3. Blue Raven's Journal

Blue Raven's Journal


  • This is a series of plain soft leather covered books of vellum with plain, undecorated lettering in dark blue ink. Written in a simple style, evenly spaced and perfectly uniform, as if from a hand trained in hand printing books. Blue only keeps the most recent journal that she is writing in on hand. The other books are stored in her apartment's bookcase.

    • I hope I'm wrong about them. Sir Holmsmead certainly is a power of good, the likes I have not seen before. But... that prison. It wasn't what I would imagine someone as duty bound and honorable as Torm would set up. The drain on those prisoners, those endless cells. In isolation from each other. Had I not been with others... I would still be in that... loop... cloistered away and hidden from my Goddess.

    • And the momentary look the High Priest of Torm gave me when I showed him the book that Sir Holmsmead gave me as a token of appreciation after helping the Vangaurd send those demon generals back to Hell... it was enough to further question the source of that power.

    • Having the high priest bless my canteen of water... I hope that does it. Comparing those blessings... and then finding an independent who could trace those blessings back their source. I know the Ceruleans are loyal to Peltarch... and the actions taken by the King makes all under his rule suspect in the eyes of the Silver Host.

    • I could also not put this query in the hands of anyone loyal to Spellweavers, in light of the judgement meted out to one of their professors... Chaevre. Seeing her in action against the Crimson Spikes, and then... when confused.. to have her mercilessly hammer me into the ground? Especially without so much as an apology? I tend to agree with the Tormites. There is something amiss with that one... especially it that mind reader of the Silver Host was telling the truth about her seeking to become a lich.

    • But it is not those judged who is in question. It is what is done with them after judgement.

    • So from... Verika. I hope... hmm... I don't know what to hope actually. If I'm right... and the blessing from the book doesn't come from Torm... how do I separate Sir Holsmead from Vere... his mind reader that is also the one that seems to send they judged into this prison. If anyone is deceiving Sir Holsmead... I think it must be this Vere that is in control of the power coming from that place.

    • If she isn't a deceiver... than is Torm really the kind of god that would imprison in solitary and sap the strength from all of those judged... to feed himself? If that is the case, then... this is certainly out of mortal hands to do ANYTHING about. So I guess I hope Verika can find that there is a different source for the two blessings.

    • Then I just need to proof it to the Chosen of Torm... that he is being used. Yes... THAT'LL be easy! And I have the Peltarch Cerulean Shesarai waiting in the wings to give me a second opinion to confirm once Verika is done.


    1. Illithids and the first Silver Mask retrieved

    • Norwick's Fight Night was postponed until next month. Seems Bob was under the weather. However, it still did draw a prestigious group of contestants. Amongst them was Brother Samwell. He deemed the gathered group trustworthy and sufficient enough to pursue an idea Noemi brought up about one of the possible locations of one of the Silver Masks High Priest Galin seeks. The illithid hive outpost which I now know to be called Quol'qil, city of Lord Thril'ool.

    • I have only read about the illithid. So leaned heavily on the knowledge others brought. Our group included Brother Samwell, General Thorn, Amanda of Cormyr, Ethuil, Noami, and later Lady Tiller. Quite disconcerting the entrance to the underdark was right inside the walls of Norwick... through the ruins of the Dwarven Hold. And we went deep... almost as deep as the node of the elemental earth under the bugbear mines.

    • We cut through many layers of defenses created and maintained by illithid thralls. Goblins, orc, some manner of stooped giantkind, minotaur, displacer beasts... all manner of creatures ensnared and imprisoned in their own minds. Releasing them from their enslavement through death. Likely a better fate than some of the tortured corpses we saw in some of the mind flayer laboratories.

    • It led to the edge of their city, to an undersea dock similar to that found in Oscura. One has to wonder how the waterways of the underdark work if there are rivers and oceans on different depths, without all of the lower levels not simply being underwater. Regardless, the resistance got stiff, as more illithid were met. At one time, I think we were faced with four or five at once.

    • The potions given to Amanda by Real Mule... mind blanking potions that bolstered and masked one's mind at the same time were invaluable. Even still, the illithid had thralls that could use magic. So those protections were stripped off on occasion. Even Lady Tiller was stopped in her tracks by one such combination of dispelling and then enthrallment. Luckily the mind flayer didn't have a chance to direct Lady Tiller from attacking. Especially since I was fighting that illithid right at her shield's side.

    • I found the, what did Real Mule call them? Mopheads? I found their psychic intrusions similar to the pressure felt in the elemental node of earth. It took active concentration to prevent them breaking my will. I can only thank Storm Dove for my mental trainings at the monastery for not bending to these creature's commands. They seemed to use a system of defense similar to that of a displacer beast. Slippery and when relying only on eyesight rather than intuition you could strike at an illusion of mind flayers. They also seemed to create something akin to magical armor that when struck would inflict searing heat to the attacker. Like trying to strike a cactus.

    • There were two... tools?... devices? That were of note. One seemed to be some kind of focusing device. Quite large, with three pillars supporting a sphere of some kind of metal, and a beam of some psychic energy coming from the sphere and aimed into an iris in a round ring on the ground.

    • The other machine was near the ship, and was a flowing metal wrought frame with what appeared to be a transportation device. A teleportation ring? There were no runes as would be seen in magic. Lady Tiller with relic in hand stepped on the pad in the center. Luckily, she did not go anywhere.

    • We made our way to the main dock where with a large battle, we finally found their outpost's main vessel. And amongst the cargo being loaded... one of the Silver Masks!

    • We made quick use of our relics to return to Peltarch. I was nervous that with the nearby illithid devices, that perhaps they had prevented this kind of travel in the surrounds. It is good to note that they worked. Perhaps a way to reverse this to attack the outpost, if needed, in the future.

    • The group decided, at my insistence that rather than immediately turning the mask over to Galin, that we would have the sages of Spellweaver give the mask a once over. Who knows what the illithid could have done to the artifact. Last thing we would need is a High Priest of the Triad becoming a thrall to these creatures. I asked only that the mages, in our presence, check the device to find out if it had imbued magics, and using legend lore, see if they could glean the history of the item. [DM SPECTRE, could you insert what was found about the history of the first Silver Mask?] The mask was then given to a thankful Galin.


    1. White Stags and Silver Masks

    • I have asked Lady Aurora about the white stag. Some say they are strong souls. Some they are holy to Selune. The journals I have read regarding armor made of leather from the white stag says they are more able to take enchantments than other leathers. I have wondered if this is sacrosanct, but the Lady said there is no mention of white stags in the writings of Selune.

    • I read some of the legends in old works at Spellweavers. There is nothing conclusive. Some say they are weak inbreeds, others that they are different for other reasons. I have noticed predators notice them more often, so they are rare. So I search for them and hunt them. And kill them, skin them, cook their meat, and bury their entrails, plant a seed on top and say a prayer thanking their spirit. I will be less uneasy when I am on to new work however.

    • We went on a search of orcish lands with Brother Sam, Noemi, Ethuil and myself. They have significant fortifications, similar to hobgoblins... but with so much more ferocity. We carefully searched any of the shaman we came across for evidence of the Silver Masks. We did not find any trophy rooms in their bunkers and maze of caves. Even high up in the mountains where there is always snow. I am certain we are just scratching the surface however.

    • It seems we should check Damaran trading house records for any living members of families who lost kin on that caravan. And if so, and we can talk with them, perhaps there are still some heirlooms that belonged to those folk. If so, I know some of those adept with magic... knowledge priests and bards... have methods of find the history of an item, and of its owner. Perhaps we can find the place where they died, and try to trace the path from there?

    • We could also see if a priest of the dead has manner of speaking with the spirits of the dead. Perhaps if we can track down the bodies of the members of the caravan, we can ask them direct who killed them. Which tribe of orc.

    • We also likely need to bring an enchanter. Someone who speaks orcish. If we can capture a shaman or elder in those tribes, they may know stories of these masks.

    • I have continued to map the area and found an old Druidic Circle north of Hinhold with an elder treant named Thousand Rings. The mapping is giving me confidence, which I need to watch. It seems every time I become confident, I die. In that eventuality, at least I will have to learn less the next time I start again.


    1. Walkabout

    • I can tell Lady Tiller grew up in the area. I was invited on a walkabout with her, Ethuil and Noemi. Several days of hiking really. Some rough country, and some creatures I haven't seen before. I have seen the giant bees. The wasps grow much larger... although they seem to rely more on their mandibles than their stinger, so far as I can tell. Their poison... seems to become ineffective in air. So, no way to flask it. We saw giant owls, whose feathered pelts seem almost waterproof and SO quiet.

    • Ran into several troops of bugbears, but between myself and Ethuil... they rarely got off many spells. There were bandits, of which I am particularly wary, that Lady Tiller charged into before their casters could get off a single spell... luckily. We fought shambling mounds... these rotting vegetable smelling plant creatures that seemed to give off an aura of some kind. And we saw xorn! Unfortunately, they were not in the mood for trading... I've heard they trade for gems sometimes. These... I think they just wanted to eat us. With an odd number of legs however, they were relatively easy to trip. We saw the largest stag beetles I have ever seen. And dire tigers... near the harpy cliffs!

    • There were strange batlike creatures that used some kind of scream at us... Dragazhar Bats, apparently. I skinned a few after our fight in the woods with them. And several colors of demons that looked like huge imps... reptilian, called abishai. There were some kinds of spirits. Lady Tiller said echoes... but these were much stronger than those close to old Norwick. What that screamed death... although beautiful... a banshee perhaps? One that she called a Spectral Demonbinder. Many whispers, but both my will and fortitude were strong enough to brush them off. Sinister Allips, and a menacing figure... looking like the images I've seen painted... a Dread Wraith. We even fought a small herd of Nightmare. We had no time to see if their hides were useable.

    • I am likely confusing the order of things. I tried to map, but the forsests were thick and convoluted. We ended up in a place called Balthazar? Or something like that. They had a very nice marketplace. And several caravans. We ended up parting ways in this town. Ethuil and I riding to Deadhorse Inn to sell our gains, and then finally back to Norwick.

    • I will try and sketch some of the creatures. Although my skills in drawing are largely calligraphic. Most importantly, I kept my senses to me... and was not laid low. Although Lady Tiller accidentally knocked me down with a hook of her shield. Unexpected, but interesting and something new to learn a defense to. She was quite apologetic, and I couldn't resist poking a bit of fun with her.

    • I did ask Noemi about the childhood song I was humming, to see if she remembered. The one I think my mother hummed to me as a babe. I am crushed that she did not. I wonder if a magical memory enhancement could be used.


    1. Teams and the Unexpected.

    • Busy couple days. Went to this fight night in Norwick. Unforetunately Vin the Long Death monk wasn't there. Few were in fact. Lady Tiller was, as well as a knight of a crafting guild. A simple plain-spoken man, humble and friendly. I think he may be a her beau or married? Still a friendly competition was had between the two of them, myself and Calistra... a faithful of Auril. Who I have written about before. I mentioned the route to the Monastery of the Endless Cask and how cold and beautiful it is. I told her to find me when she was ready to view the peaks.

    • After several ranged games, Lady Tiller asked for a bout of fisticuffs. Her beau, Rolar? Ravon? Ralon? I am so bad with names... he refused to hand to hand in competition with Lady Tiller. Very polite. Initially, lady Tiller wanted all against her. Then said I should keep my holy items on. But we agreed that skin on skin is the best. Regardless of who wins or loses.

    • She started defensively; I think holding back to be gracious. She has phenomenal footing. I wasn't able to trip her up or unbalance her. But she is used to heavier weapons and armor. Her moves were powerful and gave of signs. Once read, it was easier to find her openings. Once I downed her, Bob the host healed us magically. He recommended a best of three, to which Lady Tiller seemed very interested in.

    • Second match I was able to disrupt her ki. She was dazed for long enough to gain the advantage. Still, it was a close match. She said that was the first time a monk was able to accomplish this with her. She is most certainly a formal wrestler and boxer. If we stuck with those rules, I would most certainly lose to her.

    • At this point, Lady Tiller was determined. I have seen the look on the priests of Lathander. They are quite driven and focused. Sometimes to their own detriment. Such was the case on the third match. She went all out. And when downed... and the match should have been over... she made herself get back up. A tremendous effort of will. And would not concede. I spit a little blood and wiggled the tooth she had loosened as she got to her feet and shook her bearings straight... and then I dropped her like a rock.

    • Nothing is learned by coddling. I helped her up and insisted we drink to each other good health. She brought out those Norwickian ales and we all saluted to Lence Arnimannes and the brave soldiers of the Red Cape. And the earth started rumbling. It was the direction of Norwick. Lady Tiller got her knight's assistance getting back into her armor... and we headed for town.

    • Before we left the fight field though... a hole appeared, and goblins streamed out. Seems like our fighting got real. I tossed goblin grenades back in the hole they created. Two more holes... but this time... after the stream of goblins... a hissing... like a large worm... or... a FUSE! We all ran but the explosion hit us hard. The Calistra, the Auril follower folded under the fire blast. Luckily Lady Tiller was quick patching her up. Then the race was on. Like the worst looking moles ever seen.

    • Across Norwick. Holes. Goblins stream out... then... hissing... and a huge explosion. Perhaps they ran out of bombs. But it stopped as suddenly as it started. This tribe is not done prodding the town. And as vengeful as they feel, they will be rooted out and stopped.

    • Also went fighting giants with Noemi again. She has confidence issues that I think some of the front-line shield soldiers we travel with have instilled in her. They step in the way of danger thinking themselves better at it than she. I would not want to face her spear and shield. But because these men think because she is a bard and beautiful that she isn't strong. Well, so she has told me several times she doesn't need defending. The first time I told her I knew.

    • The second time I explained that she is so good with the crossbow that it is a shame not having her felling the foes that I am holding back from her. And that I could not do the same for her. It is the best pairing for us. And then I told her I did not think of her as a bard... but as a dragon. She understood then. We are learning to become a good fighting pair. She is becoming a good friend. Perhaps she already was... it's these things I wish I did not lose.


    1. Goblin Master of the Queen Worm

    • There was a call to arms by the Norwickians to form a party and escort Lence Arnimannes, who the worm master goblin wanted in exchange for the Chauntean priestess of Norwick, Yllalynn. I joined them.

    • The group was composed of:

      • Lady Tiller,
      • Maria the archmage who tower is in the middle of the lake south of Norwick,
      • Brother Samwell (whom I watched carefully to see how he worked with this group),
      • Mister Blake, the scout from many of my old adventures,
      • Raryldor, the old elf whom my journals mention him gifting me the cloak I wear,
      • Thorn, the general of the Legion... a regal hin who spoke to me like he knows me... I will have to look through my journals for mention of him,
      • my comrade Ethuil,
      • Thau'lira, the dark skinned woman who haunts the Peltarch Commons,
      • Reemul, a knight on horseback who supplied Norwick with weapons, armor, and provisions for defending Norwick... someone else who spoke in a manner that makes me think I knew them. I have seen his horse outside the craft halls very often.
      • Lence Arnimannes, our charge.

    • The goblins added siege catapults to their arsenal as we moved south. We fought through waves of goblins and bugbear to the camp that I believe used to be Raryldor's home. Near the end the goblins all scurried down the side of a large cliff face... some so fearful of our advance that they fell to their deaths. So left ropes, which we used to follow.

    • The caverns stank of rotting corpses and death. Wrapping a cloth around my nose and mouth I kept the rear guard. Occasionally weaving to the front to slip through the front lines and engage the bugbear casters. Careful to not expose myself too much. I generally followed Brother Samwell's lead.

    • We found hundreds if not thousands of goblin corpses. None appeared to be sacrificial in their deaths. I can only assume the goblins that perish in excursions from Norwick and Peltarch all end up here... almost as a reminder to the tribes. It is a savage, yet effective manner to stir their desire for vengeance. We also found a massive stock of wood. Perhaps for tunneling braces? Perhaps for more siege equipment?

    • We also found a large group of what appear to be purple worm eggs. With one exception, they were all destroyed. That exception is now in the hands of Vick Black, with the intentions of using it as leverage in case we need such, for the return of the new hostage... or perhaps sacrifice? We also faced the nursemaid for the purple worms. Who fed them.

    • We finally made our way to the Purple Worm Master... a goblin who had the high priestess Yllalynn at knife point... nearly dead and clearly starving. Between us was the gaping maw of the largest of the purple worms. Clearly the mother of those eggs. After some negotiations, Lence bravely lept into the beasts maw. The goblin cackled, left the priestess and lept in as well.

    • The party broke and rean with all haste back to Norwick... finding Maria waiting, guarding the gate. Perhaps she teleported back? Two worms had attacked while we were gone. Good thing Reemul had well supplied the town. There were a few Red Cloaks that died... and Lady Tiller offered to fund bringing those that would come back magical ressurections.

    • I examined the armor of General Thorn and Lady Tiller to see if the acid the purple worm uses to swim through rock also melts metals. There didn't seem any clear damage. Perhaps spikes of metal can be dug underground as a barrier under the walls of Norwick to prevent further intrusions into the town? It would have to be non-corrosive. Like perhaps steel, or copper shielded iron? Mithril certainly.

    • There were also a LOT of gems in the gut of the worm we slew. Clearly those aren't digested. The flask of acid gathered is with Lady Tiller I think. If it is not needed to retrieve Lence, it would be an interesting substance to experiment with to see about using in etching metals or cleaning scales.

    • I also donated a bag that Lence had made and gave it to Lady Tiller in the hopes it can be used to scry his location. He is a brave man and deserves our efforts for his return.


    1. Hobgoblin Fortress

    • I met two of my favorites from my journals. Ethuil and Noemi. We had an adventure together! It was a lot more satisfying than skinning sewer rats. We went to a place called Blackridge? The caravan master is near the SW gate out of the city. And from Blackridge we went to this cave guarded by hobgoblins and a bugbear.

    • Through the caves that had giant stone gates that would crash down from the ceiling and block the retreat! It was exciting. And I met another man. Who was good with a bow and with a shield and sword. But he said he's a secret and that I shouldn't write about him, because next time I die, I will get to know him all over... so he can keep being a surprise. He had a bald head though. Maybe that will make me think the surprise man is any bald man I see when I read this next! I think he'll like that.

    • Through the caves we came out into a vale in the mountains where the hobgoblins had built a whole fortress. With traps and barricades and everything! They tried to hit me with giant flame balls. But I went fast and even knocked their gate door down! There were also a lot of warlocks. But it made sense later. Oh... and a frosty imp kept sneaking up on us and using a giant ice storm. It flew as fast as I ran, so I couldn't catch it. But with Noemi and Ethuil and Secret Bald Man using their bows... they brought the gremlin down low!

    • Once through the castle, there was a secret entrance to a spooky dark dungeon. With strange red runed circles that would pop out demons with dangling dinguses that would race up and try to do things. Couple solid wacks to their jelly bags and they'd vanish.

    • We went further and there was a really big hobgoblin... maybe that was in the castle. Like a goblin the size of a giant! He took a lot of arrows and Noemi took out her shield and this wicked spear and took him on... took him down... I mean... out? Took him out? No. We were already out. Well... she poked him till he stopped hollering and flailing about.

    • Oh and the dark priest warlock guy at the alter... at the end of the dark dungeon? Ethuil took a break to look for lady demons I think.... so Noemi and me beat the crap out of that priest. It kept trying to use dark spells against her. But she had this cloak that would glow everytime he tried to use his black magic. She's pretty great. I'm glad we're friends. And then Ethuil showed back up... without a single hickey and collected the loot.

    • Oh, and Noemi wrote a limerick... it was... something like...

    There once was a demon named Clyde
    with what both of us ladies spied.
    With a dingus so long,
    there just wasn't a thong
    that it could even begin to hide.


    1. Memory Rebuilding

    • Visted the crafting hall had got to know the masters there. They all seem sad that I don't remember them. I have notebooks there for various crafting techniques. Those seem familiar. My body seems to know what to do in certain circumstance.

    • I spent the last few days hunting rats in the sewers. There were cultists of some kind down there that seem to worship ooze? And further, there were undead. Not unexpected, as when I went further, I found very old barrows. There were no rats. I guess the undead eat them? I did run across a fanged undead woman. Not decayed. She tried to... whisper something to me? Like a suggestion? Perhaps it was some kind of vampire? Don't know. She died like the others. Unless I don't know how to put them down if they... reshape? I did read in my journals that Peltach has a vampire problem.

    • I found the logging town called Norwick. There seemed to be a lot of talk about a missing priestess and purple worms. I am thankful now of poison resistance training at the monastery. Purple worm poison was my least favorite. I am thankful the missing priestess target wasn't my charge. I understand their distress. Something about goblins tunneling. So I went into the woods south of there... called the Rawlinwoods. There were goblins certainly. Deep warrens where they use beetles and umberhulk to dig. Their shamans were very good at dispelling my potion enchantments.

    • I also explored an underground town called Oscura. Dark happenings down there, but a strict government, thankfully. There is a merchant there that sells a leave the induces higher awareness, they seemed to know me... since they asked if I wanted my regular. I used it in exploring the kuo-tua caverns the gentlemen mentioned. Found a good source of nickel there.

    • I've read through my notes and have also mentioned a cave on the other side of a river that runs between Peltarch and Norwick. On the other side is a town the guards at the ferry said used to be a farming town called Jiyyd. The ferryman also seemed to know me and asked if I was leaving Apple behind this time. The cave had some fierce animals. Large. Expected based on my journals. I was very careful not to disturb any that left me alone. Silver and iron near the front of that cave. That was enough. The cave bear in there was the largest... well... I don't know what I've seen before, but he knocked me around pretty good.

    • I am making progress in making gloves and shields. I ran across a recipe for a new kind of bag. Made of stegadon. I visited a place in Norwick called Spellweavers. Some kind of wizard school. But they have a library open to the public! I looked up stegadons. They seem some kind of armored lizard. I am unsure of where to find them.

    • I have yet to run across any of the friends I've written about. Perhaps we were just acquaintances. Unsure. I will do more exploration around the lands of Peltarch to ensure the security of my charge, Lady Aurora Moonbeam.

    • I have read about some kind of ancient artifacts the Priest of Tyr has mentioned. The local criers and bards of the inns are all talking about them. Prompted by some singer with dragonscales about her face. I wonder if this is the same bard I talk about in my journals. I will ask Lady Aurora is this has anything to do with Selune, as the artifacts are supposed to be Silver Masks.


    1. Lost Again

    • Woke up in this chapel to Lathander. It was a good place to wake up. My skin felt odd. Tight. Like it was new. The priest had sad eyes. He told me hunters had found my mostly eaten body and a label burned into my leather wraps and brought me to this temple. The hunter said it was troll country where they found me.

    • I read the labels as I sat near the altar. There were a few, each burned into the leather. I knew I had burned them in. One said, "Temple of the Lighthouse, Peltarch". Another said "Bottleneck Apartment 7A, Peltarch". Another said "Blue Raven". Another said, "Read your journals." One said "High Priestess Aurora Moonbeam, Temple of Selune, Peltarch" Another, "True Hawk and Storm Dove, Monastery of the Bird, Damara."

    • The priest said that Lady Aurora was outside. I talked with her and she explained that I am in her service, and that my name is Blue... and that I am a Raven of the Bird Monastery of the Order of the Sun Soul. That each time I die, if Selune and Lathander think me still of use, they bring me back... but with a cost. I lose some memories. So I write notes to myself. She told me that I live nearby and that at my home, I have journals that I keep. She gave me a hug and Loona cried a bit, but was smiling.

    • I found my apartment. It is very cozy, and has a good view of the docks. There is a cat that is a good hunter of mice and rats in the alley below. I live alone, but have a wonderful bookcase of books. And of course, dozens of journals in my own handwriting. And I am sitting and writing this entry while at my little desk with some tea and nuts I found in the... my pantry.

    • I find myself unexpectadly emotional about some of the stories I am reading in the journals. Sadness mostly. These are people I know... knew. There is an ache of longing... that these stories I've written weren't just reflections of my memorie... but mine. In my own head.

    • The journals also say that I am a crafter and that my hall is nearby. I will go and talk with the masters there. It also says I have a horse named Apple that has a stall in the areas outside the walls. I should go rub her down. I also have a bank account. And a small business in a logging town to the south called Norwick. I haven't read all my journals... there is a lot more to me apparently.


    1. Visions of my Mother? Lathander?

    • It is good to sleep in my own bed once more. Much to think upon. I have written to my monastery in Damara once more. My Hawk and Dove wrote back and sent a pair of manuals to advance my training. Hawk sent me a series of exercises and maneuvers to advance my training in air fighting. I have been spending time observing and sometimes fighting the griffins and giant eagles outside Mavalgard. I will obviously not abandon my progress in Earth, but he is right. It is time to work on the Air element.

    • Dove sent me a rare book translated into Chardic called The Metaphysics from the infamous plane hopping monk and sage Aristotle. That Heron lent her translator and several script writers to produce a copy for me is… overwhelming. I must send her a jar of that honey I found produced but that Druid of Leth in Mavalgard. It will take me some years to master its teaching. But it is good to have something to while away the winter nights in my room.

    • I am making progress at last in working leather. I thought I was at my limits until another master suggested using magical enhancements to boost my clarity while practicing on krenhar hides. I have been scouring the caves of the Gypsy forests for more.

    • I fell once more to pride, and a pair of mages attached to a group of formidable bandits. I do recall the Chultan warrior Ax implored Tempus to take him to his wife and daughter while we were together in a gray place. And a song I hadn’t remembered before. I think my mother sang it to me when I was with her. I hope the voice singing was hers. It was beautiful. I can’t picture her face, as it was bathed in the brightest of sunbeams. A gift from Lathander. And my rebirth from that place was… difficult. But that little precious fragment of my time before the monastery… I need to focus prayer on the Lord of Light..

    • There were many in our expedition, a new dwarven face… hard shells and locust hordes… vermin lords. Mastodons. And a shard of memory about fighting a vortex of elements? Waking from a dream, more like.


    1. Demon Spider and the Weight of Earth

    • Waxes and wanes. Advances and retreats. I have been making both of late. One one expedition through the bugbear mines, with Atlas leading the way towards a pocket Elemental Plane of Earth, we encountered a large colony of deep orb weaver spiders. They were mothered by the largest bitch I have ever seen.

    • A dowager queen spider. We were lucky to have a good team. Owen kept the demon’s attention and took most of her poison, when she could get past his shield. The few times she turned, she was hemmed in by others. And when she headed for our casters and archers, I stepped in to block her advance. Formidable, but so long as kept her from shredding me with her mandibles, her fangs and poison did little to me. It was a marathon, but we won the race.

    • With Ethuil, Noemi, Tory, Atlas, Owen, Axer, Vin? and a few others… I have to get better at names… we were joined by Lady Tiller, one of the grown children of the Baron Tiller family. She was extremely competent with both shield and bow. We then entered the very edge of the Plane of Earth… seeking platinum and mithril to advance Atlas’s learning of metallurgy and smelting.

    • If this is the edge of the Plane of Earth, it gives me and idea why Earth Elementals are so grounded and strong. Just walking was like taking the heaviest load of ore I have ever packed out of a mine. And then to fight elders of their kind under these conditions? Hardest training I have ever endured. And blessed Lady… even this far away from her light Selene granted me silver to mine. Blessed night!


    1. Made Stone, then Broken

    • A companion of Axer... a forest gnome whose name escapes me asked me along to go to a guttaral place. Grunt? Gront? Something like that. The gnome spoke very fast. We went by caravan to an estate of some minor noble family... more like a mercenary outpost. Regardless, well defended and the families were welcoming. Marvanal? I must get better at names.

    • This was just a waypoint. We continued through some largely treeless hill county. Windy, with beautiful skies. Filled with griffons hunting. And a heavily armored turtle-like creature with a huge beak... bigger by far than an ox. They tunneled like umberhulks. We ran past to encounter an orcish raiding party.

    • We then met a group of gorgons with some kind of ogre-like protector. Sharptoothed and very strong. It well enough. However the next group seemed stronger... and I caught the eye of one of the gorgons. There was a part of me that knew when they shattered me... and converted me back to shards of flesh. I awoke in Peltarch. Tyr's high priest judged me worth bringing back. I will reread journals to see what I have forgotten. At least I know now that I am missing things.

    • The next day, at the urging of some of my crafthall companions, I went to Norwick to join the tourney they have there. Jousting, archery and bare knuckle fighting. I joined and was allowed to use my sling in the competition. It may have been unfair... I do not know. But we were out in the moonlight and I felt her presence guide my shots. I won!

    • Some found it odd to have me strip naked to join the competition of hand to hand combat. I found it odd that some others did not. Regardless there were many style present, which was VERY interesting. I did do well but was given a humbling lesson by a pugilist who is self-trained. Catalan? Catlan? He is a Peltarchian dock worker who regular fights at the Ferret Inn in Norwick.

    • He performed a move that not only struck the sternum to fold it in and potentially pierce the heart... but intuitively used his body's lightning to disrupt the nerve cluster... stopping the heart as well! We talked for some time and he showed me his technique. Prepared for it this time, I was able to fend it off... but still. Another example of the main lesson my masters taught. Learn from the world's sources. Books are all second-hand knowledge.


    1. Meetings Old and New

    • Who should walk into the crafting hall this evening but Thorin Goldenaxe! He has heard a call from his god. A map that has led him to return to Narfell from Damara. A stronghold for his kin. I have heard rumor of a meeting of the Council of Moradin. I shall have to practice the conversion of alcohol in my blood to be able to retain my sobriety and not insult my dwarven friends when they crack open the barrels. I can sense the excitement.

    • There was an easterner who also has dragon blood. Like my bardic friend Noemi. This woman was not like her however. Regardless of her skill, she was cocky. Perhaps it is a difference in where she is from? She moved very well however. I can imagine she is a formidable adversary... or ally.

    • Noemi and I had tea. I had collected a few of her bolts or quarrels. She mentioned meeting Thorin. Seems good people find each other. Also mentioned some kind of vampire spawn. I told her of my history with the local coven. I am not confident yet in my new Lathandric training of creating daylight with my soul. I shall have to be subtle in my investigation this time.


    1. Brothers Dwarf. Monastery of the Infinite Cask .

    • I ran into Master Horst today. He was having his armor etched by the dark crafters of Oscura. Unusual, but seeing as he is a master, something unusual is likely swayed by learning methods outside of his normal areas of expertise. It was good to see him once again, however I wonder if my old Master's memory has started fading? Regardless, I am over glad he still lives. Having seen him, it makes me wonder about some of the others I called companions years back. Yavie, Vick, Aoth, Garen, Unen, Warzi, Thorin, Tyrus... and a few others. I hope they are all well.

    • Spent the day working on those beetle shells. I know there must be a method of curing them. I'm thinking a form of acid I saw trolls using to tattoo themselves. Afterwards I went to take an evening meal and bumped into the singer Noemi. I asked about her songs, and sure enough the couple I recognized were Damarian folktales. I was able to give her the travelling bag I crafted from the dire bear skins. I hope it will be of service to her.

    • Noemi and a quiet elven gentleman (I can't recall his name) were chatting outside of the Mermaid. When the three of us decided to venture into the borderlands between orc and Peltarch lands to ensure they weren't edging closer, we were joined by a pair of dwarven brothers.

    • Axer and Kern Bochonok. Neither of them crafters as far as I could tell. Unusual. I think both were monks. I know at least Kern is of the Old Order with the manner in which he used kami. I am still uncertain of Axer. Both have visited and admired the Drunken Masters of the Infinite Ale Cask Monastery. As expected for dwarves they are tough skinned and stomached and rougher than raw granite.

    • The orcs were as expected. Encroaching and looking to build up numbers to push. It should be a while before they try again. I did find out that the spoils of killing those in their den sell better in Norwick than they do in Peltarch. Perhaps the competition is less fierce?


    1. Giant Encroachment, Scouting Mintas, Raft Source Found

    • The family-man Jimmy decided it best I don't scout the far side of the river for giant-sign alone. While I was asking around Hero's Bluff regarding sightings of the same, we ran across a hin and a what appears to be some kind of scaled woman with serpent eyes named Noemi. Not naga... there wasn't a sinister bone in her body. The hin, named Vin moved well.

    • They decided to join us, with the intention of finding the location the giant had culled their trees for their raft. We traveled well, attracting and dispatching some wolfs that mistook us for prey.

    • Jimmy's knowledge of the paths on this side of the river again proved helpful, as her knew of a cave that cut to the middle of the woods around Mintas Rhelgor. Once we entered, I recognized it immediately from the many miner ventures made by a troop of dwarves and my old master Gnarl Horst... as well as Thorin Goldenaxe. I miss them both and hope to see them again someday.

    • My apple eating friend is also adept at tracking and was able to identify many of the dire animals that creep in from the forest above... as well as the rumblings of the old guardian of rock and stone... the earth elemental. Depending on if the thing was hungry or not, it sometimes was placated by feeding it gemstones of various kinds. If not, it was very territorial.

    • Without the power of Moradin from my old dwarven friends, even my callused fists could do nothing to this creature. We were lucky that it wasn't in the path we intended through the woods.

    • We fought our way back out of the woods towards the windy plains... finding not only large cut trees felled by enormous axes, but also several landslides that had buried some of the gigantic dire animals there.

    • Those animals hit as hard as I remember, and were it not for Vin (who has to be trained by a monastery) at my side... I could not have borne the brunt of the attacks. The dragon-blessed woman Noemi also bolstered us with the most unusual songs, which I will ask about when I see her again. Finally, Johnny's bow rarely missed its mark and devastated many of the animals Vin and I pummeled.

    • Still, my assignment abroad has apparently softened me, and were it not for what appeared to be several caches of potions, I assumed left by giants looking to build a route through these lands, I could not have held my defenses. I will redouble my training. Those caches may be good places to ambush, as it could be a way to locate and counter the giant's efforts.

    • I was able to skin enough of the dire bears to make some new satchels from their pelts. I will share the materials these creatures sacrificed to my companions in the effort. While working on these pelts at the tradehouse, I came across another apprentice under Master Horton named Atlas. We talked about the giants (which he seemed very interested in) as well as further sojourns together to work our crafts in Master Horton's name.

    • Finally, I reported our actions to the gate guards at Heroes Bluff, the captain of the watch in Peltach, as well as my Lady Aurora at the Lightower Temple.


    1. Fell by Nars

    • I explored both river banks of the Scar from Heroes Bluff to the bridge east of Peltarch for signs of additional rafts being built or launched. Any trees dragged to the shoreline, I tried to track inland to where they were cut.

    • Lizard men and trolls in the nearby marshes seem to have found some arrangement, as they seem to tolerate each other and even attack in union.

    • I was bested by some Nars that were across the river from the old Cerulean outpost. Dove into the river to escape, only to be downed by arrows as I dove. The good thing is my body drifted downstream and out of their territory. The bad thing is that I died. I did not have an audience with Her. Only woke up to the faces of Jimmy and Thau'lira. Selune must have guided them to me.

    • The scroll that brought me back was a godsend, and that Jimmy parted with it for an acquaintance. Well, I am glad to have put him on the road to home ownership for his family. I will ask Lady Moonbeam to sign off on a recommendation with the owners of the Bottlefly Apartments where I reside. It would be a goodness to give their family a space of their own and the least I can do.

    • I reported my findings to Lady Aurora regarding the giant's crossings. Perhaps through her contacts she can find others that are investigating the situation as well.


    1. Return to Peltarch and Lady Aurora's Service

    • Returning to find my old apartment's key still worked is one thing. But that the banker's actually paid my rent all this time is... impressive. My reassignment took me quite by surprise, and took several years longer than expected. The dust was thick and it took me a better part of a week's off hours to get it back to order.

    • I am glad Lady Aurora requested to have me at her side once more however. It begs the question however, "Why?" There are many Sun Soul that would have jumped at the opportunity to serve a High Priestess. Many things unsaid about my return. It makes me wonder if there are issues in the priesthood.

    • The landscape and trails around Peltarch have changed quite a bit. I see that Seafarer's now guard the gates. Many of my mentors have moved on at the crafting hall.

    • I went exploring and came across a young follower of Auril. I must admit I have forgotten her name. We went exploring the kobolds den. Deeper and they seem to have found a dragon's skull that they are worshipping... quite fervently. That faith may be of use, given the proper leverage.

    • Lady Aurora's first prophetic act with me was to send me to Hin Hold in the middle of the night. The moon was bright, and when I got closer, I heard their town bells going off. They were under attack by frost giants. They were dead by the hand of a spellblade from Halruaa before I got into battle. He and a raider captain from High Hold and I tracked them back to their raft they built to cross the Scar River. I reported the situation to the Seafarer's guard to pass along to the Watch Captain.


    • I must thanks Selune tonight at the shrine for the reminder that I am suited better for the path of creation, than that of destruction. Helping the dwarves of Aura Runedar collect the coal and stone needed from the goblin mines is where I can do the most good. It is as straight a path as a beam of sunlight.

    • Being able to head up a crew of dwarven miners... even with their joke of telling me that the dwarven phrase they nicknamed me wasn't beautiful legger... but donkey knockers, I must admit, had me laughing as hard as I ever have. What a picture we likely made, with all of the coal dust on us, the only things shining was the white teeth of our smiles.

    • It is this rude nickname that made me realize it was their rough way of accepting me. Well... that and perhaps the cart of ale casks I had dropped at the edge of town to be tapped and drank by the coal mining crews returning with their loads.


    • One of the people I have grown fond of, and respect, recently rebuked me on being unconcerned with my companion's safety in unexpectedly attacking a vampire Garibaldi and Jorino were talking to. He said that it was pride that he was concerned with. Perhaps, I should certainly meditate on that. He would not say so casually.

    • Perhaps my faith in my Goddess is a form of pride. I think he may see it as a form of blindness. That it blinds me to reason. Perhaps. I have not had reason to question my faith in Her. She has sent me back to life several times. Were I not doing what She wants of me... I would think She would find a better vessel. I certainly do not assume to know Her reasons. And I know that I am very fallible. But this did not feel wrong.

    • Was there a plan to get us out if things went poorly? Had they waited for the vampire to spring the trap he had prepared... would it have gone any differently? And how?

    • I should temper these thought in that this concern comes from a many who professes to not have a path of his own choosing. Perhaps my focus on my path frightens him. Perhaps that is why he sees it as wrong. Faith is not a prison. Faith provides structure.

    • I did make a large mistake. I should not have accompanied them in the first place. We are on different paths. I am not defending others for a good story... or for glory... or fame... or riches... or to test my mettle. I do it because Selune says I must. That it is the right thing to do. Travelling with those that don't have trust... and that I don't trust leads to just such situations.

    • Was mine the right action? I will not know till Selune judges them.

    • There are techniques that allow a Sun Soul to expose their soul... an explosion of pure sunlight... called the Sunburst. I will explore this technique. Perhaps one of these times, when one of these vampires thinks it can simply change into a red mist and vanish... I will be better prepared to finish them.


    • Persistence. On my walks in the Rawlins near the wyvern bluffs south and east of Norwick, and the lower reaches of the Giantspire north and west of Peltarch and I finally found elm trees that are ripe for culling. The few logs I was able to cut cleanly gave me enough experience with the mill saw that I didn't ruin all the wood. One perfect small elm shield... joined tight and bound properly. Not as light as the darkwood shield that the Squire carries, but it will be a good heirloom to enchant for someone needing a backup shield. We will see if Mister Blake is interested.