjuro overdoes the introductions of our little group, and we were told that we are there as "guests", thanks to the intervention of Sonorius. They began to ask us questions, such as our purpose in Viln, and we were honest with them since we are at a disadvantage and have no reason to conceal anything from them, mentioning our search for Rokk and our battle with the Corinthian. Amazingly they have heard of Rokk, and ask about a female ork, Krathas Gron, possibly a descendant of the legendary liberator, Hrak Gron. They seem to have been stirring up trouble in several provinces, and were last seen heading west toward the Tylon mountains and Kratas, leading about 200 orks, mostly families carrying all they own. I was happy to hear that Rokk is still alive, but won’t believe it until I see him. It could very well be an imposter just using the name of my legendary friend to gain the following he now enjoys.

They also asked about the village of Honto and a female elf named Adelia, neither of which are known to any of us, but should probably be investigated. Drak then exchanges a few words with Turel, the gist of which seems to be his 3 years of service still owed the 5th legion. Sanjuro gives some story about amnesia after he falls out of a window fighting Rokk. We of course know he jumped, but swordmasters as a group have a reputation to uphold I suppose.... They refused to tell us what all the questions were about, which makes it rather hard for us to help them, but at least they served us dinner, although it is not a very good one. Interestingly enough, the servants are not slaves as would be expected of Thera, but soldiers (humans, orks and T’skrang) in plainclothes. One of the inquisitors brings up Iopos, and they are interested in our encounters with Feran Denairastas. Sanjuro tells some longwinded story about how House Denairastas members are horrormarked, and Drak mumbles something about asking Solon about that, whoever he is. They seem disappointed that we failed to find a ring on Feran when we found him, because he was supposed to be giving it to them. He was the only Denairastas that would go against his father’s plans, whatever they may be, and their only contact as far as they would tell us. They also told us that the Iopan siege of Kaer Aidelon has ended, that they fled when the Therans showed up.

The human Lachadeln then starts asking about friends of his in Bartertown, since we were there recently. Chaladin, and Ovan Wiculsium, are the only names I remember him asking, although there was a third, but none of us had heard of them. He claims to be a merchant of some sort, but Sonorius later told us that no merchants were on the Triumph, and that no mere merchant would have been in the room. We shall have to be vigilant for this Lachadeln, should he appear again. We all spoke for a while that evening in the privacy of our own rooms in the second floor of the tower, and Sonorius joined our discussion. He is heading for Throal in the morning, as part of a diplomatic party. If we are looking for him he said we should contact Apulian Coriatus, a merchant in Bartertown, and he would know where to find him. Sanjuro speculates that Rokk and Krathas are trying to reunite the ork nation. With these thoughts flooding my mind, clamoring for attention, I go to bed and hope tomorrow will offer some answers.

11 Sollus
We were awakened this morning by a knock at the door, a servant beckoning us to breakfast. They seem to be in a hurry to see us off, and Drak stopped in to see us off. The food is actually fresh, and we fear it was pillaged from whatever poor town the warship probably attacked the day before. We are "free to go", and they even offered horses and food, but not an airship to return us to Viln, where they "invited" us to the Triumph. Cutting our losses, we took the horses and the food, and set out.

We decided to go to Bartertown, and to hire a boat to take us there. The nearest place to hire a boat would be Lake Ban, and the City of Reeds. Turel decided that he has had enough of us and leaves after being given his pay, and good riddance to him. We sold the horses, which we have no use for now that we are going by boat. A ferry took us out to the city, and we secured lodging near the Tower of Fire before Maxwell got us passage on a t’skrang ship, for 25 silver each, in 3 days time. A deposit of 10 silver must be paid though, and we do. The captain is T’kaysa, a t’skrang. I decide to retire to my room, as I felt that my skills were getting a little rusty and need to be worked on, since most other times we had an opportunity to rest and train, I was busy healing.

Sanjuro later tells us about a swordmaster that he has met that will train him, and allow us to travel on his boat to Kratas. Anxious to find Rokk again, I am all for this change of plans, as it also gives us some extra time for gathering supplies, and some much needed training. That night, while trying to make my wings beat quieter, Maxwell brings an old friend to visit. Metis, a fellow windling, and wizard-turned-bounty hunter, had run into him in the market on rumors that Max was looking for a teacher. I joined Metis for some drink and stories, and learn that there is another group of orks form Urupa on the coast also heading west, about a third of the total population. Being an old friend, I showed him my new items, and he offered to look at the Nimbus Bracer more closely for me. He also introduced me to some windling scouts that can train me in weaving threads and tracking on the ground. Mochas and Pithi by name, they agreed to meet me in 2 days, after I feel I have brought myself up to speed on my current abilities.

12 Sollus
Metus returned today with my bracer, which is apparently more powerful than I thought. It can charge a weapon with electricity, and speeds up the weapon arm. Now it seems even more important that I learn scoutweaving from Mochas, so that I can be more effective in combat. He couldn’t learn anything about the sword though, which is disappointing but not really important since I know its name already thanks to Maxwell, which is the knowledge I need for the initial connection. I continued my training today and will see Mochas tomorrow.

13 Sollus At the cost of 2 earth and a water, Mochas helped me advance my abilities as a scout. His tracking technique seems slightly different from Briana’s, but effective nonetheless. I will have to practice it when I have the time. I am more concerned at the present to learn more about the interesting items that I have. "Voracious" is truly an amazing blade, for the one in tune with it can use it to strike as if it were a battle axe while only being the size and weight of a shortsword. I feel that I must learn more about it, though, before I attempt to harness more of its powers. Its compaion dagger also strikes harder than it would appear able to, and strengthens the wielder against society’s assaults, a most useful trait for a politician, who is the traditional wielder of the blade. The bracer at first only started to glow, and would allow me to will it to glow like a torch, only it has a characteristic odor that I’m not sure I like when it is made brighter. After studying it further, my arm seemed to grow lighter, and after a few practice swings with my blade, I feel that I should be able to strike faster in combat than ever before. I then tired of staring at its half-moon decoration and decided to call it a night. Sanjuro’s ship sails on the 16th, so until then I will probably talk with my windling friends and purchase supplies to help me along on this journey.

15 Sollus
Since I have had a few days to kill, I decided that this would be a good time to write about the people I am travelling with, so that they may become more than just names in my journal.

The Cast (in order of appearance)

Midnight Blue: An elven nethermancer, I’ve known Blue the longest of my new companions, but understand him the least. His obsession with death is more than a little disturbing, but he has proven his party loyalties and his usefulness on more than one occasion. Of late he seems rather distant and uncommunicative, or at least moreso than before, almost as if he’s not really "with us", if you know what I mean. I fear that his dark interests may be taking their toll.

Akasha: Another elf spellcaster, but an elementalist. Akasha is a steadying hand in the group when she is around. Unfortunately, her studies and interests often take her in a different direction than the rest of us, when not experiencing a bout of narcolepsy. Generous as she is wise, more than one of my wounds has been helped to heal with a booster potion or kind word.

Maxwell Highcliff, human wizard: While proving his worth more than once, both in knowledge and perception, Maxwell nevertheless needs to learn how to better work with others. Not much of a bargainer, he seems to be in a large part responsible for many of Sanjuro’s more foolish actions, although whether this is intentional, part of a twisted sense of humor, or just out of ignorance of his influence, I cannot say.

Sanjuro, t’skrang swordmaster: Viper quick with a blade, but less so with his tongue. A bit overfond of flowery words and long introductions, he is nevertheless of late escaping from the influence of Maxwell and thinking on his own. In truth it has been quite a while since he has last wrecked a tavern. There may be hope for him yet.

Briana, elven woodsperson: Very resourceful, but despite her greater age than many of us, she seems the youngest,having lived a sheltered life in the woods outside of Bartertown. I only hope that the lessons of the world at large do nothing to diminish her obvious love of life and her wonder at the discoveries she makes every day she spends away from her isolated grove.

16 Sollus
Proximity to Bartertown makes me reminisce about my youth, and while I am not ready to return yet, (I need a few more stories to tell when I return to silence those who mocked my ambitions) it is always good to remember one’s roots, and in a journal like this it may be good to tell others them as well.

I was born in the town of Greeba, a day’s fly from Bartertown. My father, Trebor Aliiv, was a carpenter by trade, and many an afternoon of my youth was spent in his shop, building and carving things from the scraps of wood I could find. While carpentry was fun, nothing was more anticipated than the visits of his sister, the troubadour Glenowyn, who had a seemingly endless supply of stories of bravery and heroism. It is in fact these tales, that held dozens of little windlings (no this isn’t redundant, I mean young windlings) enthralled at her feet, that first sparked the desire in me to BE the hero, saving innocent namegivers from threat and danger, and returning to the town in triumph. In fact, my playmates and I would often come to blows about who’s turn it was to be Trypsin, our favorite windling hero of the tales we heard. Unfortunately, the tales Aunt Gwen told never included the HARDSHIPS that had to be endured en route to heroism. When I was old enough, I decided, to the dismay of my father who was hoping to hand the business down to me, that I would set out and use my abilities to combat evil and all the stuff that legends are made of. I had received training in the discipline of windscout from my cousin, and thought it would serve me well in the world at large. After a few months of an empty purse, an emptier stomach, and still no tale worthy of retelling, I was becoming a little discouraged.

One night, I was staying at an inn, wondering how I was going to pay the tab in the morning, when a cry of alarm from downstairs interrupted my brooding. The innkeeper had been robbed, and the thief was fleeing into the night. Grabbing my few possessions, I flew out the door in pursuit, and was able to catch up with the thief when he stopped to rest and examine his goods a mile or so away. Putting him to sleep with a keesera-laced dart, I retrieved the innkeeper’s moneybox which the thief was unsuccessfully trying to open, and returned to the inn. When I arrived, the innkeeper was so grateful that not only did he forget about my tab, but he actually gave me a reward. Intoxicated by the thrill of the hunt, and finally feeling some weight in my purse, I had found what I thought was a new calling. Heading to Bartertown, I went to a tavern frequented by bounty hunters, and checked the posters for any descriptions or names I recognized. Another windling was in the tavern, Metus by name and wizard by discipline. He gave me some pointers on bounty hunting after I bought him a few drinks, and armed with this new knowledge I set out on my first "hunt".

One poster in particular stood out. A dwarf named Gamben Berezin was wanted for several crimes, but the one that caught my eye was theft. I had seen a troll and a dwarf in a shop a few days and a few towns ago, to the north. I guess they didn’t notice me, or didn’t care, but **I** certainly noticed the silver and sapphire necklace the dwarf was trying to sell. It was apparently stolen from a woman of high standing in Bartertown, according to the poster. Figuring it was the best lead I would get, I set out to find him.

I was hot on his trail, having made what I thought were some discreet inqueries in the town. He had gone off to the east, and picking up his trail I followed him, trusting in my blowgun, tracking skills, and wings to deal with whatever I would encounter. It was late afternoon, and they weren’t too far ahead judging from the scent trail they were leaving. Five or six at the most, I guessed. I remember hearing a birdcall, and thinking it strange that a crested woodfinch would be this far north at this time of year, when a weighted net fell on me and I dropped to the ground. The last thing I saw was a dwarf’s grinning face, before I saw stars, and I wondered how night could have fallen so fast, before it became too dark to wonder anymore.

When I came to, it really was dark, except for the dying embers of a fire. There was an odd stinging in my face, accompanied by a throbbing at the base of my skull. The cause of the throbbing was vaguely recalled, but the stinging had no explaination I could think of, until an ork’s grinning face filled my vision and he slapped me again. Complaining that I was awake already, he proceeded to untie me. Turns out that it was Rokk Krinn, an old acquaintance. Apparently my inqueries were not a discreet as I had thought. He happened to be in town, and heard of a familiar-sounding windling poking around where he didn’t belong. Knowing that I would learn the lesson better by letting me make the mistake before bailing me out, he followed behind and came to my rescue after I got some sense (and caution) knocked into me. A quick look around the camp showed several still forms lying in what for a living person would be uncomfortable positions. Unfortunately, Gamben was not among them. He made his escape while the others kept Rokk busy. After a short rest, Rokk and I tried to pick up the trail, but to no avail. After two weeks of scouring the area for clues, we found ourselves in Bartertown, and decided to give up this chase and try another bounty we had heard about, offered by the govennment on a Darvis Trollbane, an orc slaver....

17 Sollus 1/27
We set out today from Reed town onboard the T’skrang boat "The Emelius," as guards. Another windling was also hired on as a guard, a beastmaster named Mal. Knowing the attitude that most other namegivers have for my kind, I find it peculiar that the captain would hire a single windling (as opposed to the package deal I came with) as a guard, but no doubt Mal wil prove his worth before the journey’s end.

20 Sollus 47/4
Not much to do on the boat, so I’ve been practicing with my sword and doing as many karma rituals as possible.

26 Sollus 49/1
The time on board has passed quickly enough; it almost seemed like I wasn’t even there. We passed the city of 9 diamonds and dropped off goods at 3 locations along the way. Tomorrow is another stop. Besides being boarded by some K’tention t’skrang that collected some taxes from us, nothing of note has happened.

27 Sollus 49/2
What a day. Sheesh! The rest of the party took the goods inland for delivery while Blue and I waited onboard to guard the ship. We are docked just south of the Andire sea of reeds, pretty much a floating grassland. Why, even a Theran airship could disappear into its tall fronds! It is about here that the Serpent River turns into a series of streamlets. We are 3 or 4 days from Kratas, and while sitting on the deck earlier, Blue thought he heard a fire engine approaching. I couldn’t be sure, but then the boat appeared from behind an island in the stream, and I was sure. It was a K’tention ship, the Vesawa, and our captain was sure that they didn’t want just taxes this time. They stopped, and a canoe started to paddle over to our boat. A t’skrang climbed aboard, and demanded that we turn over our vessel. So reluctantly, for it has served me well thus far, I handed over my cup. I suppose it was too small for him though, for he returned it to me and asked to see the captain. As if HIS cup would be any better! No one else on the ship showed him the same generosity I did, so he left. Knowing trouble was iminent, the captain ordered the engines to be fired up. When the K’tention ship started firing their cannons, I had an idea. Fire cannons use true air and true fire to shoot. Fire ENGINES use true fire. So what if you threw in some elemental air? For the sake of research, I decided to find out. I went below to get some air, which may seem counter to the norm, but that is where they kept it. I realized that it was too light by itself to throw, so I stuffed it in a pouch with a few rocks for weight. I figured I could fly close enough to toss it in the smokestack, just like playing boolahoop when I was younger. So with my pouch in hand, I flew out to port starboard port towards the big island to circle around and come up from behind, hopefully undetected. Well, I got there fine, lined up the shot, and missed. I KNEW I spent too much time in my dad’s shop and not enough playing boolahoop! The pouch hitting the deck alerted the t’skrang around it, and I only had seconds to act. With a burst of speed, I flew down between the sailors, grabbed the pouch, and, braving the heat I flew right up next to the smoke stack and tossed it in, only to see the strings catch on a projecting stud! Unfortunately, it is at this time that I was hit by a dagger and, try as I might to avoid it, an arrow. I was knocked into the water, and being so close to seeing if my idea worked! With nothing I could do about it, I swam ashore to dry off. Watching the battle from afar, I watched my experiment churn its way towards the ship I was supposed to be guarding. I also noticed another ship that had come around in front of us, now drifting downstream after being crippled by a ramming and fire cannon barrage. Unfortunately for us, I saw that a Theran airship had also joined the fray. Just as I began to get a sinking feeling in my stomach, the K’tention t’skrang got a sinking feeling in their stern as my pouch must have fallen from the smokestack and into the fire. The ensuing explosion was well worth the arrow in my leg. It will be a long time before the survivors of THAT ship underestimate a windling! Or let one near their smokestack.... The ship that had been rammed ended up beaching itself further up the island, about a mile away. I could see several t’skrang disembarking, so, with nothing better to do, I decided to move in for a closer look. It was difficult to get a tail count since they kept going belowdecks, but since they were mostly harmless and not likely to be going anywhere for a while, and my wings were mostly dry, I decided to see if I could help with the airship. They run on true air, so maybe some true fire.... I never got a chance to find out, as they decide to turn tail (or rudder) and run (or fly). They didn’t get far though, as a parting barrage from our ship knocked them from the sky. Flying over the crash site, it is obvious that they are lost to the reeds, as only a few bent blades mark the site. They sank like an airship. So I returned to our ship to check on Blue, and was pleased to find everything and everyone pretty much intact. Investigating on my experiment, there were still a half dozen sailors left. I shot the one in the crow’s nest, and exchange shots with an archer before the rest of my boat arrives and rams the disabled one. The survivors surrendered, as do the ones on the beach. We have 9 prisoners, and now await the return of our companions so that we can continue on to Kratas. I wonder if they will have a tale as good as ours? We shall wait and see...

I hope they return soon, for Kratas is only 4 days travel, and I am anxious to find Rokk in good health. I owe my current good health to him, and for more than just the Gamben Berezen incident. I first met Rokk in my empty-stomach days as I call them. I was wandering the wilderness I forget exactly where, and night was falling. Being cold and hungry, I was drawn by a nose-tingling aroma to a campfire in the distance, tended by a lone ork. He welcomed me to the warmth of his camp, where we traded stories (him his own, and me those I remembered from Aunt Gwen), and shared his roasted rabbit. We parted the next morning, our trails leading in opposite directions. He had pressing business in the town of Brielle, and I had pressing business AWAY from that same town, where a troll innkeeper was still sore about a fake fly in his famous Trundell ale. I don’t see why he was so upset, after all the startled elven lord didn’t get all THAT much ale on his companion... Thick heads, small funny bones, that’s all I can say. Perhaps I should learn to better conceal my amusement, for Rokk wasn’t the first to throw a mirror at me...

Thankfully, Rokk and I were fated to cross paths again after that meeting, and hopefully the near future holds another crossing....

2/2/97 The rest of the party did not return until after dark. Blue and I went out to meet them when we heard them coming, and they were pretty beaten up. Turns out that when they got to the drop off point, there was a different group there than expected. The sailors that were with them drew their swords, and a fight broke out. The other side had archers and an illusionist in addition to the regulars. Maxwell kept mentioning bears of some sort, so maybe there was a beastmaster present as well. I should ask Mal about that. Sanjuro just ignored Maxwell as he told the story, but he was not his verbiose self, and I get the sense that a lot is being left out of the tale. I must ask Briana, for she seems the least likely to be deceitful. But their tale complete, Blue and I then related our exploits in their absence. They brought back an archer and the illusionist as prisoners, to add to the nine sailors that we had taken captive. Sanjuro, Blue, and Maxwell decided to interrogate the prisoners to see how much they knew, but I haven’t the stomach for such pursuits so I went to bed.

28 Sollus 49/3
We met with the captain this morning, to discuss events and plans. First the captain assured us that we would have free passage aboard the Emelius whenever we want, which is good to keep in mind if we are journeying in this area again. And if the k’tension don’t sink him first, without us there to protect him. From the prisoners we were able to learn a lot, but more important to me is what I learn from my companions-- we are in reality smuggling weapons to the resistance effort against Thera. I don’t know how this escaped me before, I suppose I should sit in on these meetings more often. The ambush at the village was just a part of the attack on us. The Therans had apparently heard of our activities and sent the k’tension to eliminate us. They decided to attack when our forces were divided, but that apparently worked against them. They went to the village ahead of us and killed 1/3 of the villagers by their own estimation, while the other 2/3 escaped into the woods. They then waited for us, and attacked unsuccessfully.

The captain thinks that they may have been informed by his last security crew, who he had recently fired. I spent the remainder of the day practicing my tracking, until the glares of the sailors who’s paths I was following convinced me to stop while I was still aboard and dry.

30 Sollus 49/5
We arrived at Daiche, a port town near Kratas, in the afternoon. With a warning to watch our pouches, the captain wished us well. We invited Mal to join us, and I was pleased that he accepted. It is comforting to have another windling in the party. Now perhaps I won’t bear the full brunt of Maxwell’s derogatory comments, which grow wearisome even as he draws the breath to utter them.

We were forced to fight our way through a croud of people clamoring for passage on the boat. Rather, the others were forced to fight through while Mal and I flew overhead. I have lost track of the times I have been greatful for my wings... Apparently Garlthik one-eye, the former ruler, had been overthrown and the situation was rather unstable. Following Briana into an inn, we found out from the innkeeper, a large troll (is there any other kind?) that Krathas Gron left 3 days ago with a large number of orks, including a large chunk of one-eye’s gang, leading to his downfall. Posters with Rokk’s name on them are supposedly posted in the city, but the troll didn’t know if they were wanted posters or what. An approaching dwarf was scared off by a glare from Blue, and in his haste dropped a parchment. It is one of Rokk’s, and he is not wanted, but he WANTS, orks to join his crusade. It gives an inn in Kratas, so we decided to go there. On the way, we detect four people following us, but an attempt to confront them just caused them to disappear into the crowd. They were 2 elves, a dwarf, and a windling. At the gates, three troll guards demand payment to allow us into the city. Maxwell is able to barter them down, and during the conversation we discoverd that Rokk IS wanted. After entering the city, we see signs posted announcing a 1000 silver reward for information leading to his capture, or 5000 for actually catching him. The dwarf hanging the signs tells us it is for kidnapping, depopulating the town, and other contrived accusations. During this time, Briana has wandered off, so we continue on to the "Inn of No Regret", hoping she will meet us there. It is empty when we get there, but Maxwell astrally senses two people in the back room. Upon investigating, I found an obese dwarf chef and a small female sleeping. Waking them up, I managed to learn that Rokk had left three days ago. With a sigh, I paid the tab he left behind and rejoined the others. THREE DAYS I missed him by! If it weren’t for the Therans, or the wait in the City of Reeds, or so many other things! But I am reassured that he is ok, in fact doing well from the looks of things, really making himself a legend as he wanted to. While I would like to see him and give him his share of the bounty, just knowing that he is well eases my conscience.

I set out to find Briana, and was just out the door when I noticed a short ork watching the inn. Returning back inside as if I had forgotten something, I warned the others about the watcher and then went out a back window. Returning to the fountain where I last remembered seeing Briana, I managed to find her track and follow her. I ran into her as she was returning from her errand. She had been slipped a note by the dwarf that was following us, the same one Blue scared off in the inn. Assuming that his secrecy meant that it was for her alone, she went to find out what it was about. In fact it was intended for all of us, so she was returning to get us and then go back to the Throalish embassy, the origin of the note.

We all headed to the Throal embassy, and were stopped at the gate. Several dwarves came running up as reinforcements when our numbers were seen, but I showed them the Throalish coin that I carry and they let us in immediately. We were led to the library, where we were introduced to our dwarven shadow, and a well dressed female dwarf. He is Chaldrach, the Throal spymaster of Kratas, part of the so-called "eye of Throal," and she is the lady Dianna d’Swift. They wish to hire us for a mission, 2500 silver each if we succeed. An ambassador to Kratas, Abraxa, has been kidnapped and is being held.

The situation is this: Gralthik one-eye’s gang was mostly orks, and they all left with Krathas Gron and Rokk. The Broacher’s Brood gang, led by Vistrosh a blood elf, is now the largest in Kratas and has taken control. Gralthik one-eye better suits Throalish sympathies, and they would like him back in power. The Broacher’s Brood has Abraxa held captive, and may use him as leverage or ransom. The Brood is planning an assault on the magistrate at dawn. We are to go in and free Abraxa while the base is least manned. They know where he is, and want us to go in and get him. To let him know we’re on his side, we should tell him "The third cousin of Wishtin wishes you well."

We agree to do the mission, and another member is added to our party, a human archer named Miranda. Upon completing the mission, they also say that they can help us find Rokk. We all set out then for a midnight meeting that the others had set up with an ork that knows Rokk. Arriving at the fountain, we only waited for a few minutes when a man limped up with a cane. Maxwell apparently knows him. Rokk had left a message for any friends that came looking for him, he was "going to where the airship was going to." I can only imagine that he means Bartertown, where we were heading when he jumped out of the ship, although it could also mean, and makes more sense given he has a horde with him, that he would go to Viln. Maybe Chaldrach can clear it up in the morning. He also left a message for me, carved into a board, reminding me not to spend his money. He is indeed well.

I noticed an outline of a silver kiss on Blue and Sanjuro, and upon asking Blue I found out that they both had a silvery bolt shot at them earlier, that disappeared before it hit them but left that mark. I will think on it more tomorrow, as we have returned to the embassy to rest up for our big morning. I asked Chaldrach if it would be possible for me to get training in elemental magic in place of the financial compensation, and he said that it would be possible. We will work out the details later. Until tomorrow then...

1 Riag 50/1 2/9
We spent the early morning hours planning our assault. Blue, Miranda, and Mal went out around two and were able to acquire the password, or actually passphrase, "Imperial grubs are cowards." Our plan hinged upon Maxwell’s similarity to Cyril Mandarodis. We actually went so far as to paint a tattoo on him like the one Cyril is supposed to have in case they knew of this marking and checked. We planned to go to the gate claiming we had caught him, assuming that they had heard of him, and were bringing him back for holding, hoping they would take us to where Abraxa was being held. I went to watch for the army’s departure from the arena where they had set up base, and a little after 8 they did. Vistrosh was easy to pick out, just by looking for a thorny person in pain. I estimated his force to be about 3-400 strong. After giving them time to get far enough away, I set the rest of the group in action. We went up to the door to the beastiary, and the guard there let us in with little hassle. The troll inside, however, was not so easily passed, and after tiring of Sanjuro’s banter, and with a bear conveniently distracting the troll, Mal and I slipped out the holding cage leading to the arena and explored on our own. In typical hoodlum fashion, the remaining gang members were pillaging the bedrolls left behind, ignoring the two of us, which suited us just fine.

We arrived at the barracks without incident, and there was a human looter there. We studiously ignored each other, and Mal and I looked for Abraxa. Vistrosh’s office was through a door on one side of the barracks, and was astrally shielded, but I was fairly sure that no one was inside. The room off the other side of the barracks did have a few patterns in it, but no dwarves that I could tell. Deciding to check the trash pit that we remembered the troll mentioning in one of the brief moments that Sanjuro took a breath, we flew across the arena again, and Mal heard noise from outside. A quick look over the wall revealed the early return of Vistrosh’s forces! Changing plans, we quickly rejoined our friends.

We found them clustered around the body of an elven guard, wracked with more pain than the crossbow bolt in his leg should have caused. In shock I watched Briana end his life with a stab to the base of the skull, a move I’m sure she had perfected in mercy to be used on the animals she hunted, but not something I expected her to use on a namegiver. Certainly not the innocent forest caretaker we started with! With the army approaching, I had no time to wonder at her new coldbloodedness. They had managed to learn from the troll, who was suspiciously absent, that Abraxa was being held in Vistrosh’s office. We all went into the hallway leading to the arena, only to find it blocked by a portcullis. Not bothering to look for an opening mechanism, Sanjuro broke it down, causing the guards on the wall to divert their attention inwards. Maxwell yelled to them "shoot the ork", and one of the looters became their new center of attention, and then a new pincushion.

We made it to the barracks, and tried to enter the office but the door was locked. A group of armed namegivers came out of the room on the opposite side, and asked us where the dwarf was. Assuming they were Vistrosh’s men, we told them we thought he was in the office. One of them pulled out a key and went to open the door, and falls to the ground in pain as he inserts it in the lock. Maxwell then tries to turn the key and also falls to the floor, screaming something about a ward on the door. Suddenly we are attacking the group, who turn out to be a Theran assassin group out to kill the ambassador. Maxwell at this point got up from the floor and enters the office, with no pain this time, and taking the key with him locked the door behind him.

In the course of the battle I miss the troll, get hit by a glowing bolt, and then feel as if every bone in my body breaks. When guards open the office door from the other side, I decided to go and find Maxwell, or at least the ambassador. Flying above everyone, I managed to get into the office and notice a trap door in one corner. Luckily it was open already, so I flew down, and at the bottom of the shaft I found Maxwell’s tracks leading in one direction. Figuring that he will find the ambassador if he is in that direction, I flew down the other tunnel in case he is that way, so at least one of us will find him and get him out. After a quick peek around the first corner, I decided that it would be better to just rejoin Maxwell. Upon arriving back at the ladder, I was pleased to see Maxwell there with a dwarf, who I presumed was Abraxa. I told them to go down the other corridor, assuming that Vistrosh would have a back door out of his office. I then flew up the ladder, to get the others to follow.

Once again entering the office, I was relieved to see a company of Throal dwarves marching in from the outter doorway. They ignore even my attempts to show them the Throal coin I have, and march into the other room. Giving up on them, I just managed to get my friends’ attention when a Theran archer shot me down. I guess a wildly gesticulating windling is just too irresistable a target, and it isn’t until later that I wake up on an airship to find my clothes soaked in windling blood and lion spit. As far as I could tell, the former not caused by the source of the latter, for if it was I would presume that all I would see would be the inside of a lion’s belly.

2/16
After quaffing a healing potion provided by the sailors, who happen to be Throalish, we are informed by Chaldrach that Garlthik one-eye has been killed, and with the Theran sympathizer Vistrosh in power, Throal has decided to withdraw its presence in Kratas. Officially, Thera is "securing the economic lifeblood of their kingdom," which is a lot of brithan crap to be sure. We were loaned an airship for one month, "The Pride of the Skies," run by one Captain Gilmer. Chaldrach further informs us that upon returning to Throal, we would be granted a royal dinner. As great an honor as that would be, we decide that it will have to wait so that we could set out for Viln in the hopes of finally catching up to Rokk. It should be an easy matter to find him, since he is leading a large army, and yet Throal scouts were unable to locate the trail. Perhaps Throal should make the requirements for their scouts a little more stringent, by say only accepting people with EYES.... (Granted that 2-tail seemed to see just fine without eyes, but he also had 2 tails, something I have yet to see anywhere else.)

2 Riag 50/2
To the Throalish scout’s credit, none of us are able to pick up the trail either. Deciding to just presume that Rokk is heading for Viln, we all ease our vigil somewhat, while Maxwell relates to us what he knows of Krathas Gron, Rokk’s travelling companion. While not a very good storyteller, getting too wrapped up in technicalities, the story itself in interesting enough to get me to listen to Maxwell’s babble. Legend has it that Krathas was a slave in Kriana for 15-20 years before she escaped into the desert. There she was visited by the Passions, and was thus inspired to infiltrate various slaving operations as a slave, and then incite the slaves to a revolt, and lead them to freedom. She is now rumored to have the Blades of Cara Fard, which were a set of 8 daggers rumored to be cursed after the original owners all met their deaths at the hands/claws/tentacles of a horror.

3 Riag 50/3
Today we came across the remains of a large camp, 110-150 campfires, but no trail leading to or from it. Apparently Rokk has some kind of shielding device, but at least we know we are on the right track. In case they are invisible as well, Maxwell will make a banner that says "Rokk" and we will hang it beneath the ship in the hopes that if he saw it, Rokk would find some way to signal us. As I go to bed, Maxwell continues to work. Maybe we should give him more embroidery jobs, as it seems to keep him blessedly quiet.

4 Riag 50/4
Last night Blue had a vision-- someone called Palinque spoke with him, saying he knew of us, and Rokk, and was coming after all of us, and would meet us in Viln. We decided to give up looking for Rokk, trusting that he would meet us in Viln, and head straight for the city. Near sunset we were treated to the sight of the lava pools shining their flaming light throught the Twilight peaks, creating a dazzling false sunset that lasts all day and into the night.

5 Riag 50/5
I spent the day training, and while the captain will be none too happy to see all the benches I broke, by the fifth one I was able to break clean through in one stroke. In the evening, we could see campfires to the WSW, in the forests of Cara Fard. We were a little farther south than intended, and that might have been a good thing if the group was Rokk’s. Mal and I flew to investigate, and they were indeed orks, but not Rokk’s. 2-300 strong and of several different tribes, (including the Metal Fist, Righteous Vipers, and Broken Fang) these orks spoke of a true king of Cara Fard, and of an assault on some Therans in the morning, camped to the southwest. I flew above the main tent and managed to see a map of the area, with the Theran camp marked in the U of a river, apparently easy prey for the orks.

Assured that we would only be helped by their actions, I decided to meet up with Mal and return to the ship, leaving the orks to their skirmish. Apparently Mal took risks beyond his ability to hide though, because the camp became alerted to his presence. We both managed to reach our meeting site, and headed off discussing what we had learned. Mal saw some kind of alchemy tent, but neither of us knows what they were doing. Maxwell, ever a font of useless information, gave some explaination of it but I didn’t pay much attention to him, looking forward to the reunion with Rokk.

6 Riag 51/1
Never would I have expected such highs and lows in the same day as experienced today. But that is all later on. While still flying on the airship, several of us noticed signs of calvary having passed through open areas in the woods, heading in the direction of Viln. Mal was sure they were pony tracks, and we later find out that he is right. Reaching Viln, we found a log bridge from the shore to the city, and pony tracks in the canals, leading to the crystal castle. No one was outside the castle though, so I returned to the ship and the rest of the party. We decided to go on foot through the city and check the Corinthian’s cave, while Gilmer parked in the plains a short way from the city in case the new occupants were hostile. Upon arrival at the shore opposite the cave entrance, the others pondered how to cross while I flew across to scout out the landing pad. There were no new tracks, but upon investigation I found that there had been a cave-in and the tunnel was blocked. No longer needing a way across the water, we decided to investigate the crystal castle.

Entering the tunnel where the pony tracks led, we confidently travelled towards the castle, assured by Maxwell that only ponies were ahead. Thus we were all surprised to find a dwarven crossbowman aiming at us from the end of the tunnel. Smallek of Throal, his name was, and after explaining our mission he sent for Captain Stepgarth, their commander. A brief conversation, and a mention of Captain Gilmer, gained us entry to their current Base of Operations.

Describing our encounter of the night before, we learned that the new ork king is Mashtug, of the Fists of Fard, and he claims to have a tablet showing his direct descendance from the ork kings of old. Not being overly enthralled with orkish geneology, Mal, Miranda, and I decide to explore the city. We were unable to find another entrance to the Corinthian’s lair, and decided to return to the castle. The rest of the party had left, to go visit "a friend." It took me a few seconds to realize they meant 2-tail, Grammy Black. I lead the way, following the trail left by the others, until Mal decided to fly ahead and follow the trail himself. Unwilling to leave our grounded friend alone in a strange city, I stayed with Miranda to show her the trail, and we soon met up with the others. 2-tail tells us that the Corinthian is still around, which is disturbing but has yet to be verified. After graciously declining the tanning solvent he passes off as tea, we decided to go back to the dwarves.

Captain Gilmer had joined the squad at the crystal castle, apparently receiving word of their presence. They had flown south to see how the ork raid had gone, and found 70 orks fleeing from 100 Therans, and heading our way, presumably for the safety, or at least defensibility, of Viln. Deciding it was in our best interest to help the orks, insofar as it would help the Therans, we made a hasty plan and I brought a parchment in orkish to the fleeing group, directing them to a valley nearby.

50 dwarven calvary, a few archers, and our party took up position near the vale, and awaited the orks arrival. They came into view, and entered the valley, to be bottled up there by the Therans. Realizing we had neglected to set up a signal, both of our groups hesitated, waiting in indecision. The orks, penned in, decided to attack in desperation, and that set us into action. In a rapid flurry, Maxwell caused a wall of thorns to spring up among the Therans, dividing their force, while the orks attacked their front and the calvary attacked the flank while the archers fired from the cliffs to either side. About this time I noticed the woods around the clearing at the mouth of the valley was FULL of orks, and one of them stepped forward. I flew down to see if they were Rokk’s troops, and found out that the leader was Rokk. I was about to greet him when he announced "You have tresspassed on the soil of the soverign nation of Cara Fard. While we do not wish to spill blood, we will not tolerate foreign armies fighting here. You have 4 hours to turn over your weapons and leave."

2/23
While not exactly the greeting I would have liked, I was overjoyed to see him well. I gave him his cut of the bounty, and we quickly related what had happened recently. He was actually unconscious near where I found his pack, and ended up meeting Krathas Gron. His other actions are pretty much public record, so I quickly summed up our activities of the past month, and he warned that in 4 hours all non orks would be killed, and that we should all leave. The rest of the party came up, and Rokk promises that we will be allowed to leave with our equipment, but the dwarves would have to lay down their arms. At first he wouldn’t even allow them to leave with us, but we argued for a bit. He then noticed that I had Voracious, and we told him Sanjuro had Vitriol, and he asked that we turn them over to him, explaining that they were an important symbol of leadership to the orks. I refused, wanting to wait till we were in a more neutral setting for I felt threatened at the time, and hoped to use it in trade to get the dwarves out with us. "King" Mashtug chose this time to approach and challenge Rokk’s claims. Following Rokk’s advise, Vitriol and Voracious were handed to Maxwell to hide in his cloak of greed, thus avoiding a full blown general melee with 800 orks to gain the symbols of Viln. Mashtug claimed to have tablets showing his direct descendance from the kings of old. Rokk countered that the old, inherited kingdom failed, and the new one would be based on merit. Tiring of fencing with words, they both drew swords, and everyone made a circle around them. With a flick of his wrist, Rokk disarmed Mashtug and sent his sword flying, to impale one of his followers, and win the fight as far as I was concerned. But orks are not windlings. Mashtug indignantly complained that Rokk is not allowing an honorable end to the fight, resorting to trickery instead. Rokk sheathed his sword, and said that whenever Mashtug was ready just let him know. In disregard of honor, Mashtug attacked Rokk from behind with his sword, returned by one of his followers. Rokk fell to the ground from the assault, and then rose to his feet, and disarmed Mashtug again! The fight raged on, with Rokk now actually attacking to damage now that it was shown that this fight would only end when one of them was prone. Suddenly Rokk seemed to tire, moving more slowly, and got struck down. After a quick whispered discussion with Maxwell, Sanjuro called out "FOUL PLAY!", and says that Rokk was magically interfered with, in violation of dueling rules. The lips on Blue’s forehead that I noticed in Kratas choose this moment to speak, mocking their petty squabble and saying that we should look at the tablets now that the spell on them was removed. This has apparently happened before, judging from my companions’ lack of surprise, and it is the voice of Palinque, a Theran, and Blue’s midnight visitor. The tablets are brought forward, and it is found that Mashtug is the descendant of a barber, not a king. I watched with concern as Rokk was carried away, and Sanjuro ran after them with a vial he acquired from Maxwell. Mashtug accuses US of enspelling the tablet now, and he and his men retire to a tent to discuss the recent relevations and to examine the tablets, and will return in 2 hours.

We decide to try to get the dwarves out of here, as it is now an orkish dilemma and not our concern, since we would have minimal influence anyway. Captain Stepgarth is talking to a Theran archer, and we convince him to get his troops to mount up and try to ride off. Our way is blocked by a mass of orks, and their new leader, Satark, strides forward. He demands that Throal recognize the new kingdom, and that we leave our weapons as a foe defeated on the field of battle. We tell him about Rokk’s promise that we would be allowed to keep ours, and after a brief discussion he agrees, but the dwarves are forced to disarm, led by their captain who refused to lose any more of his men. As we are riding off, I looked back to see Mashtug walk up and add his sword to the pile, now that he had no claim to the throne. We arrived at the airship and, leaving a few men to lead the horses out, the rest of us climbed aboard to head for Bartertown. Mal arrived shortly thereafter with 2 grimoires and 2 vials of powder.

I was too disheartened to stay and see what they were, though. After reclaiming Voracious from Maxwell, I retired belowdecks to record these events and ponder. For the second time, I have left Rokk in an unknown condition. Whether Mashtug was able to strike a killing blow I do not know, but either way Rokk friend-of-Garnel is truly gone, to be replaced by a hero of the new ork nation with no time for entertaining pursuits. While I hope that the Ork of Legend is alive, for I cannot imagine a better leader for the new nation, it is somehow not as important anymore. I must rest.

7 Riag 51/2
After some study, Maxwell was able to determine that the vials contained a powder that Mal had seen being made in the ork camp 2 days ago. Reading one of the books revealed it to be an alchemical tome, and in it there was a recipe for the creation of this powder, which supposedly made one invincible in combat when sprinkled on the head. Among the ingredients is dwarven facial hair, explaining the orks’ scalping activities in recent months that Stepgarth had told us about. Someone remembered hearing of a Theran battle powder, using the same ingredients, but it actually HINDERED those it was used on. Suddenly the rout of the superior orkish force became clear. The Therans must have planted the recipe for the orks to find, or allowed them to steal it or something like that, so that when the orks used it they were easily beaten by the Therans. The other tome is of great interest to Maxwell and Blue, as it has spells for both of them.

We decide to take a detour to retrieve Rokk’s backpack, so I inform the helmsman how to get to the farm. Later, Sanjuro tells me that he was able to give Rokk’s followers a last chance salve and a healing potion. I hope it is enough to bring him back to health, but only fate will inform me of the outcome, for I have no plan to actively seek him out again.

8 Riag 51/3
We are fortunate enough to have an elementalist on board, and to pass the time I have been bugging him about the elements, telling him of my experiment. He is a dwarf, Palinurus by name and after getting past his normal dwarven gruffness, he makes a fine teacher. I have a hunch that he is teaching me more to give me a respect for the power of the elements so that I don’t accidentally blow up my companions or those around me rather than a real desire for me to possess these new talents. I shall soon be able to manipulate the elements myself, a sure source of future amusement and fun.

9 Riag 51/4
We arrived at Bartertown today to be greeted by an honor guard, and are escorted to House Alcomi. We are all cleaned up and pampered, in preparation for our dinner with THE KING! Many interesting relevations come to light there, including the fact that "ambassador" Abraxa is, in truth, Prince Neden, the heir to the throne of Throal. We had saved the prince! A month’s vacation is in order, I think, for I wish to learn even more about the elements, and what else they can be used for besides blowing up riverboats, as well as buy some new equipment.

Here ends part 1 of the journal of Garnel, Windling of Legend (his sheaf of notes is now too heavy to carry, and he will start another....).

Garnel's Introduction

Garnel's Adventuring Journal Part II

Garnel's Adventuring Journal Part III

Garnel's Adventuring Journal Part IV