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Isaac's Journal
1 Needfest, 580 CY, Cherrin
We left the site of the assassin’s demise. His blade bore a mark of an assassin’s guild out of Eastfair-far to the north. It seemed whoever hired this corpse didn’t want to hire local. I went first so I could get the antidote back to Dedric as soon as possible-also, because I was in the best shape to run back all that way. Once back at the cabin I corralled the horse back to the cabin, I knew the others would need the ride. I made it back to Dedric’s cabin and asked Cedric and Mistress Jarelle to administer the antidote. Cedric, in his wisdom, suggested we make sure that it was an antidote, and not just water or worse. Mistress Jarelle determined that the vial contained another toxin that would send Dedric’s soul flying from his body into the nether regions, or some such thing. However, with a sample of the poison at hand she said she could synthesize and antidote herself, with the help of a few of her herbs. One of the herbs she needed was out of season, I apologize if the details seem sketchy here but I’m no herbalist. When Ryvvik returned to Dedric’s cabin, he said he might be able to create an antitoxin with the help of Voliker’s alchemy laboratory. He left immediately, with a few of the horses to make sure he got to Voliker’s tower in no time. The rest of us tried to come up with a contingency plan, but we were getting pretty tired and I for one needed to get some sleep.
Khalonn: Mistress Jarelle said she thought she might need a key herb that was out of season, though she tried tirelessly to work an antitoxin without the herb. Again I am unimpressed with Ryvvik's behavour and his blatant disrespect for the good Mistress Jarelle. This kind of holier-than-thou attitude is far too common is mages and in my view is the first sign of an abuser of the arts… BAH I am just angry, I don't know what I speak of.
2 Needfest, 580 CY, Cherrin
In the morning, I went to the Inn back in Cherrin for some eggs and toast. There was only one other patron at the inn so I decided to approach him and see why he was traveling in the dead of winter. When I saw that the man bore the insignia of Errant Keep, my curiosity doubled. It turns out that the only other man in the inn was actually the physician that Galen requested from Errantkeep. His name was Gabod, the only man of medicine from marrin’s lands. We finished breakfast and headed back to see Dedric. Everyone in the cabin was happy to see Gabod. Unfortunately, with a little probing, it seemed that Gabod’s credentials were a bit inflated. He was the only physician in Marrin’s lands but he only knew what he knew due to a ‘crash course’ by one of the Overking’s medical instructors. The bit of help he did provide was to refer us to a large city a few days to the south, good for us. We assessed our options and tried to develop a plan. Darcius and I volunteered to escort Gabod back to Errantkeep, we had some business to conclude there. Once there, we were going to look out for this Priest of Rao that khalonnn knew of. Just a few hours after we left, Ryvvik returned with an antidote. Dedric came around, and was on his feet even before Darcius and I arrived in Errantkeep. The others went back to Munevar to deliver the good news.
Khalonn: The priest of Rao I met was in the Adri. Last I had seen of him was over a fortnight ago somewhere to the northwest. Since I have already expressed my opinion of Ryvvik's behaviour I will not do so again here.
3 Needfest, 580 CY, Errantkeep and Munevar
Darcius and I returned for the worms skin we had tanned a few weeks before, but the skin turned to ‘mush’ pretty quickly and that effort was wasted. I was not impressed. We did, however, manage to sell that snake skin for a few Ivids and thus, the trip was not a complete waste. Darcius also sold the Darrien’s horses to marrin for ten Ivids a head. Darcius was not impressed. We left the town scornfully and hurried back to Munevar so we wouldn’t miss the Telcour festival completely.
Khalonn: I would say 10 ivids a head is a very fair sum when compared to the fate one would have when someone spotted the brand of a prince to whom the rider has no affiliation. Horse theft is a very serious crime in Aerdy.
4 Needfest, 580 CY, Munevar
Darcius and I arrived back in Munevar in time for the Grand Telcour feast. I donned my Toothed Armour and fashioned a crude mask but any local who got out of line during the festivities was sure to know that it was me. The festivities included a grand play in which the Armies of Good get beaten back and conquered by the Forces of Evil, once beaten, the forces of good become reborn within the Evil Commander and the cycle begins anew. Different year, same play. I find it depressing really. That all these battles could take place and nothing really comes of it. In some odd way, it reminds me of the Scourge of Battle. Maybe he, in his love of discord, changes the attitude of the Evil Commander in order to keep the feud going. Without the conflict there would be no war for him to participate in. What strange thoughts! Back to the task at hand. Now then...
Khalonn: I must add here that the actress who played the queen of good did a remarkable job in an overall unremarkable play. I wonder why she vieled her face? None of my associates had any reaction to this so I assume they must have known her… (Editor: Hey, no one mentioned that Minn was at the Telcour play..)
5-6 Needfest, 580 CY, Munevar
People were nestled all snug in their beds--because it is DAMN COLD outside.
7 Needfest, 580 CY, Munevar
The Feast of Unreason was today. You see, the Feast of Unreason is the day where a local slob gets his name pulled from a hat and becomes Prince for a day. This year it was Old Jeb from Kleese. He’s a moron. Prince Herrell had Dedric follow him around all day making sure he didn’t screw up royally (get it, royal?). Every time Jeb would give an order, Dedric would either nod or shake his head to back him up-or cut him down. Galen started sucking up to Jeb and got promoted from Prince’s heir to Knight Commander. The good news is, we have no knights in Munevar, so I guess he didn’t get promoted after all.
1 Fireseek, 581 CY, Munevar
Khalonn: Today Dedrick travelled back to Cherin and I will accompany him. We still have some work to do to select and groom a villager from the candidates to be mayor here. I am not yet sure what I will do once Dedrick's task is complete, but I am sure now what I seek doesn't lay within Cherrin. Dedrick has agreed to aid me locate the villagers displaced by Delbin's attack.
Today was a blustery, snowy day. I found Galen in the Inn so I decided to hang around and make some good company for him. He’s not such a bad guy, but I just find it hard to get over the lute (or whatever it is he plays). We were in the Inn for a while when a figure came in from the cold. I recognized him as one of the Adamane’s rangers that helped us rout that slaver camp. He reintroduced himself as Mik-good thing too, I had forgotten his name. He went on to tell us that since our slaver attack the rangers have suffered a great retribution from the slavers of the forest. Led by Pervost, the slavers have become much more bold in their attacks, driving woodsmen from their camps and leaving a few of the rangers missing. He said that there were scores upon scores of ravens sending the woodsmen into panic and raven-men descending on Adamane’s rangers. It became apparent that Pervost was allied somehow with the (Old)Order of the Raven, or what was left of them. He asked two things of Galen and I: (1) he needed a place for approximately one hundred displaced woodsmen to start their new homes; (2) he needed a group to scout out some possible locations for Pervost’s camp, based on Tasos’ maps. I knew we could find a group suitable for the latter, but the former would require a frank discussion with his highness. Galen, Mik and I quickly got an audience with his highness to discuss what could be arranged. Prince Herrell was anxious about inserting one hundred woodsmen who would normally don’t live in society to enter his lands. Galen and I persuaded him that one hundred men would greatly increase revenue to him in the form of trade goods and tax levies. He agreed that we had valid points and allowed us to lead them into his lands. The usual crew was notified and all decided to participate. Mik told us that Adamane was going to meet us in a few days at a familiar location within the Adri so we had time to prepare without being rushed.
2 Fireseek, 581 CY, Adri Wood
We left for the certain grove where Adamane would meet us today. Walking through the woods in winter for eight hours sucks.
3 Fireseek, 581 CY, Adri Wood
We arrived at the grove with some time without being late. Adamane was happy to see that we were willing to help. He told us that the one hundred woodsmen were actually from three different villages and we’d have to visit all three, starting with the deepest in the wood-we were in for five more days of walking. At this point, we mentioned our concerns to Adamane regarding the raven attacks. Being the best informed on the matter since its beginning, I told the story of the Order of the Raven, much to Galen’s dismay-ah the irony. Adamane seemed very concerned at the mention of Tehlei the Slayer and suggested that after our current commitments we seek information from one of his old traveling companions, another Hero of the Bloody Dawn that lives in Rel Deven. After a short while discussing it further, we decided to sleep for the long journey that lay ahead of us.
4-7 Fireseek, 581 CY, Adri Wood
Traveling through deep woods, deep snow is not fun like the minstrels say it is.
8 Fireseek, 581 CY, Adri Wood
Today we reached the first of three villages to escort back to the lands of Munevar. I didn’t realize how dislike the rangers were because of their anti-slaving actions. It turns out the woodsmen preferred to have their number dwindled due to slaving rather than outright attacks from slavers. It seems like a futile argument to me. The elder of the woodsmen agreed to come with us as long as the rangers weren’t helping-execpt for Mik who was going to lead us all back to Prince Harrell’s lands. Later that night, cries of alarm came from various regions around the camp of the mobile village. The ravens were attacking, probably sensing the proximity of the rangers. An intense melee broke out, the party scattered to cover all directions that the attack was coming from. The attackers composed of ravens, ‘dire’ ravens, and the Raven-men that we encountered in Delbin’s castle in Delcouth. Adamane used that word ‘dire’, I’m not sure what it means other than big. The ravens seemed to swarm the rangers forcing them into cover, making them almost useless for the combat. In my first encounter with a Raven-man I used my club two handedly in order to crush their skulls before they had time to heal. The cries of the raven seemed to rattle the nerves of some of the other party members, while others kept their resolve. I would like history to record that I kept my resolve. I don’t think any of us were in real danger through the melee except one time Ryvvik used his fire gout to burn a raven-man in melee with Cedric, forcing him into cover in the snow or face immolation. Overall the combat was a rout with no serious injuries to report. Thanks to these late night attacks, I think my tolerance for sleep depravation is improving. Until I need no more sleep, this journal entry is closed.
Isaac Elys (Constable of Munevar, Follower of Rao’s Wisdom and Reason)
