3. Random thoughts of Salin Ashald

Random thoughts of Salin Ashald


  • Things are starting to go back to normal now… Although normal in this case means weird things are happening. Last tenday I was enjoying some tea at the Mermaid when suddenly a pixie appears out of nowhere and casts a spell on me. I didn't feel any difference at first but after a few moments I could see myself turning into a zombie! I left the Mermaid in terror, and although I was still pretty much myself, some instincts I could not control... I started feeling an immense hunger for brains, though I refrained myself from any actual evil actions (thank the gods!). Seeing Nica and Vash't however, I felt this compulsion to touch them for some reason, and when I did, they too turned into undead. Then the pixie showed herself once more, and said that in order for us to go back to our true selves, we had to pass three trials.

    The first of these trials was meant to make us think as undead, forcing us to choose from a bunch of creatures which one we'd want to feast upon. We chose a troll and the others vanished. As we approached the creature, the pixie killed it, and suddenly its body turned into an assortment of candies (luckily we didn't really have to eat the things brains - thank the gods again!).

    The second was a race from where we stood, next to the Bardic college to the Mermaid. It seemed relatively simple, except for the fact that movement was actually slow and painful as the muscles in our legs were rotten... An experience I really do not want to repeat.

    Finally, the last challenge was to scare a little girl (or the illusion of one). This was accomplished... Well, there's no need to remember that part... Suffice to say that Vash't did it and we were returned to normal.

    Another odd thing is that the kobolds are still missing from the warrens... Could this be the end to one of the threats to the city of Peltarch? I'm not too sure as there are still plenty of the creatures roaming the swamps... Perhaps they simply found a different hideout?


  • Alright. I'm back at last. I mean, I have returned to Narfell a few months ago already, but I haven't really had any time to return to my usual "routine" of helping folks along. That began to change a few tendays ago, as we went to the swamps to clear the warrends of kobolds. The odd part was that there were absolutely no kobolds there. We found it weird, but ultimately just returned to Peltarch. Some time later, we headed to the giantspire foothills and once again there were no orcs… I had no idea why the creatures were missing, and honestly I didn't really mind, as it meant no more threats to Peltarch. Still, we decided to keep going to the caves, to see if they were really gone. Once we got there, we saw that there was a whole army of them within. After clearing them all, the orc leader came to us, but that threat too was dealt with. That would have been good enough for us, but then a woman came running to us. She was nude, and a bit... Unwell, mentally speaking, but I suppose I would be too if I had been kept imprisoned by orcs for the gods know how long... She was no commoner however, as she effortlessly killed a stray orc with a single spell. The woman never told us her name, and remained behind to conduct some experiments on the corpses. At first we thought she meant necromancy, but she then clarified she'd only take a few samples of flesh to test their properties... Maybe the results of that study can lead to a more effective way to deal with orcs in the future... I certainly hope it does.


  • Almost home, at long, long last. This past few months have taken been quite exhausting, but at least now everyone can get their well deserved rest.

    After the rather shocking experience of actually seeing my parents' grave, me and Mat were heading back to the estate, when Wands once again asked about that party. We were both tired of all the searching and definitely could use the morale boost, so I ended up finally accepting.

    We returned home to get properly outfitted for the event and showed up by the Wands Manor a few minutes before the party started, so he gave us a tour around the estate. We didn't talk much other than the occasional question about Narfell and if we were considering staying there for good.

    Even during the party, there was not much talk, just dancing and the usual drinking. After it was over, however, when all the other guests had returned to their homes, congratulating Mr Wands for his qualities as a host, he asked me to stay a bit longer so we could chat. I found it a bit odd, seeing as we had plenty of time for that during the whole day, but still I could use a little talk to get my mind off some of the troubles of the day.

    He asked me several questions about my parents and what I remembered from the attack, but the oddest question was about Mat's parents, and why I was looking for a couple of mere servants.

    I replied that they're important to me because they're Mat's parents, but even if they weren't, they still deserved to find their peace.

    He then asked me about developments in the search, to which I replied that we hadn't had any luck.

    After that, we headed through a large corridor and down a flight of stairs, toward the laboratory. I figured he had prepared the scrolls he asked me, so I went along. The place was really remarkable, filled with all sorts of magic items I had never seen anywhere else, and an odd symbol on the floor, that he told me was used as a ward to safely create planar portals without risking a Balor entering the Prime Material.

    I decided to look closer upon it, and that's when I discovered the truth… That was no ward, but the portal itself! Once I confronted him, his demeanor changed, and he activated the ward gems in his necklace to defend him from harm and to entrap us in his lab as the spell was completed, an army of undead appearing before our very eyes!

    Wards started laughing, saying that I had at least found what I was looking for, as he pointed to the two zombies that had just jumped out of one of the storage closets, both with the Ashald family crest still recognizable in their tattered clothings.

    Mat hacked at the undead with his sword as I cast all protective spells I had as quickly as my hands would let me. As soon as the threat was dealt with, I dispelled the wall that trapped us within and we chased after the foul necromancer.

    We caught up with him fairy quickly, and he wasn't even out of his property when I confronted him over what he had done. He tried to cast some spells to disorient us and get away again, but I managed to counter them all and Mat was able to subdue him. After that we called the Watch, had him arrested for Necromancy and buried Mat's parents in the Graveyard.

    As soon as his trial ended, me and Mat set sail back to Narfell, and are now just docking back in Norwick.

    It's sad to think what drives people you always thought of as good-intentioned to do this sort of foul things... Is it the desire to learn? Is it greed? Or just lust for power? Whatever it was for him, I just hope he will pay for what he has done. As for myself, all I know is that I don't want to mess with that kind of magic. Those who cannot be tended back to life should be left as they want to be and given the rest they deserve.


  • The search continues. Two months later and I still couldn't find them. I suppose I couldn't expect much, seeing as it has been over three years since it all went down. The city got back to its feet again, and amongst the several dead and missing, who would take notice of a couple of simple servants? Still, there has to be someone, somewhere, that heard about them. They didn't simply vanish into thin air. In the Castle Ward no one saw them though. I'll search the North Ward next, while Mat searches the South. They're here, I know they are. And I will find them.

    Still, Mr Wands seems particulary eager to get that welcome party going, despite the fact that I've been here for two months now… I suppose he just wants to have things go back to the way they used to be, and me asking about that day is not making things easy for him. Still, he did tell me about a spell that would allow me to send a short message anywhere I want. Unfortunately, it's a fifth circle spell, so I had to ask him to scribe some scrolls for me. He told me he'd do it, but it'd take a few days, as he was busy with other projects.

    Well, here I go now, hopefully Tymora will smile on us...


  • We docked in Waterdeep today. The journey to the west was pretty uneventful, though Dawn refused to set foot on this plane while we were on the sea. Silly, on the other hand, seemed to be feeling right at home in a ship, while Silver just remained in its stoic, dutiful warhorse demeanor the whole time in the animal pen below deck. As for me and Mat, we just talked about what we'd do once we got to the City of Splendors, and kept practicing as Yana had instructed. I hated to leave on such a short notice, without even properly saying goodbye to my friends, but me and Mat will only be here a few months. It was quite a sight the look in all those people's faces as they saw me leaving that boat.
    Mr Wands insisted on celebrating my arrival after all these years, but I had to tell him to hold on that until I did what I set out to do: Find and bury Mathias' parents, and visit my own's grave. He was a bit disappointed, but understood that I wasn't really in the mood for parties with such a grim task ahead of me. I assured him, however, that we'd have that celebration as soon as all was done.

    I just settled in my old room. It looks just the same as I left it, other than the gathered dust, but the wards around the estate prevented further pillaging. How the Drow got past them I have no idea…

    Something I still can't do, is enter my parent's quarters. To see the place of their death, to remember what I saw that day... It would be too much.

    Mathias headed to his old room outside the manor as well, despite having told him several times he could stay in one of the many guest rooms in the house. If it's a matter of old habits dying hard or if he just feels at home there I don't know, but I think he'll be fine. His blindness is almost not a problem anymore. Yana really did a great job with him...

    Tomorrow I'll check the graveyard. Hopefully his parents have already been given the proper chance to rest. If not, I'll search the entire area around the estate and see what happens from there.

    I just hope everything's alright back home... Maybe there's some spell that allows me to communicate with them? I'll have to do some research... After I take care of this.


  • It seems my work at the orphanage really made a difference. Little Daniel finally got adopted, following a little talk I had with him about how he shouldn't think himself better than the other kids. He told me "But I am the king here! That means I'm the boss, right?" I smiled at him and told him of Siamorphe and how a true leader is always in front of his people, and not above. He seemed to have taken those words to heart, so much so that one day, as he witnessed Annie being bullied by Thomas, he calmly told him to stop, whereas just a week ago, he'd likely join the bully. By chance, a recently wed couple was passing by and witnessed Daniel's bravery. They adopted him then and there. I'll never forget the smile in the lad's face as he left…

    Also, I think Jackie may be a sorcerer. He's a bit shy most of the time, and doesn't talk much, but I can sense the magic trying to make it's way out. Maybe I should have a little talk with him about that, before he finds out the hard way what he's capable of doing.

    Returning home from the orphanage, I found María speaking to this elf dressed only in loincloth. I offered one of my spare tunics, but he explained he wore little by choice, such being the tradition of the monks of his temple. I do find it a bit odd to wear so little with such cold weather in Narfell, but if those are his customs, I believe we just have to respect them.

    Shorty after Mystic arrived and we spoke of one we both had recently become acquainted with, a gentleman by the name of Dexter. He seems like quite the nice person, very polite and amicable. I find the attitude quite humbling, though the elf, Amendel, mentioned he had been a bit rude with him... I suppose not all of us regard foreign customs in the same way...

    Then it was Willow's turn to show up, and she and Dawn went about talking about her and Shesarai's recent experience as Umber Hulks. It also seems Dawn and Leanna made peace. Apparently Dawn got a bit scolded for having called Leanna "meanie", which was the cause of the whole misunderstanding, and at least it looks like everything's OK now.

    Returning from woods by the south gate, after I took Dawn out for a little hunting trip, I found Amendel, Jonni and a seemingly drunken Timmot speaking about a cat that apparently had made its way into town, though I arrived late and didn't get all the details. Then the guard turned to a horse that was just standing there, and threatened to kill it. I intervened, telling him I'd speak to the owner to see it tied up. Amendel didn't really help, as he kept insisting on calling the guard out on his drunkenness, which did not make my task any easier, but I eventually convinced him to leave the horse be, then asked Leena, who luckily was sitting along with Elaine by the fire, to get the horse out of there before another guard showed up. I know it isn't her responsibility to take care of other people's horses, but she was the only one who could do it without risking the horse getting angry...

    As I spoke to Sir Selious, who had just arrived to Norwick as well, of my work at the orphanage, I felt a shooting pain in my left hand. Looking at it, I found that damnable scar was gone! I have finally gotten rid of that taint that has been haunting me all this time! To confirm this, I took the same steps as last time, all the way to the temple of Lathander, but this time I was not blocked off. I was finally let in. That temple never looked more beautiful. Sir Selious told me he was proud of me, as did Leena. But after a little argument among the people gathered by the fire about civilization and how twisted the idea of it is, me, María and the hin mage Belma'r headed off to patrol the hobgoblin area. Upon our return, María asked me to speak to Raryldor, as she had been unable to find him and he was, according to her, owing an apology for the whole situation that happened in her tower a few months ago. I told the message to Raryldor, who felt he owed her nothing, as it was Sirion's idea to go to the tower, and it was he who allowed them in, and the one who cast the spell that actually destroyed the items. Regardless, I am not one to meddle in the affairs of other people, though I feel that this is about more than a few destroyed wards and magic items. A peaceful solution could easily be found if they wanted to, but some people just don't want to find it. As long as they don't kill each other though, they are both well capable of sorting it out.

    As I talked to Raryldor, this strange bird shows up gawking and calling me out. I asked it who had sent it, but I don't think it was capable of speech, more than just the few sounds it was seemingly imitating. It did, however, drop a note in my pocket before darting off, and apparently "Silly the Parrot" is a gift to me for getting rid of my taint. As the only people who knew were Sir Selious and Leena, and judging by the exotic nature of the bird, I'd place my bet on the lovely druid.


  • Last few tendays got me a bit busy, which is good because I was able to get my mind off all those things that were going on…

    María allowed me into the Keep at least as an Adept, now capable of pursuing my own projects, and no longer being an apprentice. I asked her aout the test I supposedly had to make, but she told me the greatest test was life, and I had passed it. It's good to hear such praise from someone as powerful as she is, but I really can't let it get over my head, as I still have a lot more to learn and Mystra teaches us to be humble with the gift she grants us.

    Also, i've decided to take Sir Selious's proposal and join the Forsworn as a Squire, a few days before Vega was knighted herself. I asked Sir Horst to teach me a few things about mèlée combat as It has been a long time since I last picked up a rapier and I feel it's a good option to rely on when spells drain and the enemy gets a bit too close.

    Sir Horst seems like a skilled fighter, as he knows exactly which vital points he should hit to make enemies fall with just a few blows. I hope to be able to learn that from him as well.

    A few days later, as I was going from Norwick to Peltarch, I came across Emelia and a hin Paladin who was talking with her. He seemed rather hostile at me, but I shruged it off as him being suspicious of a man wearing pink boots (not that I can blame him for that), but then he told me he wouldn't even walk with us due to a "malevolence" he felt within me and darted off before i could explain to him that I was dealing with that. Sometimes I feel Willow is right and I should just ignore Paladins... But then again, not all of them are this close minded... I guess people are the way they are, no matter what they do for a living...

    A few days ago, Eragor, Tolin, Sir Horst and me went patroling the crypts. Eragor mentioned had never seen so many undead in there, but we pressed forward, dealing with everything that stood in our path. After we dealt with all of them, I remembered the reason why there so many: The necromancer should be trying to raise a second army, and we managed to thwart their plans once more, though it's safe to assume they'll be angered at this... Oh well, we beat their army twice already, we can do it again.

    Afterwards, Shesarai, Eragor, Leena, Willow and myself decided to head to the derro mines under Oscura... A strange, orange but very profitable place, as we managed to amass the amount of gold the yearly pass cost (500 gold pieces) in that one trip. If we keep getting this lucky in subsequent trips, I suppose we'll be just fine...

    Today, as I talked to my brother about our coming journey to Waterdeep, Yana showed up and Mat eventually told her about his blindness, prompting her to volunteer as a trainer for him, to allow him to gain as of his surroundings despite his condition. He seemed to be eager to learn, and I am to take him to her again. Yana is a very capable fighter, so I know he's in good hands.

    Now, for some much deserved rest. Let's see what tomorrow brings.


  • I think I'm beginning to think too much. It's starting to make me something I'm not. Cranky. Grumpy. Angered at all and nothing at all. I don't usually go out to kill things on my own, and lately I've been doing that a lot. Mostly undead, granted, but still I'm not the kind of guy who does the stabbing. I'm the guy who stays in the back helping the guy who stabs to do it better, while not getting stabbed himself. Speaking to Eilonna about it, and generally about stab or not to stab and the reason why stabbing is important to maintain the Balance, I came to a rather unexpected conclusion: I'm still not over that damnable drow raid four years ago. Four years have passed and still I haven't mourned my parents' passing. Even Dawn spoke up and told me I was getting different, which is not a good thing… I think I may have to get me a caravan or something and head back to Waterdeep... See how things are, maybe get some closure... Maybe I can get Mathias to come with me too...

    Moving on, little did I know just yesterday how close I was to dying for my recklessness... I went to the graveyard, to cleanse the area of undead, and just after I was done, Shesarai showed up and we returned to Norwick. A few minutes later, it was the undead's turn to poke about. For the whole evening they came, wave after wave. Sir Selious fell to the abominations, who were not the usual ones from the graveyard, but rather much more powerful ones. Several times I tried to scry for the source of the fiends, but it wasn't until I turned my attention to the graveyard that I found something... Two summoners. We rushed to the crypts, dispatching everything that stood in our path, including an ogre skeleton and a huge shadow fiend, but ultimately, we couldn't find those responsible, though I suspect they may have hid within the crypts, as there were no portals leading out, but traces of illusionary magic were present. I tried to dispel the area of the illusions, but still found nothing, so we decided to head back home in case the crypts were just a ruse. We returned to find Norwick safe and sound though, and I've been granted a new spell even. Seems that whole talk about elemental magic before the dire rabbits showed up was not for nothing, as I can now make ice fall upon my foes, though I need to be careful, as it hurts friends too...

    After we came back, Sir Selious suggested I volunteer at the Peltarch Orphanage. That does sound like a good proposal, as I'm always glad to help, so I'm going to give it a shot for about a month or so, and see where I go from there. Hope the children like a good sorcerer's light show!

    written with a slightly different hadwriting, as if something was communicating through his body
    And stop worrying Salin, you're going mad! - Dawn


  • And on we go with the not so good stuff…

    I was in Norwick, thinking through all of those problems i had, when Mathias showed up, and we decided to go to the crypts to lower the undead numbers a few. After we returned, he and I started going through ways to get that debt of his out of his head. He considered gold, but he said his parents owed mine over 250.000, which is no small sum, so we discarded that option. Then we considered something called payment by blood or something like that, but just from the sound of that, I refused to accept that option. Eventually he decided to go to the temple of the triad for guidance, and i followed all the way up to the entrance, warning him not to do something he might regret as he entered the door that's still barred to me.

    As he came out from the temple, I saw him leaning on the staff I had given him, and he told me what he did: For six months, Tyr would take away his sight, as the way to repay his debt. I don't really agree with that, as I still believe he owes me nothing, but who am I to argue with the will of a God? Well, I already did that once, but still...

    Later on, as I spoke with Elaine, Shesarai and Willow by the gates, a bunch of ethereal dire rabbits spawned out of thin air, along with a mage warrior that helped us deal with this odd threat. After the first wave was defeated, Shesarai went outside to scout and as she returned, we were fighting the second wave of ghostly bunnies. After they were dealt with, we noticed Shesarai was glowing a weird shade of pink, and suddenly she turned into a penguin. I tried to identify what magic had been used, but aarently the lady that came with the rabbits had such power I was almost blinded!

    After she restored Shesarai to normal, she introduced herself (to Mat and me at least, as it seemed Elaine already knew her) as Leanna, daughter of Mystra. I was struck with awe at the presence of such a being, but then she started behaving erraticaly, spawning a miniaturized Balor just by the gates. I admit it was a bit amuzing, but still it was dangerous and powerful for its tiny size. After that, she summoned a few statues of dragons, which she promptly destroyed seconds later. After that we stepped outside so she can show us a new threat (or friend? I didn't really get that part as even her speech was erratic): a huge dragon several times the size of the green we defeated a few months ago. Ater that, she spawned an oversized deer, only to kill it a few seconds after, spreading blood and gore all over the place, and Leena who had just arrived and was approaching the creature. Dawn got upset with that and called Leanna mean, which made the demigoddess get upset, causing Mat to hastily face her, in an effort to protect my familiar. She almost killed him for that, but I stepped between them, trying to calm them both down. Bad choice of words from me, as I said "enough" but got a sword to the chest multiple times to the chest before I could finish the sentence "...fighting please." leaving Mat on the floor severely wounded and me almost dead as well, but all the healers that were around us rushed to get us back up, as the demigoddess left, still upset. I hope I see her again to have the chance to apologize and set straight that misunderstanding.

    After that, a Half-dragon showed up, confirming that there was indeed a red dragon on the loose, and that the huge one Leanna showed us was a Silver one, father of the one before us. After we asked her a few questions and gave her a few offerings, she departed to the skies once more. Shortly after, however, lightning started to fall all around us, prompting Elaine to set down some offerings, seemingly to appease Talos, which worked.

    Then, a dark cloud showed up above the woods, along with thick mist that made it look like the night had fallen earlier. We heard something roaring a few times and then the cloud was gone, as quick as it came, heading full speed toward the giantspire and beyond...

    I was afraid Bane would manifest himself too, seeing as pretty much every other God was doing it, but fortunately he didn't.

    It seems Leena has been restless these days, dreaming weird dreams that don't let her sleep well. I'm really worried about her, and it's starting to show, which I really didn't want to, as that will likely only upset her further, and that's the last thing she needs...
    Eventually I just wandered off again, as I feel my head might blow up at any moment with so many things happening at once... I need to relax.


  • These last few tendays haven't all that great… So much to think, so many things to worry about...

    Apparently I missed another goblin attack on Norwick. I was in Peltarch, at the temple at the time, praying to Mystra and Tyr for some guidance on how to deal with Mat and his debt. I was returning to Norwick when Locrian told me about it. And these weren't the usual run of the mill goblins either, but demonic ones.
    Returning to Peltarch, Eilonna told me she was relieved the elves had been freed, but at the same time a part of her died that day... She no longer felt connected to the dwarves as she used to, but she also knew little of the elven camp... I told her not to worry about it and to keep going forward, but I can undertand not being able to tell your child about their origins. I may have a way to fix that, but it's soon to talk about it at this time.

    I also missed the highly anticipated furtling trip. From what Willow told me, they managed to make the shield without harming the furtles, which is great! But still, there were a few casualties, Willow included, which is not so great... Back on the things I did see, we went on a little trip to the goblin hold to cool off some steam, after Jonni and Willow came to a bit of a disagreement on how to handle sensitive information. Eventually they sorted everything out though, so we're all good now.

    But I fear something's wrong with Leena... She seemed distant last I saw her, and apparently even Elaine hadn't seen her in quite a while, so I refrained from asking her out to let her sister do it, as I figured no one better than her could help out. But still, I got a bit worried... Even wandered off to practice, which I don't usually do on my own, but I really had to clear my head, stop worrying like Jonni said. After everyone left to take care of their own lives, I just wandered off on my own again, trying to sort everything out...

    Not to mention there's always the imminent threat of an attack from Thut and Bane... And I still ned to speak to María about joining the Forsworn...

    So many problems, so little solutions...


  • Another few tendays go by without me writing… It's hard to keep up to date sometimes...

    First things first, the elven camp is finally free! We kind of had to wreck some of the wards at Spellweaver, and pretty much any magic item laying about in the living room, but it was worth it. María saw the scattered dust that once were ward components (and a very tired Sirion) and immediately ordered for replacement components to be found, task for which I promptly volunteered for.

    Returning to Peltarch, Mathias told me something a bit disturbing... Seems he thinks himself my slave! He uses the term "indentured servant", but there's really no big difference to me. I don't know what kind of oaths he has been making, but I surely am not a slaver! I tried to tell him that, but he wouldn't listen, saying it's something he'd do anyway, and that he's supposed to serve me and whatnot. Oh well, maybe in time he'll get over it... I hope. It really leaves me a bit uncomfortable when he says he's indebted to me... While it's true he was a servant at the House, that doesn't mean I don't see him as an equal, as I always have. If he's concerned I might grab the wrong end of a sword is one thing, but I need to make him see whatever debt he thinks he has to me doesn't exist...
    It also seems he has some irrational fear of magic, which I found really odd, seeing as he spent all his life surrounded by weavers... Though I suppose if I saw three mages holding three very dangerous spells at their fingertips in the middle of the commons, I'd be a bit scared as well... If I didn't have a Dispel Magic at the ready pretty much at all times...

    Anyway, other than the few patrols and hunting trips, it doesn't seem to be anything else happening for now, which is good, as I could use the rest... Even had the time for some breakfast with Leena... Which turned into pretty much an entire day talking about all sorts of things. I'm beginning to think she does like me as well, but it's still a bit hard to tell...

    Finally I just ended up reminiscing all sorts of stupid things me and Mathias did as children... Boy were we foolish... So much have we changed, and yet so little... It's good to have my little brother back, even if he's not my blood, he's my brother still.


  • Seems I haven't got rid of Thut after all… I was looking for plants with Willow, Llyran, Elaine, Emellia and Yana, and he made Dawn attack me! She managed to defeat him again, but he then said I'd never be safe... I need to get rid of him. Permanently.
    Dawn has grown from that however, and even accepted to speak to Leena... Until they started fighting... It seems Leena wanted to test her will to see if Dawn'd come to me for guidance instead of being taunted to attack, and apparently she failed, but at least she learned... I think.

    Also, Mathias lives! I thought he had perished on the attack on waterdeep, but he managed to escape and made his own path to Narfell, and is now a squire under Sir Elyl, a knight who helped the elves in the Halls of Hunger. Seems as if my former life is returning, bit by bit.
    But while I'm happy about that part coming back, I'm not so keen on the other one... A senator showed up in the commons the other day, and asked to speak with me. He asked me what I thought of Peltarch and I replied that it was quite the peaceful town, if we didn't consider the constant threats that awaited outside. He then asked me for support in his own nomination for magistracy, seeing as having an Ashald backing up a candidate would increase his chances of winning. However, after asking him if i was indeed related to the Ashalds from Narfell, he told me it didn't matter, that all he wanted was the name. Hearing that, I simply replied that I wouldn't use a mere coincidence like that, and he left. Apparently the candidate was Sir Rath, though I feel the good senator omitted the reason why i declined my support, as I'm sure he wouldn't approve of such a misuse of his name himself. I simply dismissed my choice with the fact that I'm a Norwickian, seeing as I do believe Sir Rath would make a good magistrate, but supporting him publicly based on a false claim is not the way to do things. I'll still say he'd make a great magistrate to anyone who asks, but I'm not making any claims until I'm certain I can make them lawfully. It seems I did the right thing too, because that damn scar faded a bit more almost immediately.
    Shortly after, we went to deliver the artifact from the Halls of Hunger, so that Slan the Lascivious, a powerful fiend living in Oscura, may be finally defeated. We were attacked by several demons on our way back, but we managed to defeat them all and return safely to Peltarch, though they might show up again at any moment...

    I'm also becoming better at woodcarving... I managed to make a few unusable staves, and a couple shields, but there's still a lot of work to do. Practice makes perfect.


  • A few tendays ago I face my toughest challenge yet. I didn't write it at the time because I was shaking so much I couldn't even think straight, let alone write.

    A group of adventures went to the Halls of Hunger, some sort of pocket-plane filled with undead, with an entrance below the morgue in Peltarch. The trip went off with a grim start as I was knocked out a few feet past the door. Luckily Leena and Jonni brought me back from the brink of death and I was able to carry on… Kessmiah, however was not so lucky... She fell to the first wave of undead just before we defeated it. We proceeded forward, and did not stop facing wave after wave after wave of undead, wights, wraiths, giant undead... All of them fell to the might of the warriors who signed for this endeavor. In the end, we retrieved what we were searching for and returned to the Prime Material, but not before Jonni was himself knocked out, to be brought back just in time as well. I never seen such a display of bravery and organization, apart from military forces, which we were not. returning home, we were surprised by a small army of succubi, that caused Troff to fall, but we managed to defeat them as well, battered and depleted as we were...

    I still don't know how Leena feels about me, she says she feels closer to me than almost anyone else, and yet... I don't know...

    Anyway, on happier news, I finally got rid of Thut! I'm still not sure if he'll return or not, but for now, Dawn's with me. She said Mystra sent her to block Thut out, but he might show up through other means... She's a panther and she's got energy like I've never seen, and got in a little misunderstanding with Elaine over Jonni already, but I think everything's alright now. In fact, I think I'll ask Leena to have a little druid talk with her, to see if she can be calmed down a bit. Whatever happens though, if Thut shows up again, he's a dead pup. I'm also growing stronger in my magical abilities, as I learned three new spells: Magic Circle, Ghostly Visage, and Endure Elements. Also Sir Jason offered me squiredom in the Forsworn... I will need to speak to María to make sure this wont interfere with my duties as a Spellweaver, but more than that... I don't know if I want to walk the path to nobility once more... I don't think I'd fit in that world anymore... On the other hand, old habits do die hard... That part of me still lingers and wants me to accept... I need to think.


  • these last couple of tendays have been rather uneventful, apart from the usual outings to keep all sorts of nasty creatures at bay, including a rather intense experience as i ventured the underdark on my own to meet with my friends (i figured they have cleared everything out, but still it was a bit frightening… Kuo Toa can see through invisibilty, so there's no way to hide in case push comes to shove). They were hunting Umberhulks with Eragor, but a bunch of people showing up on such a dangerous place for that long on a GPS is never a good sign...

    Anyway, besides that, nothing interesting's been happening lately, so I decided today would be the day I'd pick up on crafting. I started with woodworking, since most of the weapons I use are made of it. Perhaps when I learn how to enchant stuff I can have something made by me from start to finish? That would be great.

    The one bad thing about the last few tendays, is that I haven't seen Leena even once... Elaine says she must be on the woods someplace, doing some druid stuff, and that she could be out there for months, or years even... I'm a bit worried about her, but I know she can take care of herself...

    Speaking of Elaine, I think she's starting to see me less as a threat to her sister, though she's still not letting her guard down, which is a good thing. I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to Leena because of me, so it's good to knowing that Elaine is there, just in case. In her own words: "I know you won't hurrt Leena, because if you do..."

    And that's about it... I bought a sling from Lomir, helped the recently arrived Len train against kobolds in the swamps, and all around been trying to do as much good as i can to get this taint from me... Although a showdown with Thut will be inevitable to make that final push... But I'll worry about that when the time comes, and not a moment sooner. Oh, I also helped the dwarves on a mining trip to the cold caves... Almost freezed to death a couple times, but we all were ae to get out in one piece, despite the hordes of ogres that kept coming at us... While encumbered with tons of ore. I keep thinking I'm always pretty much useless in these outings, as I can't really fight or scout, and there's always a mage more powerful than me to buff people up, but this time I actually made myself useful by making everyone invisible so we could go through the gnolls without having to fight them with all that ore, at least until we got to the pass, where their numbers were more manageable. It was a most successful trip aven got a new amulet to protect me from cold, if I ever find myself going to that place again...

    Heading off to the Mermaid tonight, had to haul a bunch of deadwood logs (which i completely ruined without being able to make even a single bolt) to the crafting hall in Peltarch and I'm too tired to go back to Norwick.


  • People care too much for what doesn't matter, and too little for what does…

    Today i traveled to Hoarsgate with Sir Rath, to request Lord Ashald some tomes on the Ashald family history, to see if we are indeed related. On the boat, this guard kept insulting Sir Rath, calling him a bastard (I don't care if he is one, calling him what he is is one thing, mocking him for what he is is an entirely different matter) and his mother a whore. I kind of let it go when it was about Sir Rath, but when his mother came into the subject, I got really close of sending that guard packing with one of my Magic Missiles. In fact, the only reason I didn't, is because Sir Rath asked me to stand down (even though I'm not sure he knew what i was planning - he just saw me arguing with the guard).
    Beyond that, the journey was pretty much uneventful, as was the entire conversation with Lord Ashald (or his secretary, she was the one who did most of the actual talking). She told us she'd send the tomes to the Temple of the Triad in peltarch and then we'd sort out this mystery once and for all.

    On our way back, Sir Rath asked me if I was aware of my taint. I told him I was, but that i only figured it out after we went to Damara, where he had vouched for my good character, and that I wouldn't jeopardize his reputation if i had found out sooner. He then asked me if i had considered Siamorphe as a Deity to atone by, but I replied i was already working with Shesarai for Mystra's favor.

    After that, we discussed on the nature of nobility, as I expressed my disgust toward that guard's attitude. Sir Rath seemed to be accomodated to the fact that he is a bastard, and that he is supposed to be called out on it by everyone. I told him that family is more than just blood, and that if his father called him son, he was is son, and everyone else could just shut up and be done with it. People are people, not mistakes to be made. If blood was really all that mattered, I would be in Peltarch with all those fancy suits and whatnot, and I'd feel good about it. Instead, where I truly feel good is in Norwick, because that's where i chose to be, and where the best people I know live. They don't care if I'm rich or poor, tainted or not. They care about me and that I'm the best I can be, while supporting me on my decisions. That, for me, is just as important a bond as the blood that flows in my veins. People like Leena (regardless of whether she sees me like I see her or not), Elaine, Jonni, Willow, Macmonogog, Shesarai, Louis... Those people are my family now. Even if I am one of "The" Ashalds, that will never change.

    A circle was drawn around this Never forget to tell them you care.

    ((OOC Note: Yes, I really like playing with you folks, it's not just Salin talking 🙂 - Although there are several people missing there, but that goes in the Kudos Thread 😉 ))


  • I returned from my retreat today. I was thinking of sending a few letters to Louis as I perused the books he lent me, but Thut settled the choice for me better than I ever could. He told me He had chosen me, not the other way around. It was nothing I had done, I was just supposed to be their tool, their puppet. I knew there was nothing evil within me, so now I can focus more easily on getting rid of this taint. I have asked for Shesarai's guidance back to the path of Mystra. I don't know what I'll have to do, but I'll do it. Leena said the only reason Thut keeps showing up, is because I want him to. If I ignore him, he'll eventually go away and make room for a different familiar. I know Louis will think i'm rushing and making random decisions that i don't think through, but this time, I have all the evidence I need that this is not the path I'm willing to take. It would only harm me in the long run. I do not wish to live in fear, doing the bidding of an evil god. I am the master of my own fate, and there's nothing, and no one, that can force me into choosing whatever path they want me to. I have a feeling my trials are not yet over, as Thut promised to be back, but that is of no consequence. I will not give up and I will overcome everything those fiends may throw my way…


  • A lot went through my mind these past few tendays… So much so that I need to go over everything. I need to truly look at myself and see what's inside. Louis tells me we are what we are, Shesarai tells me we make our own choices. Willow says I think too much and Leena... Well, I can't stop thinking I disappointed her. Also, it seems Sir Jason saw me running for the gates the other day, as he approached me saying he could help me with my problem, if i was willing to accept the help... I may as well take it, but I really need to think this through first...

    Starting from the beginning, i met with Shesarai, and she told me Silvanius had spoken to her, so she knew what my problem was. She reassured me nothing was lost, that I was not yet doomed, and told me this story, about a man, who was an apprentice under an evil sorcerer, and, because of his evil deeds, became deformed. One day, he met a Paladin of Tyr, and fell in love with her, but she wouldn't so much as look at him if she saw his taint, so he used a magic mask to hide it away. The man started doing all sorts of good and heroic deeds to impress her, and they eventually got married. However, the evil mage that had trained him showed up a few years later and blackmailed the man, threatening he'd expose his ruse. The man, however, was not afraid, and defied the mage, saying he was ready to face the consequences of his actions. So the mage convinced a paladin to detect evil next to the man's wife, but found nothing. Angered, the mage cast dispel magic to destroy the mask, but there was no longer a mask to be destroyed. The man was truly good. After that, she sent me to the temple of Mystra, saying that there was no chance for anyone to interfere with my prayers there. It was getting late, so I headed for the Grapevine for some rest, figuring I could go there in the morning, and there i saw Leena. We talked for a while, and then I ended up telling her I had to go to the temple. She asked me why, and I told her i'd explain after i returned, and asked her to join me on the way up. Once I got to the temple, i started praying by the altar, and felt this positive energy flowing through me... Almost as if the evil was being cleansed from my soul, but still not entirely, and in a vision, She showed me a mask being placed on someone's face, then a ring on someone's finger. I assumed that'd be the mask Shesarai told me about, and asked the Goddess for a way to get it. She showed me the a normal store in a cave, and the town of Oscura. I returned to Leena and told her I had somewhere else to go, but that it'd be a bit unpleasant. She guessed right away that we were going to Oscura, but still accepted to go with me. On the boat, I told her everything. She told me this was not the way, that hiding away from the problem would not solve it, but i didn't listen. I was so focused on feeling some kind of relief that i just tried to convince myself i had to do this. I suppose the Gods were favoring her this day... She has a whole team of them on her side so, i figured that was bound to happen. But what really clicked on me were her eyes, the disappointment in them. That's when i saw that i'd rather face the wrath of all the paladins of Toril and all the planars of Celestia than risk disappointing her. So I just gave up on the search. Louis saw what i was doing though, so he tried to test me to make sure my decision was final, and suggested a retreat so that i could say beyond any doubt that it was.

    Returning from Oscura, I asked to speak with her, apologized for my behavior, thanked her for being there and explained my reasoning. She told me she was glad i chose to do this, that i could count on her for help, that i was a good ally and that she didn't want to lose me. I really don't want to lose her either. I felt a little better knowing she'd be there to help and we went back to the commons before Elaine showed up thinking I had kidnapped her sister.

    In the commons, a druid summoned her companion, which happened to be a giant spider, and Hen killed it on the spot, without warning. The Druid obviously was angered at this and cast a spell on Hen, riddling her with maggots. An awkward animosity installed in the commons, so Leena, Elaine, the Druid and me decided to head off back to Norwick.

    We did so and I ended up staying by the gates as they proceeded to the woods. Hen showed up immediately after, saying that the Druid was lucky she had company, and Raryldor immediately told her to shut up, that that was not the way elves settled things. The druid returned and the two women exchanged a few menacing glances at each other, a few unkind words, with Raryldor trying to get them both to stop talking, and then the druid going her way as Hen stayed, along with Elaine who had joined us in the meantime, and a warrior named Cecil. Before we knew it, we had gathered a small army around the gates, most of which were elves, the few exceptions being myself, Cecil, Romulus, Magistrate D'Arneau, Beorn and Elaine. Eventually we decided to continue our quest to destroy the elven gems and managed to destroy one more. After that, I headed to the Grapevine to retrieve some of my belongings, and now I'm headed for my retreat, to try and find some answers to these questions that have been haunting me.


  • I told Louis about what had happened, but he didn't seem concerned at all… I think he had been expecting it all along... But he did ask me a few important questions... Why do I want to get rid of this Aura? Why did I help repel the attacks on Norwick? Was it because I was concerned about the people, or was it because I was trying to further my arcane abilities? I answered it was because it's where the people I care about live. He asked me if I was happy with my life before finding out, I told him I was in Waterdeep, until the drow came...

    Before he left, he only asked me if I'd hide and pretend nothing happened, or if I'd embrace who I am... At least there's someone who won't judge me or flee because of this...

    I need to think.


  • Good deeds… Seem to be meaningless, when the path is already laid out for you...

    I was just returning from Peltarch, when I stumbled upon Shesarai and a hin, named Tiff (short for Tiffiny I guess). We decided to go hunting goblins, but this it was different, I wanted to end these damned attacks once and for all, I wanted to make a difference, for the good of all! So we went in, avoiding all confrontation with them, which I figured their leader found odd, as he sent an emissary to speak with us. It demanded to know why we were on their territory and I told it it was because they kept coming to ours. So to settle this once and for all, their best mage challenged me on a magic duel. If I won, they'd leave us alone; if not, all remained the same. I accepted on the condition that we'd keep it clean, no one had to die. So the mage came and started taunting me that he had slain a bugbear. I laughed and replied I had slain a dragon, and asked it to forfeit and reconsider. It didn't so there the duel began. It started with invisibilty but I countered it. It tried again, to no effect once again. Then it got bolder and started sending daze and magic missiles an ice daggers, but I countered all. After its spells were depleted, I cast fear to send it away without killing it. After that, Tiff challenged one of their warriors for a fight. I told the goblin that was out of my grasp if someone was to die, but it agreed nonetheless. After all was done, I asked the emissary what power it had. It said he couldn't make decisions, so I made the most frightening face I could, and clearly told him to leave us alone. Not just the three of us, but the whole town. The goblin agreed and off he ran, to tell his chief what had happened. We returned to Norwick, victorious and I fell good, beause I have done something meaningful for all of us. That's when everything fell apart for me The saddness and shame and sorrow can clearly be seen in his handwriting from that last sentence onwards
    I returned at the gates and there was the Magistrate D'arneau and Silvanius. Silvanius sensed something evil, so we went outside to check if there was something there. Then he told me. I was that something. ME! I AM TAINTED! I couldn't believe it, so I went to pray to Mystra, She'd tell me what to do. "She" told me to go to the Temple of Lathander, so I did. I passed by Hen and other people, but couldn't even face them, so I just had Silver run as fast as he could and went up the hill. I almost fell from him as I dismounted, but managed to keep balance and headed to the door. What horror in my face when I found a barrier keeping me out! I knew the gods wouldn't have evil taint their temples, so I ran toward the hills and HE showed up. Thut, the Hound. He told me he was a servant of Bane and that it was Bane that had been answering my prayers, not Mystra. I heard in shock as he told me the reason why he saved me from the attack on Waterdeep: He brought me to narfell to stop Louis. Thut says Louis wants to control the church of Bane. I don't believe him. I think Louis wants to sever his family's connections with the Banites, and they wanted to trick me into stopping him. I will not be Bane's tool. I will not, I will not, I WILL NOT! I must speak to Shesarai, she's a priestess of Mystra, like mother was, she might be able to help me... Willow is right in front of me, and she deserves to hear the truth, but how will she react? She'll be so mad at me... I'm sorry my friend, I didn't know...


  • Once again I find myself in the need of catching up, as I really had no time to write last tenday…

    So, I finally figured out how to quickly reload my crossbow for firing. Foolish me was looking in all the wrong places! I didn't have to modify the crossbow, I just had to find a proper quiver! I managed to build a type of quiver that can be attached to any crossbow, and it just drops the next bolt as soon as I pull back on the string. Efficiency at its best! Now the next step is training how to fire it from horseback, so I can help my friends faster if I ever need to.

    However, I begin to see what Thut meant when he told me about Louis... Seems his family has some kind of connection with the Banites, but he assured me he was not in league with them. I"m going to trust him for the time being, as he has yet to give me reason not to, but I surely don't want to be in any way rumored to be associated with Banites...

    A few days later, I went goblin hunting with another warrior, but we were ambush just as we reached tlheir haunt and were force to make an early retreat... They are up to something, I can feel it... Their numbers grow everyday, even despite the frequent patrols...

    Then it was gnoll hunting time, with Sir Rath and Sir Horst. As we made our way to their forest, Romulus grey and Mystic joined up with us, and after I saw her cast invisibility on herself, something clicked on my head and the spell just came to me, after several months of evading my grasp. I also learned how to dispel magic, something that has been popping up in my head for a while now, but that I was never able to actually do.

    Several days later, just at the end of this tenday, one of the guards in Norwick told us (myself, Eilonna, Shesarai, Raryldor and Trish) there were reports of a dragon lurking about in the Rawlins. I was kind of frightened, as I never seen a dragon before, but when I actually saw him, I had to show no fear. It was just a large green lizard, I told myself, and I started trying to appeal to its ego in an effort to send it away, but clearly it wanted either treasure or blood. Eilonna offered her shield and Shesarai a spell crystal, but it was not enough. Then Eilonna offered gold (I'm assuming it was gold, she referred to it as a "time buyer"), but it turned that down as well. So, as the former didn't work, we gave it the latter, but not in the way it was expecting. I was shaking all around, but I still managed to get a few bolts through its thick skin, as did Elessar and Sûldîn, who had joined us in the meantime. It was Eilona, however, who finally fell the beast. Upon closer inspection, she found that the dragon was gravely ill, its scales already rotting, so we decided to burn it and bury the ashes, as Eilonna muttered a prayer to her god.
    Ater that, we searched for the dragon's hoard, but found nothing, so we returned to Norwick to report in. Now I'm at the inn, resting from that whole deal. I never thought I'd ever battle a dragon, let alone defeat one... My life really changed a lot since Waterdeep...