3. The Book of Dawn

The Book of Dawn


  • Chosen

    My Faith has never faltered, and Lathander knows that. Perhaps that is why I once met His Avatar, and He told me that I had been Chosen. He knows His reasons, I only know that I've always done what my heart has told me.

    When I think about it, as per my Church's standards, I am not such an ideal follower of the Morninglord. I don't preach that much, I am not very disciplined and adult-mannered in public and I am quite more tolerant than what most codes would care to explain.

    But to me, bringing Lathander's Light to the world has always come naturally. I just do what my heart tells me is right, nothing else. I do not make sacrifices that I am aware of being a sacrifice. If I may have done sacrifices, I didn't see them as such, but as something natural that anyone in my position would have done. I am just me, Rith. It is exhilarating to feel that even then, He is pleased with my actions even when I only do what I feel right, without following a book or an instruction manual.

    Today has been possibly the day where I've felt most graced by the Morninglord in the last 50 years. Since early in the morning, when ~Fadia~ knocked the Den's door to discuss some matters, I've felt His tangible presence, and I mean for real. I can always feel Lathander's presence, but today I could caress it.

    It wasn't long before ~Clandra~, my old bard friend, appeared in front of my eyes. I had been wishing to meet her, but I was told she was sadly gone. Sometimes she had been spotted appearing near the Peltarch Theater. But suddenly she was at the "Fuzzy Den", all the way down into the Rawlins? I have said many times that I do not believe in coincidences. And so I am not going to start now.

    After a nice talk, I noticed that the presence was even more tangible, when flowers and grass started to grow even inside the Den cave where we were. What is more, the place filled with a scent of spring, lovely and beautiful scent.

    Lastly, I was gifted a lioness cub. My weakness for felines is now no secret to anybody, but this came just after I had been considering to ask ~Jerrick~ or ~Lorie~ to help me befriend a feline from the Rawlins to make me company. The timing, the way it happened. My heart was shining with Joy.

    The day advanced, and I met Lorie and ~Brendel~, who decided to sit down to tell the whole story of what happened in Cormanthyr. Later joined ~Ronan~ and ~Soliel~ But just as Brendel was done, ~Thorn~ appeared nearby and began to feel weird. When I arrived to check, he had vanished into thin air, only leaving behind a hair that Tojan could find, which I used to perform a Divination. Alas, the malign forces involved were very strong, and the price I had to pay was losing temporary my sight.

    I admit I panicked for a moment. Too many memories of the time I spent slaved with the drow, and the ten years after that I spent blind. However, After a while I began to see lights and blurs, so I was hopeful that I would recover my sight. Unfortunately, the target of the Divination showed the temple of Helm in Jiyyd, and even though the trip took quite a while and I recovered some of my sight, I wasn't really in any decent condition for combat. I limited myself to Turn the demons whenever my friends called out for it. I was told that ~Chasen~ joined us at some point too, though as I explained, I wasn't in condition to see much.

    Numerous demons attacked. Demonic warriors by the scores, aided by diferent kinds of horrors, and even incubi and succubi. After navigating through all of that, we reached the Temple of Helm, where Ronan informed us that he had spotted Thorn. The bad news - a balor was in custody of him. That's it, a Greater Demon of the deepest layers of the abyss, and in front of it, our small group, that would barely qualify as a scouting party.

    There wasn't much time to start faltering however, and just as I recovered a larger portion of my sight, just enough to distinguish shapes and colours, I noticed Ronan arming himself to attack the demon, and at least, provide a distraction. I attempted to put a blade barrier in the way of the demon, but it just stepped over it, letting itself impaled and taking the pain with a grunt as it charged to us. I saw then blurs, flashes, flame and shadow flickering in my hazy view. Ronan was unloading his arsenal on the demon, that kept resisting most of his spells, and then engaged it in melee with his wards up while everyone threw everything they could at it. I felt Ronan dealing a lot of hurt, but also taking it quickly as he had to retreat.

    Seeing that I could barely see who to heal and I was out of reach anyway, I attempted to taunt the beast with some beams of Searing Light. It worked. It worked too well - Ronan managed to drag himself to safety while now the beast charged me. I couldn't see but a huge roaring and flaming blur charging me as I batted my warhammer blindly in the air.

    Then pain. Accute, raw pain. Felt the huge flame sword of the balor through my lungs, burning my entrails as it impaled me. Felt the emptiness and cold embrace of death as the demon pulled it out, leaving but a hole of the size of a fist in my chest. I fell to my knees, extended my arms and looked up at the demon. - "The Light will… find you..." were my last words as the beast raised its sword again to behead me just as as insult, for it knew I was already dead anyway.

    A distraction came from its back before it delivered that final blow - more spells hit it as Ronan had received some healing and began to unload the rest of his arsenal, which drew the beast's attention immediately. I fell, and noticed my soul being pulled away from my broken body. My heart stopped beating. My lungs, collapsed with my own blood, stopped breathing.

    My world ended, became blackness, empty, and still. Then, I saw a Light, too bright to determine its shape, but too warm and welcoming to stop looking at it as I heard the soothing, alluring masculine voice. - "Rith. Your courage is stunning. Your cause is just. Your life is precious. I shall not see you fall, my Chosen. Not today." - And as those words were spoken I felt how a gentle ethereal hand picked me up and tenderly put me back into my body. When I opened my eyes I saw everyone around me, shocked, wondering how the fatal wound in my chest a few moments ago was just... gone. My health condition was just pristine, except for my sight, that was still blurry.

    A few yards away, the balor laid immobile, its soul banished from our plane as the last battery of spells from Ronan had managed to finally take it down. Thorn was also happily alive and well so with a bit of help from Fadia and Lorie, I stood back up, and we all walked back to safety. The day was fully graced when from the cache of magical items that the balor was keeping, I was allowed to keep a pair of Tormite blessed gauntlets that seem to fit perfectly my needs for future dealings with powerful creatures of evil.

    I have no words. I am honestly overwhelmed and speechless. In my last entry I wished for You, my lord, to protect those that I love. You showed me that you would with your signals at the Den, but then You directly graced me with Your gentle rebirthing touch.

    And since I have no words to describe how I feel, I will just keep doing what I've done so far, that has earned me such great honours and favours. I will keep following my heart, loving my people, and aiding those in need until the day that I may gather with You, my Lord, in the Blessed Fields of Elysium.


  • Family affairs

    When one talks about family, she refers to a group of people that having blood ties, live under the same sentiment of Love. The definition implies that sometimes this Love is irrational, just based on pure trust, or on a magical unseen, intangible force, that can't be explained with other words than "because it is my family". It is that irrational, unexplainable Love the engine of a family, that keeps it together, and together they overcome any hurdles along the way.

    But what when there are no blood ties? What when a "family" is an even higher concept of irrational, unexplained Love towards people that you just "feel" you belong with. How do I explain this need I have to love and be loved by those that one day opened their heart to me, and earned mine so deeply and inconditionally?

    Yes, I have no doubts. It -is- a family. My family. Source of the strongest emotions I feel. Family is what makes me feel alive, what makes me have faith, what makes me trust beyond what can be seen or proven. It is also what breaks me, what makes me feel vulnerable and sometimes, helpless.

    Vulnerable because I do not fear anything in this life for myself, but I fear for my family. I can take a million lashes and endure them stoically, but watching my family take even a single lash would break me. Helpless because I understand that the members of my family sometimes take decissions that they feel right, and I must support them, but leave me in a position where I can not help beyond doing that, supporting.

    These are the feelings that come to me today. For one, because ~Jerrick~ has decided to part to Cormanthyr and try to help Feather with her problem. While the details are vague, appears that he has to kill some man, apparently Feather's father, to stop him from killing everyone close to his ex-fiancee, including herself. I understand his decission, his sense of honour and loyalty to a woman he once promised the world. I respect it too. Doesn't mean I am not afraid of what could happen. Of all the things that could happen. He should be back soon, Lathander willing. He went with my blessing and with my sincerest Love.

    And then, there is ~Lorie~. Her problems touch me directly, not only because she has become so dear to me, but also because we formed a bond and her suffering causes me suffering. She reminds me very much of the only blood sister I had, Careena, who met a tragic end after being possessed by the spirit of en evil sorceress. The fact that there is a possibility for Lorie to go through the same and that I don't know very well what can I do to help her other than by being close to her to soothe her, is consuming my thoughts. She reminds me every time to a fraction of an old poem I wrote, "Walking Through Life":

    @15ab339a2b:

    With no falter and no fears
    I paint colours in the sky
    and my crying doesn't hurt me
    so long you don't cry.

    And that is her. I have promised. Everything will be alright. I want to think so. I know so. But the feeling that I can't change much in the life of who matters so much to me, the uncertainty is hardly bearable. To make it even worse, I learned recently that she's had nightmares that involved me being lost to her. I can't become a source of pain to her, I refuse.

    I lay next to her now, as I write this. Her face seems so calm, so filled with peace right now. Meanwhile, I pray for her, as I can't catch my sleep while she's just here, for fear of having her suffer one of her nightmares, that she might, or might not awake from.

    Please Lathander, I beg You. Protect my familiy. Yes, we share no blood ties. Yes, one is a lycanthrope and the other is a lone wolf. But I Love them with my very soul. What else than Love is to be weighed when considering a person part of your family? Grant them Your blessing, for if they suffer, it will tear me appart.


  • ::Untittled entry::

    What a day. Where to start.

    I think I'll start with the global problems, and leave the more personal ones for the end.

    All started with a friendly reunion with ~Fadia~, ~Ronan~ and ~Vash't~ where we decided we'd go out and smite some evil. I fetched ~Jerick~ to join us, as we had agreed previously we'd go together somewhere.

    After some pondering, we decided to go to the ogre lands, near Peltarch. We weren't very far in when we found ogre zombies fighting the hill giants. We didn't have much wondering to do, as Quintin revealed himself pretty early. His intentions? We didn't know at that moment, but as we progressed through the a cave, we found that Lillia, the vampiress, was hiding inside. Not before navigating through ogre-infested tunnels however, which were also mined with strong fire traps.

    When we reached Lillia she began to babble, but knowing what she is, we charged. I spent quite a few of my blessed Lathanderite arrows, just to find out that she was immune to sunlight and all kinds of magical light thanks to a Lathanderite amulet that she had stolen and was wearing. I couldn't be more infuriated at this point, specially when afte the clash, the vampiress fled and we were too worn out to afford following her. Personally, her fire aura was burning me to little pieces, and I was about to collapse. I saw then Quintin coming in, and I don't remember much because it was blurry and I had trouble to even keep my eyelids up. I was told later that Rhayla had sent Quintin on the tracks of Lillia precisely to get this Lathanderite amulet from her.

    I didn't find much logic on the plan of siding with a "lesser evil", if that was really the case, but later on, back to safety, I had the chance to talk with this Rhayla. She updated me on the information about Quintin, and a vampire coven from Waterdeep that had been nigh exterminated, but the three elder vampires managed to escape and were shipped to Peltarch. She told me that two of them have been smuggled out, and one of them , Lindérc, might be lurking in Norwick's crypts.

    This came as grave news to me. Firstly, the presence of vampire elders worried me, and it is my sacred duty to see them destroyed. Also, the fact that this other player, Lillia, had a Lathanderite artifact disturbs me overly. I must try my best to recover it.

    I decided to put a group together to search the Norwick crypts immediately allowing anyone that volunteered to join, but after clearing it whole from undead, we could find nothing. I will return another time. Hopefully, with a less numerous group that can listen to orders, and can quit wanting to leave the place promptly after they spot any tangible danger.

    That was it for my duties as Dawnbringer. As for my duties as friend, and as sister - it appears that something ~Brendel~ told to Jerrick after the expedition annoyed him like I had never seen before. It appears that this Brendel is courting Jerrick's ex-lover, Feather, and what is more, he seems to have contact with her at current.

    This made Jerrick feel completely outraged and betrayed before scampering off desolated and angry. Very angry. This time I wasn't going to let him go to drown his sorrows on his own, and after grabbing ~Lorie~, managed to catch up with him. I think I understand why Feather would have contacted Brendel instead of Jerrick. I also know that if she had contacted Jerrick to ask for help, he would have been in a very dire situation in which he'd have to choose to help his old fiancee, or take care of his current one. I tried to explain him that whatever Feather did, for whatever reason she did it, he'd need to understand it, and rely on those that are here, now, to care for him. I saw him break in a moment, when I spurred Lorie to go and offer him some consolation, while I pulled Fadia away with me to give the couple some private time.

    Only Lorie could make Jerrick feel better, plus I didn't want Jerrick feel his pride hurt because of his closest friends were watching him cry. A long while after Jerrick came back to Norwick gates and said that he felt a little bit better, and that he didn't and wasn't going to do anything stupid. That was enough for me to hear, and I kissed his cheek goodbye and sent him back to the arms of the woman that he really needs to be with - my dear sister Lorelai. I pray for Jerrick tonight, so that he may find strength to overcome this test. He knows that Lorie or me will not give up on him, ever. And probably neither of his other friends. May Lathander grant him the peace he seeks.


  • ::Untittled Entry::

    What a day. The beginning of it was quite exciting. Jerrick and I went in our particular adventurous tour. This time, the destination switched to Bugbears. Have to admit that some of them are tough, but nothing that can stop the strong duo that we make. Who would say, that a druid and a priest without that much of a martial training on our backs could break so implacably through so many strong creatures. But that we did, and cleared two full areas of those murdering berserking bugbears, including their dangerous casters and the dangerous Battle Ragers.

    We retrieved as much of their armaments as we could, which meant Jerrick had to switch to dire tiger form to carry it all. I of course climbed on top of him and got a ride. Can't let those chances go. I should probably take hm out more often and overload ourselves as excuse to getting a ride back. Oh yes, that's a plan.

    Truth be told, later on I asked Jerrick for advice about a situation that ocupies my thoughts. I think I'm a bit hypersensitive on the topic, and when I asked him for his honest advice, he was responding something in the lines of "do what you want". It is true as well that I did not let him finish. I just told him to stop saying what he was saying because he was going to hurt me. I guess it is because I asked for his opinion because I trust very much in it, not so he could tell me to do what I want, which kind of sounds like he doesn't really care.

    I left him there, without opportunity to finish or explain himself, just thinking about my own feelings, which was really selfish of me. For a few hours Jerrick and I avoided each other, but the situation was hardly bearable to me. After a gnoll attack that occured at the north gates of Norwick, I called his name, and this time it was him who didn't want to hear more, and walked off.

    I was breaking inside, because I felt I had caused this missunderstanding, and because Jerrick is too important to me, to let it all break due to such silly unimportant thing. I thought then of a way that I could ammend it and express my honest apology. And so I went to Peltarch and back as quick as I could.

    Back to Norwick I looked for ~Lorie~ to help me set up what I had in mind and tell me what she thought of it, but I couldn't find her at the Den, neither at Jerrick's, so I decided to just go ahead with it. With around 30 Forget-Me-Nots that I had bought in Peltarch, I spred the petals over the grass in front of Jerrick's home in the shape of a giant heart. In the middle, with more petals, I spelled "IM SORRY". And then I walked back to the gates, hoping he'd be willing to come along for a talk.

    When I approached, both Lorie and him came to me before I had the chance to ask. They wanted to speak with me, but I think Lorie didn't expect Jerrick's initiative, so she let him go with me, alone. We walked back to his home, and just as he saw what I had prepared for him, told him. "Sometimes I ask too much of you. It is just because I trust you, Jerrick, that your opinion matters so much to me. Why it hurt me that you said that I do what I want. Still, I was selfish to only think about myself. I am sorry, Jerrick. Please accept my apologies."

    His response was that for him the topic was sensitive too, and that of course he accepted my apologies, that we should be above such silly tantrums, because we love each other. I agreed - "Jerrick I'm in many ways your lil sis. You'll have to take care of me, and sometimes you'll have to give me a slap so I behave. It is what big brothers do." - He then hugged me and smiled.

    We gathered all the petals and flowers back to give them as present to Lorie, ~Fadia~ and ~Soliel~. Even Val got some, when she was just standing by. At that point we all got in playful mood and started playing hair tricks with water. I have to say, we all looked amazing, or so it seems by the face of the male observers in the area. Then everything broke loose. We started playing with "friendly" spells such as Charm, Daze and Hold Person, giving each other a hard time with tickles and general merriness. I think at some point we stopped ~Thorn~ from doing whatever urgency he had at hand and involved him in our silly games.

    Lorie became a panther again, so she earned some petting, scratching and hugging, but then Jerrick became a tiger and started keeping me off her, specially when I mentioned that I would kidnap her. He's so not fun! We had a great time I think. In the end I held the other four - ~Vash't~, Fadia, Soliel and Val, and walked off with a giggle while Jerrick and Lorie strode off in their animal forms to have other kinds of fun, I suspect.

    Before actually leaving, I took my bow out and watched that some sneaky goblins didn't try anything on my held friends, and once I saw them getting free and looking at each other confused, I finally left to get some sleep.

    Days like this make me feel a bit silly. Like, it's not only that my body doesn't age, and it's not only that my mind doesn't either. But somehow, every passing day I feel younger inside. I feel full of life and at the same time more sensitive and uninhibited. I do not complain, albeit my attitude can strike as improper to others at times, it is no bother to me that they do not know what is to have fun, just for the sake of it. May Lathander grant me the opportunity to keep being this joyful, so that I can bring Joy to the hearts of others.


  • Love and Emotion

    That's it, I'm quitting drinking in parties. I should know better than to let myself blind drunk and seems like Jerrick can't keep me from being a fool either. I don't blame him. I don't blame me, either, to some extent. Lately we just go from celebration to celebration, free booze and global cheeriness in the atmosphere. Only the last couple of days we've had Aramuil's party and the Harvest Festival.

    And things just happen. I just awoke in an inn room, cuddling into ~Fadia~ in one bed, and the other bed had some ropes and straps attached to it, which apparently had been cut. I immediate started looking for tattooes or wedding rings in me, because I remembered nothing from the night before. However, when I walked out I found Vash't, and he told me that nothing really happened, at least not on the regrettable side. Apparently I started being silly and passed out before anything could really happen. I seem to have been hugging and kissing everyone that I came across, but well, hugs and kisses are the least of my worries after I woke up like I did.

    On serious matters, I've been carrying out investigations in Jiyyd. I'm travelling there as often as I can, normally alone, to gather sample and run tests. Jerrick came with me last time, however. We cleared the area of demonic presence and thought we'd explore the old Silver Valley location, now infested with trolls. Those trolls can hit hard, but with the proper preparation we seemed to manage to clear one whole area of them. Managed might have been an overstatement, though, when Jerrick was felled after being flanked by them and after doing my best to distract the trolls I managed to pull him back to life in his last heartbeat. Damn that was hectic. I'm glad he didn't come to serious harm for my own sanity. Lately I seem to have all the people I care about dying around me. ~Fadia~ and ~Vash't~ being very recent cases.

    Fadia and Vash't, what do I do about them, really. Should I say that Jerrick has been trying to set me up on Vash't ever since he introduced him to me. He knows I feel a little bit lonely sometimes and I guess it's true and it's not like I'm hiding it anyway. Thing is three times I've been pitted with Vash't already, with Jerick's seal on it. First, the other night when I was drunk and Vash't refused to "take advantage of me". Second, after our Jiyyd expedition when we went to the bath house to relax a bit, and suddenly Vash't appeared there. It explained why Jerrick had given excessive care to a street dog before we entered the bath house - probably he was just using to send a message.

    Third is charm they say, and after Aramuil's party I somehow ended up talking with Vash't alone. After a couple of mutual apologies we went somewhere quieter. He gave me a really beautiful bundle of flowers - Jerrick's idea, no doubt - and… well, that was just too much for me. All I can say is that he took me in a ride through the blessed fields of Elysium. One filled with beautiful and vibrant colours.

    It was wonderful to feel embraced afterwards, like nothing else mattered because I was safe and nothing could harm me. However, the feeling was ephimeral, as we soon left to deal with other affairs. Back in the public, the usual were there, along with one girl that seems to draw attention by throwing muffins at people.

    Fadia was there too, who wanted to talk in private with me. She has me confused, somehow. I don't know exactly what goes through her mind, but she seemed jealous to see me return with Vash't and a pleased smile in our faces. I think she likes Vash't, but she also teases me often in more than one way. She likes clinging on me, which I, to be fair, do not dislike at all, but still has me at a loss as to what are her real feelings and who does she have those feelings for.

    If she feels for me, I am flattered. She is a very pretty elf, and that a simple, humble human like me attracts her in any aspect is something that raises my spirits. In the other hand, I prefer the loving embrace of a man in my bed and I've told her that. I'm afraid that if I was to sleep with an elf woman I would have to take a diferent role that I don't even know if I would enjoy. Which hurts me because I don't find fair that I reject her after she's shown nothing but love and care to me. ~Ronan~ keeps leaving puns about how Fadia and I will end in a same bed, too. I am at a loss in this situation in which I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but neither I want to be main gossip topic of Norwick.

    All in all, I'll just be myself. Whatever happens, so be it. I only fear waking up one day and not seeing the Sunlight. The rest can be solved in one or other way.

    Addendum

    Forgot to mention that I've spoke to Jerrick about Dwin's request to sit and talk with him to try to reach an agreement. Jerrick refuses flat out to it, he says Dwin has had enough chances, and has committed enough crimes. Jerrick thinks that Dwin is the cancer to root out, and he assures that the Circle has no problems at all with Norwick, only with Dwin. That if Dwin wants to redeem himself, if he really wants to prove that he cares, then he should just resign as Chancellor.

    While I wish there was a way for dialog and communication to solve this problem, I see Jerrick's point of view. Dwin perhaps has made one too many mistakes, and he does act like a tyrant in ocassion. I'll hope for the best in any case, so that whatever happens, the tension is solved without bloodshed.

    Foot Note

    I'm kidnapping ~Lorie~ one of these days if she keeps turning into a kitty and climbing on my lap just to be extremelly cute with purrs, nuzzles, yawns and whatnot. I wonder if I could ask Jerrick to help me befriend a kitty from the Rawlins to keep my company. Perhaps I will call on Shallyah's company more often, though I hate to disturb her.


  • ::Untittled Entry::

    Whoever thought the land was safe after the defeat of the Dracolich couldnt be more mistaken. Things that are in my agenda currently:

    @080ab38570:

    1. Jiyyd - Investigate the demon invasion and try to fix it.
    2. The Burning Man - Who is he? What does he want? Ultimately preserve natural balance of the forests.
    3. Skara's Cave - Investigate leads pointing the smuggling of certain substances that would turn goblins into copies of known warriors and adventurers with ill ends.
    4. Bugbears - Prevent them from moving in by cleansing and taking the Elven Camp if necessary.

    And that is only mentioning global threats and avoiding my own personal problems. Speaking of point 3, a few of us went to have a look. I admit I had no idea what to expect other than "Gauths and maybe one Beholder or two". I didn't like the sound of that, to be fair, but we had a rather balanced group with ~Aelthas~, ~Ronan~, ~Fadia~, ~Sol~ and couple others. We dealt with the first few enemies rather… easily. The beholders seemed so fragile, that hardly posed a threat.

    That is until one of them spotted Fadia and I through an open door and launched full-out ray attack. It was all really quick, about 3 seconds later I was down on my knees grasping for air to breathe, and Fadia had one of the rays right through her heart, and now laid on the ground, immobile. Suddenly, about 3 or 4 more of those beasts began to enter the room in succession and we had a few intense seconds, knowing that any second another of those lethal beams could kill any of us. All except one of the creatures were defeated with no further casualties. That last one waited in ambush by the door. After sending a huge earth elemental and a dire tiger to get it, and seeing them die within one second, we didn't know how to get past, but Ronan managed to snipe it out, almost getting killed himself in the process.

    It was then when we discovered that Aelthas had been petrified. So we had to drag back the body of Fadia and the stone block that Aelthas was, and hope to be able to recover them both. We did. We brought them both back, though I feel so terribly sorry for Fadia. She stood in the way of that ray that would have killed me. I can't help but feeling really awful, and this time with a reason.

    We took Fadia to the Druid Glen where we just all relaxed and had a talk about the current situation, and what would be the focus of our efforts. Jiyyd and Skara's cave popped up again as some immediate threats that will need investigation. Eventually ~Lorie~ joined us, but soon after we were sent into some errand to get red pepper drops for the Druids. Also, we found that Fizsqee had escaped just before his execution. All for the better, I'd say, since Sqee would probably not be very willing to keep aiding us if his son was publically executed.

    Back delivering the peppers to the druid elder, we were told that some allies had fallen to the bugbears, near the entrance to the warrens. So we went ahead to rescue them. Our assault was implacable and the bugbears offered no resistance, so we managed to bring back the fallen, that were Danika and Dirk. I am performing too many rituals of Resurrection lately, and it worries me a lot. In the Dracolich times the death rate wasn't as high, not that I remember.

    In the end, everyone has been brought back, and all seem in healthy condition, so that's what matters. I decided to retire somewhere away from the crowds for the rest of the night. First Fadia and then Lorie joined me, and we had a talk about the recommendation for me to be a Circle Protector. As much as I am honoured, Lorie is right to arise one concern. Talos is part of the cult of the circle, and at the same time is a prime enemy of my Lord Lathander. I would have to be very sure that I am not allied with Talos, or condone any of his followers' actions. Tolerating Talos as a needed piece in Nature's balance? I could put up with that, I think. But that's as far as it would stretch. I will have to seek communion with Lathander on this topic.

    As for the rest of the night, Benji came up with us, so did Sol and another girl, all wanting Lorie's attention in turn. She is quite popular, for a girl that likes to not make much noise and just pass unnoticed. I think sometimes she's too kind for her own good, and incapable of hurting anyone's feelings, but that also makes her even more lovable in my eyes. The last bit of the night we spent talking with Benji, that apparently is preparing to ask ~Talyna~ for marriage. I was being a bit silly at this point, and regret I may have offended someone, but everyone seemed fine about it. In any case, I honestly offered Benji to host his wedding if Talyna would answer on the affirmative, which I'm pretty sure she would.

    Then it was time to scatter again to catch a good night's sleep. Each one in their homes, and Lathander in everyone's.


  • Let's Have a Talk

    "Let's have a talk" is one of the first things I heard when I came by the gates of Notwick. It was the Tempusan, ~Hammerhand~, one which I consider a valious ally. He had overheard me talking about the demons in Jyyid and how I'm planning to find a way to eradicate them based in my knowledge, and he wished to discuss.

    After he fluttered around his main point for a while, I gathered he has some weird sense of honour in that because the Legion was the one causing the rifts back in the day in their efforts to destroy the N'jast, it's the Legion who must fix it by theirselves. As much as I can be sympathetic with his argumentation, I told him that no amount of ego or sense of honour is going to stand in the way to eradicating those demons for good.

    I could say that I don't trust the Legion to fix it theirselves, which is the case. I could say that a handful of men with swords and kegs won't be enough to deal with planar threats, which is the case, too. But most importantly, it is my duty and my own responsibility to deal with planar threats. Both as Dawnbringer and as high ranked member of the Phoenix. It is what I do, and what I've spent a good part of my life learning to do. In addition, those concepts of honour that Hammerhand spoke about, are really out of hand. I will not see the land risked so that a few men can feel better about theirselves. It is a ridiculous concept. They are welcome to aid, of course, and join whatever plan is made as a whole. But exclusively handling the threat, or even leading the military command on it? No, thanks. This hurts me to write down - but you've had your chance, and now Jiyyd is a wasteland of death and chaos. I adviced him to just take one step back and join whatever plan is made. Plan made by those who actually know how to deal with it, by experience, and by intensive study. It is for the best.

    Hammerhand didn't seem to understand any of my words, as he broke the conversation and walked away saying that I know not of honour. I suposse I know not of honour, because I'm more busy learning about how to save lives, than how to save my own ego.

    I was still sighning at this conversation, when I heard another "Let's have a talk". This time it was ~Aelthas~, the lycanthrope that lives in the "Fuzzy Den" with ~Lorie~ and I. Truth be told, we hadn't had the chance to know each other yet, so I thought it would be a good idea to make his real acquaintaince, and forget a bit about the previous conversation with Hammerhand.

    Aelthas wished to know a bit more of me and took me to Lorie's room, to relax under the hot springs with a few drinks, so I let myself be carried away, letting out my own self in a friendly conversation. We talked about many things, about our pasts, about our glories and about our tragedies. I think he is a good man. Perhaps a bit stubborn, and a bit punished by the events in his life, which have definitely changed him. But unless I am very mistaken, his heart is in the right place. Plus Lorie trusts him, and that's all the proof I need to trust and respect him too. In the end we started being rather friendly, so I hope it is the beginning of another good friendship. I believe he has problems to open himself to others, and I won't pry. But I'll definitely want to see deeper inside him, if he gave me that opportunity.

    It was again that we were just done with our talking, and I heard a knock on the door. Went out to open and it was Fadia, the pretty purple-haired elf. Guess what? "Let's have a talk." Of course, I agreed. What she told me filled my heart with joy. Apparently, my actions and my respect for Nature, had earned me a recommendation in the Druid Circle to become a Protector. I was delighted to hear these news, it meant a lot to me. It is always that I feel loved and respected that my heart lights up with a warm fire that calms all ills. A bit after we also shared some stories, she told me of her time with Oreth, and some of her life adventures, and I returned the gesture. In the end, we switched to more light-mooded topics, and became quite friendly with each other. I like Fadia, she is a good woman I hadn't had the chance to know before either, or at least, not properly. Today was being a really a good day, save the initial strife with Hammerhand, I seemed to be making new friends, ones to love and feel loved by.

    It was then that this Jester appeared again by the South Gates, recruiting people for his "game". I again warned once the participants. It is their own choice, but it is fair to let them know what they risk. I was adressed a few times, but I will not see myself taking part in such madness. Already had my share of Jesters. At least this time, the Jester was allowing the players to sign up - in my case, back in the day, I wasn't granted such luxury.

    Lorie walked by a while after, and after talking with a newcomer that seemed to have lost his squad in the forests, we gathered up. Apparently Lorie earned the henchman services of this elf, so we showed him around town so he could know his way around. Back at the gates, Fadia dropped but Aelthas arrived… with unfortunate consequences. It would seem that the elf by the name of ~Raryldor~ and he had some built up animosity, and before anyone could notice, they were dueling to death. It was a disgusting show, I must add. Both spent an unhealthy amount of resources only not to let the other part win. Expensive potions, scrolls, reagents... and all for a nonsense duel of "honour". Fortunately, ~Ronan~ came by and put an end to it by holding them both. Else it would have ended with one of them in the morgue.

    At least the atmosphere became quite friendly after, when Lorie, Aelthas, and Ronan started showing off shapes they could turn into. I think they were just picking on me because they know I'd love to be able to turn into a feline, and I can't. Lorie said that I would make a beautiful lioness. I could almost imagine myself as one. It would be beautiful, indeed. One of the most funny moments was when Ronan turned into a zombie, and I Turned him. It was rather funny to see him flee into town out of his mind and we followed asking the guards not to shoot him down. Finally Aelthas and Ronan had to leave, so Lorie and I took this elf henchman for a tour through the forests, to show him which areas he should frequent for his initial steps. It was a rather complete tour, as we also showed him the Druid Glen and the Silver Valley.

    It was on our way back, when the day seemed to have been a good one, that everything broke down. The Dark Enchantress appeared by the gates of Norwick, her eyes fixated on Lorie. First thing she said "Hello my kitty". I grew furious and stood in the way, while Lorie growled from behind. "Perhaps I'll have use for my kitty once again" she said. I warned her to stay clear of Lorie, and the Dark Enchantress just laughed and eventually vanished where she came.

    I could see Lorie was frightened in a way, touching her neck where she once had a collar that ruined her life. I took her immediately to the inn so she could shelter and have a rest, and most importantly, so she could feel I, her dear sister, was there, and that she wouldn't be alone ever. Lorie has suffered enough.

    She keeps suffering, as I could see as I kept watch on the room while she slept. She began to shake and sweat, mumbling things I couldn't understand. I did my best to soothe her in her sleep with Clarity and Blessing prayers. Still, she had quite a rough night, and it was harsh for me to watch her like that and not being able to do anything. Eventually she woke up with a scream, shaking, and I quickly went to hold her in my arms. Her whole body was shivering as she hugged me strongly and cried on my shoulder. I kept her tight in my embrace, so she could feel me and calm down slowly, so she could know that she'll always have someone to hold on to.

    I can say today that the Dark Enchantress is not going to hurt Lorie much longer. If I must go to Hell and back to drag her into the light and purgue her from existence, so be it. I'll go any lengths to see my sister cured from her influence. This much I swear in presence of my Lord Lathander.


  • No Love for Sunny

    The days pass and I never get used to this awesome feeling of freedom. Of knowing that for once, I own my life, and I decide in which direction I'll walk. To be fair, I'm still expecting some kind of reprisal from the Church, but I think they will accept my decission to stay here. At least I want to hope so. In any case, I know Lathander has blessed and approved it, for I feel more radiant than ever. I expect this to be but the first step towards earning total freedom of both my body and my soul.

    In other news, ~Jerrick~ wanted to check out for the so called Burning Man in the Rawlins, so he formed up a group to sweep through the most dangerous areas. We ended up in the elven camp, fighting banshees and bugbears. They come in high numbers now, and our strategy wasn't very brilliant. We all rushed in and the banshees managed to stun us with their wailings, and in the confusion the bugbears charged us painfully.

    There was a terrible fight in which I could barely see anything. I saw Jerrick and ~Eluriel~ nearly dying a couple of times. I managed to heal Jerrick, but Eluriel just… vanished. Later I found she had used an invisibility potion. As we called for retreat, I put a Blade Barrier in the path so we wouldn't be followed.

    Just to find that ~Brendel~ had been snared, and couldn't get out in time, and now he was being punished by two bugbear casters. I had to jump through the Blade Barrier and the terrain which was filled with tentacles to get him back up as he bled to death, and help him out. For a moment I thought we had lost him, and even lost myself, but thank Lathander, we both made it out.

    Who didn't make it was ~Vash't~. I admit I didn't see him fall, I just saw his body misstreated and lifeless into the ground. We finished the remaining enemies in the area once we regrouped, and pulled Vash't out of there. Back in Norwick, I performed the most powerful ritual I could to get him back, as I couldn't help but feeling guilty of his fall. It's the least I could do. He was returned without scars, but the obvious confusion and perhaps a notch or two in his soul, of which I am sure he will recover.

    On the way back out, we decided to go have a drink to raise our spirits, and ~Fadia~, ~Lorie~, Jerrick, Vash't and I went to the Inn for it. As usual, alcohol and me are dangerous partners. I asked Jerrick at first, to not let me drink more than 3 bottes of wine. But I had already drunk 5 plus something called Yachev Bomb, and he was still offering me rum while Fadia gave me something else that tasted also quite funny. Drunk as I was, Fadia and I started getting very cuddly, so I dragged Jerrick away for a moment while I was still more or less conscious of my own actions, and asked him to pull me away from the pretty elf if I somehow ended up with her in an Inn room. Jerrick said that he wouldn't, because... I don't remember well to be fair, but it sounded like "you need to get laid anyway and elves have cute ears". Dear Lord, that perverted scoundrel. I swear I love him like my own brother but he can be so cheeky. The worst of all is that I think he really meant it.

    So I crawled back with Fadia and tried to relax and not drink anything else. At some point she had to leave, which in a way relieved me because I really didn't trust myself at that point. In the other hand, Vash't saw me now alone and grew bolder, so he came to snuggle me up. Oh, that was more like it. Cuddling into a handsome male human's arms and resting my head on his chest... I can tell I've missed this so much. I kept being offered drinks, which at this point made me really lose any sense of shame.

    I think it wasn't too long before Lorie and Jerrick decided they prefered to be lying instead of just sitting, and I saw myself hanging on this man's neck... and... what can I say, I guess I was jealous so I thought maybe he could do the same for me. He was a gentleman and took me upstairs in his arms, to the room next to where Jerrick and Lorie were. He asked me if I needed something, and I said I needed a big hug.

    Before I knew what was going on I was kissing his lips and pressing my body against his. But then... he stopped? I mean... he held my shoulders and said he couldn't do that with a woman he had just met and was so drunk! What under Lathander's shine is going on? Whatever happened to free love and enjoying one's youth. I tried my best to be understanding with what he was saying, though I can't say I wasn't disappointed.

    So that's it, I wake up today in this dirty inn's room, with an incredibly annoying hangover, an horrible mood, and the most important of all, as Sparkly would say herself: No Love for Sunny.


  • ::With her mission complete, Rith's Journal stops being a war chronicle, and stops tracking days, months and events. Her writings switch even more personal and passionate - and closer to what comes straight from her heart::

    A Place to Call Home

    This entry is nothing like I expected it to be. Perhaps because of the fact that I am filled with love and joy while writing it. Perhaps because of the fact that I am not exhausted both physically and mentally.

    But most importantly, because of the fact that I am writing it from the "Fuzzy Den". From home.

    Yes, I had left, with my heart broken and a duty to fulfill, but some things happened that make me unable to take one single step more away from these beings I love so firmly.

    The trip was being a nightmare by itself. Not only I was extremelly tired because of crossing the woods alone, always vigilant and full armed incase I was attacked, but also because I was out of my mind, consumed by remorse, because of leaving those that I had promised to help, and beyond promises, because they are the people I wanted to be with. My heart wanted to return, my head told me I had to continue.

    At one point I entered a "trance" as to not think of anything. Just blanked my mind and moved ahead, like a brainless creature under command, to avoid the inner conflict with myself at every step.

    And so I reached a small forest clearing where I decided to set up camp for the night. What was my surprise, that when I set my backpack down to rest on it and cook some dinner, I heard a tiny yelp coming from the bag. After a bit, that little brat of ~Tojan~ came out whining. Can you believe? I didn't know how to react, but she had such a sorry face because she claimed I had broken one of her wings.

    At the time I started feeling even more sorry than I was, and tried to help her while she said I should return with Dark Kitty. Her words weren't easy to hear at all. "Sunny, but Dark Kitty needs you. You promised you would help her." That felt like an arrow through my heart. She said nothing but the truth. It wasn't long before the little pixie reduced me to tears. Every of her words seemed casual and innocent, but at the same time coldly calculated to pinch in my afflicted heart. I wouldn't stand it much longer, so I interrupted our conversation and told her I needed to keep going. Though she convinced me to stay and at least have a rest.

    During the night, I had again that dream. The shadowy creature was now taking ~Lorie~ away, I had lost my grip on her. And it flew away. Lorie just looked into my eyes, helpless, immobilized, with a single hand extended towards me. Her lips moved, but pronounced no words. I could read them say "sister". Then vanished in a cloud of darkness.

    I then woke up, with the first morning lights beaming down onto the forest. I looked around and everything seemed intact, but Tojan seemed gone. I stood there for a good while, praying to Lathander and trying to decide which way I should go. I read the orders I received: "Lady Rith Phoenixfeather to present yourself before the Sunrise Lord of Suzail within the approved time to take on your next task. Please understand that failure to comply may result in the deaths of many innocents, and as such we'd be sadly obligued to issue penalties." That settled my conflict, and I could do nothing but sigh and resume my march.

    A few hours later I was reaching the western limit of the Rawlins, still wishing for a sign that allowed me to turn back and return with my loved friends. And in that moment I spotted a weird tree formation. The trees atop were bent, and spelled two words. Those words were "A SIGN". I blinked my eyes. A sign? The irony took shape as I looked down and there were more tree formations forming a barricade in my path, also bent into spelling 4 more words. "COME HOME, Love US."

    That was the final bit. My own heart stinging, Tojan's eloquent and touching words, and now this. I fell on my knees, surrendered, my hands covering my face as I weeped into them. - "Why… why do you do this to me?" I begged to know. Just a few seconds later, the answer was given. ~Jerrick~ was there, behind all that setup, and stood in front of me.

    • "Because I'm not in the habit of giving up the things I love without a fight. Even if those things, are people." - The redhead scoundrel had been stalking me all the way to tend me this "ambush". He approached me, holding my cheek with one hand, as he spoke. - "Surely this can't be that bad. Reasons to stay... subtle signals that we'll make you if you try to leave... that and I have this sneaking suspicion that if I throw you over my shoulder right now and walk you back to Narfell kicking and screaming, that negates -your- responsibility for your actions, and Lathander can take it up with me himself, and ask why I took his servant back to where she's not ONLY needed, but loved." - He then gave me THAT grin. - "We can argue if you want, but I won't let you pass."

    By then, I didn't need much convincing. I was broken emotionally. I just hugged his neck, and he took the chance to undo my armor and scoop me up, like one of those princesses in the fairy tales. I looked up at the sky, and the Sun, hopeful. Jerrick then joked - "come, it's time for the world to see once again the Glorious Tiger Rider." he chuckled as he turned into his most formidable shape, the dire tiger which I admire so much. It was quite sight, the large predator submissively leaning down so that I could climb on top, while Tojan sat at his head. The little pixie's face was such as of one that knew what would happen all along. "Little, adorable brat." I thought once again.

    And Jerrick strode us back home. The speed and flexibility of Jerrick in tiger form are amazing, along with the way the forests bent to make shortcuts and paths for him. We were back home in barely a few hours, while I had spent almost 3 days walking away. My excitement grew exponentially as I began to recognize tree formations and hills in the forest. Looking forward to the moment I held Lorie again between my arms.

    And then we were there, at the "Fuzzy Den". I rushed past everything to get to her room, and there she was, sitting alone. - "Lorie! I'm back!" - Her ears twitched and perked, her eyes opened and sretched. "RITH!" - She literally leaped on me, and if not because I was darting forth myself, I'm sure my butt would have met the stone floor abruptly. The moment was magical. Hugged each other so tight, that I could feel her heart beating against mine. I then felt that was right. I felt that is what Lathander asks of us, to love and be loved. To plant seeds of hope and joy wherever we go. There I was, my Lord, feeling like everything made sense. Like I was were I was meant to be.

    After a while where Jerrick was incapable to put us appart, we finally settled down to talk about everything and nothing. At one point, Lorie, knowing my extreme weakness for felines, decided to be waaay too cute and turned into an adorable panther. She climbed on my lap to purr, nuzzle, and make me melt in general. I felt like a little kid in such blissful feeling.

    After a while relaxing and just enjoying each other's company, we heard a knock on the door. It was ~Ronan~ and ~Fadia~ which we welcomed to enter and take a seat. They wanted to talk about Sqee and his son, and whatever they're after. I must admit that by now I was really wrecked, and even though I wanted to take part in the conversation, I must have fallen asleep at some point.

    I woke up this morning in my bed, so I'm not sure if I managed to walk there by myself, or someone carried me while sleeping. Either way, it feels great to be home. I love the scent of this place. Its walls, its gentleness, its calmness. I love to be in a place where I can feel I belong. Where I can give my love, but also receive it. I followed my heart, and the hearts of those who love me. To my Lord Lathander I say - I am not retiring, I am just choosing for once in my life where I will bring Your gift. This is a land of strife, they -NEED- a Dawnbringer like a field of flowers needs Your gentle shine. May Your everlasting Light grant me wisdom to overcome the tasks ahead. And may Your unending warmth grant me Love so that I may spread it. I think this land needs plenty of it.


  • Month 5

    I don't feel like writing much today. I have hangover and a crawling feeling of inpending doom that I can't get rid of, but I'll summarize.

    Last week has been quiet for the most part, until the last few days. As usual, met ~Jerrick~, ~Lorie~ and ~Ducky~ by the South Gate, amongst others. Soon after, an inexperienced adventurer claimed that he had lost his travelling bag in the forest, so Jerrick, being such a kind soul as he is, decided to investigate. Several of us followed to help.

    After a while tracking, Lorie and I separated from the main group and spotted a large number of goblins in the island in the forest. The others were quite far by now, so we alone charged in. Lorie, as an adorable, yet fierce feline - I, with the word of Lathander, that hasn't left me yet, apparently. We took around 40 greenskins by ourselves when the others heard the battle noises and arrived just to finish off the last three or four remaining goblins. We found the traveller's belonging, so all was well.

    Later on we decided to go on a picnic and spend the day camping in the woods. It was a nice evening in general, though I think I drank one too many bottles of wine. Probably started acting silly and eventually I must have passed out cuddled with my dear sister.

    In that trance, I had a strange dream of a shadowy creature floating over a cloud of smoke wanting to take her away from me, and I pulled as hard as I could to keep her close. The creature kept pulling away, and I was losing my strength and my grip on her. I heard a stern voice telling me things… "Leave her, Dawnbringer." Another voice from another angle "You serve us, not them." Yet another as a severe face appeared in front of mine "Fullfill your duty."

    In that moment I was awoken by Lorie's gentle pokes, just to find a really old face when my eyes finally adapted to the Sunlight. It was Sqee, the goblin of times old that aided Norwick many a time. Undoubtely, Sqee has his own interests, but he didn't have a tainted soul, and I was hoping it had kept so.

    He told us a couple of things to consider. First, the goblin impersonators, are being mutated by some kind of Grog brought magically into Skara's cave by some golems, or iron sentinels. It smells like Thayan to me. Second, Sqee adviced us that while the power shifting takes place after the defeat of the Dracolich and Wendigo, we should take the chance to cleanse the old elf encampment to the south, and so prevent that the sons of Ostrogoth make a base of operations out of it as they move in.

    We heeded to his advice, but we were all too tired for discussing much further. Jerrick wasm't in the mood for arguing with ~Eluriel~ so he decided to leave, and Lorie and I followed. I walked with them up to Jerrick home's door, where they stayed, and I went to the "Fuzzy Den" myself. I am going to miss the scent of this place. Its walls, its gentleness, its calmness. I am going to miss bantering with Jerrick, and giving him a goodnight hug. Fighting alongside him, like two perfect pieces of a good-doing machine. I am going to miss so much just talking to Lorie, seeing her as a werekittie, giggling for no reason and feeling loved just by being close to her.

    I want to stay, but I'm so scared. I don't want Lathander to turn on me, if I become unable to help those in need I will lose my purpose. It is all I've known how to do. If I see a traveller entering Norwick injuried and I can not heal them... I don't even want to think about it. What good am I to stay with the people I love, if I can not protect them? If I become a liability to them. I could not watch suffering that I can't do nothing against. The idea of waking up without Lathander's loving touch terrorizes me. I will leave tomorrow, and if my heart remains in one piece, I will try to use it to spread Lathander's Love wherever I am sent. To then go through this again. Though I am convinced that I won't find as pure and lovable friends anywhere else.

    I love you, my friends. Passionately, purely and inconditionally. It has been the best months of my long life. Thank you for existing.


  • Month 4

    I went out to Norwick gates as usual rather disheartened, carrying the letter from the Church of Cormyr with me, reading it over and over. Along the way I remembered once again what my dearest friends had told me about certain Dark Enchanter, and I started hoping that if I told that to the Sunrise Lord of Cormyr himself, he would agree that I would be allowed to stay in Narfell to investigate.

    To that end, I sought ~Lorie~ as soon as she appeared by the South Gates. We had a talk about the Dark Enchantress. What she is, what has she done, how she operates and what is her ultimate goal. All of it was certainly worth investigating by a Lathanderite, specially since I learned that she is not a person, but a possessing undead spirit. She began to tell me more in-depth who Ilusif is, but was requestied elsewhere, and I told her it would be best if she went to deal with that while I ordered the information I got from her.

    I spent some good hours debating myself. At some point ~Thorn~ came to cheer me up a bit, which I appreciated a lot. He is a good man and has his heart in the right place. He is another I am going to miss if I am to leave the land.

    After a while, ~Val~ spoke about going out to the forests to hunt some undead spirits, and along came ~Ducky~ and others. I thought it would be a good distration to escape the negative trend in which I had fallen, so I did that. Had a tight fight down there, specially with the bugbear casters, which kept swarming out of the old elven camp with deadly spells and protective magics. After we dealt with one too many of them we decided to withdraw. I believe one of the less experienced members of our group fell unconscious, but we managed to leave all on our own feet.

    It still didn't manage to clear my thoughts. I felt distracted and unprepared. I guess I was resigning to the idea of saying goodbye for good to those that I've gotten to love so dearly in my time here. I then remembered, that there were a couple of things that I didn't want to leave unfinished. In fact, two of those things, I could not allow myself to leave unfinished. One, seeing ~Kara~ one last time. Two, helping Lorie to get rid of her ghosts.

    I sought ~Jerrick~ then, to see if the preparations for those could be sped up before I had to leave. After looking for a while, I knocked his home's door, and after a bit, Lorie opened it. I hoped hard that I didn't interrupt anything, but seems like they were just preparing dinner, and Jerrick was quick to invite me to share it with them. I told Jerrick the news about my letter, and asked him if it was possible to see those things done promptly. He didn't only say it was possible, but also said that he wouldn't let me go just like that.

    I didn't know how to react. Both Jerrick and Lorie sat at my sides and said they'd go to Cormyr theirselves and convince whoever they had to, so that I could stay. My heart was breaking, and at the same time pounding so strongly that I felt it bumping against my chest. I didn't know if I should be happy because I had found such loving people, or if should be sad because I was being forced to leave them. They had me crying and sobbing like a silly little girl for a good while.

    Then Jerrick gave me a new isnight, a new way to look at it: "Who are some mere men to tell you how to follow your God. What if you just follow your heart?". This made me think… I've always followed my heart, I'm far from a perfect woman in many aspects, I'm sensitive and passionate both for good and for bad. Yet Lathander chose me. What if I was doing right? What if I am serving Lathander above the Church of Lathander? Isn't that much more worthy - To serve my god, rather than the men who say to represent my god?

    At that point we were interrupted as I was needed to perform a ritual of resurrection, that turned to be unnecessary, so instead of returning to Jerrick's home, Lorie propossed to use her hot spring to relax a bit and drop some tension. All this time I kept thinking about what Jerrick said, about Lorie's tender hug saying that she would go herself to Cormyr if she needed to.

    The hot spring was definitely relaxing. It offered us a chance to get in a lighter, joking mood. We did talk briefly about Lorie, too. Jerrick explained his plans to try to free her from her nightmares and possibly, free Tindra too. I let them know once again, that I'll be there to help with anything, whatever risk it takes. Even if I feel like I don't have to say anything, because they know it. They know I'll be there, ever, for whatever.

    When the night was closing and we were all needing some rest, a mention on the Dracolich was brought up, and I decided it was fair that Lorie had her own trophy from the unnatural beast, as she also helped, in her own way. For one, giving Jerrick and me a special reason to return safe and sound. And so, I gave her the magical Avariel Wing Feather I took from the undead dragon's hoard. Lorie seemed to like it, and admitted she is preparing a gift for me too, but both Jerrick and she refused to even hint me what could it be. Afterwards, she said something like "it will fulfill one of my desires, in a way". I joked about a fake feline tail, or a potion to turn me into one for a while, but again, they did not give any further hint. I'll live with that, but I am incredibly intrigued and at the same time, excited. After that, gave them both a fond good night hug, and went to my room.

    I value what they do for me more than they could ever imagine. I was a broken toy this morning, ready to be discarded and forgotten. Now, as I write this from Lorie's old room in her Den, I feel anew, filled with Love and with Hope. I pray to Lathander tonight so that this feeling lingers. It is very beautiful.


  • Month 4

    ::This short entry seems to be written rather abruptly. There are several spots in the page that indicate single tiny drops of a liquid::

    This is the ever dreaded day in which after my mission has been successfull, I receive orders to go elsewhere, and deal with another threat. After I've given myself to the people, earned some of their hearts as they earned mine, put my life in their hands as they've put theirs in mine… I just have to say goodbye.

    It breaks my heart. It tears it to little pieces, that crumble and rain in front of my eyes, and no matter how hard I try, I can't weave them back together. It is I, who lives to show Love, to nurture it and to promote it, that can't linger in such precious feeling?

    I've been serving the Church of Lathander in Cormyr for around sixty years, humbly delivering myself to its cause, slaving myself to their own vision of "The Greater Good" and I can't help but feeling like a heart-stripped pawn. I am proud of what I do, of what I've learned. But this has to be wrong. Lathander wishes His followers to spread Love because they feel it, spread Joy because they have it, bring Peace because they cherish it. Yet I am deprived of any, because I carry my home in my luggage and need to find a new one every few months.

    I suposse it's time to go out and deliver some goodbyes. I beg you, Lathander, to grant me the wisdom to understand if this is right. Give me a signal, my Lord. I suffer direly, and I need your guidance more than ever. I know how to defeat a horde of undead, and how to banish a greater devil, but I do not know how to stop my heart from stinging in my chest with every beat since I received this letter.


  • Month 4

    Aw, ~Jerrick~ is no fun. Just when we heard him coming, ~Lorie~ and I covered ourselves with the sheets and cuddled pretending to be asleep just to see his face and what dirty thoughts he'd get at the picture, but we couldn't help giggling and I guess he heard us and gave up our setup. A moment after we had this kind of adorable wolf getting between us licking us over and demanding being petted. Ah well, we'll think of something else, he will regret!

    A lot of laughs and care was a good way to start the most important day of our lives, at least in a long time. I was impressed by how the whole land came to the aid. I knew common sense would triumph and the alliance of all the free peoples of Narfell would stand stronger than ever today. Every faction help in what they could.

    About the expedition itself, I am wordless. Unlike other times where I am able to give a full review of the events, this one time I was so taken by the importance of my mission that I can barely describe.

    Things that must be known: We reached the Lost City, denied the Yuan-ti, evaded the drow, destroyed hundreds of powerful demons and undead and eventually found Scythohalngfel, the Dracolich. The Searing Light of Lathander proved to be once more the bane of the undead. But far from that alone, every ally was important piece of a puzzle that wasn't completed until we followed up to the Avatar of The Hungry One, and eventually even followed Wendigo to its plane, to destroy it forever.

    Returned victorious, with a dragon hoard and the feeling of having done something big. Even the more stern persons have opened their hearts and can see them smile more often. The perfection was somehow broken by the appearance of one Dark Enchantress, the one that Lorie told me about, apparently. I was distracted talking to ~Elena~ and couldn't notice much, however.

    After a well deserved night rest, I returned to town, and found quite a lot of people around, including those that I was really glad to see once again. "See, Lorie, I promised we'd return" I thought as I greeted her. With the Dracolich out of the picture, hopefully we can focus on finding a solution to her problem. She has a lot of friends that will do whatever it takes to see it happen.

    Though I'll have to warn her of those that pretend to care about her but just act out narrow minded prejudices. Jealousy, perhaps. Like ~Ronan~. I had a disgusting talk with him today. He managed to insult me repeatedly by hinting that my friendship with ~Jerrick~ goes too far, and along the way he described Jerrick as something I can not write in this book, but that comes to mean that he switches his eternal love like he switches his pair of shoes. I should be less honest sometimes, or choose who am I honest to, that much I am gathering. I could also gather that he has probably told Lorie all he told me about Jerrick. Really, Ronan, way to help her with whatever problems she has. Make her worry about things she shouldn't, why don't you?

    I guess that answers Jerrick's hunch. Ronan does not like him. The reasons, I will reserve to myself, not to make his same mistake of judging others based on blind prejudices. I will definitely take distance from him, as I've opened my heart and told him some intimacies that I don't easily reveal, and all I've received in return has been hinted accusations and prejudices.

    Ah well. Later in the day I had a talk with Jerrick. I let him know that whatever Ronan or anybody else thinks I trust him. I also told him I wouldn't allow him to make Lorie suffer and he explained he would never ever do that, mainly because he would die ten times over for her love. I believed him. I never stopped believing him, but this is the damage that narrow minded people like Ronan do.

    Talking about everything, he confessed finally that he's got over his "mindblock" when getting private time with Lorie. That changed my mood and got him a deserved hug. You go, boy. Show her that nothing will be in the way of your plentiful love. It is amazing sometimes to see how love comes through, no matter what. It is really a lesson to everyone.

    Back to the town, we found Lorie, and just had a friendly talk about things. It was then when I had another idea to tease Jerrick in our joyful dispute for supremacy! Lorie and I, looking so very similar to the point of being called "sisters" more than one by even strangers, decided to disguise as each other. Switched our clothes, used a couple of prayers to disguise our voices and blend our faces a little bit. Since we've been living together quite some time now, Lorie and I, we even smell pretty much the same. Suffice to say, I sleep in what has been her room for years, in the Fuzzy Den.

    So, made the preparations, clothes exchanged, we went on with the plan. Me being Tindrith, and Lorie being Rithindra. Or something. We seemed to deceive about everyone. Including Jerrick that approached me and hugged me from behind as he usually does to Tindra. I must say, I think I was very convincing. Tindra and I kept acting as each other, and had a real good laugh. There were a couple of close calls due to Jerrick being so "cuddly" in public and me failing to play that along properly. In the end, Ilusif came and we decided to get out of there and get back our real personalities. Eh… I got a kiss on the lips from Jerrick on the way out. Caught me totally off-guard. Small one, merely a peck, but I think I was blushed for some minutes. If we do this "swap" more times in future, I'll wear a helmet, I think.

    All in all, it was fun and well worth. Oh, yes, we also ran out of fireworks so we decided to take part on the Fight Night, hoping to get some as prize. It was a fun competition. Jerrick disqualified Lorie, even though we tried our best to make him lose focus. In the end the Troff, Jerrick and me, reached the finals. Jerrick won, obviously. And all we got was some coins. I guess we'll have to wait for another opportunity.

    It was getting late and we all decided to start heading to our night's rest. Jerrick decided to stay at the inn and Lorie and I went home - oh yes, I call it home now. It is where I know I am welcome, and makes me feel look forward to return after a long day. I can't ever be grateful enough.

    The sad news is, with the Dracolich destroyed, I have to fill my report to the Church of Lathander, and they will surely relocate me to another campaign against undead or demons, somewhere else. I've been delaying the report as much as I can, and looking for excuses to keep in Narfell. I am sure there are plenty of threats to deal with. The Dark Enchantress, for example. I must find Jerrick and Lorie tomorrow, and get them to tell me all they know about her, so that I can convince the Sunrise Lord at Cormyr that it is a good cause for someone like me.

    May Lathander see worth in my actions, so that I can keep being strong, and aid those in need. And may He fill my heart with love, so that I can keep sharing it unendingly with those I care for.


  • Month 3

    First thing that happened when I awoke, ~Soliel~ came running to me, saying that the gates were under attack. When I went there, ~Jerrick~, ~Albryanna~ and a few others were preparing for the defense. Others arrived later, like ~Sir Mariston~.

    Several hordes of undead and demon attacked, apparently led by some kind of necromancer. We fenced off the attacks best we could. Skelletons, zombified animals, horrors, even gargantual zombies, a Vrok and bone wyverns met their demise in turn. The attacks lasted three days and three nights, so we had to take turns in the defense lines.

    There was a cloud of flying demons constantly menacing us with their presence above our heads, and what is more, I think they had something personal on me specifically. For some reason they kept scooping down at me when they saw a chance, but then quickly retreating when they saw I was free to act.

    At some point I had to retreat for a moment to offer my dawn prayers to Lathander, and they all took a dive onto me. They don't only interrupted my prayer, but they got me out of focus and sorrounded me. Fortunately after I yeled some of the people nearby at the gate could come to aid me.

    Eventually the attacks ceased. It felt weird, however, as if we weren't really being attacked to be defeated. It felt as if we were being tested. All in all, I hope we did not disappoint anyone, including the Dracolich, for its demise will be met soon.

    It was then when Mariston gave me the news about some old alliance with celestial creatures that he would call forth to aid in the battle against the Dracolich. He also told me that he could not take part in the assault, but asked me to please be a good representative of the Order, and that his honourr was with me.

    This left me rather torn, because while I am proud of being representative of the Order, I could not guarantee that, for example, the Yuan-ti wouldn't be present in the assault, which is banned by the Order. And as such, it was painful to have Mariston's trust in me while I saw a chance I could fail him. I admit I entered a moment of depression after that, but Jerrick dragged me to his house so we could speak about it.

    I did tell him that having Mariston's trust and honour pending on me, along with the aiding celestials, I could not see myself allied with the Yuan-ti. And that if I saw any in the battlefield, I would have to react to them in no different way than I'd react to the Dracolich and its minions. Jerrick patted my shoulder reassuringly, and said that then so would he. That, at least, brought a smile back to my face. ~Lorie~ arrived then, and we switched to a more friend and relaxed chat until I decided to go back to town to give them some well deserved intimacy time together. We don't know what will be the outcome of the incoming battle, so they should use any chance they have to do what… well, what a pretty man and a pretty girl who love each other do. I know I would, if I had such opportunity. I slipped one of those Wilting Flower shop rings into Lorie's pocket as I walked out hoping they would use it well, and bid my farewell with the fondness and love I hold for them both.

    Later on, I met Benji, the gnome I had been told about. It was a good chance to see if he was as good shot with the crossbow as they told me, so I took him to the archery targets. After some tests, I saw he really is good, so I trusted him with the two blessed bolts of the Morninglord that we found recently in the Lathanderite cache. The evening came along easily as people gathered around to speak about the various current news and gossip. I learned then from one of those conversations, that apprently sometime during my absence. a goblin wearing an armor identical to mine attempted to enter Norwick pretending to be me. I was shocked, but found kind of hilarious that someone would pretend to pass as me while being half the size.

    Apparently this goblin exploded when caught and submitted, before it could be interrogated. What is more, we were just talking about it when another goblin passed by, dressed as Roland. He was also put down, and also exploded, but I wonder what is going on with that.

    Another funny moment of the evening, is when Lorie arrived with a doll of herself. It was so adorable! The real fun started when she said "Tindra Statue, Terrorize!" and the doll morphed into a werecat while doing growl and purr sounds. It had me a good while laughing helplessly.

    After a while, a shady looking hin or gnome arrived to the Norwick gates offering people a trip to glorious treasures free of charge. This sounded rather suspicious to both Lorie and me, so while most of the people gathered at the gates followed without question, she and I decided to have dinner instead. And at that, we decided to assault Jerrrick's cabinets while he was out.

    Oh yes, we had delicious dinner, and exchanged some stories and had a nice evening all in all. I don't know if she realizes how important it's to me to share some time with people I love in the moments before Hell breaks loose, but I am sure treasuring her company.

    It became late and as usual I lost track of time, so when I was heading out, I thought perhaps staying the night at Jerrick's, and then I remembered his naughty thoughts a few days ago, when I asked him if Lorie and I could pass as sisters. So I propossed Lorie to play a prank on him as revenge - a delicious, hilarious prank. We schemed together, and decided on it. I can't wait for Jerrick to get home, tomorrow in the morning.


  • Month 3

    Back to Norwick, I decided to call on the aid of the Order to recover the Lathanderite artifacts. ~Sir Mariston~ and ~Lady Yana~ did not doubt a single second to offer their inconditional aid. I felt honoured to have allies like them. It is true that their stricter vows and narrower ways to perceive good and evil cause me many a headache, but it is nothing to hold against those like them who would give their very souls for a just cause. Those who have gone through Hell and back just to undo a wrong, to sustain ideals like Justice, Good and even Friendship.

    With them in our side, I felt like nothing could go wrong. So I appointed them to meet with me at the commonsin Peltarch at Dawn next day, where we would meet ~Ronan~, ~Albryanna~, and whoever those two would bring theirselves.

    I have to mention that I was incredibly happy to see again some of my old friends that I thought lost. I had the chance to have a talk with ~Maya~ and even ~General Grag~, who almost crushed me with one of his hugs. Fortunately I had my armor on. Had a friendly talk with them both, it felt good, because it reminds me of the values of friendship that are so important to reach a life filled with joy.

    After a good bath and a proper night's rest, I went to Peltarch and punctually Sir Mariston and Yana appeared. Ronan was already waiting there, on his own, and Albryanna arrived a bit later, with two more that would join, ~Lea~ and ~Thorn~. We went to see what ship had the Senator acquired for our trip through the Icelace Lake. What can I say… it definitely wasn't a war frigate, but once all of us got on, it seemed to sustain our weight - barely. The captain was a very lively and optimist lady, I liked her - she must have been Lathanderite too.

    Halfway through the travel, we entered an area od the lake with a dense white mist, and out of nowhere, we were victim of the assault of undead - they could have been some of the crew of some boats that had crashed in the past, whose souls were never properly sent to their patrons and now haunted other travelers in their torment. We had to deal with them unarmored, for none of us wanted to risk travelling clad in full plate if we were to meet the likely scenario of having to swim.

    We defended the boat successfully from the attacks, just before getting stuck in a reef, that besides, opened a hole in the hull. Ronan was quick to summon one huge water elemental to life the boat in a giant wave and unstuck us - which in turn caused it to start sinking as water entered the hull like an unstoppable torrent. It was then when we had to start bailing water as fast as possible, just to be able to keep over sea level. Which we were failing at, until Ronan polymorphed himself into an umberhulk and jumped into the hole of the hulk, blocking the sinkhole. Luckily we were close to land, so we made it to safety, and the captain said she would work on repairing the boat while we dealt with our affairs in the island.

    In the island reigned a complete and utter darkness, that even seeming unnatural. didn't appear to be magical either. However, no source of light pierced it and as we advanced shadows began to attack us - or more particularly, attack me ignoring everyone else while hissing something like "Sun... kill!". We managed to get through them and reached the monastery. No one came to greet us, and the whole monastery seemed to be long abandoned. Some members of the expedition think to have seen small shadows skittering behind objects and into walls.

    We reached an open hall, where a humanoid woman was awaiting. She did greet us, but said we had made a terrible error coming. She said that the children would be angry. Then Sir Mariston warned me to step away from her, as she was evil. The woman insisted - The shieldren would return at night, when the lord will come to meet his lady. As cryptic as this sounded, Mariston kept rpressing me to be cautious and the talk of "at night the children will come" made us believe that they were some kind of vampires. The lady herself was wearing a symbol of Lathander, but blackened and tarnished. It is then when we decided to strike down that woman pre-emptively.

    Still convinced that we'd find vampires, we made continued advancing. To our surprise, we didn't find vampires, but everytime a few of us separated from the main body of the group, they were ambushed by what seemed to be vicious, murdering children. After we managed to strike some of them down, we found they were actually gnomes, and wore symbols of Undler, the Crawler Below. Trying to asses the threat we found a library that contained a black book of empty pages at first, but making use of True Seeing we could read the hidden scriptures. It was a kind of schedule with a timeline for a ritual event, or celebration. The final parraphs spoke of the union of the Lord and the Lady would give birth to their daughter.

    We began then to put some pieces together. The Lord - that had to be Undler. The Lady could be no other than Shar, which in turn explained why those vicious shadows seemed to have something personal against me. Now remained to find the daughter, and banish her from the holy ground of Lathander, and from the face of Toril itself. We kept being attacked by gnomes that appeared from walls and vanished again, using a system of tunnels too narrow for any human to take.

    Eventually we found a secret door behind a bookshelf, that led to a stairway to the second floor, into a thin corridor. At the end of it, we found an aberration hard to describe. It appeared to be a hulking creature, without concrete shape, made of shadows and earth. Whatever was that darkspawn, we identified as "The Daughter". The aura of evilness it spred was nauseating, and it appeared to be incredibly powerful. Fortunately, we caught it in a very early state of its conception and it wasn't yet incredibly powerful. We charged with Sir Mariston on the lead, followed by Albryanna, me and the others - it was a long and demanding battle. The creatures threw its shapeless arms back and forth, knowing us over, ignoring our armor protections as shadows theirselves burned our skins. But eventually, when we were starting to falter, the dark god spawn was defeated, and eradicated.

    While we were still making sure everyone was fine, something seemed to shine in the back of the room. Inside a small chest, there were a few projectiles wrapped in blessed cloth, wearing the symbols of the Morninglord. Upon examination, they resulted to be very powerful artifacts, the finest projectiles I have ever seen. They had incredible power against undead, and possibly against the Dracolich itself as they could unleash thepower of the Sun itself upon whatever they hit. Sir Mariston conceeded me the privilege to keep them and use them as I saw best fit, being a sacred relic of my Church, each one of them. Which I did.

    In exchange for his generosity, I allowed the group to take anything they thought they could use from the stash of goods that those followers of Shar and Undler had amassed over the years from the Lathanderites that travelled to the monastery, along with an important sum of gold, of which I saw no part willingly. My gratefulness towards them was, and still is endless. Back downstairs, I proceeded to call upon Lathander's Light to shine once again upon the monastery, and recover his grounds, once Holy. As the blackened altar was cleansed, I could feel a how below and shiek above. No doubt we had made some gods angry today. So be it.

    The trip back was easy and quiet, specially as the Sun shone again, and the Icelace was lenient to us. I took my chance to write a missive to Cormyr, along with the navigation charts and rutters for the Church of Lathander to attempt to re-utilize the monastery, if they deem it appropriate. Meanwhile I am extremelly touched by the events. Seeing the House of the Morninglord desecrated and taken by Shar and Undler pains me awfully, but being able to get rid of that corruption and recaiming the place back to its rightful owner, the Morninglord, sent some tears of joy down my cheeks.

    I thank Lathander for granting me the wisdom and strength to overcome the challenges set before us, and for granting me so powerful allies, some of which I may call friends, and all of which I know I can rely on. Tomorrow the Sun shall shine again.


  • Month 3

    I am not one to believe in Fate. I've always thought that we have a saying in all that the world is, in all that we mean. However small we are, we matter. For better or for worse.

    Likewise, I do not believe in coincidence. everything happens for a reason, or as consequence of something. Something may seem coincidential, when we do not have the means to explain it, or the will to do so.

    However, sometimes these two come in conflict. How am I to explain, not believing neither in Fate nor coincidence, that just when I was merely standing by Norwick gates with Ronan, a hin would approach us speaking of the possible location of a powerful weapon versus undead dragons, and a possible lead to an ancient cache of Lathanderite artifacts.

    My eyes obviously lighted up, pondering the truth in the hin's words. However, I had to go to see for myself, and ~Ronan~ is the adventurous type, so it wasn't hard to accept the hin's deal. As in all deals, there was a condition we had to meet - apparently some other person had gone to retrieve the weapon and had not returned, and the hin wanted something he had. The last informations the hin had led to the Ashald family crypt under Peltarch. That could have been a bit of a problem, considering you normally need permission to enter a family's crypt, but Ronan said that as Senator he had clearance, so we went with that.

    ~Albryanna~ and a dwarf whose name I keep forgetting came along to aid. Once in the crypts it took some time to actually find the Ashald family crypts. I must say, those sewer systems and crypts are in a really poor state. If that was Cormyr, some heads would start rolling before a dawn. Undead creatures crawl and creep in there, including ghoul cultists and several walking corpses that did not receive proper burial. In the end we reached our destination, an Ashald statue which had the secret to a hidden passage - to reveal it, we had to activate a mechanism located in… in its crotch. Of course, of all people, I was the one in charge to pull the statue's intimacies, opening passage to an underground section.

    The underground section was damp, and flooded. Water at our waist level crippled properly our movement. Didn't make it better the fact that the place was infected by goblin sharks. We advanced best we could, taking some jammed doors along the way. The water kept filling itself with blood, both from the sharks and our own, which in turn attracted larger and larger numbers of them. I felt an evil presence growing worryingly too, and I feared that all that blood was also indirectly serving for some dark ritual. At the last door, the sharks that came attracted by the scentof blood were already counted by dozens, so I prompted Albryanna to open the passage while I tried to somehow keep them at bay. Albryanna managed to break through the last door and we followed, hoping the sharks would stay around the bloodied waters and not follow us immediately.

    However, as we approached what seemed to be an altar in the open chamber ahead, the evil presence kept growing, almost to overwhelming levels. I am sure a paladin would have been numbed by then, due to their more accute perception of evil. There was a body and a locked chest next to the altar, which we presumed were our targets, but right now my full focus was on the altar itself. In an attempt to discern the source of its evilness, a powerful wave of infernal energy hit my mind. Infernal, and bone-chilling energy. "It's bound to Cali-" I was yelling, when an explossion brought forth a creature with the rough appearance of a penguin. "...a." I finished stunned. The presence was hard to even stand, while the Hellish Lord asked out loud "Who has summoned me - it is you, Ashald?".

    Fighting would be no better than asking for a ticket to hell with no returning guarantee, but Penganus' words opened an opportunity. I think both Ronan and me thought of it simultaneously because as I was whispering him to pretend being Ashald, he was already speaking as such. The change of words was rather... humorous, considering the circumstances. "Penganus, oh my friend, please open this chest for me!" said Ronan, while the Hellish creature began to babble about his chest opening powers. "Is that all, Ashald? Shall I charge you the usual?" - "Yes, Penganus, I must leave now to have sex with some women. And a few men." replied Ronan. To my relief, a moment after Penganus was gone, and we recovered the "weapon" together with the hin's purse. There were also some navigation charts and maps that we took along.

    Before leaving, we thought of destroying the altar - it's no good having such under Peltarch, much less so if they are capable of summining Hellish lords. I performed the most powerful of my Hallowing rituals - twice. This had the desired effect... pretty much. Penganus didn't like seeing the altar destroyed, so we had to bat a retreat. In the way out, hellish creatures tried to cut our race. The whole cave system was rumbling and shaking and now we had a whole pack of Hell Hounds standing in our way. We managed to break through, destroying some and making the rest of them flee from the word of Lathander. We escaped the tunnels that collapsed a mere few seconds after we made it out.

    After we returned to the surface we took a look at what we had. The "weapon" seemed to be some gnomish contraption. It looked to me like a "cannon" of some sort, but it seemed quite heavy. I could certainly not hold it up by myself. Perhaps someone stronger. The instructions said soemthing like "point at the undead dragon creature, press the FIRE button and get away". I won't be one using that, that's for sure, so I let Ronan find someone who can use it the day we engage the dracolich. He knows much better than me the capable men and women of the land.

    The maps and charts led to an old monastery in an island, built by an expedition of Lathanderites that decided to stay in there. That was the good news, the bad news is that we needed the rutters, which apparently had been buried with its owner, the captain of the boat that was supossed to return, but had his ship crashed. So just when we were out of the catacombs, we had to head straight back into them.

    This was a rather short trip however. We didn't take long to locate the old captain's place of rest. I hoped for all that was holy that the rutters wouldn't be buried inside the coffin itself, for it would be unholy to profanate a resting place, and I would not see it done. Then the bad news, as we entered the small tomb the corpse of the captain immediately rose and attacked us. We had no choice but putting it to eternal rest. The good news is... we didn't profanate the place ourselves, and we did get the rutters.

    The state of those catacombs is disheartening. It needs a proper cleansing and it's overdue already. Perhaps I will offer my services to the city of Peltarch in future, when we have less pressing matters on the front.

    Back out again, we had all we needed for the next trip. We decided to take a rest and a well deserved bath, make preparations, and find us some extra allies for the trip to this island. Ronan also had to make some arrangements to get us a boat and a suitable captain, and that needed time. So I headed to Norwick, after bidding farewell to the three that came along into that trip of madness. I must admit I don't meet a Hellish Lord every day, so if nothing else, this was a story to tell to my grandsons, if I'll ever have any. I thank Lathander for guarding our souls in this day. May tomorrow be another sunny day in the lives of all humankind and its allies.


  • Month 2

    Last few days have been quite a mess. In all aspects. Lathander knows I'm trying my best to see things work out, but it is proving quite challenging. I hope to, in the end, be worthy.

    It all started with a group of Damarans being found operating in the Rawlinswoods under the command of Fiona Flamerule They refused to either explain their activities or withdraw their camp, even when representatives of both Norwick and the Circle of Quercatha Terr asked them to do so. They assured they had wards to prevent our assault and they were extremelly suspicious, to the point of thinking that whatever we'd say was a deception to get them into an ambush.

    Eventually +Lady Jens+ appeared in the scene which happened to be in command of the Damaran force. She was then accused of carrying a crime against the town of Norwick after ~Lorie~ and I pointed out that she had held the Herald of Norwick hostage and used her life as a trade coin to bargain with. Lady Jens was escorted to Norwick while the rest of us tried to explain to the Damarans that they shouldn't remain in the Rawlins, considering the threats they were exposed to. They disregarded our advice however, again claiming that we were probably preparing a set up. And so we left for the trial, where I was needed as witness.

    Though needed might have been an overstatement, as Lady Jens pleaded guilty, and there was really no trial. Lady Millern sentenced Lady Jens to ten years of service to the town of Notwick, be it as combatant, or as prisoner. The sentence was surprising, but then, I'm not a law-knowing person. I trust and respect Lady Millern enough to trust her judgement.

    Up to there, things were more or less alright. But it is then when we returned to inform the Damarans that their commander's leadership had been lifted to serve Norwick under a just trial blessed by Tyr, and when we arrived, it was already too late. All we could find at first was dead bodies, some of them rotting, others nothing more than bloody messes. And from the back of the island, a grim figure showed itself.

    It had humanoid aspect, but I couldn't tell much more than that. It reeked of undead, but I couldn't run any tests. This creature explained that it had done a favour to us by wiping the encampment and that now we were in its debt. It was then when ~Jerrick~ whispered to prepare to charge. He was going to do a countdown to 0, but just as he started, the creature… vanished? I think I sensed it casting a Greater Sanctuary spell. But there it was. Another creature, person or unidentified flying object that just vanishes in front of our eyes without allowing us possible response to their crimes. searching through the camp we found Fiona Flamerule, who at least we could escort to safety.

    Jerrick was extremelly annoyed by the fact that we could have avoided those people's deaths, and that once again some obvously evil creature just vanished in front of our eyes before we could react. I tried to cheer him up back to Norwick, but either I was too clumsy with words, or his frustration was beyond helping, and it ended with him snapping at me. I'll admit, this hurt me. Not because of him, but because I grow insecure whether I am capable to inspire possitive emotions in him. I should be able to lift his spirit, so that he can act with a clear mind on what he is - a noble soul with a strong leadership. But I couldn't. I guess eventually we kind of fixed the "missunderstanding" and he calmed down a bit, moreso when Lorie returned. It almost seems to me we are going to have to keep him around her as often as possible so she can soother his spirit. I think that what matters is doing your best with your best intention. The result is often a combination of many circumstances, some of which we fon't have any control over. As much as we can feel guilty, we must try to learn from our mistakes, take whatever lesson is given to us so that the future may hold better outcomes in similar situations.

    All in all, we three went out for a walk to show me the Druid Glen, where we managed to get him out of his foul mood. I admit I had quite a well needed laugh in there. We all did.

    Until out of nowhere, some topic popped up. It appears that some questionable individuals are spreading rumours about how much time I spend with Jerrick. While I am used to dealing with wicked ways of thinking, it did strike me that anyone could hint that anything between Jerrick and I would ever happen while he keeps a relationship with Lorie. It is in their own depravation that they, whoever they are, think that everyone else would fall the the same mundane temptations they would. And the worst of all, is not only thinking that, is gossipping about it and letting it whispered in the wind. Fortunately, the deep trust we have built with each other leaves no room for speculation amongst ourselves, which is what matters. Lorie is the one who seems to give it the least importance, and I am glad for that. If those rumours would make her insecure and made her problems worse in any way, I swear I'll hunt down whoever started them and deal with them personaly.

    At some point Jerrick left to have a rest, and Lorie and I just sat to have a chat. As usual, her company is golden to me. I wonder if they will also start rumours that I cheat Jerrick with her. I swear to my Lord Lathander that there are very few things that can fill my heart with contempt, but poisonous gossip around relationships based on mutual respect is beyond my scope of tolerance.

    Lorie and I talked a bit about several things, that don't really belong in here, though one that touched my heart, is when she told me the story of how Jerrick and she came to be together. It was a really beautiful story, filled with love and respect. The kind of story that makes me, sensitive and loving as I am, melt down to tears. I only regret I didn't get to know ~Feather~, because I would have liked to give her a hug, and thank her for being how she is. This I could do for Lorie. In the end, I meekly asked Lorie if my sporadic stance in her den could become something more habitual. She accepted my request. I think she was happy that she could have a new friend coming in and out of her home. Time will sure tell if being a bit closer to her makes her grow in confidence to overcome her fears. The very least, there will be someone nearby to soothe her sleepless nights, if there should be any.

    Eventually we decided it was time to get some rest, and when I was heading out of the Glen by myself, I found a group of druids and rangers storming into it. I was going to leave, but I was invited to stay, as a friend of the Circle. Apparently, ~Dwin~ had cut an elf's hand after a kind of snide remark, and all the druids and Wolves were filled with spite at that. It all seemed to come as consequence of a massive attack of undead at Norwick's South Gates, which I must have missed while talking with Lorie. In the end Jerrick asked all his druids and wolves to not take any immediate actions against Dwin, at least not until the Dracolich would've been brought down. That he would see no division in the forces of good, for that is what our enemies seek. His words seemed to almost come from my own lips, but his face was self-explanatory. Stone, grey, and square face, grim as I had never seen before. He stormed off again after a while, and I decided not to follow, so he could have some time for himself. Instead, ~Adriell~ came next to me, and we talked a bit on the way back to Norwick. I don't know Adriell very much, but she seems another noble, lovely creature that I am sure I will have the chance to know better in future.

    We spotted Jerrick by Norwick's inner gates with ~Thorn~ and someone else, having a quiet chat. I was glad to see he allowed himself to be sorrounded by friends and hopefully lift his spirits better than I'd do. I think I am going to take a little distance from him, because I love him, and I think I'm hurting him lately. And specially because I love Lorie, and even though she seems unaffected by the twisted rumours that we were told about, I do not think I could stand if she came to suffer because of it and make her life even more difficult than it already is.

    After a few moments talking with Adriell, I thought I'd go get some rest myself, and on the way back, Jerrick was in the same place as before, so I asked him for a good night hug, and try to gauge his humour. He instead insisted in escorting me to Lorie's then. I noticed along the way that he was overly protective, or filled with contained rage. He struck down goblin and vermin alike with Lightning almost by merely pointing at them and dispatched furiously any goblins that got close. I was afraid to say anything, I don't really know why, but I felt like he wasn't in for much conversation. When we got to the den's entrance, he accepted my good night hug, but at the moment that I pressed my body against his, I could feel like he was trembling. Once again, I was too afraid to ask, so I prefered to remind him that whatever happens, his druids, his wolves, and those that aren't druids nor wolves like myself, will stand by his side. I think this time I did manage to stroke his soul a little bit. I was glad for that. I shall pray for him tonight, so that he can find the Joy he deserves.


  • Month 2

    I feel better again. I could sleep some in the end and awoke with the nice smell of the breakfast that ~Jerrick~ had prepared for ~Lorie~ and I. Delicious breakfast, I must say, nothing like the Inn's charred bread I've been having lately.

    Back to Norwick, it wasn't long before things started happening. Some fireworks were being shot in the forest. While originally some pointed at this being possibly ~Adriel's~ traps, it resulted to be a mere Bugbear party, celebrating something. Some of us scouted ahead, following the steps of Adriell and ~Dash~, but after discussing we decided to grant them armistice. Back to the gates, the celebrations soon ended and the woods went quiet again.

    Not for long, however. Apparently a human hunter came from northern lands and by the description he had spotted a party of cloaked dwarves and some bigger hulking creatures. Our suspicion led to the worst case scenario, duergar making use of umberhulks to dig out gods-know-what, or even to make some tunnels somewhere. Being duergar, one thing was sure: It couldn't be good.

    So an expedition was set to investigate. Upon reachng Mintas, we had to cut through some enraged dire beasts, and reached a fresh opening into the mountains. Once we descended, surprisingly we found that the tunnels were infested with bugbears. They attacked us on sight, and we responded with lethal force. Going deeper into the tunnels we found what we were really looking for - a duergar camp. There were around a dozen duergars, led by a priestess.

    Making use of some advanced tactics we assaulted the duergar impecably, putting a quick end to their wickedness. "Almost too easy" was the general sentiment, when looking through the fallen duergar we found that they were nothing but a scout camp. The bulk of whatever force they had brought was still somewhere, in those tunnels.

    At that point, we were starting to feel weary. It had been a long trip to Mintas, through dire beastlands, through some of the best trained and equipped bugbears, and the duergar scout cap, that was dealt with brilliantly, but not without a cost of effort and time. We decided to press forward, however. After a few more waves of bugbears, we reached our destination - there was an underground harbor in an cave opening, and a force of duergar that outnumbered us in probably a 5:1 proportion was setting guard on a black vessel loaded with smuggled goods.

    We traced a plan of attack again, consisting on using a large earth elemental and some of our best armored warriors as bait to gather the bulk of the duergar force, and then hit them with area spells. Even though the plan worked moderately and we made a powerful initial dent in their forces, we were soon overwhelmed by the duergar forces. A good number of their heavy warriors held a strong line against us while their casters and crossbolters were decimating our lane.

    It happened again. Such as when I saw the undead dragon, I lost myself. I tossed myself into the duergar lane, making a break only out of brute force and dashed towards the casters that were inflicting so much pain. It is then when I heard ~Ronan~ "Go girl!" as he imbued me with his celerity spell. There was no stopping anymore, I muttered my prayers on my charge, and when I reached the caster and crossbolter camp, there was no room left for mercy in my heart. Furiously batted my warhammer left and right, crushing duergar bones and skulls like a panther crushes twigs when rampaging after its prey. I lost control of myself, stopped seeing, stopped hearing. I just… felt. Thump, thump, thump, thump. Thump after thump, it wasn't too long before I could only see a circle of duergar bodies around me. By that time the others behind had also done a magnificient job at dealing with the overwhelming mass of melee duergar fighters. I panted, body rushed in adrenaline still, heart pounding so hard that I felt my armor constricting me.

    Then I looked back and saw the carnage of many more duergar bodies scattered all over the place. I glanced at Ronan, ~Grog~, Jerrick, ~Horlanim~ and the rest of our party who had also finished a good portion of the duergar. Specially the armored ones, that were twice as sturdy than the ones I dealt with. I felt proud to be standing next to them.

    After my moments of frenzy had passed, we began to search the boat and found that they had been trading goods with the bugbears. To our surprise, these weren't common goods. We even found a shipment of Mithral Ores, which we decided to take to put to good use. Then we proceeded to burn the vessel down. Hopefully that would be a setback for the duergar forces in the land.

    It was then when we decided to exit the tunnels from the other end to see where they were getting those supplies from. And we ended in front of a fort, that others adressed as Three Spine Fortress, if my memory does not fail me. We began to take enemy fire from the battlements of the fortress, both projectiles and spells, and so we returned fire. We heard louds bells from inside the Fort then, and we decided to retreat. We wren't too far into retreating when literally an army of the best geared and trained bugbears was after us. That force we could not hope to defeat without our own army, so we pressed everyone to run to safetty. Ronan, Jerrick and me took the rearguard to cover our allies retreat, and a force of the rushing bugbears reached us. We held our position and slowed their advance, and once we put down a few of them we withdrew ourselves. We ran across the cliffs of the area, tending to those that were being shot by th Bugbear archers in their retreat, picking them up and helping them out. Jerrick even spotted a prisoner near the cliffs, that we rescued, too. I did not understand very well why was that prisoner there, but Jerrick seemed too sure and we were too pressed by the incoming bugbear army to even care about making any questions.

    Finally we reached some tunnels that seemed familiars, filled with hobgoblins taht we just blitzed through in our retreat, to end in the Rawlinswoods. A few minutes later it was only goblins in our path to safety, which I think would have been smarter to just get out of they way. I will never understand those little reckless creatures.

    And so we reached our destination, Norwick's South Gates. The same place we had parted from. ~Lorie~ and many others were there to see us arrive bloodied and exhausted. I thank Lathander for pairing me with such formidable champions in the missions I have taken part of so far. It is them who will decide the future of this land. I feel but humbled next to them. And is for that reason that I will have them present in my prayers.

    ::The page turns here, although the new page seems to have been written as continuation of this one::

    Once at the gates, Lorie and Jerrick walked away and Ronan and I, amongst others, stood by the gates, having a relaxed chat, reviewing some sequences of the battle we had just lived. Ronan's impressive spells, Grog's bugbear-splitting swings, Jerrick's relentless assaults, and so on and so forth.

    After a while Lorie returned and Ronan, coincidentially, had to leave, so I thgouht I would bring the cat-girl somewhere quiet for an important chat regarding her problems. She was willing for such, but she wanted to stop by Norwick's Halls first to request a meeting with Dwin in regard of the Druid Circle. She asked me to come along, which was a good idea, considering I too need to meet Dwin in regard of the Divine Shield.

    To our surprise, inside the Hall there was a damaran priestess, or paladin, by the name of Amellia Jens, that I had previously seen at the South Gates issuing some orders to a few armed men with foreign armors. It turns out that she had held the Norwick ambassador captive and demanded of Lorie to reveal the location of the Black Leaved Tree as a ransom for the ambassador's life. Lorie denied the knowledge of the location of the tree, and stated that even if she knew it she wouldn't reveal it. The Damaran lady seemed to have a personal grudge on Jerrick or the Druid Circle itself, as apparently as per her words, they caused the death of her husband. I noticed that for her being a faithful of Ilmater, she was carrying her burden very badly, and pointed this out to her, while warning her that if she killed the ambassador, the tribunal of the Triad would be informed by me personally. After a few moments of banter in which she admitted that she'd gladly fall from grace to see her husband avenged, a Damaran mage that was next to her, simply touched her shoulder without saying a word, and ported them both away, liberating the ambassador.

    The ambassador herself didn't seem to know anything of what had happened, as if she had been held in trance. All the better, to be fair, it saved us some explaining. With that, Lorie headed to the offices with both meeting requests, the Circle's and the Order's, while I waited outside. It was while waiting that I got to know Tojan a little bit. She is adorable to start with, and she regards Lorie as "her pet". This made me laugh, because I have the feeling she really means it. She refers to me as "Sunny". I have to admit, I like the nickname. And trying for her to call me Rith would be futile anyway. I retaliated nicknaming her Sparkly, which she doesn't seem to mind.

    Had a curious talk with her too. She loves "Dark Kitty", but she misses "Kitty" very much, too. She still keeps some grudge on "Dark Kitty", but she has "almost forgiven". She thinks "Feather" and "Fang" are the reason for "Dark Kitty" didn't die out by herself, and so she's glad. And so am I. We were talking about how "Feather" left suddenly, leaving "Fang" and "Dark Kitty" to be together, when Lorie returned, and that was the end of our chat. Lorie took the chance to send Tojan away to deliver a message to the Circle.

    Lorie and me walked on to our private chat, which was decided to be held in her den. I have to admit, she lives in a beautiful place, even given the lack of Sunlight. The crystaline waters, the natural rock formations, the scent of something that is just natural. The biggest surprise was deep inside, in Lorie's chamber, where she has a natural hot spring. Having been all the day battling duergar and bugbears, there was no way I could resist to ask her if I could use. She smiled and said we could talk while taking a bath, so we got into our bathing suits and did so.

    I had a long talk with her. There were some things we hadn't spoken about the first day that she explained me her story, because she saw me shocked and overwhelmed by the information I had been revealed. She told me the rest of it, the deal she made with a Fae, which has her deeply troubled. Once again, I felt quite helpless not knowing how I could make it better for her, but to me it will be enough for her to know that I will be there for whatever she needs. She knows my words aren't void, and hopefully she will find strength in having found friends that would do anything for her, without asking anything in return.

    We talked a bit in depth of the possbilities she has. A problem is that she doesn't know herself what she really wants. She is still deeply burdened by guilt. She is very noble and very humble, and I guess that is what brings me so close to her. I offered her insight on some possibilities and possible outcomes, for her to consider. Perhaps she will meditate over it, and find what she really wants. Then we will do our best to see it done.

    After that, we relaxed a bit, and spoke of lighter mooded topics. We ended up having a laugh, and an enjoyable evening all-round. In the end, it was getting late and I was needing to retire for my prayers and catch up on some rest after the last few adrenaline-pumping days. She offered me her old room inside the den, which I accepted honoured, and then we gave each other a fond, sister-like hug. And it is here where I am writing all this from. This place has a peculiar smell. It has me aspiring its scent, I like the feeling of it. It is time I lay down for bit, for tomorrow will be a new day. May Lathander grant us love, so that we can keep sharing it with those we care about.


  • ::Rith's writing has returned to normal. Her traces are again long, flourish and elegant, with a noticeable femenine touch. There have been a few days missing in the diary where she had not written anything, but also probably because they were mostly uneventful days. Her general way of writing seems to have shifted less "business-like" and a bit more personal and where she would explain to the detail some of the events she was involved, now she seems to almost merely list them and give more importance to smalller details. She also stopped tracking the day in which she writes and doesn't order the events precisley in the order they happened, but more in the degree of importance she gives to them::

    Month 2

    It is alright. We talked to ~Lorie~ today, ~Jerrick~ and I. She had one of her nightmares, but she is alright, she is stronger than she thinks she is. I have been a fool to become overprotective. Possibly scared her away from me a bit too. What good am I if I am the one reminding her of her problems with my mere presence? It is not going to happen. I will wait patiently until Jerrick says it is the moment, and help him. However, I also want Lorie to know her options and decide for herself. Perhaps the possibility of bringing ~Tindra~ back and returning her her own life would put Lorie at ease, help her to leave behind remorse and sorrow. After a small talk with Jerrick last night I somehow feel like he does not want ~Tindra~ to be released. Probably he feels it would end bad at some point. Perhaps he fears losing Lorie. I do not know. It is not my place to say, and Lathander knows I want the best for the two people that are dearest to me in this moment. They will choose and I will be there, supportively. Because that is what friends do.

    It is quite ironic however, that when Lorie woke up she was burning hot and a moment after we found out the forest was ablaze. An omen? I do not know, but the Rawlinswoods problem was some fire elemental invasion. There were too many people in there, many very inexperienced, so the ones that had seen some more battles had to double our efforts to not let anyone fall. Thankfully, the druids saved the day calling forth a rainstorm while a few of us shielded them from the swarming elementals. I almost choked to death, though, as did many others. The smoke became dense and thick, unbreathable. I must have collapsed at some point and woke up minutes later next to the druidic stone, Lorie and some others. It brought me memories of days old.

    Speaking of days old, just before that I had the chance to meet ~Kara Willendt~. It is a face that ringed a bell somewhere in my first novice days in Narfell, but the memory was so blurry that I probably made a fool of myself trying to guess. Turns out she was close with ~Kanen~, the great legend of those times. She also opened herself to explain her story. It was insightful, and at some points dramatic. But what good story isn't? In turn, Jerrick and I also shared a life-changing story to be even. I felt Joyful at the mere fact of being able to spend a morning just sitting over a tea and having a chat, isolated from all worries.

    Worries that were more during the next night, when the forest grew still and our scouts found out that a small undead army was getting ready to march to Norwick. We took the pre-emptive strike approach. Charged forth, tearing rotten flesh and bone. Scores of Zombie Gargoyles, GhostWolves, Corrupted Goblins, a dozen of Bone Wyverns and evena couple of gartantual zombies fell in our way. We stopped at the tunnel entrance to the Lost City, for we were really not ready for that. The very least, the foul creatures noted that we won't fall so easily.

    *On the way back we even had to face a bone dragon. Thankfully ~Mariston~ was there, and him and Ronan made a formidable shock force, so the creature wasn't a menace for long.

    That coward excuse for a Dracolich sent some thrall afterwards to boast of how we had fled, before exploding in a bloody pulp. That creature is pathetic, and it will meet its retribution.

    Reminds me that ~Ronan~ had a special plan for the Dracolich. I brought him in for a chat, earlier in the day, and he did not want to tell me his plans. "The least people that know it, the better" - he said. I do not blame him. I know all too well how rumours spread and how anything you say can compromise a mission. I wish he trusted me, but I can not demand that from him. At least, I got the answer I was looking for. He has a good soul. Or so I think at least. He didn't tell me, but I'm getting to figure him out.

    I wonder what's up with him and that girl, ~Gina~, running some kind of competition to see who gathers first the pieces of some artifact - a sword. I must admit it is something that ocupies the least of my worries. I did advice Gina to not let herself be bullied by Ronan, as I would advice anyone to not give in to mere fear. But ultimately, it is up to them both to reach an agreement and I will not see myself involved, unless there is a good reason for it.

    ::This entry seemed to have ended here, but a few lines below there are new writings, in a fresher ink than above::

    I felt it again tonight. When in front of the undead dragon, all I felt is "Bring it on". I am not even a good close combat fighter, and I felt rushed to charge the creature furiously. I think there is something wrong with me. As much as I love the feeling and the liberation it offers me, the overwhelming explossion of colourful emotions, the fearless determination and almost feral instinct, I believe I must put a control to it, or it will be the end of me.

    My body is changing, I can not explain why. There are times when only touching my own skin makes me shiver. It is as if I had no skin, as if I was touching my very soul, gently kissing my inner emotions with a subtle stroke. Later on tonight, even Jerrick noticed I was overly tense, out of proportion. He helped me relax even though I tried to stop him. His hands have a great touch. An incredible touch. My body keeps overreacting to all stimuli, and while it is immensely pleasant, it has me immensely worried too. After the shoulder massage my muscles gave up, and I fell into the contrary, an utter and total relaxation. Jerrick spotted this and allowed me to stay and sleep downstairs, at his couch, while he walked upstairs with Lorie.

    And here I am, writing this instead of sleeping. I need to learn what is happening to me. The problem is that I am not sure if I want this feeling gone. May Lathander grant me wisdom to find the best outcome.

    //This section was originally in the journal, but it was replaced. I'll leave it in just for storytelling sake, but does not belong to the journal. This fragment of text was replaced by the parraph marked with *//

    ::At this point, the traces are sharper, more aggressive. The ink is thicker, as if the quill is being pressed harder against the page::

    I was thinking to myself "I'd like to see that Dracolich, look it in the eye" as we travelled back to Norwick, when my wish was granted. It came up to just a few hundred yards from the South Gates. I saw Jerrick shooting arrows into the fog and I followed him. Yes, there it was. Holy Light of Lathander, how have I been waiting for this moment. I said my prayers on the run as I came to the aid of Jerrick, tightened my gripon my warhammer and shield handle. "Lathander have mercy" I muttered when the creature came into sight through the thick night fog. And then it was gone. Flew off.

    I drew two conclussions.

    One, I am not afraid of it. I saw it now, and it did not frighten me. It did not make me wish I wasn't there and it did not make me lose control unreasonably. Without fear as a weapon against the likes of me, the creature will have no chance. I know this now.

    Second, I saw some of Jerrick's shots peck and pierce at the creature's defenses. It can be hurt. And if it can be hurt, it can be killed.


  • //Had to make a new post, because it didn't fit all in the same. The post above and this one are written the same night by Rith, so they make sense one with another for time-wise logic and also the phrasing, tenses, and certain references. To make it clear, she wrote the last 4 days of her journal in the night of the 4th, as she explains ICly in the NOTE of the previous post//

    ::Rith's writings on this page aren't as usual, her traces aren't so long and thin, so elegant. There are signs that she's often stopped writting a word midway and continued later. Sometimes she has even scratched off a word and replaced it with another. There are even a few whole sentences scribbled off. This is specially common around specific words, specially names. Her wording in general is more flat, less descriptive, and much less lively than usual::

    Month 2, day 2

    And this is today's entry. It's almost Dawn and I haven't managed to catch my sleep. I have been all night, ever since I left the Wolves Den, in front of my prayer books and this journal. I can not find words to fill this page, and I do not know how I would like to fill it. But I suposse I will start from the beginning.

    The morning came already rainy, almost as if advancing that the day would not be the best of my life, precisely. However, I did take part in the archery contest and Lathander smiled upon me, grating me victory. It did not matter in any case, for it was a healthy and sporty competition where every participant was worthy winner. Being first or last is just a matter of listing. I did receive a bag of fireworks as reward. I will have to try them. Some other time.

    When I was done with the contest, ~Lorelai~ congratulated me, and a moment after ~Jerrick~ beckoned us over to tell us something. It is one of those things I can not write down yet, to avoid it being scried, or compromising the information if my journal gets stolen.

    After a short talk at the inn, we went to the safer - and quieter - Wolves Den. We sat there and began to talk, telling Lorelai about our past days adventures near Jiyyd, and at some point of the afternoon, I asked Lorelai if she wanted to continue telling me the story she began, to which she responded with an affirmative nod.

    There is no point on writing what I was told, and I do not have the heart to do it. Such cruelty. Such unfairness. Such…

    I can not do this now. I must research, I must help her. I must not fall asleep. There has to be something, some book, some prayer, some ritual.

    Do not worry, Lorelai, you will find Joy. And we will try to find Joy for Tindra too. It is my duty to bring Joy to the hearts of the people. No. Enough with the duties. I just want to do it. I must do it. You are my friend. Stay strong, girl. It is not your fault. You will not be left alone.

    ::The bottom right area of this page, which is blank due to the actual writing being quite short, seems as if rugged or sweated, as if Rith had spent literally hours resting her arm on the book ready to write, but without actually writing anything where she trailed off at "Such…"::