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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Talindra" data-source="post: 24147" data-attributes="member: 155">Re: Journals of the FiveAsk and ye shall receive.....now if I could just get the rest of these slackers to do some work <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> ****************************************Vallia’s JournalThe Feast of the Moon, 1372 DRThis morning was beautiful, clear and sunny, and would have been perfect were it not for the cold wind whipping through the village, reminding us all that winter is almost upon us. I fear the winter, for I am worried that should we not rescue Aliya soon, we will soon not be able to for some time to come. I have always loved the Feast of the Moon, and I have fond memories of my father telling fanciful stories to crowds of children here in this very village. When I am here, everywhere I look, I see him. It makes me sad, but it also makes me happy, for this is what the Feast of the Moon is all about, to remember those who are gone, and to keep them alive in our hearts.I had resolved when I awoke this morning to forget my cares, and to enjoy this holiday as best I could, for tomorrow we leave for the Zhentarim citadel, and I fear that soon there will be little cause for joy and laughter. Korbol has agreed to lead us to the cliff upon which it rests, though I believe this to be more out of guilt than from a genuine willingness to help. After countless days of unconsciousness, I awoke to find him next to my bed, and the others told me that he had been there every day. He looked troubled, and clearly wished to talk about what I had said, but I forestalled him, saying that I was disappointed in him, disappointed that the help that I had sent because I could not come had been so sorely mistreated. He appeared chastised and remorseful, and asked if she could return to the village, that he might make amends.I looked at him a long time, gauging how much I should tell him. Finally, I told him that the woman had been my twin sister, and that the Zhentarim was even now holding her captive. He appeared fearful, and asked if I meant to save her, to which I merely nodded. He tried to frighten me with tales of men disappearing, to discourage me from my course of action, but once he realized that I would not be deterred, he reluctantly agreed to guide us. I was hesitant to accept, but I do not think he will be in any real danger, and perhaps it will assuage his guilt over his actions. It took longer than I liked to regain my strength, although without Kani’s help it would have taken much longer. Finally I feel strong enough to make the journey, and it was agreed that we would leave the day after the Feast of the Moon.But, getting back to the events of the day, I rose, dressing quickly, eager to take this last opportunity to enjoy myself before setting out. I sought the others, and found them outside, where it appeared that Misha, Kara and Nym were engaged in something of a friendly archery competition, and I noticed Gruush watching. Misha has been standoffish of late, and I am never quite sure where I stand with him, except when we are alone. He seems so much more serious than he used to be, and I have to admit that I yearn for the old Misha. I am sure that his mood stems from his death, and perhaps that part of me that he carries has made him this way. At odd moments, I even wonder if I carry a part of him, for I must admit I have not felt this lighthearted in years, in spite of our troubles.I began to inquire as to what everyone had planned for the day. I myself was very intrigued about the giant beetle races to be held in a nearby town. I had heard many stories of the Ki’o, as the beetles are called, and I was anxious to see one for myself. Everyone else agreed to go, but before I could ask Misha he entered the house. I called him telepathically, and he said that I had not asked him to go, to which I retorted that he had not given me the chance. He seems so touchy, and I am not sure how to handle him anymore. He agreed to go, and emerged from the house dressed for battle, which the others seemed to find odd for a festival. I saw his point however, and I donned my armor underneath my cloak, and secured my sword on my back, leaving my hair free to cover it. We mounted our horses and made the short trip to Ghiaranthor, which was a small village, with a large swath of land surrounding it in a circle, devoid of brush and any other obstacles. Obviously, this must the racetrack.I made certain that I warned the others of the customs of this town. They do not use money, but rather expect everyone to work as needed. In return, anything you wish is free. However, at the festival, there are many outsiders who come to watch the races, and gambling is rampant. We had scarcely dismounted before Misha disappeared, saying only that he was going to look around. I was not pleased, but I said nothing. I was determined to enjoy myself.... little did I know.Kara, Nym, Gruush and I wandered the village, enjoying the sights and sounds. And the smells! I had forgotten how dearly I love feasts! We made our way to the stables to get a look at the Ki’o, and I nearly jumped out of my skin, as I rounded a corner and came face to face with one. They are interesting creatures, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to see them, although it will be a long time before I care to see them again. But I get ahead of myself again.As I turned from the stable, two girls, identical down to their dimples, approached Kara and Nym. They were pretty, blonde haired and blue eyed, and appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen. They were very forward, introducing themselves as Koren and Kalina. Koren seemed very taken with Karanaj, and he seemed unsure how to respond. I told him mentally to enjoy himself. I am sure Aliya would not mind, and I worry for him. He smiles too little these days. Seeing the others with a partner brought out something mischievous in me, and before I knew what I was doing, I took Gruush’s arm, laughing. The girls dragged Nym and Kara over to a booth, which was giving out Tripsy, an alcoholic beverage that is a specialty in this town. Gruush and I followed. I was feeling happy and carefree...I should have known it would not last.As I turned from the booth, Misha appeared out of the crowd, coming up behind me with a hug and kissing me on the cheek. He informed us that he had gotten us a job, as he casually draped an arm over my shoulders.  I shrugged him off; he would get in the way if I needed to draw my sword. I was furious with him, and had half a mind to tell him what he could do with his ‘job’ but I restrained myself, waiting to hear what he had gotten us into this time. It seems that the local bookkeepers, two brothers, had received more bets on the races than they had anticipated. One of them, Rhet Flanson, had hired us as protection. The job did not seem too difficult, and my anger cooled a little as we approached the betting table. I noticed that Karanaj did not follow us, and he soon disappeared with the girl. I did not mind, thankful that perhaps at least one of us would have an enjoyable day.The first race began, and I forgot myself in my excitement. I watched open-mouthed as the beetles raced by, so quickly that their riders were almost a blur. It was amazing to see, although I think riding one is an experience I can do without. The second race was uneventful, but by the third race, I began to notice some rumblings in the crowd, and glanced at Rhet Flanson, seeing him frowning. It appears that a man named Vajj, a local crimelord whom Misha met during his jaunt through the city, had won his bet on every race thus far. This seemed like incredible luck to me, and to Misha as well, who began to bet as Vajj did on each race. The crowd grew more and more restless as Vajj won the next two races as well, some openly glaring at him. I watched him closely, even as I conversed with Misha mentally; he was trying to convince me he was going to donate his hard-earned winnings to the church.  Well, at least he said he loved me; I never get tired of hearing that.  There was a brief pause as it was announced that one of the riders for the sixth race had taken ill, and that a rider from the seventh race was replacing him. Vajj did not seem worried, although the crowd stared at him even more as the race began, and the Ki’o from the seventh race stumbled and fell, obviously drunk. There began to be whispers of cheating, and fixing the race. Misha, Nym and I headed over towards Vajj, as Gruush circled around behind. Four large men, obviously bodyguards, accompanied Vajj. Our discussion did not go well. Vajj denied cheating or fixing the race in any way, and in his foolishness even tried to charm me. Misha restrained himself, much to my surprise, and as the sixth race began, Vajj headed over to Rhet Flanson to claim his winnings thus far. We followed, as did the bodyguards.Rhet refused to pay him, accusing him openly of cheating, and Vajj threatened him, motioning his bodyguards forward. I sighed, pulling the sword off my back, and stood between them. Misha and Nym stood with me, and I caught a glimpse of Gruush in the crowd, moving towards us. Misha mentally said something about a kiss for luck, and I grabbed him and kissed him hard before I could stop myself.  Vajj slipped back into the crowd and it did not take us long to subdue the bodyguards, although one escaped our grasp. We moved through the crowd, searching for Vajj as the seventh race got underway. We found him just as the riders rounded the final turn, but we were not quick enough.Vajj appeared to be enraged, and leapt onto the racetrack into the path of the oncoming Ki’o. The beetles scattered, veering off into the crowd, trampling some. Screams filled the air, as Misha managed to catch Vajj. I helped as best I could, trying to keep others from the path of the rampaging beetles. Finally, the beetles were calmed, and the villagers ringed Misha and Vajj. Misha had lost all semblance of restraint at this point, and seemed determined to beat a confession out of Vajj. I intervened yet again, imploring him to let the villagers settle their own disputes. He acquiesced, but landed a parting punch to the stomach, for me, or so he says. That man frustrates me so; I think those green eyes are very appropriate. But it is that same passion that I love, so I should not complain too much, I suppose. The villagers moved forward, as the riders pushed their way through the crowd. One of the Ki’o handlers shoved a young boy, named Maeris, down next to Vajj. The story quickly unfolded. Vajj had threatened all the racers to coerce them into allowing his choice to win the race. Maeris had agreed to do as Vajj had ordered, then had gotten all the Ki’o in his race except his drunk, to ensure his victory, in order to impress Koren, it would appear. Vajj had seen Maeris winning, and had become so angered that he interrupted the race. The villagers were not pleased, but they ruled wisely, I thought. Maeris was sentenced to shoveling Ki’o manure for a year, while all of Vajj’s possessions were confiscated, and he himself was exiled from the town. I was relieved and happy to see justice done, but my heart sank as these villagers turned to us. I knew well that they were a peaceful people, and I knew just as well what was coming. They asked us to leave. To give credit where credit is due, not one of my companions made a complaint. We returned to our horses, Kalina and Koren trailing us. They asked if they could return to Ashabenford with us, and I saw no harm in it. I could use some help from some women; I seem to be woefully outnumbered. There were protests from the others, but I ignored them.We returned to the house, where Koren, Kalina and I changed our clothes for dresses, although I still secured my sword upon my back underneath my hair. Koren pulled Karanaj into the dancing, and Kalina was with Nym. Seeing Misha nowhere in sight, I tried to dance with Gruush, but he was having none of it. Laughing, I gave up, and danced away into the crowd. It did not take me long to attract several young men, and I cannot deny that I enjoyed the attention. I was chatting amiably with them when I heard a man’s voice behind me. I started, but when I looked around, I saw nothing. Misha materialized out of the crowd, wanting to know what was wrong. Apparently he had been watching me, which I was not sure I liked. That conversation distracted me temporarily, but after a moment I remembered what had startled me in the first place and told Misha quickly. A man had said Kara's name...he was looking for him...to kill him!  Misha grabbed my arm and made haste for the house, but when I asked why, he would only say to trust him. I do.... of course I do, but I like to know what’s going on. Sometimes I think he tells me too little, as if I am to be protected.We arrived at the house just after Karanaj and Gruush, and proceeded inside. It did not take long for the attack to come. Two half-orcs and a human burst through the back door, just as another human and half-orc came through the front. As the two at the front door moved forward, I saw the man behind them. It chilled me to look at him, and I knew without a doubt that he was an evil cleric, though of which god, I am not sure. Gruush and Misha faced off against those at the back door, while Kara and I took the front.  The half-orcs and human at the back door hurt Gruush badly, but he managed to get in several good blows himself.  I swung at the half-orc in front of me, wounding it badly, even as the evil cleric cast his foul magic against Misha.  The cleric cried “Get the girl” and my blood ran cold.  On my second swing, I took the half-orcs head and turned to the human.  The cleric cast some sort of fear spell on Kara, who promptly ran out the door, leaving me all alone.  I slashed wickedly at the human, wounding him, so that his counterattack missed.  I slashed him again, as Misha shot the cleric full of arrows.  Amazingly, he remained standing.  The human nicked me as I was distracted by Gruush falling to the ground, unconscious or worse.  The cleric took the opportunity to chant at Misha, and my beloved went screaming out the door, a victim of fear as well.  I felt very alone.Kara managed to overcome his fear and returned as I took the humans head and turned.  He quickly cast magic missiles at the cleric, which flung him against the wall, smoking through a vicious hole in his chest.  The two half-orcs caught me between them, swinging hard and I nearly fell.  I had to step back from the action and heal myself quickly, even as Karanaj ran a half-orc through.  I stepped forward as he did so, and took the other orc’s head.  Together we turned to face the human, who was unscathed.  We could not seem to hit him with mundane means, but Kara hit him with some of those wonderful magic missiles.  They were not enough, however, and with one last vicious swing, I took his head as well, spraying blood everywhere, and managing to get quite covered myself.As the last of them fell, I looked around wearily.  Gruush was down, bleeding badly, and I didn’t pause, but ran to heal him.   Kara and I were hurt pretty badly as well, although Misha had not a scratch. I quickly set about healing, and I was happy to note that although I was tired, my strength seems to be more than adequate for the road ahead. As we tossed the bodies outside, and I recovered a few interesting potions, I recognized the men we had killed as Zhentarim raiders, which filled me with dread. Do they know we’re coming?It does not matter, I will go anyway. I realized suddenly that Misha was prattling on about leaving immediately, a foolhardy scheme if ever I heard one. I cannot blame him much; he is from Amn, he does not understand. This is a wild land, and in the dalelands, there is safety only in numbers, and not much then. To go off into the woods with our band of five...it would not be wise. The Zhentarim aside, the drow are more than worry enough. I refused to go with him. He grew angry, and said he would go anyway, to which I replied by entering my bedroom and shutting the door. He continued to rail at me in my head, and I grew weary of it. He did ride away, and it was with a heavy heart that I watched him go. I had not thought that he would leave me unprotected, but it appeared I was wrong. I asked him mentally to leave the ring, my ring, but he would not. Karanaj came into my room then, to provide comfort. I gave my ring to him, not wishing to be connected to Misha anymore, not wishing to have that reminder. Kara argued with me, clearly seeing my pain, but I would not be swayed. If Misha would abandon me now, over something so small, then I could not depend on him not to do so when the stakes are much higher. I bade Kara leave me with a gentle good night, and I sat on the bed as he left, too numb to even cry.I heard the door open again, and I turned, thinking Kara had come back, but to my surprise it was Misha who entered. He wished to know what I had done with my ring, but I refused to tell him. I must admit that I was angry and hurt, and I wanted to hurt him. I asked him all the questions that had been building up.... why he was so serious.... why he had changed. He did not have any answers for me, although he made some quips, and for a moment seemed to be my Misha of old. He claimed he did not want to be a leader, but I told him that he would be whether he wished it or not.  He thanked me for my help, something he has never done before.  I told him that he was too emotional, too rash, and he did not deny it.  He said, "It is funny. I told your mother that you needed me... but it is the other way around. I need you...” It brought a smile to my face to hear it, and before I knew it, we were kissing. Misha pulled back from me for a moment, saying "I will warn you, I have changed in ways beyond my appearance...I just feel... that my bond is much closer with you than it ever has been with anyone...and I... I am committed to succeeding at this endeavor... at the cost of my own life.  Corellon and Selune brought me back... but we both know that the reason was you.  My life is insignificant... you are all that matters.  Never will I leave you."  I was speechless at this, and could only respond by kissing him again.   The kissing led to other pleasant distractions, and it was some time before I rose from the bed. I sit here now, writing, watching him sleep. I love him so much it is like an ache inside me, and I fear for him as well. He has become part of a much grander scheme than he intended, and I fear just knowing me has changed him in ways he will never imagine. Some of those changes have been good, and others have not. He has been reborn, his life reshaped, he is the pawn of two gods, and it is all due to me. I shall retrieve my ring from Karanaj in the morning, and I shall never willingly remove it again. I sit here looking at him, and I realize that what he is, I have wrought. I shall never leave his side, I shall share every burden that he bears, I will die for him if I must, for I have made him what he is, and for that I am sorry. I shall always be near, whether he loves me or not, and I shall protect him, even as he thinks he protects me. I owe him that much, and more. I shall seal myself to him in the way of my people, even as I stand from this desk, and walk to the bed, bending over him, and brushing his lips gently with mine. It is my promise.--Vallia Woodshadow</blockquote>

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