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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Meliamne" data-source="post: 784" data-attributes="member: 95">Vallia’s Journal3rd day of Leaffall, 1372 DRSometimes I wonder just how much people control their own destiny. Today, I had an experience that, well, it felt like fate. After the events of the past few days, I had thought that I was doomed to be alone in this, but now……I don’t know. I have been haunting the Waft for days, looking for adventurous types to help me get the Jewel back, and I thought that I would never find anyone suitable. Of course, I’m still not sure I have.I had decided to retrieve the Jewel of Amn on my own. None of the adventurers and mercenaries I had found had been suitable. Mostly human. they showed an appalling lack of manners and none of them had the good sense to take direction. I had finally decided that I could take a few Zhentarim on my own. After all, I am Vallia Woodshadow, daughter of Queen Amlaruil, ruler of the elves! Well, THAT didn’t work, it still sounds ridiculous. Trying to convince yourself of something never seems to work. I wish Aliya was here. She is the one who always takes the lead, I am just not meant for this. She always knows what to say, everyone loves her. It seems impossible that she has found her ma’sheira, but I suppose it must be true. And a human at that! What kind of name is Karanaj? Well, at least he will help me, I will not be alone. Grandfather seems to have made sure of that. I could hardly believe it when Aliya told me. I don’t’ know what that old man was thinking, telling him to “promise he would help an elven girl in need”. What kind of nonsense is that? Well, one can only hope that he is as taken with her as she is with him. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he didn’t ever seek me out at all. But I digress……I was in the Waft today, gathering supplies, when I heard sounds of a scuffle. It is ridiculous, thieves in broad daylight, I don’t know what the locals are thinking. This doesn’t happen in elven cities. I wore my cloak with its hood up, not wishing to be seen, since I did not know if the Zhentarim had left the city. I did not want to become involved in the skirmish, however, the sheep in the marketplace merely stood by and watched, so I leapt to the poor man’s defense. A few others joined me, but I took little notice. Once the threat was finished, I had subdued one of the thieves, and once I had ascertained his motive, I began to take note of the others standing about.A large half-orc dominated the scene, and had done a fairly good job intimidating the thieves, reducing the bloodshed. He was of particular interest to me, he seemed to be exactly what I sought. He gave his name to be Gruush. I immediately began to scheme how to convince him to assist me. When I glanced at the fellow next to him, I knew immediately that this must be Aliya’s Karanaj. She was right, he IS handsome, and I will give her that. Not my type of course, Aliya always did like the ones who were goody-goody. Still, he would serve my needs, and if he loves my sister as she loves him, I will at least try to see that he makes it back in one piece. I wrinkled my nose as I looked at the person near him. A halfling! Just what I need! Useless, lazy, halflings have never done anything useful. I just prayed I wouldn’t have to be saddled with one. And their constant prattling, it was enough to make me sick right there. I cannot even recall her name. Finally, I looked at the man who had fought so well at my side. Handsome and well built, it was obvious he thought a lot of himself. Burning Rose indeed. What kind of name is that? Pride goeth before a fall, but still……..I would not mind if I could convince him to come as well. As I was looking at him, the thief attempted to flee. Quickly, he flung a dagger in his direction. He must have held it ready, he could not have drawn that fast. I saw the look in his eyes, he wanted to kill the man, and he wanted his dagger to find its mark. Of course, he is but human, to kill is in their blood. Luckily the dagger did not find its mark, and the thief caught it in the leg. He was turned over to the Watch, and I turned my attention to the man I had just risked my life for. I noticed that Burning Rose had managed to loot the thieves’ bodies quite easily, and had pocketed the proceeds rather quickly. It made no difference to me, so I refused to lower myself to mention it.He was a rich merchant, that was obvious, and he was very grateful. He admitted that the thieves had been after his trade goods, and said that he had been unable to sell them because his contracts had been stolen. I sympathized to an extent, but as I was about to leave, the others agreed to aid him in retrieving them. Thinking quickly, I decided to aid as well, wanting to observe this odd group, and see if it yielded anyone worthy to help me with my endeavor, though I doubted it. I accepted the merchant’s money, though truly I had little need of it. I did not wish to stand out by refusing to do so. I lowered my hood as the merchant spoke, and I did not see any of the others take undue notice of me. Perhaps they were surprised to see an elven woman, but they hid it well. Karanaj recognized me immediately, and immediately made himself known. To give credit where it is due, I do like him. I can see Aliya’s attraction. However, Misha, I could do without. His arrogance is only outclassed by his ignorance, it seems only fitting that he and the halfling have taken to each other. I tried to restrain myself and let others take the lead, but apparently there is not a leader in the bunch. Impatiently, I suggested a course of action, which was agreed upon. Karanaj and I took advantage of the time to shop and gather information. Burning Rose and the halfling went off together (they deserve each other, I say) and Gruush mumbled something about a mission for his monastery (A monk half-orc, you don’t see that every day.) During our shopping, we found that a porter named Bernal, whom the thieves had identified as the man who had hired them, is lazy, and often ends his day early, at the Silent Siren, drinking. I thought to myself, I would not have a hard time roughing him up for information, a lazy drunkard……just thinking of it makes me sick.When the others returned, it appeared that they had gathered similar information, apparently this Bernal is well known for his vices. In addition, this Silent Siren was where the merchant, Kathkallen, was staying. Since we had been hired to protect him at night, it made sense to make our way there and question Bernal. I volunteered myself for the task. Karanaj waited outside, while Gruush took a seat near the door. Burning Rose and the halfling of course, took seats together. I made my way to Bernal, and proceeded to fawn over him. A little flattery told me what I wished to know, that he was hired by a woman named Anteashara, who had a wealthy patron in the city. I communicated with Karanaj, who came in as my jealous husband. He actually did rather well, and Bernal left faster than I would have thought possible for the disgustingly fat and drunken man. I made a mental note to wash vigorously that night, just being close to him made me feel dirty. Karanaj and I made our way outside, where we met with the others. The halfling, Kay, as Burning Rose so affectionately calls her, apparently cannot hold her ale, and was very tipsy. Burning Rose, or Misha as the halfling has named him, went back into the tavern to speak with the barkeep, and learned that the man who had the contracts, Galliad, had left with a blonde courtesan. I should have known. Men are so predictable. Misha felt it necessary to go to the Path of Silk Flowers, where the courtesans dwell. Personally, I think he had another reason in mind other than searching for Galliad. I wanted to track Galliad’s movements, and finally after much pointless arguing, decided it was easier and frankly more enjoyable for me, to let Misha and Kay go their own way. However, before we split, Karanaj, seeming as disgusted with Kay as I, used a little magic to knock her off Misha’s shoulders. We left amidst her cries of attack. I took Karanaj and Gruush, and we made for the Waft to see Jazasari Arrasti, who was supposed to purchase the goods from Kathkallen.When we arrived at Arrasti’s pavilion, he was not in residence, but his scribe Omannar informed us that Galliad scheduled his appointment. Also, he talked to a female porter just outside, and Omannar overheard her recommend a business called the “Platinum” something or other. While we searched the Waft for a sign with ‘Platinum’ on it, we encountered a crowd surrounding a man auctioning vanilla. Once the auction ended, we attempted to question him. It ended badly when Gruush let his temper and his nature, get the better of him, and tried to threaten the merchant, who began to scream. We left quickly, before the Watch arrived. Having searched the Waft, we made our way to the Atrium, the financial square of the city. We found a shop called the “Platinum Quill” but it was unfortunately closed. We decided to return the following day, and made our way back to the Waft to seek Misha and Kay, as much as I would have preferred to leave them. We found them in the Waft, and Misha seemed strangely satisfied. I am sure he indulged his baser instincts in the Path of Silk Flowers, and I do not think he would be an asset to my quest, no matter how handsome or good with a sword.As night began to fall, we returned to the Silent Siren to fulfill our promise to watch over the merchant. We shared what little information we had gleaned with him, and I had just began to relax somewhat when a strange old crone came in the door. She appeared to be the usually swindler, wishing to tell our fortunes. I let Misha deal with her, until he became too harsh, as I have come to expect. She appeared to faint, but spoke what sounded like a prophecy. When she awoke, she seemed to remember nothing of what she had said. She left soon thereafter, as I puzzled over the riddle.“You seek a wizard who lives in the shadow of another wizard, and thieves who operate in the shadows of other thieves. The spirit of a man recently slain says you will find the wizard where sight meets sound and smell.”The others retired, as did I, still mulling over the events of the day. I came to my room, to write in my journal, but I cannot seem to concentrate. There is…..something about Misha. I see something when I look at him, but…………..I do not know. I am tired, and tomorrow promises to be just as trying as today. Perhaps, unlike the others, I will merely see how things turn out. After all, I have all the time in the world.*This date coincides with Karanaj's First Journal Entry and Misha's story which is still forthcoming.</blockquote>

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