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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CleverName" data-source="post: 202222" data-attributes="member: 2591">Nyssa’s Journal: Part 2 (Adventure 41)March 25th (Saint Estonia’s Day)- Managed to catch some sleep after the excitement of last night.  Took my time and with W’s help, managed to look the part of a noble wizardress for the meeting with the glimmerglass.The entire host, all twenty-odd of them, were packed into the Baron’s audience hall.  The local high Druid (Krossbyr, I think his name was) even made an appearance.  (It seems there is some lingering conflict between him and Brec.  I will be curious to find out what it is.)  The Paladin-Captain and the Commenos were chosen as the Imperial representatives, while the glimmerglass choose Kerwyn, their local man (for his experience with Iconians), and Mera, one of Rhanalt’s personal bodyguards.It is all over very quickly and relations are cordial at the end as the group prepare to leave.  The ‘Shining Host’ is indeed that as they wrap themselves is a aura of shimmering magic which allows they to travel with great alacrity.The rest of the heroes gather at the Bad Pony to celebrate a task well done.  W and I join in, we deserve it.  The remaining heroes seem at a bit of a loss on what to do now.  Xerecian is planning a trade caravan of some sort I gather, she seems to be associated with one of the local wine-makers.I managed to talk to Gudlaug and he agrees to take me on a jaunt to Terra Umbra sometime in the near future.  How wonderful, first hand experience at last!  Aeolif seem to think that I will see something disturbing in Terra Umbra but I am quite certain I am mentally fortified to face the shadow images of our world.26th March (Saint Constansus’ Day)- A day to explore Tavia and its close environs.  It seems to be a typical border town, though more prosperous than most.  The sign of recent building and further expansion seems to be in the work.  I am led to believe that Lord Vihar of Rolgulka will soon be completing some major trade agreements with the Baron which should increase the town’s wealth even further.Currently there is a unit of several hundred Alfar mercenaries in a fortified camp across the river from the city.  They seem very well disciplined but I am not sure why they are here.Dinner with Master Basil at the Collegium.  A nice affair where I am able to meet the other journeymen of Tavia (no women though).  They seem like a good enough group, not too stuffy.  Master Basil suggests that I keep in contact with the heroes as they may be able to aid me in my studies of Faerie.27th March (Saint Michael of Thallia’s Day)- Meet with Xerecian for lunch at her home (quite a nice place).  Afterward she is kind and allows me to ask her about her talents.  It turns out that I am right!  She is able to give me some very useful information about natural magic and how she perceives it.  Xerecian is much clearer in her thinking about magic than most of the Fae sorcerers I have talked to.  She was able to answer many questions that most of the Fae could not even begin to formulate a reply to.  She further considers her talent to be a gift from Logos, which I agree, but how that would gall many in the Collegium!A very enlightening lunch and my information on sorcery is greatly improved.That evening, meet with Aoelif and the other fae of the heroes.  The fae heroes are planning on visiting the King of the Helvetti tribe, one of the local rulers and friend of their, and they have invited me along.  Since I have already exhausted Tavia entertainment possibilities, I readily agreed.28th March (Saint Thomas’ Day)- We (Aeolif, Gudlaug, Ingolf, W and I) leave in the morning toward the lands of the Helvetti.  It is easy to tell that we are on the frontier, the roads are only graveled.  I will have to suggest to the Baron that he puts to Alfar mercenaries to work building proper roads.29th March (Saint Basali’s Day)- Last day in Imperial territory for the nonce, tomorrow we cross into the Fae lands of the Cimbri.30th March (Saint Hipparchus’ Day)- We cross into Faerie.  That evening Gudlaug returns with a new pet, a huge wolf.  It is large enough to look me in the eyes!  Poor Fuchs was quite terrified, it took me sometime to entice him out again.Ingolf tells us the story of their last adventure in the Helvetti lands. [Detailed in Chapter IV: Trouble in Helvetti, Adventures 25-31.] Very interesting, I would be fascinating to learn more about the ritual used to create half-dragons.  I am sure that it could be applied in other ways if we could understand the principles behind it.1st April (Saint Xanthippe’s Day)- We arrive a Boar Hall, a recently rebuilt settlement lorded over by Brion, a friend of the heroes who had helped them to defeat the huge shadow-boar.  Inside the hall is a shield coved in fur from one of its ears!  I had no idea such fauna existed in Terra Umbra.  The fur itself is a strange grey-black that vanishes into the shadows.  It is everything I have been told that Umbric creatures should look like.Gudlaug has also acquired a rat who talks!  Very unusual.  I wonder if such things are common among the Fay?Brion warmly welcomes us and holds a large feast in our honour (well, primarily for his friends, the heroes, be we are also included).  The feast runs late into the night with much music and merriment.There are rumours that a dragon, the father of the dark druidess, is in the area looking for revenge.  Brion has heard the rumours, but has no facts that confirm them.  The heroes are of the opinion that it is possible that they are true.2nd April (Fast of Saint Ionna)- The countryside here is quite lovely and it seems to have recovered from what minor damage was inflicted upon it by the machinations of the dark druidess.Ingolf asks me to appraise some of the furs that Brion’s hunters had collected as part of a trade deal with Xerecian.  I give my best estimate, luckily I noted the prices of such in the market of Koressos.Glad that the feast was yesterday, it makes fasting much easier today.3rd April (Saint Alexander’s Day)- The Helvetti do not seem to have many magical wonders of their own, but they are polite and cheerful people.  I learn from Brion’s people that King Brice is a sorcerer and a warrior, which causes some to doubt his kingly abilities as he is more than just a warrior.  Such a strange view.4th April (Saint Leontius’ Day)- As we are preparing to ride out towards King Brice’s Hall, a messenger from the King arrives to learn our itinerary.  It seem we are going first to the Helvetti’s sacred grove to meet with their new druid and then on to King Brice’s hall.  I have never seen a sacred grove first hand before, I am looking forward to it.</blockquote>

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