3. Uh-oh... Mommy knows! (Jonni's story)

Uh-oh... Mommy knows! (Jonni's story)


  • Late one night Jonni slowly peeks open the house door, peering around slowly to make sure everyone is asleep. As his first foot hits the floor inside the door a soft growl can be heard and a lantern flickers to life in the corner by the bookcase. The piercing blue eyes that stare back at him make him freeze, his breath catching as the stains of blood on his armor stand out on the usually bright plates even in the dim lit room.

    Uh.. hi mom.

    Her eyes narrow slightly as she looks him over and focuses on the blood.

    Did I not tell you to stay out of trouble, young man?

    He thinks long on what to say, feeling like he was six again and caught with the shortsword under his mattress.

    I uh.. tried?

    It just.. so much happens it's hard not to be there and involved. I just walked around with people.. and next thing I knew there were talking beholders, chaos spirits, kobolds, orcs, drow, yuan-ti, druids, demons, duergar.. not to mention sick gnolls who decided to talk instead of eat us!

    All the words come out in a flood as he tries to get those eyes off him. As the different creatures are listed her gaze almost seems to intensify and he gulps quietly, though it sounds like a drumming in his ears. He finally let's out a quiet sigh and starts getting his armor off, piling it neatly in the corner by the door and makes his way over to her. Sitting quietly at her feet, he looks up at her with a small smile as she strokes his hair lightly.

    So uh.. I guess you want to hear all about it.. right?

    Lycka simply nods to him and a soft chuckle can be heard from the top of the stairs, then the light thumping of feet on the floor as his father makes his way back to bed, leaving him to face the white wolf alone.


  • "Things to do, so many things to do it seems overwhelming at times.

    Ser'khal is destroyed, his undead creations scattered or gone. It feels good to accomplish something - see it through to the end. My first "official mission" for the Ceruleans where I was sort of in charge.

    Even in the last battle with the Teddy Bear of Doom and Ser'khal himself, I wasn't even afraid really. I kept telling myself to focus on the job ahead of us and that's what I did, it seems I can call upon that single mindedness that dad has when needed.

    Success is what we ended with, everyone worked well together and I admit, being the "leader" during such times isn't that bad. I only wish the other times would go as easily. It seems many look to me to lead the groups we have without it even being anything related to the Defenders. To actually "lead" these groups is to just be the person who listens to all options as we proceed and say yes or no to one course or another, or make sure everyone stays together, not running off in all directions and it's amazing and annoying at how many times that happens!

    It's hard to think on at times, when it's not a Defender issue, I don't want to be a leader. I want to be a friend, I want to be somewhat silly, I just wish someone else would stand up -sometimes- and do it themselves? It's the way of things though, I suppose. I guess in a way I sought this out and need to accept what I chose.

    I've been spending a lot of time out lately, even with my little sister. I can't let on, but she's actually pretty smart and strong and I enjoy the time we spend together. It's amusing how you spend most of your childhood trying to ditch your annoying kid sisters and yet now that I'm older, I draw strength from having Nica near me when adventuring. She offers a smile and nod to me, to encourage me, or just by standing at my side it's like having the pack with me. Those moments when mom, dad, Nica, Siri, Zoma and myself would be with each other and the world just seemed like it couldn't take us on, no matter what it tossed our way, no matter how young we were.

    Add in Elaine and all the friends I've made, it fills me with a rush, makes me think we can take on anything that the stupid evil guys can come up with.

    Maybe it's silly to think that way, dad said over and over that there will always be someone stronger then you, the bad will always get you in the end, but this is what hope is built on, right? This is what makes people great, the will to keep going, to never give up, this is why I look at Mom and Dad in such awe even to this day for what they've done. They never said no, they never put down their swords, they looked defiantly at the worst the world could offer and walked away from it. I know both hold darker memories inside, but they're alive, they've kept their children and home safe. They're my heroes still.

    We are the pack, the world and it's terrors should fear us. Bare your teeth even when you know you have no chance and tell the world that you will go down fighting and your pack will be with you.

    I just hope they don't send spiders my way or I might run away, screaming like a girl.

    OH! I almost forgot!

    Checklist is partly done, we made it to the smurf-nibblin' city, I got lots of winter wolf hides and made some nice clothes for the pack and that's about it for now, will talk about it more later!"


  • Jonni lays back on the comfortable bed, the familiar form of Elaine curled up against him purring as he gets out his journal. He rubs at his eyes, the headache having gone down a bit since this morning and he starts to write.

    "I haven't written much lately, the headaches have been getting worse, luckily it seems they are dying down again and I even got to see Elaine after so long. I'm not sure why the headaches come but it's happened ever since I was young and Savras gave me my first vision, they aren't constant but painful enough to cloud my mind when they do come.

    Seeing Elaine almost washed away the pain, we sat in the commons and talked, Nica was there and Leena showed up, all seemed normal again and it felt good, the pain almost completely gone.. until..

    I asked Elaine about Nica's comment earlier about her and Vash't up on Heroes Bluff, I figured correctly what Elaine was going to tell me before she even spoke the words, but she didn't want me to tell anyone else, especially my parents cause Nica was afraid we'd get angry or something.

    I'm not sure why Nica would worry about me finding out, we've always gotten along really good and we're both very calm and accepting of each other and what we do. I just hope she trusts me enough to tell me things still, I'm happy she is being herself. I'll protect her to my last breath but I can't always be there and watch over her, she needs to make her own choices and mistakes as I do. I hope she tells mom and dad though.. our family doesn't hide much from each other and we're a stronger pack for it.

    All of it washed away though, all I wanted to do was hold Elaine, smile and enjoy the fresh air.. until.. (Yeah, day was sort of annoyingly busy at times)

    Hen and Albryanna had a small confrontation in the commons, I don't think it was anything serious but Hen ended up cutting Albryannas cheek a bit and Albryanna let go with a single fist and Hen was sprawled out on the ground groaning. Instead of getting Lisa involved I had a quiet talk with the two of them and warned Hen she just got out of prison, so she better not do that again. Albryanna just defended herself, so what can I say, right?

    Thought all was good as I was kneeling there talking to them.. until..

    I heard casting behind me, people do it often, little cantrips in joking ways in the commons and I don't want to be one of those hard asses who says you can't cast at all in the city. It was a gnome, Jimmeh his name and suddenly I stood up and turned and screamed at the top of my lungs to stop casting, pain shooting through my head at the effort, the headache fully renewed. I was angry.. I don't get angry, I don't yell, I never thought it was a good way of getting things done. I don't know what came over me though. He kept challenging me and I decided to turn away, Nica walked over to him and said something quietly to him instead.. I don't like feeling that way.

    At the end of it all, Elaine took me south to rest at the treehouse and she asked me move in with her in a more permanent way.. a big step? Wonder what mom and dad will think. For now, this headache needs to go and more sleep is better then worrying over it all."


  • Jonni stares up at the full moon, the clouds parting to let the soft light through the tree tops to light up the Rawlins around him as Elaine lays beside him purring softly, her body twitching lightly as she has a dream while she naps for a few hours. He looks up into the sky for a long time, each star his eyes focus on seem to twinkle a bit and a smile comes to his face before he gets out his journal and writes.

    "Busy past few days.

    When I'm not with Elaine, we're generally with Willow, Llama, Kris, Shesa, and even some dwarves lately.

    Willow and I met an old dwarf named Tolin, he's nice, we showed him around a bit as he's been gone a long time. He was a Legion member before he left. Despite his age, he has that sturdiness that all dwarves seem to share, like chiseled from stone, even if the stone is etched a bit with the years washing away at it. He's a pretty strong arcane user to by the looks of it.

    My tanning is going good, I've been spending a lot of my time getting hides to practice and I can finally make bags and armors, even made Beorn some leathers to make Willow's armor out of, which is awesome I might add. We went to the winter wolves, I don't like killing wolves but even dad knows those are bad wolves.. he says they are intelligent too, like the worgs.. I mean, not magely intelligent I guess, but smarter then your average wolf for sure.

    We also got Llama's shield made, or at least we got the shell from the Furtle. That trip didn't go so well, Willow and Damien died to Yaun-ti, we had to fight our way through saurials and dinosaurs, who bite REALLY hard. Luckily Elaine could make them stay still, but one broke free one time and almost bit me in two. We did however manage to free the two last Furtles! I hope they make it, the one told Llyran he was the last of their species.. to see something go extinct, it's heart breaking. Have lot's of little Furtles! All in all, we did good there I guess.. we saved a dying species, Llama got his shell and Willow and Damien came back to us when I used some scrolls we found in the Yuan-ti's treasure. I got a necklace, it seems laced with Wolfsbane.. and that will help in not becoming like dad if I ever get bit, though it might bother Elaine a bit, so I keep it packed away in my backpack until it's needed.

    Before we went on our trip, I had another vision from Savras. I wonder if he knows what I'm writing? Of course he does, he's the All-Seeing.. cause the visions lately have been helpful, not just random things like the boat hitting the docks. They warn me of danger, they lead down certain paths, but what is the greater meaning behind them all? Do they all connect somehow to each other? Questions to ask myself when I'm less tired.

    He stops writing a moment and glances down at Elaine still purring softly as she rests against him, smiling happily.

    Elaine treats me good, we talk a lot, we go do stuff a lot with friends, we uh.. do other stuff that's like.. amazing. I'm going to try and make her something but I need to get Beorn's advice on it.. no writing it down here, I want it to be a surprise. She asked me to make her something like this, but she doesn't need to know exactly what I'm planning, right?

    We also fought demonic goblins I think they were? I mean, the red glowing eyes and they came in such a horde.. several of us almost died at the gates of Norwick.. and a giant showed up! I got to actually talk to this one without it trying to bash me in the head. She was nice.. sort of, I guess? Her name was Ragnhild and she reminded me of grandma, despite the whole bluish skin and being like twenty feet tall. She said she was told to come down south to help us, by the White Snake.. I'm not sure who that is, but I'll have to ask around a bit.

    Checklist time.. things to do.

    Scribbled in at the end, underneath the checklist are a few words, after writing them Jonni closes his journal and looks back up the moon and stars, staying up through the night as his mind wanders through thoughts of family and friends and those lost.

    "I miss you grandma"


  • Jonni sits quietly in his room, slowly running a rag in a circular motion over his new armor with a smile, as yawn escaping him as he sets aside the oil and armor and pushes himself up, heading to his desk. Closing his eyes a moment to focus, he pulls out his ink, quill, parchment and begins to write.

    So, I forgot to tell a few things, stuff just got so busy lately.

    I had another vision mom, this time in the Pass just before the Tempus Shrine but out on the road where the gnolls are. My vision went blurry and I heard a cackling sound, high pitched and twisted sounding. Suddenly a sharp pain in my side and then everything went back to normal. I just stood there on the road, pondering what it meant.. I got my answer.

    A gnoll suddenly burst up the road, bow in hand and let loose an arrow with a cackle, the bent shaft with black arrows sticking into my side. Luckily the wound wasn't too serious and I turned and dropped to my knee, my shield held up in front of me to make a wall. The gnoll didn't take the bait though, yet his friend did and came charging up the road, I met him steel on steel, trying to keep myself positioned in front of him so the gnoll with the bow couldn't get a clear shot at me, like dad taught me.

    It wasn't long after those two gnolls lay dead that more came running up the road looking for a meal, I was surrounded and thinking this wasn't good, then a giggle in the air and suddenly the gnolls start fighting each other, Kitty showed up and I'm glad she did.

    We fought the gnolls together, then something I wouldn't have expected happened. A Yaun-ti showed up to help us, even going so far as to heal me after she burnt me with her spells, then a Minotaur, with a huge axe, then a giggling ettercap.. that's an odd sound to hear, then a hobgoblin.

    We all fought the gnolls together, Leena and Salin showing up during the fight to help push the gnolls back. We could only get one real name I think? From the minotaur, who was Mohrg, the giggling ettercap said he cant give us his name, so we call him "Giggling Ettercap", the Yuan-ti was.. well, a Yuna-ti and called me slave. The hobgoblin said we could call him Stealth Meister.

    They were pleasant enough I guess and they were looking for some gnome called the Tinkerer, it reminds me that I need to try and find him and tell him that a monstrous adventuring group from Oscura is looking for him and his "plans" for golems we think, likely not a good thing for him.

    What else has happened? Oh yeah, I got new armor from Victoria, it's really light and so much easier to walk in and carry things in. She is going to try to make me an even better set of platinum platemail too, which is a bit more pricey, but well worth it folks say. Shallyah got a commission for sending me to Victoria but she said to take the amount off my total, cause she likes to help equip possible Defenders. Kitty gave me the rest of the gold I owed, I don't like taking gold from her, but arguing won't get me anywhere. So I'll plan a really nice surprise, like an enchanted something if I ever get to the point that I can do that.

    It's been a really busy few ten days and you know most of it from my reports to the Defenders, so I won't go into it here again. Not sure if the city wants to know about that monstrous adventuring band, but you can tell them if you think they should know.

    You know, you're right.. he does let me know what is important.. even if it doesn't seem important at the time and maybe the vision of the gnoll wasn't about the gnolls, but about the group of monstrous adventurers we met after and something to do with future events involving them and the Tinkerer. Mysterious ways and all that, right? I just wish I could understand it all better.

    I think we do need to go see the Mayor.

    Underneath the writing is an image, drawn in and colored with great care, two hands cupping a crystal ball.

    Let's see what the future holds..


  • Sitting alone under the moonlight in the tournament grounds near the house, Jonni opens a new leather bound book, an actual journal of his life, not filing these reports to his mom. Getting out his quill and ink he taps the quill lightly to his lips before putting it to the first page to begin scribbling down words.

    A new life perhaps? I'm not sure, but some things need to be kept from mom and dad I guess now. I got this book to be my personal journal now, to keep it separate from the reports I write mom.

    So, let's see here..

    I wonder each night why Savras wouldn't tell me of the important things in life that happen around me. I'm supposed to be Chosen or something, shouldn't he tell me I would die, or my friends would, or that I would fall in love, that I would make such great friends? It sort of just came to me that if he did, would I experience the enjoyment of accomplishing these things if I already knew they would come? Would I upset some type of balance if I changed the bad things that happened?

    I think in the end it would take the mystery out of being mortal if he told me everything. The joy I felt as Elaine was laying in my arms after the night by the Scar after uh.. (Wow.. just wow..), the pain I felt when I was told I died. Even the bad must be experienced to truly love the good parts of life more I think.

    I died, I'm over it, I don't really remember anything so I'm not even sure why it hurt at that moment. So other then feeling tired and weak, it wasn't so bad, but it did make me closer to Elaine. I can't explain why, but when someone tells you that you just died it made me feel like I needed to tell that Elaine I love her. Maybe it's cause of what dad told me, always hold them close, never forget to say you love them and never let them walk away angry.

    I think I love Elaine, I said the words but I'm not even sure what it's supposed to feel like, but I'm happy how we are anyways and if that's love, great. She makes me feel safe, she let's me sleep beside her and that gives me a good nights sleep, something I haven't gotten since the visions first started really. She makes me smile and laugh. I'm happy, she seems happy and that's what matters most to both of us. Her dad also seems happy, she told me that, so just mom left to have the talk with and maybe Uncle Jerrick if we can actually see him together. Despite Elaine saying he seems happy with it.. he can turn into a big wolf and he's like the druid on the mountain and can turn me into a frog.. so a bit nervous still!

    Speaking of nervous, it seems so many giants are on the move of late. I've seen frost giants, fire giants, ettin giants, hill giants.. all seem a bit aggravated. Not sure what to make of it, but I manage to hold them off good enough with dad's dancing steps he told me with the sword.. and I keep trying to talk to them.. now if people would just stop stabbing them while they are all stay stilled..

    There has to be a reason there are frost giants in the mountains near the city, maybe helping the orcs like back in the war mom and dad told me about? Frost and fire giants are enemies all the books say, like they fight at any chance they have. So if the orcs are allied with the frost giants again, that would mean a fire giant treaty shouldn't work? Maybe their own choices will help weaken them enough if a war is coming? Either way, need to keep watch and be ready.. and hopefully one of them will talk to me. Mom and dad having encounters with giants a lot made me study their language, I'm not great at it yet, but I can get by speaking to them!

    I hope I hear from Elvira again.. I got a letter from her and it made me smile to know she's safe. I miss you Elvira, come back home please.


  • By candlelight in the kitchen, late at night, Lycka finishes reading and angrily wipes tears from her eyes. Then she sighs, deeply, her shoulders sinking in resignation, though a softness returns to her face as she jots down a reply, cleverly hidden in the folds of Jonni's favourite coat.

    "Little wolf,

    You aren't so little anymore, and every day I struggle to admit that fact to myself. I'm proud of you, I see such good and strong qualities in you, and yet my mother's heart howls and wants nothing more than to hold you tight and protect you from all the terrors of the world. It's hard to let go, but I do trust that you're wise enough to make the right decisions for yourself, without my anxiously meddling influence. I'd wrap you in wool and lock you in the house without a sharp implement in sight, if that anxiety had free reign, and you know it!

    But - even when you were just a little boy, we knew fate had greater things in store for you, a fate we tried very hard to postpone until such time as you were grown and able to handle it. I'm not sure how much you remember about the sword of Savras, the crown, the Mayor and Keira? That was, and I think remains, the purpose for which Savras chose you.

    The rest, what happened just now, fighting orcs - that, sweet, dear wolf, is simply life's harsher lessons. Death is something you have to be willing to accept as a real and likely consequence of an adventurer's life, and a soldier's even more so. You know I don't want that for you, but I also know I can't stuff you into a safe scholar's suit and expect you to be happy. I want you to be safe, but most of all, I want you to be happy.

    If Elaine makes you happy, then that's good enough for me, and I expect I'll meet her soon enough. I may tell her embarassing tales of you at diaper-age, but that's a risk you'll just have to take! Also, rest assured that nothing and no one can outsmell the old dog (whether that means Stinky or your father, I'll leave unsaid).

    Love, mom

    P.S. We'll talk career soon. I'd recommend the Ceruleans for a more varied and challenging work, though the patron god has always been Mystra, for our ranks. Still, you'd have my recommedation, biased though it may be, if you wanted to persue it."


  • Bad times and good

    I know you've read my report about the orcs and giants attacking the city and we fought more orcs recently to help Raryldor out a bit, something about an elven temple taken over by orcs. They were mean and so many were out there to the west of the city. I did good until I met that big orc with the big axe and apparently he killed me.. please don't be angry at me, I'm fine now if a bit tired.

    I don't even remember it, one minute I saw the big orc and fighting all around, the next minute everything was black then Elaine was there and everyone else, my head hurt, so did my chest, my armor was all cut to pieces pretty much. It makes me wonder though, where was Savras? He sends me visions at times, but why not of me dying, or someone I know getting hurt? Why just things like the boat bumping into the docks. I don't understand. I don't remember being dead, but he didn't send for me.. maybe he knows it isn't my time? I mean, he is the god of divination.. right? He should know so far ahead what's going to happen.

    You always told me to focus on the good things, so I guess I will keep trying to do that.

    A few good things. Elaine, she's great mom and I hope you can meet her soon, I know it's hard cause I'm not always around and you are working all the time, I think you'd like her a lot though. She's smart in her own way, it doesn't always come off as that because she thinks differently then most, but it's nice to see her think different then most people anyways. She's really pretty and really caring. She's awesome, the easiest way to put it.

    We've been busy exploring Narfell with so many new friends. We went to the hobgoblin cave and fought them and bugbears, the cave stinks really bad, so do the bugbears and hobgoblins but that's all part of adventuring I guess, right?

    Elaine turned into a spider a few days back and it really freaked me out, I ran away.. I remember those spiders from the Camp even though I was young, yuck.. no more spiders.

    If I'm not around, I'm likely down at Uncle Jerrick and Aunt Lorelai's house with Elaine, I'll be sure to come home every other day. I come up to the city to tan anyways, I'm learning how to do that cause I want to make some bags for myself. Leena and Aunt Lorelai know I stay there at times, Leena can smell me she says and it sort of bugs her, I smell like leather, manly sweat, soap and earth apparently.. but that's a good thing her and Elaine say.

    Makes me think I stink like a hobgoblin..

    Hope I see you in the next few days, love you.. I'll be taking it easy for a bit, so don't worry about me.

    Oh yeah, I'm thinking about joining the Ceruleans, or the Defenders.. not sure what yet. That Shallyah lady wants me to join the Defenders, but I think with my visions and stuff.. maybe Ceruleans would be better for me if they would even accept me?

    Scribbled under the entry is a crude picture of what appears to be a half human, half hobgoblin creature with wavy lines coming from him like he stinks. Written down beside the picture is "Jonni?".


  • As the sun begins to drop below the horizon and the sounds of the city begin to die down as merchants and farmers make their way to their homes for the night, Jonni settles down under a tree in Ashald Park, offering a quiet prayer to the All-Seeing and lighting up the area around him as he gets his quill and ink out and begins to write.

    I don't even know where to start and I'm not even sure what to show you in this report. The past tenday has been amazing mom.

    Orcs, fire giants and hill giants attacking the city. I think the two Guards that died got brought back by Trish, she's a priestess, so we had no casualties that I know of, so it's alright for it to be awesome? During the attack, I was late getting there and when I did.. I'm not sure what came over me. I just felt like I needed to make sure things were done right, cause the city was in danger, my home?

    I asked people to do things and they listened.. the shy and skittish boy was gone, even inside. I just don't know what happened to me at all, maybe I just remember so many stories from you and dad about being Defenders, it just got stuck in me without me even knowing it? I felt sort of important when everyone sort of listened to what I had to say. We captured an orc anyways but it wasn't very cooperative at questioning, I'm sure you can get more out of him cause you're really smart with those sort of things.

    I sent you a special report about the attack, so I'll go onto the other things we've done lately.

    We went to the Underdark, first just Elaine and I and fought those big hulk things, they were tough and they hurt when they smack you, but luckily Elaine was there to make them Stay Still for the most part so I could chop away at their shell to get my sword under the armor-like plating. We didn't go too far in cause we were alone and well.. I was afraid really, new things are exciting but scary all at the same time.

    We went back to the Underdark though to some sort of staircase that they said belongs to the illithids, mom.. it was so awesome down there. It was quiet and beautiful, who would have thought something in a cavern could be so beautiful? We met nothing bad at all down the whole staircase and then we started seeing homes, maybe old illithid homes? They seemed to have left.. and a small dock down there, to Gaunttown the sign says. We rested there and kept pushing forward, we were looking for some Smurf-nibblin' abandoned city.. that's not the real name, but I have a hard time saying it, so I call them Smurf-nibblers. They are some sort of deep gnome I think? Willow said she learned about the city from some drow outcast she met once in the Kuo-Toa lands..

    We never made it there though.. instead we found almost death by clothing. Cloakers.. they are umm, scary for sure. I kept swinging and swinging and they kept disappearing, I was sent running as I thought my own cloak was coming to life to eat me, I couldn't wear it for two days after! Llama was sent running too, as was Shesa, luckily I managed to snap out of it in time and rush back in to help the group who was getting hurt pretty bad, Llama even almost died, but we got him back just in time and away from the evil clothing and ran home.

    Dad's training is paying off, I don't think of myself as that good of a warrior.. but I can hold back most attacks to give my friends time to bring them down at least. I'd rather not do it with Cloakers again.. cause they suck, a lot.

    There is so much more to tell you.. Duergar in the Goblin Hold being the most oww of it all.. and my friends are feeling like friends now, they were always nice, but I was always so busy doing stuff for you and dad that I guess it wasn't like they were really friends, that's changed though now, oh.. and I had a date and I'd like you and dad to meet her sometime soon.. kay?

    You sort of already know her.. she's afraid dad might eat her, so please tell him to be nice?


  • Settling down at the table at home after a long day at the Lighthouse Temple reading stories to the kids and unloading food and other supplies from the ships, Jonni pulls out his quill and ink, rolling out a sheet of parchment on the table and begins writing as his sisters play in the corner.

    -Friends or more?-

    I don't think I can show you this one mom, as it might be awkward for me and my life tends to be awkward enough. Elvira is gone, maybe it's partly my fault for not getting out more but Leena says I need to lighten up a bit around girls and really… anyone.

    So she told me to find someone to ask on a date. I have NO idea how to ask or who to ask.

    "All you need to do is find someone who shares your interests" Leena said. "I don't even know what I like to do.." is what I said back. I haven't thought about it until now really.. what do I even like in life? Ever since my first vision, things got so serious and I seemed to forget what was fun and worried more about what was to come.

    I guess I like reading.. but that's not very exciting for most I guess. A reading date? Yeah, that won't work. I like animals, but how do you make a date out of animals? "Hey, want to go for a woodland walk and watch the animals?" Feel like slapping myself like you slap dad upside the head when he's joking around.

    I still took Leenas advice after talking with several people about possible dates.. and so I asked Elaine to go out for dinner to get to know her better. Aunt Lorelai's and Uncle Jerricks daughter.. is that awkward? They are like family almost.. but they aren't, or something. I guess if I can't ask anyone who is a child of my "aunt's and uncles", I might as well look out of Narfell, cause you and dad made so many friends that are as close as family even if not blood that it narrows down possibilities a bit.

    Am I being a bit dramatic? Maybe there is an inner bard in me still.

    Elaine told me she thought I was a stiff high-nosed knightly type.. it sort of surprised me. I don't want to come off as that and she said sorry after.. but I guess my nervousness and shyness can be seen as stiff and snobby maybe?. We'll see how it goes, maybe Elaine can help me get a bit less stiff high-nosed like and nervous.. even if it only ends in a better friendship and getting to know her better, I'm fine with that, she is fun to be around.

    I mean.. it's better then me asking a Senator on a date, right? Someone actually said ask Lady Talindra.. might be a bit weird for you in Senate meetings. Lady Ashena said I should ask Lady Talindra on a date when I'm ready for the advanced class? Not sure what that means.. but I doubt I'm that advanced in anything, let alone dates.

    A date.. what am I thinking? Twins are evil.. aren't they? Siri and Nica..

    He stops writing and looks back just in time to see Siri stabbing a doll with a toy spear and she looks up to him with a grin, his eyes go wide and the parchment is folded up quickly and tucked away upstairs under his clothes before Jonni flops back in his bed and takes a deep breath, falling asleep quickly. Later the next day when he is alone, he scribbles a sketch under the writing before it's stashed away again away from prying eyes.


  • Jonni rushes in the door of the house, skidding to a stop as he screams upstairs.

    Mom! Mom! Dad! Where are you?! I had a vision again!

    Lycka and Aelthas come rushing down the stairs asking what's wrong.

    Nothing's wrong! I had a vision though! I was taking the boat from Norwick to Peltarch and suddenly things sort of went fuzzy.. then the Captain was talking to me and we hit the dock!

    Then I was just back on the river and the Captain was looking at me like I was odd. I wasn't quite sure what was going on until we hit the dock again and the Captain yelled at me for distracting him.. I STILL wasn't sure what happened until I walked off into the docks and started to laugh when it finally dawned on me.

    I'm not sure why I would get a vision of the boat bumping into the dock though.. seems funny to get a vision about something so small. Why do you think it happened?

    Both Aelthas and Lycka look at him then to each other, the concern obvious in their eyes about their sons future and visions. Aelthas finally looks back to him and smiles, saying only a few simple words.

    "Have faith in your god's plan for you son and we will be here while you walk that path."

    Jonni heads upstairs to bed, his mind racing about the vision and before long the sun is peeking in through the window again as morning comes and sleep finally takes him.


  • After a long day out, Jonni returns home and sneaks in the door quietly so he doesn't wake anyone up. A candle flickers in the room and he peers over and sees his mother sitting by the table waiting, reading a book. He gives her a small smile and starts to head upstairs.

    "I know mom.. report."

    Uttering a quiet prayer to Savras, he lights up the room dimly as he settles down with quill and ink and begins to write out his latest report, fighting to keep his eyes open after a long day.

    -Yuan-ti-

    We met Yuan-ti today in the cat cave near the Camp. They weren't overly hostile, not like the stories at least and we stopped our little trip short and left the cave. I know the Yuan-ti are often around the area but it makes me wonder why they were there exactly.

    Oh and mom, did anything come of that shard I gave you yet?

    I am afraid of being out there at times, it's scary. Dad and you were good teachers and I am making friends, but it still makes me nervous being an "adventurer".

    People tell me I'm parent dependent, I don't think I am… I'm just nervous and careful and like the comfortable feeling of being home still and helping you and dad out. Despite wanting to get out there and enjoy what's going on by myself, I don't want to lose the family we've always had and the closeness we share.

    As he writes, he stops to think how to word things on occasion and scribbles a picture at the bottom of the page while he thinks. A wolfs head with "Mom" written underneath it.

    ((Not my sketch, credit and thanks goes to the random artist who did it.))


  • Getting up from the floor to grab a mug of milk, Jonni returns and sits back down beside Lycka, the whole time her eyes intently watching him. Unable to avoid the conversation any longer the words begin to form as he chooses what to say carefully, studying Lyckas face as she listens.

    Besides all the uh.. demons, orcs, kobolds.. and other monsters I've fought now.. there was Strillin, he was a gnoll, really big and really mean.

    Raryldor came with me from the city to remove the sick gnolls and this one came out and began fighting us.. he was so big.. I just wanted to run away, but I screamed instead for him to stop fighting.. and he did.

    We uh.. spoke for a bit. He ended up giving me some bile from his mouth and one of the ticks that he says were passing along the disease.. it was made by the Talona followers he said..

    He peers cautiously to the side at her, Lyckas eyes slightly narrowed but seeming curious despite the concern written across her face.

    I gave the samples to the Defenders..

    Then we met the beholder.. down in the fish caves I think it was? He just floated there and talked.. we all looked like we were ready to run for the surface.. but instead we had a nice talk and he floated off and we went about our way. I uh.. got hurt pretty bad down there at one point, but someone helped me out.. that's what good groups do right?

    Downs a big gulp of milk, shifting nervously in his seat as Lyckas eyes narrow more at the part about him being hurt, but he just pushes on in the story and avoids her gaze.

    I met lots of nice people too.. uh.. Leena, Elaine, Rasuil, Willow, Llyran.. Elvira and even Raryldor was nice to me when we went to the gnolls on the road.. there are so many nice people out there.. Shesa..

    Most of the older people stare at me and ask if they know me from somewhere.. it takes a few minutes and me telling them who my parents are and it clicks then.. most have been really helpful and seem to keep an eye on me at times.

    Maybe we can finish this tomorrow, mom? I'm sort of tired..

    Lycka leans over and gives him a tight hug and a kiss on the head before letting him go.

    "I expect reports, little wolf. Go get some sleep."

    Jonni hugs her back and with a yawn he gets up and heads upstairs to bed. He curls up in his bed and stares at the ceiling a long time before sleep finally comes