Collecting thoughts - Chea's observations
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White Dragon, Giantspires & Coldstones.
Dear Journal,
White Dragon seems to be connected to Rasuil Delagim, a known adventurer.
While at least Rasuil claims that Dragon is not hostile, at least few of others do doubt it.
White Dragon appeared in Giantspire Mountains next to Peltarch, where Orcs & Giants live and ordered "new Spellweaver" Mage by name Maria to perform ritual on body of an orc, which perhaps was foreseen by vision of a Cerulean 3rd Star, Jonni Aelthasson.
Report i read (written by Inquisitor Damien Meynolt) says: 'The spell caused a strange blizzard like wind movement that headed South East from the location, which I theorize was headed for the Coldstones'.
Coldstone Mountains area of Jiyyd & Ormpur was covered in snow, and full of undead & other monsters, some of such usually not found there.
It seems that for an experienced and well-equipped fighting adventuring group they are not a match.
– Yours, Chea Allin, Cerulean star 1st.
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Difference between a guise and disguise.
Dear Journal,
What's the difference between meanings of words 'a guise' and 'disguise' ?
i have such intuition and unconfirmed insight that they differ subtly.
'a guise' is artistic, uncovered, uncorrupted and spiritual, and is often used in a play with words such as 'a guise of Illusion'.
'disguise' is more material, plain, distingushed, recognized, perhaps not so pure…. often used in combination with words 'under disguise of his clothes'.
Perhaps there's more of meanings and differencies, perhaps much more.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, an insightful witch.
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Necromancy on the Beach.
Dear Journal,
Cerulean reports mention something about 'necromancy on the beach' and about white dragon wandering under a guise of Illusion in our City, in Peltarch.
i think i should investigate.
– Yours, Chea Allin, Cerulean star 1st.
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Gnoll Recon.
- An invisible scout, part 1. -
Dear Journal,
i've been scouting gnolls invisibly as per Cerulean orders.
i've been able to see that they come from woods near Oscura.
i've been able to find a prominent one referred by others as 'Burka' more or less, perhaps a leader.
i've been able to steal this leader's tuft of hair for scrying more or less - was dextrous enough to do it unnoticed with my invisibility spell, and other spells.
– Yours, Chea Allin, Cerulean Star 1st.
P.S. a little later i've been able to scry upon Gnoll Leader using stolen hair, tarot deck, and a Clairaudience / Clairvoyance spell. At safety of our modest Cerulean HQ... then wrote a report.
- An invisible scout, part 2. -
- Tuft of Gnoll Hair recovered for Magical Observations. -
- Scrying in 'Cerulean & Defenders HQ'. -
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Martial Training.
- Wolves and goblins killed by Chea, with a flaming staff in melee combat. -
Dear Journal,
can i kill a wolf or other lesser opponent in melee?
yes, i can. Snarling wolf with ease, but a Ghost Wolf - not at all.
i've just completed Martial Training exercise near Misty Pond area, near Howling Woods.
Exercise proved that i can kill lesser opponents in melee, with aid of spells. like a Cerulean Knights' member should.
– Yours, Chea Allin, cerulean star 1st.
- Resting after fight at Grapevine Inn. -
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Entrances.
- Under Oscura, a Lizards' Cave near entry. -
Dear Journal,
i've gone under and near Oscura but not so deep.
to kill few of the Lizards, too rich to survive.
Oscura entrances and fascinates me again.
many died in these caves before, mostly to their priestesses and mages.
they go deep into the Underdark, full of monsters and dangers.
i passed this time, alone can't go far without dying.
– Yours, Chea Allin, a witch.
P.S. later i've sold heavy junk that i found on lizard bodies. spell energy lasted only for three of these. i've kept moderate curative potion i've found as well. then meditated at Coppers to regain spells.
- Oscura's Entrance. -
- The Raven Rift's Entrance - further into Oscura, Forgotten City. -
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Jiyyd.
Dear Journal,
Jiyyd is a place that was once a farming town to northeast of Norwick, not very far from it.
After N'Jast War it is reduced to the haunted ruins.
Wolves, Undead, Scavenger Bandits, and other similar folk, undead and animals.
Since months, after a pack of blink dogs appeared there, there was nothing special in this unwelcoming but usually not the most deadly part of the Narfell.
Recently, 'the weather near Ormpur seems to be getting colder, even though summer is approaching. Snowing is not uncommon, though it should not happen during summer', they say.
Ormpur lies past Jiyyd.
Ormpur is undead infested ruins located in the very dangerous Ormpur Woods, full of dire animals, perhaps undead or ill.
Ormpur is another important site on the 'Map of Old Narfell'. Dangers and rarely magical treasures, that usually bring only a trouble.
– Yours, Chea Allin, loremonger and scribe.
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Aftershocks.
Dear Journal,
i've heard this at Inn:
'Several small tremors have hit Narfell, Norwick all the way to Peltarch have felt the shaking from the quakes. Although no major damage was reported, several engineers are getting some extra coins the past few days to make sure houses and businesses are structurally sound.
Rumors begin that the dwarves have delved too deep and everyone will soon collapse into the ground and grow a beard, some say the quake was caused by Leanna, that scatter brained daughter of Mystra, others say the ancient Narfell Empire is arising from the earth and soon demons will flood the land and enslave everyone while the whips of their demonbinder overlords muahahaha behind them..
Others say it was just an earthquake.. but who knows?'
–-
What worries me most is that ugly and cruel side of my former teacher's morality seems to show that way.
Attentus used to talk with demon to protect his first more or less true love, Ruri Hasegawa. He was also quite overlordish and tyrant when it came to ruling the Spellweaver Keep at times of his misery and glory.
if not appearance of Wethrillina Aeliath he'd never change i think and it would be even worse.
after that he changed and died at some point as a good person, and some people seemed to miss him suddenly.
magic fails too often, when it's needed most - he used to say.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, former student of a demonbinder overlord of the Spellweaver Keep in new Narfell.
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Properly.
Dear Journal,
What is 'proper'?
Anything can be proper in my opinion, but if it is too stiff, it is not.
i don't mind formal evenings and such occasions as long as there's a good style - even if they are properly improper. As long as people won't harm others.
Informal occassions are often also quite enjoyably proper - if the good style is preserved somehow.
Picnicks are not proper in my opinion in most cases, i should mention.
– Yours, Chea Allin, properly improper party admirer.
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Hazy Memory of a Sacrifice.
Dear Journal,
My tormented past is hidden from people.
i'll report to you something though, of how i was destined for Selune for an extended time of service.
i do not remember everything but when i was fairly young and vulnerable, we were thrown into strange realm with other Narfellian adventurers.
One perhaps a Paladin plotted to take advantage of us, while we were trapped in a dark cave of unknown evil. it was cold, we had no means of escape and spiders started to crawl from the dark pits to devour us…
A being from outer realms of evil origin appeared trying to make us slaves, entrap us and abuse... Perhaps a Paladin started to make bargain we didn't ask for... ignoring our means.
I didn't wish us to remain trapped in that hell forever as servants of this devil or demon perhaps.
despite my doubts and vulnerable emotions after mental tortures of Loviatar Arcanists, i prayed to Selune, sacrificing myself with a dagger to her so they are set free - in a call for aid.
Selune's Powers manifested, i wandered for a while in Lands of Fugue's Mists, to be called back to Narfell and i felt obliged to pay debt to Selune.
When i told this more or less to Val Kyrie, powerful Bard and Paladin, she did handcraft for me a holy amulet and symbol to Selune and Mystra.
'Holy Symbol of Selune
Handcrafted by Master Songstress, Val Kyrie, this holy symbol is made of platinum and set with a Moonstone on the front and a Spellcrystal on the back.
The amulet itself is circular with the Moonstone cut into the shape of a gibbous moon. The moon is surrounded by seven small stars, a symbol shared by both Selune and Mystra. When the moonlight catches them, they reflect the silvery light of the Moonmaiden in a dazzling show of wonder that allows the wearer to channel her holy grace.
The Spellcrystal on the rear glows slightly with a reddish tinge whenever the wearer turns it to the front and accesses the weave, showing the bond it has to Mystra.
Due to quality of it's construction, this amulet can be enchanted and still act as a Holy Symbol.
Base Item: Amulet
Weight: 0.5Special Properties:
Material: Platinum
Quality: Masterwork'-- Yours, Chea Allin, follower of Enlightened Energies and various other mental and spiritual disciplines.
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Wizardry vs Sorcery.
Dear Journal,
Wizards often consider themselves superior in magics to other practicioneers such as Sorcerers.
Is this true?
Perhaps in some ways.
While wizards are arcane scientists that focus on external laws of the universe to change reality, i see sorcerers as the spontaneous casters, wielders of the arcane energies in a creative ways.
They are always prepared, and their metamagic lets them be more versatile.
Wizards are known to be scholars, but sorcerers can also learn arcane theories - their own way, for books are not only source of experience, knowledge and lore.
A sorcerer, being an artist instead of an arcane scientist that the wizard is, does not have to be so well 'defined'.
Art does not need to be defined, nor beauty has to be.
'don't define it'll be fine'.
– Yours, Chea Allin, Sorceress and a Witch, a student of Attentus and others.
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Wolves of Narfell.
Dear Journal,
'Wolves of Narfell', who they are?
They are Rangers, guild that scouts southern parts of the Pass, Rawlinswood and it's surroundings mostly. But their presence can be noticed anywhere.
They are slightly different from 'Far Scouts', Peltarchian organization, part of Peltarch's Military.
They follow Ranger gods such as Fenmarel Mestarine from Elven Pantheon or other deities of any race.
They are quiet now for some reason… Perhaps no one is as patient as a Ranger in a wait or after a good, hearty meal.
People sometimes try to discredit them, with talks such as:
- 'Do not speak to this woman! She slept next to a wolf! can you Imagine?' then they add to it suggesting that wolves stink and are too feral and evil. They also mention about fleas and worst diseases that only evillest Druids of Talona are capable of.
But there are no better travellers and overall-guides as Rangers.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, ex-Ranger.
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Goblin Skeletons & Necromancers.
Dear Journal,
News again from Norwick, haunting and dire. Perhaps related to 'Goblin Corpse Carts' i mentioned earlier.
'A bruised and bleeding woman, covered in sandskin, reports goblin trouble of a gruesome necromantic flavour to the guards. She claims to have encountered a veritable army of goblin skeletons alongside horrid patch-work undead in the area west of the lake, along with goblin necromancers…'
-- Yours, Chea Allin, loremonger and scribe.
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Darker Side of Arts.
Dear Journal,
i am still young, despite my physical age which i won't disclose even to You, my dear Journal.
Modified Longevity Potion and Spiritual interrests somewhat alleviate pains, mine and of others.
i've seen my share of Darker Arts, Magickal and not, of atrocities of the past and terrible deeds but i do not let them cloud my mind.
i feel happy telling people about Nade, my Panther Familiar and dressing properly and bringing them little joys and lights in this gloomy frontier that Narfell is instead.
as long as they find it helpful, i have will to live and to carry on.
– Yours, Chea Allin, Magical Light Artist.
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Goblin Corpse Carts.
Dear Journal,
There are plenty of troubles and rumours in Narfell… I've felt i need to share just one at least this time.
'There have been several reports of Moldy Rat tribe goblins pushing cart loads of hacked goblin corpses out of the coal mines not long after a group of adventurers cleared out the entire goblin hold, leaving hundreds of corpses behind.
It is unknown where the Moldy Rat goblins are hauling the corpses, maybe they are giving the goblins from the hold a proper burial?'
Goblins dabble in necromancy to large extent i should add, and since Skara's times they use shadows in particular - but they do not limit themselves only to this type of undead, as my wisdom helps me where memory fails.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, loremonger and scribe.
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Mystra's Way.
Dear Journal,
i went on duty again, and took my place in Peltarch Commons as usual… a night's duty this time.
People were present in Commons.
Then a spell happened, more or less known hin mage cast a Darkness Spell.
People were quiet and i felt it's rather artistic... so i waited with judgment and arrest, as proper Cerulean Knight should.
One woman left, i should ask her later.
Usuall gossip and riff-raff, but hin mage gave a tribute to Ozi, Mystran Clergy.
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'Mystra guide You' said Ozi,
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'Yep.' he answered,
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'indeed.' i added.
he should indeed follow Mystra's Ways, neither neglecting nor abusing spellcasting or not.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, Cerulean star 1st.
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Spell Crystals.
Dear Journal,
What is a Spell Crystal?
It's a tool - for storing spells the way they can be used by nonmages.
They are extracted from remains of monsters called 'Magic Eaters' that dwell in the Underdark, very dangerous ones.
i think it's a way and form of expression to give someone appropriate spell stored in such to protect her or him that way.
Alone i can't handle magic eaters - they are very efficient at killing mages that are not prepared for such combat (most are not, including me). But i can buy such crystals if i have gold and someone does this for me.
I should mention that at the current moment, not all spells can be stored in such crystals… perhaps with arcane research this can be pushed further. The stronger spell to be stored, the better quality crystal is needed, and they come from harder fights.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, Enchanter Mage.
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Lies, Corruption and Religions.
Dear Journal,
i've noticed some patterns.
i think that Lies and Corruption are main problems of Religions and result in a Sectism and a Schism.
perhaps that's what happened to Mystra, and that's what will hold her in future.
i'll investigate.
Yours, Chea Allin, Seeker for Truth.
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Garl Glittergold's Holiday.
Dear Journal,
Trying to find the Truth, i've visited place where Garl Glittergold's Holiday was held.
Tried Kebab, Ale and Torti Fruit.
Listened to a tale about lioness and a deer.
Learned about Garl's Relations with Selune, Mystra, Savras, Cyric and Tiamat.
Deciding i won't find what i seek there, i left… turned Invisible and went on boat to Peltarch, trashing remains of food and ale on my way.
-- Yours, Chea Allin, Seeker of the Truth.