The party that has been hired to retrieve my package from up north took their own sweet time getting there. To start off, they spent a whole day in town roaming around doing aimless activities. They even meet up with one of the street children and decided to take him with them. I hope they know I'm not paying the kid. They then left mid afternoon instead of in the morning. Apparently bandits don't think people are foolish enough to travel at night and therefor the party made it to Green Field unchallenged. On the way to Green Field the group met up with another Hinru. I need to check my books but I didn't believe Hinru could teleport. Anyway, I believe this one is a male but it's hard to tell when scrying. In Green Field, they had a little bout with the locals and then managed to find my contact's man. I never knew there could be that many "Joe"s in one village. The contact's Joe is an interesting fellow. Very witty and doesn't know when to back down. I think he will definitely add a flare to the party if he doesn't get himself killed first. On that note, I need to tell Gaman to pick better relay men. Joe managed to lead everyone off track and to an old mansion. The mansion is quite interesting and I'll need to look into who owns it. It might make a nice county retreat. I wonder if I will ever get my package... - Gallian
((Since it's stream of consciousness writing, as opposed to diary entries, I'm gonna write his accent. Plus it feels more Tavis that way...)) If Ah've ever met a more frustrating, foolish, asinine man, Ah swear Ah'll eat mah kit. Ah'm sure he's got us on a wild goose chase, foolin' aroon' in this mansion when we should jes' be findin' some package an' goin' on oor way... At least there should be some sort o' treasure, but there's no' e'en tha'. Jes' pointless traps an' empty rooms. At least th' boy is provin' himself somewhat useful. Moreso than tha' useless waste o' flesh tha's s'posed tae be guidin' us, anyway. Speakin' o' wastes, where did tha' other Hinru come from...? An' he jes' sat aroon, makin' kicked puppy eyes at Tyllir, ignorin' anyone else! Och, sometimes keepin' wi' a group is more trouble than it's worth...
((OOC: Because I suxx0rz, I'm copying Renn's post, modifying it only slightly for my own writing style. Oh, and, um, warnings for virgin eyes or something. Eek!)) I like cities best. The countryside is all well and good, but nothing feels better than waking up in a real bed with the sound of people all around you... Granted, right now there's not much of anything to hear besides Renn's breathing, but that's nice too. I've come to like waking up beside him. Or beneath him sometimes; for all that he's not so tall for a human male, he weighs a few stone more than is comfortable to have as a blanket. Warm though, that I'll give him. I wish I could go back to sleep... Och, it's not even a decent time to be up! Morning light (or, even better, noon light) is yellow or orange, not gray! ...that could just be the quality of the windows in this place though. Ah well, back to thinking. At least life is interesting. Strange, trying, frustrating, dangerous... But always interesting. And that's why I'm here, aye? That first adventure - stupid, but amusing. And rewarding. And thus far... well, I always did want to visit distant lands. And at least I've got no set agenda. Tyllir's pissing in the wind if she's hoping for a quick trip back so she can finish her year. But why would she want that anyway? She seems so fascinated with everything... A year's hardly enough to take it all in. Then again, she did seem quite happy to take on this new adventure.... I don't get Hinru. I don't expect anyone else does either, including her guardian. The ranger... Niamh. Niiiaaaamh. Didn't she used to pronounce it different? Who knows with elves. They probably change their names every century or so, just for kicks. Anyway, she's probably the least annoying of the lot, even if she was a piss-poor ranger to begin with. Mayhap she just needed to find her... her what? Ach, too early to think so much.... Mm. Hang on... Don't I remember her having a beau back in elf-country? She's been shining the tops of her boots with her tongue, looking after that half-elf boy.... Probably just as well though. The half-elf's in reach while fairy-boy is who knows how far off... Speaking of women, Jovvi's not nearly so tetchy any longer. Almost have half-decent conversations with her if I don't think about it too much. I'm even a bit grateful to her... Without her we wouldn't be here, after all. Probably slogging along on some third-rate adventure hoping for something interesting to come along.... Yondalla forbid! Renn's sleeping still... Huh. I never get to see him sleep. Like a steel trap, he is, not wanting anyone to see what's he's got. Wakes up every time I get up to take a piss, waits 'til I come back, still awake when I drift off... ....I wonder what happens if I do this? --Amazing; he sleeps still. What about... Aaah, there we are..... If I'm going to be up this early, at least I'll be constructive with my time.
( OOC: Since Renn wouldn't keep a journal, I'm going to type these things as if they were his thoughts with a bit of narration as to when Renn is thinking these things and where he is at the time. So it'll be like Renn reflecting on things.) Renn awaits the journey ahead. His sleep is restless as it always is, haunting things from his past creeping in to remind him of their presence. Not unexpectedly, the Mercenary is soon awake again, staring up at the ceiling of his inn room. He registers the warm body of Tavis beside him and sighs quietly in some relief. They'd not been on the best of terms recently, particularly after Renn had admitted his previous lies. Other than that, the mercenary couldn't be sure why the halfling had been so angry. It had started days before the merc revealed himself. Tavis had apparently forgotten the reason himself. Renn reflects that he'll hate himself permanently if he ever does anything to seriously harm the halfling... In fact, he's come to be rather fond of the whole group of adventurers. Jovvi he hadn't originally liked much, but she'd slowly grown on him, and now more than ever he feels a sort of kinship to her... Their similiar backgrounds likely have much to do with it, and he figures it gives them both someone to relate to... Both human, both orphans... He assumes that Jovvi will never fully understand him, and he'll never fully understand her, but he'd fight to protect her if there was a need... Tillyr struck him odd at first, as she might anyone else, but she too has grown on him. The mercenary wonders how he could feel protective and almost brotherly when such instincts and emotions were never condoned in his life at the guild... Answering the strange girl's questions seems to him a chore at times, but he finds that other times he really gets into answering them... They almost give him a sense that how he sees things are important to another being.... Niamh is another that he feels a strange kinship for. Though he has no clue as to -when- he started feeling it, he knows that the elf and he have a strange understanding between them, and he's grown to value her as a friend.... Renn just isn't used to liking people or trusting them nearly as much as he's grown to trust his commrades... He briefly wonders what happened to the Lizard-man and the "Phantom"... He can only speculate on Jaer, thinking he likely returned home, but the other fellow could very well still be with them... A strange thought.... Perhaps he'll reapear by the next full-moon.... ah well.... Whatever the next journey brings, he'll be ready for it... and this time he'll have an old friend with him... "It'll be good to have Cavan along.... Trustworthy, that one..." with the final thought, he drifts back off to sleep, pulling Tavis a bit closer to him, some part of him comforted by the smaller man's presence, allowing him to sleep a bit more deeply than he normally would.
I've never been so grateful as when the look-out announced the sight of land. Or so embarassed as when, shortly thereafter, I tried to walk on that land. And there, again, was Cavan, the half-elf I mentioned before. Handsome as ever, and just as steady on his feet. Something in me just snapped while that Gallion fellow was explaining the quest he wants us to go on. I suddenly realized just how much easier my life would be... if I didn't have to spend every waking moment worrying that I would fail this quest. I still would protect Tillyr, of course, out of loyalty and affection--she is my dearest friend here, and her innocence and kindness would be all that was required to make her worthy of protection even if she weren't. But a large part of me begs to be released from these bonds, this tether of duty. I have sworn my allegiance, certainly, and I would never break that oath, but this quest is insanity. I love Caolte... or I thought I did. I don't know anymore. All this time, I longed for nothing more than to return to him. But now, I see as never before how long this will truly take. Tillyr needs at least a year to explore our land, and the time grows ever longer as we get dragged off into side-quests and strange journeys. Who is to say that Caolte is truly waiting for me? How can I know? And when I return, who is to say that Riordan will give in? What would stop him from agreeing that I did very well, and then sending me out on yet another hopeless mission, all the while using his influence to convince Caolte into a more acceptable marriage. He may not even have a lot of convincing to do, with me so far away. Hell, I couldn't even blame Caolte for his lack of loyalty, now that I've spoken to Cavan. I told him everything. The way I feel toward him, my past with Caolte back home... and he is coming with us on our quest. For his own reasons, of course, and we've discussed the fact that I have no idea where my mind will take me. Part of me cannot imagine breaking my loyalty to Caolte, but the rest of me longs so much to just find happiness where it comes. How can I know my heart when I can judge neither against the other fairly? Cavan is here, so near and solid. Always Caolte has seemed like a dream, and more so now that he is far away. Now I wonder whether to forsake that glowing vision for clear reality, and I find that both are almost equally appealing.
Day four aboard the ship. I had always imagined boats as very comfortable, hearing stories of the gentle rocking and lapping of the waves. These tales are entirely false. My stomach hasn't settled since we set foot on this damned thing, and I foresee a very dark journey ahead of us. I pray to the stars that I survive this damned trip. That's all I care about right now. Off to the side of the boat again--seeing the sky and feeling the wind makes me feel a bit less sick. Mustn't keep Jovvi waiting--she has been very kind these last few days, always willing to support and comfort me. The half-elf friend of Renn's is still around--I saw him yesterday. It breaks my heart to see his hair; it reminds me so much of Caolte. A very handsome fellow. Not that it matters. Not really. But I would never have imagined how my heart would ache for touch, for fire in someone's eyes, after only a few months since the last time I saw Caolte.
Everyone fighting. Renn has freed our hands, and worked out a deal (supposedly) wherein his "employer" will give us safe passage back across the ocean... in return for the last piece of the ruby. Fine by me, but unfortunately not for Jovvi or Jaer (AKA lizard-elf-thing, who has now miraculously re-appeared). This would be bad enough, but Renn and Tavis are also fighting. Nothing unusual there, at least. And Tillyr is still being held separately from the rest of us. Renn and I went to see her, and she's perfectly happy and comfortable (and happily tormenting some poor human guard with questions). The man in charge here said that his master needed just a few drops of her blood. Renn says we can trust him because he can't lie. I pointed out that his master might have lied to him, but Renn and I decided not to share these thoughts with the others, considering the state the group is already in. I hope we've made the right decision in that. It's true that Renn has lied to us a few times, but my instincts tell me to trust him now, and where would I be without those? So I'm stuck. Hopefully Jovvi will give up her pride and hand the thing over peacefully, and we can end all of this. I'm eager to put all of this behind me... and return to the seemingly interminable quest to usher Tillyr around the world. Riordan will have to give in then, won't he, if I'm successful? And Caolte will have waited, certainly, and we shall be happy together when all of this is finished. These things that once were the basis of my every dream... why is it that suddenly they seem so pale and uncertain?
Captured by humans who work with orcs and have nasty little exploding stick-things of metal that shoot holes in people. Well, technically they captured Tillyr and hurt Renn during a battle, so Tavis and I snuck into the city after them. And then Renn followed us. And we were captured just as we snuck out of the tent. Oh, and we found Lazarus, not that it does any of us any good. Especially not since he appears to have been totally brain-washed by these people and given some sort of mind-controlling powers. From what Tillyr says, he remembers nothing of any of us and has been reduced to one-word sentences. They have the pieces of the stupid ruby now. Amazing lot of good that ought to do--I'm sure they've got lovely plans for those things. If I ever get home, I don't think I'm ever setting foot outside the Silverwood again.
Everyday that we've been here, it keeps getting stranger and stranger. First, there was the flying goat, then the strange bugs, the orcs who were actually smart~!, and elf-lizards, magical rubies with the power to create and just the other day the strange spectral guy. Not that things back home were that normal either. Not that I had a home. ::Note to self:: If and when I do get back. Get a place to call home. ::end note:: I think I've finnaly gotten used to Caw not being around. Though I swear I keep feeling him. Earlier I felt his presence or something like him coming from one of those strange plant like butterfly things. But just feeling that little bit of Caw has made all the difference for me. I can hardly remember a time when he wasn't with me. When my parents disappeared he was right there, always there for the distraction that I needed to steal bread when I was hungry, or as I got older the random purse. I hope we find each other soon. The feeling of being alone is really starting to get to me. I think my confidence is beginning to wear thin. We began finding piece of the ruby. For some reason, everyone doesn’t want me hold onto a piece of it. It's not like I would keep it geez~! Make a few jokes and no one trusts you. My skills have really been slipping lately. I messed up so badly on a trap that it broke. It broke to the point where we couldn't get it open. I was so mad I screamed, which in hindsight Miiight not have been the best thing to do. But that's what I get for focusing on my more recently found magical prowess. I'm loosing my other skills, the one's that have kept me alive this long. Really need to do something about that. Buut I wasn't as bad as Tavis. whoo boy. When he bit into that thing and it exploded I thought he was a goner. And not that I'll ever admit it to anyone. I'd be upset if anything happened to the little ankle biter. At least Ren was looking out for him. Probably would have slit the throat of anyone who looked at them wrong though.. Hrmmm.. that reminds me. Later I need to cast another spell to identify some of the objects we've gotten from the various places we've been. I'm starting to loose the light. And so I'll stop for now that way I don’t' end up loosing my eyesight along with my lock picking skills. blah. Jovvi Clarion
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, |
