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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Meliamne" data-source="post: 782" data-attributes="member: 95">The Journal is From Karanaj, during his solo session. I am posting it for him, and it begins the story, well his part in the story anyway.  Karanaj's First Journal EntryI must admit at the start, I’m not very good at this, but as a new found hero, I think it is, at least a little bit, my duty to write down my tale for all those admirers out there. My name is Karanaj. Until a few days ago, I was just a simple traveler. Well, that’s not entirely true. The average traveler can’t use magic, and even among those that can, there are very few that do not require study to know how to use magic.I have been on my own ever since my father lost his job, and wasn’t able to support all his children. My older brother and I were sent out of the house, and since we were complete opposites, we didn’t even consider traveling together. I eventually made it to a town of no particular mention, which is where I became the hero I am now. I saved a caravan bringing some rather expensive goods to the city for a small band of goblins. I remember quite well that the band consisted of five goblins, but I choose not to correct anyone on the number.It was my first morning as a hero, and it began as any other morning. Jynx (that’s my cat and long time road companion) woke me up by licking at my face, and I gently put her back down on the floor. I got dressed for breakfast, and headed down to see what kind of slop they would serve today. The oatmeal wasn’t too terrible, and Jynx thoroughly enjoyed her milk. I noticed two men watching me, but I paid them no mind, since I was a hero after all. One of the men came over to my table, and I recognized him as Kathkallen, the man who had given me a finely crafted crossbow as a reward for saving the caravan. He invited me to come and sit with his associate, who I later learned was Bezzem.They offered me a job of protecting their caravan to a nearby city, which I gladly accepted. I was glad to have something in the future for me. Kathkallen told me that we would leave the next morning, and that if I had need of any equipment, that I should find it immediately. I had nothing to buy, really, but I set out through the city to see if anything caught my eye. Little did I know....About mid day, I was getting a little hungry again, and I saw a woman peddling fruit. I came over and asked to buy some, and she offered me an entire basket for nothing. I just took a few pieces from the basket and told her to keep the rest. Right about that time, I felt a small tug on my crossbow. I wheeled around to see a small lad trying to remove it from my belt. Now, being the optimist that I am, I simply took it off my belt, and showed it to the boy. I soon felt another tug, this time at my money pouch. I reached around, and caught the urchin trying to take my money. I first child kicked me quite squarely in the shin, and I let the other child go.I was then approached by a beautiful elven woman. She had wonderful red hair, and green eyes. I had not seen such beautiful hair in quite some time; I knew then and there that I would be staying with her for the remainder of the day. She asked if I was alright, and, of course, there was nothing wrong with me. I quickly said that I was fine, and then began flirting with her.I have always thought of myself as a sweet talker, but she seemed so very eager to..... I didn’t really know what, but she was warming up to me very nicely. She took me to a small shop where the man she apprenticed for sold his goods. She went into the back room, and brought forth and elderly elf. The elf’s name was Aust, and the girl’s name was Talindra, as I found out from Aust. Aust asked me if I was going on a trip with a man named Kathkallen, and I told him I was. The old man smiled, and said that that was what I was meant to do. I didn’t know what to think of that, but I’ve found that even those people that merely claim to see the future have a grain of truth in them. He produced a ring, and held it out, saying that if I were to ever see an elven girl in trouble, that I should help her. I promised him that I would (thought I was thinking of Talindra at the time), and he gave me the ring, which I recognized as a Ring of Protection. I thanked Aust as he was ushered back into the back room by Talindra. I stayed exactly where I was. I had no intent of leaving without that woman on my arm. She came out again, and asked me if I had need of anything before I left on my journey. I didn’t, of course, but I figured that the only way to get to know her was to walk and talk with her for a while.We went to an alchemist’s shop. I flirted the entire way, Talindra’s arm hooked in mine, just as I had planned. We arrived at the shop, and after a short exchange between Gnome, Talindra, and myself I had bought two flasks of Alchemist’s Fire and two vials of acid for half the normal price. We took our leave of him, when he had to turn his attention to something happening in the back. I walked outside and stopped in the road. It was getting to be late afternoon, and I still wanted to talk with Talindra. I asked her to take us to the finest restaurant in town.We arrived at the restaurant, and the owner was more than pleased to seat us at his restaurant. We sat, and I ordered a bottle of the finest elven wine. I was absolutely intent on making this evening perfect. We ordered our food, and Talindra even ordered something for Jynx. We had a most enjoyable meal, and I was really falling for the elf. I tried to pay, but she was so insistent, and one look into her deep green eyes, and I just couldn’t say no. She paid, and we began to walk to no where specific. She was a bit tipsy from the wine, and I didn’t even consider taking her back to my room, for fear of my conscience attacking me forever (oh, what little did I know....). I actually walked in the opposite direction of the inn I was staying at, but Talindra looked at me again with those eyes, and asked to go to my room. Again, I just couldn’t tell her no.We finally reached my room, and I came in first. I was looking everywhere but at her. I noticed, though that she was checking the door and windows. I asked what she was doing, and she only produced a ring. She told me that it was a sign to her sister that I was accepted. She told me that her sister, Vallia, was going on a quest that could most likely kill her, if she did it alone. My heart sank faster and lower than I could ever imagine. I was hurt that she could and would act like she did. I told her as much, and all she did was kiss me. She told me that she truly did like me, and that she couldn’t very well leave right now. I had to turn my face quickly, so she couldn’t use those eyes on me once again. I had to refuse her offer. I had never met anyone that I loved so much that I couldn’t even sleep with them, for fear of making them something less to me, and the rest of the world. This beautiful woman was the first, and probably the last. I told her I couldn’t, and told her that she could have the bed. She didn’t understand why I didn’t take her offer, but she turned my head back to those eyes, and told me that I was not going to sleep on the floor. I couldn’t argue, and I tossed and turned until I finally fell asleep.I awoke the next morning to see Talindra lying there on the floor, with the sun shining on her, making her look only that much more beautiful. I sat there until she woke up, simply staring at her, and feeling a slight bit of sadness. She woke up and saw the sadness in my face. I told her that I didn’t want to leave, but that I had already been committed to a job that I couldn’t get out of. She didn’t show any sign of sadness, which only served to make me worse. I dressed for breakfast, and we headed down together to eat. It was a most enjoyable breakfast, thanks to the company I had. We finished, and I began to set off at a very slow pace to the place where I was to meet Bezzem and Kathkallen. We arrived, all too soon for me. I could only look at her as I thought of what I was about to do. She gave me a long kiss, and I wish I could have stayed there forever, but I had to leave. I looked at my newfound love, and said my goodbye. It was a bit sad, but I felt as though I would see her again, so I felt some hope in that. I also had the ring she gave me, which I found allowed me to talk to communicate with her in my thoughts.The caravan set off, and I kept my mind on business as best I could. It was hard, and I wanted so badly to turn around and go back, but I managed to keep myself focused. We got to a stopping place that night, and Bezzem took the first watch. Before we even managed to get to sleep, we heard Kathkallen yelling. He was being assaulted by a few men. Bezzem and I managed to fight off the five men, and escape with only a few scratches. Kathkallen was hurt more seriously, but he was still conscious, and he would heal by the next day. After that event, I slept quite shallowly, but still managed to get a good night’s rest. We made it to our destination the next day, when I was promptly paid. Kathkallen and Bezzem both thanked me for my help, and went about to sell their wares. I was once again alone in the city, except that this time I had a mission on my hands. I needed to find Vallia and see how I could help her on her quest.</blockquote>

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