The lizard-elf-thing has disappeared. Left a note--his calligraphy is horrible. I should offer to tutor him when (if?) he returns. We have, however, acquired another party-member to temporarily replace him. This new one is a human male caught between life and death, living as a spectre of sorts, and he was once the servant of a wizard of this land. Before all humans in this land were destroyed by the orcs, that is. I'm not the least surprised to find that humans were the ones who'd altered the orcs to their current state, nor that the orcs turned and bit the hand that fed them. Entirely typical of both races, from what I've seen.
Tavis and Renn have moved from 'courting' to just plain 'together.' I, for one, am vastly amused. They make rather a cute couple. Although I was less than enthused when Tavis tried to blow his head off by testing one of the little balls we found by biting it. Thankfully he's all right--he'll just be unconscious for a while, most likely. Tillyr is doing well, I think, and seeming to relish the company of the non-corporeal human. Let her work off some of that insatiable curiosity on him--it'll give the rest of us time to breathe. She's a dear girl, but her questions make my head spin sometimes. Jovvi is still somewhat anguished over missing her familiar, but seems otherwise well and has perked up much in the last days.
Shot a deer for dinner--I'm glad to feel useful for once. This place throws off my senses... I haven't felt myself since we arrived. It certainly doesn't help that I'm forever worrying about what might be going on at home... and thinking about how every extra day we spend here is another day that Tillyr will have to spend exploring our world when we return finally.
By the stars, I miss the Silverwood, my friends and family, and, most of all, Caolte.
~Niamh Nightwind,
Ranger of the Silverwood.
Day 26
Praise be! I was attacked on the road today by what I'm told are orcs. They were very deceptive and took great mirth in manipulating and intimidating me but I refused to raise my hand against them even when they moved to do me harm. It was then that a young woman of about the build and height of a Hinru sprang from the forest lining the road and saved me. She was truly brave and valiant, taking on all of the orcs by herself at horrible risk and danger. Though it was quite violent and shook me, unsettling my stomach, I am dearly grateful to her. We then left the road, thankfully, and I began to travel with her. She in the first humanoid, besides the orcs whom I'm afraid will be a great danger to our people, that I've met as of yet. She tells me that she is an elf, her name Niamh. She is of my height and roughly my build, though decidedly more muscular. Dark hair, gray eyes, fair of complexion, pointed ears though not in the same way as we Hinru. Her armor, weaponry, and clothing are of impeccable craftsmanship and she is very polite, though rather sarcastic and her comments can be rather scathing in regards to "helpless women wandering around without any idea what orcs are" and to orcs themselves. She speaks the elven tongue and her people seem to be the ones who originally created it. She has not heard of the Hinru, for which I am greatly surprised. Surely if any people would have remembered us it would have been the elves for they obviously are the closest of kin we may have outside of the mountains. I must learn more about her people for they carry my best hope as of yet for an alliance. They are intelligent, thoughtful, honorable, and have a deep respect for the natural world though they do not seem to share our distaste of violence. I hope that we may conduct trade with her people, as their goods seem of impeccable make, the like of which I have never seen and am quite jealous of, though I have not told Niamh such. When I began to ask her my questions, she faltered and has offered to take me to visit her clan elder, her "king," that he might know more and be able to better answer my questions. I am very excited and look forward to meeting her people and getting to know her better. Indeed, an excellent way to start my quest. I am hopeful and optimistic that I will be able to accomplish the work given me by the council. Indeed, if all the races are such as the elves I would recommend that we open our doors and rejoin with the other peoples. If the races are akin to the orcs, however, it would be my recommendation that we remain sequestered in the mountains for another millennia.
~Tillyr Winddancer
Druid of the North Hills
Emissary of the Council of the Hinru
(This is from back at the beginning on the campaign because I can't think of anything more creative than this post.)
Day 34,
Today I met my first "halfling." A male, about half my height, dark hair, dark eyes. He has a very unusual accent and speaks the common tongue, like the human I met yesterday. His name is Tavis. He seems quite opinionated and indiscreet and I am concerned that his participation in our journey will cause trouble. He places great worth in the gold coins we all seem to carry, more so than Niamh or Lazerus. I wonder why. They are quite pretty and would make nice jewelry and decorations, but I see little use for them. They are used to conduct trades here. "I'll give you two of my shiny things for that loaf of bread." And they accept them in order to use them to make deals with others in the same manner. It will take getting used to, but I will acclimate myself to their silly customs. Gods, sometimes I wish I were home where things make proper sense. But this is my chosen task and I will not forget my duty to the council and my home. If Tavis is to be considered typical of his race, the halflings strike me and rude, obnoxious, though cute and funny in ways. They are not a reasonable or practicable as the elves, nor as versatile as the humans. They are sometimes fickle and greedy and selfish though endearing. Oddly enough, I enjoy his company and find him to be a valuable friend if only because he lightens the mood and makes me laugh. They may make good trade partners though an alliance with them should be considered carefully before a final decision is made by the council. And, as with the human and the elves, Tavis did not recognize my race. It seems that the world has completely forgotten about the Hinru. A double edged sword to be sure.
~Tillyr Winddancer
Druid of the North Hills
Emissary of the Council of the Hinru