Back in Thanandir again. Sigh. Long day. I got into a fight with Islan. Again. Not surprising at all. He’s so stupid and makes me so angry! Ok, so maybe what I had to tell him was a little vague, but he completely blew me off! He’s been blowing me off for a while. Now that he’s a big shot supreme court wizard (bighead) he doesn’t have time for his old chums. Us little people. Never mind that he isn’t that great of a wizard. I know for a fact that he still has to read out of his book every morning to do any magic. But for Dolartu to show up and he falls all over himself. . .what a jerk.
I guess you could say I’ve been, ummm, pestering him for the past few years. But he’s the best at research I know, and he actually likes it. It’s not that I haven’t tried to look myself, but the library won’t let me go in anymore. Something about muddy boots on the table and food stains on the books. Who doesn’t munch while they read? Oh yeah, and I was too loud. I haven’t been able to find out too much about my parents and the Dorthonion name. I think I’m supposed to have some relatives somewhere, but they’re hiding real good right now. And I’m kinda nervous to go and meet them. Got an odd feeling that they won’t like me too much. But one of the interesting tidbits that I’ve learned is that some old ancestor was part of this special important group way back when Atma was at its height.
But Islan is the only one I see on a fairly consistent basis. Jacques immediately want back to the Kharse. Dolartu has been in Curmeah mostly. He doesn’t show up often at all. And Anwar is off with Horus makin’ babies. And while very adorably cute, I can only stay for a while before I go stir crazy. And that’s hanging out with two rangers.
Sure, sometimes I get lonely. I miss everyone being around. We were constantly looking over our shoulders while trying to complete the crystal tear, but there was always someone to talk to. Some sort of trouble to get into. Not that I’ve ever really had that problem. I’ve been spending more and more time in Lochlainn. It’s odd, the way that I know this country. Almost, uncanny. Ever since we came up out of old man Dougal’s cave. But I’ve been wandering around a lot too. I keep a standing room in one of the inns, but I still tend to spend most time outdoors. I’ll slide off into the countryside and sleep under the stars. Not that I don’t like a soft bed, I guess I just miss living day to day.
The most unsettling thing? Everybody knows me. It’s not even for really doing the world a favor and ridding it of ultimate “mercy” or evil, rather. No, it’s because I’m a half-elf who claimed the soul blade. I’m considered something of a heroine around those parts. Bringer of deliverance or something. Though we did help heal the chaos rift. I don’t know, but sometimes I get free drinks at the tavern. So I s’pose that if I wanted to talk to people I could check out a number of bars, but it’s not the same. But I’m not letting this fame go to my head or nothin’. Some people still don’t like me. But that’s good. That makes me feel a little more normal.
Beremon McKrae is a prime example. We scrap all the time. Well, not ALL the time. We run into each other. Or he keeps seeking me out, I’m not sure which. But we see each other, a few words are exchanged, and then we cross swords. But it’s not like its friendly. One day one will kill the other; we play for keeps. I think we’re about even on wins but we don’t keep score or anything. I am ashamed to remember the couple of times I had to teleport my beaten ass to Thanandir and collapse is a bloody heap in the middle of the receiving room of the castle. Islan was none too pleased and quickly mind-ordered a cleric to fetch my sorry self to the room I usually used when in town. However, the last time we met- Wait, scratch that. The SECOND-to-last time we met, I was the Victor. I took his eye that time before he ran. Not that he couldn’t have got that easily healed. Though I noticed that it wasn’t when I talked to him yesterday. Though that was weird. But that brings me to my point.
All we did was talk.
That almost sounds bad, doesn’t it?
So I was sitting back, nursing an ale in the tavern and just people watching. All of a sudden a big shadow falls across my table. I lift my eyes to see Beremon glowering down at me. He was lookin’ pretty ugly, as I mentioned earlier. Says that he’s heard something that may be of interest to me. That McKrae wanted me to know. He proceeds to tell me about some big nasty creature that is coming. Something so nasty, that it made his uncle nervous. Needless to say, I found this intriguing. Anything that can give a devil the willies is definitely worth learning more about. I tried to get more out of him, but either Beremon didn’t know anything else or he wasn’t willing to share.
I sat there a bit longer to mull this over. It was just sooo not Beremon to approach me and not want to fight. So I figured there had to be some truth in what he’s sayin’. Besides, Beremon is a pretty forthright guy, and it’s not like he said, hey come to my castle. No, he advised me to get in touch with people that could find out more. So I made my return to Thanandir. Quick trip now, what with the nifty ring Suzara
gave me. I can talk with her, the court bighead, or anyone else with the ring, not to mention teleport to the castle and back. Not that Suzara
goes out of her way to talk to me and vice versa, though I am an unofficial ambassador to Lochlainn. We’ve mellowed towards each other but we’ll never be best friends. I know it’s not in my exact best interest to get on the bad side of a queen, but the nice thing is, when I get her good and mad I can just leave for Lochlainn. Stay there and let her cool off. She needs what supporters she can get right now, seein’ as the elves are none too pleased that a half-elf has assumed the top position, and I am really on her side.
But I got there and immediately tried to tell Islan. That was a no go. But the others started showing up. Dolartu and Jacques at least. They had, well not exactly similar stories, but other odd bits. And Dolartu, I guess he went a little crazy for a while. Saw something, he didn’t even know what, and ran to his cave. In the end, it was decided that we need to investigate the matter further. But not until after a good night’s rest in the safety and security of the castle.
Huh. Safe? Secure? My arse. Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, the hairs on the back of my neck on end, and this, this, man-shaped thingy at the end of my bed. Goddess in a box! I barely had time to extend the soul blade before it was on top of me. I got in one swipe, did I mention I was in my nighttime wear, before it let out this blood-curdling scream. It just kinda tore into me and I was frozen for a minute. I killed it eventually, but I was a little worse for the wear, as every time the thing hit you, you became far less tolerable to be around. And to some, like Dolartu, it makes you jump out of windows.
Is this just the first taste of what is to come? We are traveling to the Kharse, back to Jacques’ monastery. Since his teacher was actually around back when these monsters, what did the guys call these things again? roamed the land the last time. We want to find out what he knows about the whole deal. Crazy dangerous they are. We’re probably crazy to think that we could stop them, but we’ve had to do the impossible before. Aesia herself has even blessed us with one of her minions, a cleric named Lothloran. He’ll help out bunches. What with the poisonous desert sands and frightful beasts that live there. Oh yeah. Piece of cake.
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