Diary of Idril Malthen

### 20,123

After many months of meditation I have made my decision - I am going to leave Parnos and search for Aerith.

Since my conversation with Falben I have been plagued with dreams of Aerith. What is she is still alive? What if she is enslaved?

I always thought she had wandered away and was surely dead somewhere, but now I'm sure she was taken. I cannot stay, safe within the temple, knowing that she, and others, may have been smuggled away. I need to know what happened to her. I need to find her and apologise for not being more attentive, for not loving her as much as I should have. Maybe father was right about me all these years. I need to know for sure.

Yesterday, while at prayer, I was visited by Huwl. I can only describe it as a golden feeling of pure certainty. I must search for Aerith and discover whether Falben's rumours about children being taken have any truth within them. I have spoken at length with Abbot Galad and he has approved my quest. I will set out in the 1st month of the new year.

Abbot Galad has found a caravan leaving from Parnos and headed to Bacland by ship. He has gained me passage with them as a cleric with medical skills. I have never travelled by boat before and the journey terrifies me. I am suddenly painfully aware of how protected my life has been, how narrow my experience. I wonder if I really have the skills to take this trip, but I have no choice.

I set out yesterday. Mother and Venali came. I didn't cry, although it was close. Venali brought me the most beautiful scale mail I have ever seen. Each scale is crafted in shades of blue and purple and shaped like tiny feathers. It is remarkably light and flexible - truly beautiful craftsmanship. Mother has given me her bow. I remember her teaching me to shoot when life was happier. She used to smile then. I know it is her most prized possession. She had other weapons but this is the only one I ever saw her holding while meditating. Father didn't come. I didn't expect him to. Abbot Galad presented me with a mace. It is my weapon of choice, as he knows. Although beautifully balanced and crafted it makes me nervous that I clearly may need arming.

I joined the caravan and am headed to the docks, where we have passage on a ship bound to Bacland.

### The Ship

We have set sail today on a large vessel called The Sunfish. Life onboard is hard and the vessel runs like a well honed community. Every member of the crew knows their job and does it with great skill and diligence. The vessel is captained by an older Lizardman called Captain Gizmuxo he has the strangest eyes! They are lidless and a bright yellow. Every now and then he licks them to keep them moist. It takes a little getting used to. He has many scars - I asked him about them and he simply laughed and said "pirates". I am hopeful we don't run into any as my medicines are running low - primarily treating the caravan merchants for seasickness. The crew laugh at them being sick over the rail. The larger merchant has lost so much weight on the trip that we needed to take in his trousers as they keep falling down.

### The Letter

The strangest thing happened today. On returning to my cabin I found an envelope, addressed to me, slid under my cabin door. The envelope says the letter should be opened on the 6th day of the 1st month of 20,124. I asked Captain Gizmuxo, the quartermaster and all the travellers in my caravan but no-one recognised the envelope or saw who had delivered it. I put the letter safely in my pack and largely forgot about it in the daily routines of life on the ship.

### Landfall - Thursday 4th day, 1st month, Year 20,124

We arrived into port at Evesfol in Bacland. I am suddenly terrified. I got dressed in my armour, it made me feel a little safer, and stood with Captain Gizmuxo as he readied the ship for landfall.

I set off into the town from the docks. It is so different from Parnos. The docks are busy with several other ships at anchor. There was an old triton, with very little hair, shouting orders on the dock and a small wharf rat (I think) looking harassed and dropping papers everywhere. This seems to be a busy trading port and there are lots of people boarding and disembarking from ships.

Walking into town, following the crowds, I saw a temple to Gabriel, the Angel of Humans. I took the opportunity to visit the temple and pay my respects to the clerics here. It feels like a safe starting point as everything is quite overwhelming. The priest recommended an Inn, "The Golden Boar" and pointed me in the right direction. I found accommodation and secured my pack there. It will be nice to have meals and drinks on a stable table, although everything still feels a little unsteady right now!

As I unpacked my robes and checked I have all my possessions I found the envelope. I have a few days before I can open it, although I'm unclear why I should wait! I left the letter safely in my prayer book and headed down to the bar. The food here is reasonable and the ale is good. I considered how to start my search for Aerith over lunch.

The barman told me that there are inns which are frequented by "less savoury" types of person. I asked for directions and decided to try and get some information! It did not go well. I found the Drunk Mouse without difficulty. It's a pretty run down place which could do with either cleaning or demolishing! I walked in and the place went silent. That should have been a warning I guess. I went to the bar and asked for a drink. The barman was a weaselly looking man who seemed to be very twitchy and shifty. I asked for an ale and asked if he had heard anything about children being taken or traded. I pushed a gold piece across the bar! The gold vanished and he told me that I should be careful what I talk about and to seek information in bigger cities.

As I left every eye was on me. I think, with hindsight, doling out gold is probably a risky strategy in places like this and information may have a lower price in some circles rather than others. I headed back to my rooms at a slightly faster pace than I set out and kept a tight grip on my mace as I walked though the town.

### The letter

I opened my letter this morning. I couldn't even read it! The script looks Elvish in nature and some of the characters look familiar but I couldn't even begin to decipher it's meaning. Who would deliver me an anonymous note, in a language I can't read?

I'm going to have to try and find someone with better language and translation skills than me if I'm ever going to get to the bottom of it.

I asked about having documents translated at the bar and they suggested that I try someone called "The Professor" who can be found at the Blue Arrow Inn. Given that this is close by it seems like a reasonable option to try after breakfast.

### Meeting People

The day started with a strange letter that I couldn't read and became stranger pretty quickly. When I arrived at the Blue Arrow Inn there was a queue of people talking to a young wood elf sitting at a table. A feisty dwarf was demanding to see "The Professor". It seemed he had been trying to see her for a while and was getting very frustrated at the poor girl. As I approached the table I noticed that he too had a letter, that looked much like mine so I asked him about it. He's called Hargrim and also received an anonymous envelope.

As we were talking a huge man with long hair and a mammoth bone on his back came in, followed in by a very pale looking man with strange blue eyes. He looked like he'd just come from work in a field or a forge and needed a good wash! They had letters too. So we decided to go and visit this professor together.

The Professor turned out to be a drunk elf called Ethel. Apparently she is hard to get into see as she's clearly either drunk or hungover. She was asleep on a desk with bottles everywhere. I tipped a jug of water over her head - it's a simple remedy that has worked on fighters, knocked out in practice, for many years - it worked here too!

The professor agreed to translate our letters but for a huge price. Even my rich upbringing recognised that it was entirely unreasonable. She offered an alternative payment in the form of mushrooms - collected from a local forest. Drenn, the very big guy, said he was confident at finding stuff like this so we all agreed to pay in mushrooms.

We headed out to the forest and it was pretty easy to find the mushrooms, they were being eaten by a kobold group and what seemed to be a huge giant chicken on a chain. I fried the kobald with a small blast of flame from Huwl and Drenn finished off the chicken. The rest ran away and we collected the mushrooms with minimal trouble. Drenn thinks these mushrooms cause hallucinations.

We took the mushroom's back to Ethel and exchanged them for our letters. It made even less sense after translation. Apparently it was written in Old Eladrian, a language I thought was long dead.

Everyone appeared to be in the same position. A note in Old Eladrian that made little sense when translated. Ethel was very interested in these notes and asked to keep the originals. We elected to keep the original notes but to leave Ethel copies of the original Eladrian. Given the wine, mushrooms and the state of her office I'd be surprised if she can even find them by now. As we left there were many people in the inn trying to get appointments to see Ethel. It seems unlikely that there is such a need for academic services in a small place like this and I do wonder if she sells those mushrooms.

We headed back to an inn to study these notes in more detail. The pale, blue eyed man is called Valdis. Apparently he doesn't drink alcohol. He asked for apple juice but didn't want the cider he was given. He seems quite strange. When all of our notes were laid out together there seemed to be a coded message contained within. I read it and have scribbled it down for future reference as I'm not sure what we are being dragged into here. After some food and ale we decide that there is strength in numbers and I can see that these somewhat strange fellows have skills that I do not and may be helpful in finding Aerith.

It makes sense to stay with them for now and see where this strange letter takes us. Given the relative need for gold we have decided to go and visit the docks tomorrow and see what we can do to assist Xal.

### The Docks

So what a day it's been! So much has happened. It turns out that Old Xal was the triton with very little hair I saw, shouting orders, on the day I arrived and there has been some smuggling, with goods going missing.

There were so many places to look and people to talk to. I went aboard a large ship called The Sabrina. I met the most amazing woman. She was the captain and is called Bess Ashglade. She has black hair worn in a bob and was wearing a frilled white shirt with la large overcoat, leather boots and a hat. She had taken captaincy of the ship against serious competition and seemed to have complete control over a huge operation. After my recent journey and time spent with Captain Gizmuxo I know this is no small achievement. I wasn't sure whether she was involved in smuggling but would have quite happily spent sometime getting to know her better.

While I was on The Sabrina, Valdis went to check out the other ship and Drenn and Hagrim disappeared off into town. When we met up later Hagrim had a fancy mirror so I think they just went shopping while Valdis and I did the heavy lifting!

We had some drinks with the harassed, paper shuffler, Andrew Flynn. He drinks too much and plays dice. Afterwards we assembled all our information and found a local haunt. Drenn and Hagrim had eventually discovered a cave on the South Road where it looks like goods are being traded. We saw Xal's grandson hanging out with someone who looked particularly dodgy. Drenn won a fight against a sand orc. Valdis keeps asking for juice. Tomorrow we are going to stakeout the cave with Old Xal and some local guard and see what we find.

### Stakeout

Working out how to stakeout a cave turns out to be quite a decision! Eventually it was managed though and we lay in wait. It turned out to be the Sand Orcs. (I'm pleased it wasn't Bess). We took down the Kenkue liaison and the Orcs, handing over Captain Rennor and the Kenkue to the town guard. Valdis turns out to have some rudimentary magic skills! I say rudimentary as the cave got blasted several times before he nearly took Rennor's head off with the eventual hit. I stepped in to prevent him dying but it was a close run thing. I'll need to watch him, he's reckless! I felt sorry for Old Xal as his grandson was right in the middle of the problem but that's families for you. We got paid and I've also picked up a blue bandana and a nice gold watch that seems to keep perfect time. That'll be useful as I hate being late! Valdis got a sword with an octopus pommel. It's pretty cool and I hope he's better with a blade than he was with his magic blasts! Hagrim picked up a cloak of some type. We are going to head out to the High Cloak Inn to try and find out more about this letter.

### High Cloak Inn

We managed to get a space on a wagon headed out of town. I sat upfront with Billbot Baggage the old warforged that runs the cart service. He was good company and has lived around here for many years. We got stopped by a checkpoint of grey cloaks on the way. Fortunately Billbot warned us to hide our letters and papers as this was what they would be looking for. Drenn freaked out as it seems that the guard leader was a werewolf. When Drenn gets angry he seems to look pretty wolf like himself but he certainly had a thing about werewolves. Fortunately we got past with neither capture nor bloodshed and reached the Inn with relative ease.

Unfortunately there was no room! For an Inn that is known to be able to accommodate over 600 people it was full to the rafters. There may be opportunity here to invest as they certainly could expand. There is nothing for miles around and therefore they have a pretty captured market on this main road. The innkeeper apologised for the lack of rooms and offered us tents in the camping area. Hagrim seemed most put out by this! He certainly seems to like the luxuries in life. Valdis has not yet given up on his search for apple juice but I'm starting to worry that if he doesn't find something to drink soon then he'll get sick.

So with regards to the letters it all gets even less clear. We ended up meeting with a Dragonborn called Decon who works for "X". Apparently we need to prove our worth and ability and establish their veracity by heading to Brannion to investigate some rumours. the last investigators went missing, which bodes well. Hagrim met some other dwarves which seemed to ease the pain of camping and we played some cards and dice. I guess we'll go South and see where it takes us but I'm worried this is not getting me any closer to finding Aerith than I was in Parnos.

### Pepkey

#### Day 1

We went to Pepkey with a view to buying some horses. Brannion is a decent distance, especially if we're walking. Hagrim wants a cart or a carriage as he doesn't like horses. How can you not like horses - they are beautiful beasts. I'm sure he'll love one eventually. Horses are quite expensive, especially when you need a really big one. Drenn would squash most poor beasts!

So Pepkey is a pretty odd place. around 8-months ago they suddenly acquired a saltwater lake, stocked with fish. We are miles from the sea and it all seems a bit fishy.

In the centre of town was some sort of odd stand-off happening between the Church of Light and The Devotees of Dagon. Priests staring at each other across the square. I found this most disquieting as my understanding of the church is much more peaceful. A town noticeboard revealed a variety of the usual troubles, many of which seemed, unsurprisingly related to an unexplained lake.

We met an amazing little old Gnomish lady called Nanna H in a local map shop. She is over 650 years old and still working full-time. Second to Bess Ashglade she is definitely someone to aspire to be more like. We all agreed to help her map out the crypts underneath the Dagon church. Seemed pretty straightforward work, although I have no idea who'd want such a map?

I met with Friar Payton at the Church of Light on our way to the local tavern. He wanted the Dagon Devotees out of Pepkey. There was clearly some bad feelings there. As a cleric of the light I vowed to help if we could. Hagrim disappeared off to the docks while muttering something about floating tables. He is a strange little man, although good in battle and fond of excellent weapons!

I spent my evening writing letters. That was not what I had planned. after a day's hard travel. William Trent was the poor man who's farm had been engulfed by the lake. He'd lost his home and livelihood and as yet had received no compensation from the authorities. The trauma had clearly taken its toll and he has hit the bottle in a big way, scotch mainly. I helped him write to the regional Mayor, Elizabeth Lunrune at the nearby large town of Arrith Natel. What is learning for if one can't use it to help the needy?

There was a dodgy looking rogue called Arweyn in the bar. She seemed to be watching us so I invited her over. Turns out she had a weird note too and so we've asked her to join us. I'll be keeping an eye on her as she seems like her fingers are pretty quick and nimble!

#### Day - 2

Today was beyond bizarre. We spent most of the morning producing apple juice for Valdis, who was suffering as no-one stocked anything without alcohol. Drenn squeezed apples with impressive grip strength. Valdis even bought special flasks to store it and mixed in some honey. I was quietly impressed at his thought of using a preservative.

We headed to the Dagon temple to have a look at the crypts. Brother Findal wanted some artefacts and Valdis and Hagrim spied the opportunity to make 3 lots of money off this trip. Given the cost of horses that was very welcome.

The temple was really freaky, with a huge statue of a fish with a trident. It seems that last night something odd happened as Hagrim was convinced that this God had visited him in his dreams. There were offerings and notes around the place, some of which Arwyen pocketed - more about that weirdness later!

We headed into the crypts and it was nearly a disaster. A chunk of roof / temple floor fell through and the tombs were occupied by a number of undead. It seems like the temple was full of torture chambers. So Valdis, decided today was the day to let lose a breath weapon. Unfortunately it turns out its lightening. My hair is even more unruly than usual tonight after being electrocuted by a "friend" in a flooded cave! After all the efforts we made to make bloody apple juice too! We found some scrolls, a shield appears to be heavily resistant to damage, a trident and some crumbling swords. Some of the stuff had the symbol of dagon so we collected these for Brother Findal.

As we left Drenn stuck the trident into the back of the statue's head. It began to leak saltwater like blood and certainly impressed the Church of Light. Fortunately Hagrim's desire to join Dagon dissipated and we got paid by everyone for a hard day's work.

The scrolls turned out to be like a "How to" guide for wannabe fish priests. It included lots of stuff on human sacrifice and torture. Drenn cast the scrolls into the fire at the Inn.

Arwyen gave me a note to read that she had picked up and forgotten to put back at the Temple! It seemed to be heavily coded and not a love note at all. It referenced the Mayor and the Steward and some other organisation and something or someone missing. At least it can't get any stranger!

#### Day - 3

So it can get stranger! We got paid by everyone and then headed down to the docks to help some trident get a treasure chest. Swimming is not my strong suit but we managed.

It also turns out that William Trent's submerged house was full of stolen jewelry and an expensive looking urn.

After drying off we headed back to the inn and had a chat with William. I wasted an entire evening writing letters for this thief! Not only had he stolen all this stuff but he had also released the lake from an aquatic cave system to hide the evidence! He's then spent the last 8-months trying to claim money for all the trouble he caused! We suggested that getting us a discount from the stables might reduce our chance of telling anyone what we know.

We headed off to see the Mayor only to find him dead. Very dead. The steward, Maith, was reluctant to explain what happened and lied on several occasions. Maith, had killed the Mayor, supposedly it was an accident. She'd been running the town for 8-months and no-one had noticed. Unfortunately Maith had become a devout follower of Dagon and, I must admit, I lost my temper. Having seen all the evidence of sacrifice and torture and the scrolls explaining what initiates should do, I could not bear to be in her presence.

I used my flame of Huwl to burn her feet. Maybe I shouldn't have. I'm not sure. I could only see Aerith in those underground chambers. What if she had become someone's sacrifice to Dagon? What if the children were being taken to be sacrificed by new initiates like Maith? The fear for Aerith was all consuming and Maith paid the price.

Valdis and Arwyen ransacked the treasury. I was way too distracted to really think about this in great detail.

We decided to leave William Trent as mayor while we rode to Arrith Natel to update the regional mayor about events in Pepkey. With hindsight this may not have been the wisest choice but my mind was still on torture, sacrifice and divine retribution.

We asked Nanna H. to be the Steward due to her great wisdom, so that should help a little, and also asked Friar Payton to help them all and arrange a funeral for the mayor. While we were sorting out these important matters Hagrim asked that a commemorative plaque be raised in the town square detailing his heroic exploits. Dwarves!!

We collected horses on our way out of town. I have a beautiful brown gelding called Royal Cinnamon. I think we will become firm friends. Hagrim eventually settled on a pony called Nutmeg, I'm less convinced of their friendship potential.

We rode as fast as possible to Arrith Natel to update the Mayor and try to reclaim some stability in Pepkey.

### Arrith Natel

#### 1st impressions

We arrived in the evening and stabled our horses before walking into town. The central square was occupied by the most formidable temple, the Temple of Two Faiths. I found statues of Huwl and even a statue of Corellon as all the old Gods and Primals were represented there.

We met a tiefling. He worries me. He looked really sick and an odd blue / green colour. His horns appear to have been removed and I've never known a Tiefling do that voluntarily. There was no visible tail which is less unusual but still worrying overall. Most strange of all is that Mavarkus is an initiate in the Church of Light. The church welcomes all who come to her but Tieflings tend not to come to the church in my experience.

Mavarkus was posting a notice requesting some help relocating things from the tunnels below the church. He seemed wary and seemed to be being watched by a Bishop I could see up on a mezzanine. I'd be interested to know more about what happened to him but I doubt he'll talk while the church can hear.

We took note of other notices on the board as money is always welcome and one immediately caught my eye. Children are being stolen, by green hags. I'll need to chase down that particular lead.

We have taken rooms in a local inn. Tomorrow we will visit the Mayor, do some shopping about town and maybe volunteer to look into some of the local troubles. I also want to speak with the Bishop - it is only polite.

Tonight I will meditate on the church. Mavarkus has unsettled me. He appears to have been mutilated and turned against his nature. Has the Church of Light done this to him? The Church I am part of would never do this, would it? If the Church has done this how is it any different to the Devotees of Dagon? Did I not torture Maith? Am I not just as bad as the followers of Dagon, just in another's name? Could the church that saved me, be involved in the destruction of others?

Meditation is hard. My mind is unsettled and skipping around. I will try again, there are many hours until morning.

#### Day 1

So it was a busy and eventful day. It's becoming a theme. After a difficult night I have decided to try and speak with both Bishop Writingham and Marvarkus separately and try and work out what exactly happened here. After meditating deeply on the matter it seems that the Church here may have been corrupted, and if so I am obliged to try and rectify that as best can.

After a light breakfast I accompanied Hargim to the Temple. Hagrim joined some fellow dwarves in some Gregorian chanting. The acoustics are formidable and the sound was quite lovely. I paid my respects to the Bishop and although superficially polite he could not get me out fast enough when I enquired about the tiefling. Apparently he was adopted as a child and left his fiendish ancestry behind, hence the lack of horns. I got the distinct feeling he was being less than completely honest and I certainly need to try and speak with Marvarkus.

Upon leaving the temple there was shopping to be done. Hagrim went to the hairdressers and Valdis managed to acquire what appears to be a mechanical press (I presume for apples) and a box of scraps and tools. I dread to think what he plans on trying to build. We had lunch at Julleta's bakery, she makes the most fantastic fruit pies, and then visited the strange magic shop upstairs. Gideon was a particularly eccentric chap but seemingly talented and kind hearted. If it could be enchanted he seemed to be the man to do it! I've asked him to make me some small metal pins that can enable the wearer to message other wearers. It might come in useful if we have to ambush anything else. Hagrim and Drenn are keen to buy some enchanted bracelets, which are quite lovely, and have negotiated a price based on some investigative work.

We headed to the Stone Keep to find the brother of the deceased mayor of Pepkey to return the Urn De'Bolbec. He seemed unsurprised to hear about his brother but happy enough to receive the urn. While there w also met with Captain of the Guard Helious Drake, and Mayor Elizabeth Lunrune. She seems a formidable woman. We updated her about the issues in Pepkey, although on retelling it sounded less sensible than it had seemed at the time. They offered us food and lodging at the keep and Hagrim was particularly happy as they have baths!

So in the afternoon we decided to meet with Filina who asked us to instigate the Ottersman Farm. It was a most strange place with birds circling overhead. There was clearly something bad going on. At the farm we found a sick child, Avery. The room was filled with a terrible aura of foreboding and further focus lead me to believe that the poor child was possessed by something Fey or Undead.

Her doctor, am aarakocra called Butcher, was reluctant to let me touch her - especially when I asked if he had anything silvered in his medical kit. I explained my fear and suggested he examine a lesion on her forehead. Within it was a strange black shard, like a splinter. Well, without listening to my medical advice about silver he tried to remove the shard and everything went downhill pretty fast.

The poor child was lifted up, doors slammed and various items became animated. The life was crushed out of Butcher by a carpet which then moved on to me. Several decades passed before my eyes and just as I was dying with the ringing of failure being sounded in my head in the voices of my family, Drenn removed the shard.

Everything stopped. The girl fell. the carpet released and I used a quick word of healing to recompose myself. The next thing I see is Drenn hurling the shard through the window and out into a cornfield. There was an almighty explosion. A quick check of Avery allowed me to stabilise her physically. She will recover in time, although I have no idea what her mental state may be after that trauma.

We nearly got arrested but fortunately the Captain of the guard listened to our explanation and, I hope, heeded Drenn's warning not to touch the shard.

We returned to Fellina where she paid us with fortune telling. I don't believe in such mystic nonsense. Burning inner light and blood and water and some such. I'll mull it over sometime but I think she made most of it up. We went back to town via Gideon's shop. He was most interested in what we had found and had made me the most beautiful cloak pins.

We headed to the orphanage before dinner and met with Belinda. She told us about the missing children. Mainly taken from the orphanage but a few local poor children had gone too. Children had seen green faces at the windows. She also told us that Tiefling children who arrive at the orphanage are gifted to The Church of Light. She didn't seem happy about this but powerless to prevent it. She also clearly thinks something wrong is happening. We ate dinner at the keep and I'm pretty sure the table was darker when we'd finished. The candlesticks seemed to vanish. I hope Arwyen didn't have anything to do with it.

We decided to camp out at the orphanage to try and get more information about these hags. I hoped it would lead me to clues about Aerith. Maybe this was part of that network Falben had heard about? Hagrim got sleeping bags on loan from the guards and we headed back to the orphanage. I meditated for a few hours on this new information about the church and Fellina's divination. Is she just a nosey old woman or is there truth in her words?

#### Hags?

Why is nothing straightforward?! While Valdis slept in the only bed and Hagrim snoozed in his sleeping bag, Drenn and I went out and patrolled the streets around the ratlawn. I was sure I saw figures following him on the rooftops and after a while was convinced. We nearly caught them. Arwyen shot one in the leg from the children's window (my mother would have been impressed). Drenn caught one but then let her go. He told me they were using a ring to make their skin green but were really human women. They accused Belinda of mistreating the orphans, so they rescued them.

I found no evidence of mistreatment when I checked over the children and we could find no evidence in the orphanage. We'd been had! Back to Gideon, who recognised the ring at once as being a druidic magic and knew how to help us trace it. He leant us a compass which just told us where to go. At some point I may have to ask him if it could find Aerith?

We tracked up into the forest and mountains south of the keep and came across a house built out of living trees. Aunty Greenleaf lives here. She made the ring and told us where we could find them.

Further along we came across a druid camp, clearly protected from prying eyes. We found the missing children safe and well cared for. They were in school being taught by the human with a sore leg. I healed it for her. We heard that the druids had been run from town after an attempt to help a farmer went awry. They genuinely care for the children and wanted them safe and in the open, rather than in the rather dilapidated orphanage. One child was quite severely burned and they told us that his parents were to blame for his injuries. Hagrim, Valdis and Drenn were incensed and vowed to teach his family a lesson.

the women said they would be happy to accommodate all the orphans and Belinda if we could ensure their safety and seclusion in the forest.

Belinda was delighted and I went to the keep with Arwyen to discuss things with the mayor. I figured it would be better to be upfront after Pepkey and the exploding farm. Hagrim, Drenn and Valdis returned somewhat later. We didn't speak of what happened but I think it may not have been pleasant conversation.

So the orphans are safe and the abductions were not really as they seemed at all. A dead end. I doubt anyone took Aerith to live in a druid encampment rather than the Royal Court! I'm happy for the children of Arrith Natel but there is a horrible niggling feeling that I'd hoped it would be different. That it might have been awful but would have helped me find her. What am I becoming? Wishing ill on children to help me find information? I must meditate and ask Huwl for guidance on the matter of perspective. Tomorrow I hope to be able to speak to Marvarkus before we leave town. I feel the Church here is no longer in the light.

### Sunday

It feels like I have been away from Parnos forever. So much has happened and today was no exception. It has been troubling in many ways. My new friends agreed to help Marvakus move the statues from under the Temple of two faiths.

I think I can call them friends. They are an unusual bunch and although none seem particularly observant of religious ways they seem to be filled with more light than many of the church folk I have met recently. I have never really had "friends" before and it is an unusual experience, although good. I am not sure how much I should share with them about my past; about Aerith. Maybe they would see me differently if they knew; like my father; like my mother. I don't want to be alone here and I don't want to risk losing their companionship and skills.

We headed to the church and met with Marvakus who needed the statues moved far outside the city. His tone and his look gave me reason to believe he was talking about more than just the statues but he would not be drawn on this.

He took us to an entrance to the tunnels beneath the church. It was through an old well and was as damp and dingy as you'd expect! The tunnels were as narrow as the cart we had to pull and there were rats. Drenn appears to have greater powers than rage and fighting as he sat quietly for a long while and then communicated with these creatures. Still waters run deep and this willingness to communicate with animals suggests a gentle side to his nature I have not appreciated before. The rats told him of other larger rats in the tunnels and of men like lizards who sometimes leave them food.

I cast light upon a rat. I thought the creature would like to be able to see the dangers ahead. I was wrong. It frightened the poor animal and they ran away. Not all creatures like the light, even those that clearly offer assistance. Not all creatures in the light are good. The world seems so much more complex than it used to.

I took the pause as opportunity to try and talk to Marvarkus but he seemed almost brainwashed, simply reciting lines about the goodness of the bishop; when he answered at all. He took to tapping his lantern against the cart. It appeared to be a way of saying yes?

We found the statues. Many had been defaced. Having seen the huge array of Gods, Angels and Primals depicted in the Temple above it seemed strange that any would be treated in such a manner. They were crafted with the same level of skill and clearly had originated from the Temple. On closer inspection it seemed that each statue was of a deity with some sort of deformity or weakness. Had the Church fallen so far as to cast out those with physical differences? I asked Marvarkus; 2 taps. Is that a yes? We loaded statues of Odin and Baldr onto the cart and followed Marvarkus down a tunnel.

Arwyen disappeared. One minute there. The next gone. I checked instinctively for my coin but it was safe! She had scouted ahead, I didn't see her leave at all. It turned out that Valdis had made her invisible. An invisible thief. An invisible warlock with a terrible aim. I am nervous about these seemingly new developments in my friend's abilities.

We found a chamber with islands of land connected by a rickety bridge with water below. An Asimaar called Igni was there. Marvarkus was neither surprised nor worried, but would not introduce us; so we crossed to the platform. I could see Giant rats behind us in the tunnels. As we reached the platform Igni and Marvarkus jumped off to the level below. They had deceived us and left us to the wererats. Bolts of fire and light, a barbarian with a temper, a dwarf with a battle axe and a thief's bow killed or drove off the rats and then Valdis disappeared to the level below down a rope tied on to the cart. I reluctantly admit this was a clever move!

Igni had Marvarkus in handcuffs and insisted that she had been retained to "kidnap" him and remove him from the city. Marvarkus was not seemingly in danger, although could not speak. Marvarkus had a deep wound across his palm which was clearly magical, although I had never seen such a thing. Drenn suspected he had been cursed or controlled in some way. We offered to assist, as getting Marvarkus away from the city was also our plan. They seemed happy to allow us to assist. Arwyen gave me a pirate hat. It's wet and needs sprucing up, but it is just like Captain Bess's one. I've stowed it safely and am looking forward to wearing it soon.

The tunnels let out on the Northside of the city, beyond the boundary. Given his wounds we decided to take him to Aunty Greenleaf in the mountains. We hoped she might have more knowledge and could maybe help him. As we approached Drenn sounded a strange greeting, in a language I don't recognise. He did the same last time we visited. Aunty seemed to recognise it. I must ask him about that sometime. For an angry barbarian he certainly seems to have another side that understands nature and animals. It is strange and unclear and I must ask him about it sometime.

Aunty Greenleaf looked at Marvarkus' hand. She explained it was a blood oath. I know about these. They are an evil bond. There is no place for this in the Church I know. Marvarkus tapped twice when I asked if the oath was made with Bishop Writingham. It was. As a child. I felt my world closing in around me as Aunty Greenleaf explained the ways such an oath can be broken. There are few options - keep the oath; kill one of the bonded; powerful magic. It was clear that anyone who could force a child to make such an oath and then abuse and damage that child is not of the light. The decision was made to kill Bishop Writingham and try to release Markvarkus from his oath.

A plan was hatched. We returned to the city and I changed into my robes. For the first time they felt uncomfortable as if I no longer quite fit into them. I returned to the temple and prayed to Huwl for guidance. To kill a Bishop of the light. Can such a thing ever be good? Would I be cast from the church, from my only home? As I prayed I was filled with the same golden certainty I had experienced before, when I prayed about Aerith. This was not of the light. Darkness had entered the church and light must be restored, whatever the price.

I made my way to the Bishop's chamber. Drenn stood at my shoulder and I was grateful for his presence. Valdis was leant against a wall concentrating. Arwyen was invisible but I could feel her checking out the candlesticks. It made me smile, which was good as I was shaking. She had Nightshade from Valdis and Sunflower Seeds from Aunty Greenleaf. We talked about the statues and Markvarkus' disappearance. I asked the Bishop about the wound on Markvarkus' hand - a blood oath scar. He was unsettled and clearly knew exactly what we had seen. The path was clear.

A knock at the door. In came Hargrim! For some reason he was equipped only with apron and serving platter. It was all I could do not to laugh and stare. He must have got into the kitchens somehow. As the bishop began to eat he told us that Avery was in the infirmary. He spoke a little too longingly about the shard from her head. How it could have helped with the healing. I felt a little sick that we had rescued the poor girl from possession to simply deliver her to another evil. I saw tiny ripples in the surface of the soup and we took our leave.

Drenn, Valdis and I went to the infirmary to see Avery. She remained unconscious, although looking physically stronger than we had seen her before. I thought I heard vials clinking in the medicine cupboard but there was no-one there when I turned. I looked carefully at Avery's hands. There was no mark of a blood oath. Her head hasn't healed though. I knelt at her side and asked Huwl to protect her from evil; from the fey; from the undead; from the grip they may still have over her. I hope it gives her strength to break free from her sleep soon.

As we were talking to her doctors there was a crash and a body fell to the ground from above. It was the Bishop. Clerics and doctors tried to heal him and some of the wounds from falling began to close as we approached. However he went blue as he stopped breathing and slumped to the ground. I knelt by his side in prayer. Not for his soul but to Huwl in thanks. As I prayed over him, sunflowers started to grow from his mouth and bloom over his bloated face. He was covered quickly. You could almost hear the rumours starting.

From the corner of my eye I saw Hagrim with what looked like a huge platter of meats, breads and cheeses headed out the door. I guessed we had provisions for the journey to Brannion! Drenn was raging. He had run to the Bishop's rooms and was doing a formidable show of looking for who had pushed him from the window. Arwyen remained unseen.

I spoke with some young initiates and asked them about good in the church. They seemed reluctant, understandably to say a great deal. It was clear that they would not miss the Bishop; but worryingly many have lost the light in Arrith Natel. The church and the light appear not to be the same thing. Can you be of the light but not of the church and of the church but not of the light? I must consider this in more detail.

We met at the stables where our horses were laden with provisions. We are spending tonight with Aunty Greenleaf. I need the serenity that seems to surround the place tonight. Arwyen's horse seems more heavily laden and I am sure she may have some interesting new possessions - if she can be encouraged to share!

### Aunty Greenleaf and Marvarkus

We returned by horse to Aunty Greenleaf's home of trees in the wooded mountains South of Arrith Natel. I was pleased to see Marvarkus has been successfully freed from his oath and can speak freely again. He thanked us for freeing him and told us that he had sworn the oath as a very young child; he could never remember a time without the scar on his hand.

We looked over the contents of the Bishop's safe. Arwyen had done a fantastic job, as always, in procuring items of interest! She gave me a mirror of scrying. It will need a little work but may be a useful thing to keep hold of. She also found some letters and papers in a folder with a strange symbol inked upon it.

I have never seen it before but Valdis went ghostly white, even paler than usual. He told us a terribly sad tale of his homeland. He told us that his people had been gifted with powers from a Blue Dragon in ancient times - I guess that explains the lightning breath he can wield. He told us his people remained isolated as the more they used their gifts, the more like dragons they became. I wonder whether this will happen to Valdis if he uses his dragon gifts and will they eventually lead him to harm us?

He told us that there was a legend of a book, a Grimoire , that contained the secrets of the blessing. No-one had ever seen this tome or knew of its whereabouts, or even if it truly exists as anything more than stories.

One day a group came to his town, looking for this book and the secrets within. His whole village was tortured and killed when they could not provide any information. Valdis was the only member of his kind to escape. The murderous group had this symbol tattooed on their neck. Valdis then was visited by a being, later to become a patron. I guess this is similar to my relationship with Huwl, or not. He discovered that the Grimoire was indeed a real item from the Astral Sea. I have no idea where or what that is but Drenn seemed to have heard of it.

I have no idea how the Church of Light is linked to a group that killed Valdis' entire race but it increases the pain I feel when I think of it. Valdis needs to find these people. I understand that need.

Things got even worse when we spoke with Marvarkus. He told us terrible things about being kept underground with other children, from across the World. Children were moved with heads covered and he has no idea where these places were. He told us that the Lady Shesacarva is involved in some way. She works in some manner with the Cardinal. It seems that the darkness reaches the highest levels of the church. This saddens me greatly

In the papers was a letter from this "Lady" suggesting that she and Writingham are involved in something together and the other papers suggest this might involve smuggling children. I looked through these lists, hoping to see Aerith's name there but it seems that these are only recent names.

Mavarkus told us that the church believe Tieflings to be inherently evil, based on their infernal bloodline. They are treated as inferior and attempts to "cleanse" Marvarkus resulted in his missing horns and discoloured skin.

The thought that The Church I swore to serve could be involved in any of this is almost too much to bear. The thought that My Church might torture other races, abduct children and destroy entire peoples is beyond my comprehension.

We slept at Aunty Greenleaf's. I say slept. I meditated for several hours, mulling over all that we have uncovered and trying to weight up what to do next; to find Aerith; to help Valdis and to determine whether there is any light left within the church.

In the morning Aunty Greenleaf kindly gave Valdis some more sunflower seeds to help him if he finds those responsible for the death of his people. She also gave Drenn a tan coloured bag that he can use "in a pinch" - whatever that means.

Markvarkus is intending to travel and we exchanged message tokens. I asked that he pass on any information he might hear about children and asked that he specifically keep a close look out for information about Aerith. I described her birthmark so he could ask about her but he already knew her.

I was nearly sick. Aerith was taken alive. She arrived in Bacland alive. Marvarkus remembers her sunburst and met her in a cellar with other children. He doesn't know exactly when or where but she was alive.

I felt relieved. She is not in a lake in Parnos; dead. At the same time I am horrified. She was taken, by the people that tortured Marvarkus.

Has she been tortured too. Is she held under a blood oath, doing the bidding of some evil master? Does she even know who she is? Marvarkus was so young. The church is all he has ever really known. Is Aerith the same. Will she remember me? Will she hate me for what happened to her? What did happen?

Marvarkus says he will keep in touch. Hargrim gave him some gold, I could have hugged the dwarf. He is full of light and good, for all he hides it under armour and tough talk!

We decided to continue South to Brannion to try and find Artur as requested by Decon, what seems like months ago!

### Brannion

One of these days we are going to go somewhere nice and quiet - today was not that day! We rode hard South for most of the day. As we approached the town we saw a small building up a path into the nearby mountain. It was an old ruin of a building with a giant lever inside. On the lever was a picture of a spider and a picture of a badger. The lever was pointed to the spider. There seemed to be a channel running down the mountainside into the town and trickles of water ran in it. It seemed to be some type of ancient water system, but it was utterly creepy and unpleasant!

As we headed back down to the horses we were surrounded by a pack of wolves. Between us we made short work of them and Drenn removed the pelts with impressive skill. He's planning on a cloak I believe!

We rode into Brannion at dusk on Monday evening and the place was odd from the start. The mayor Grinkvil seemed less than happy to have visitors and there was a curfew in place. We were allowed room and board at an inn, run by a Goliath, even bigger than Drenn. The place was unnaturally quiet. There seemed to be no birds or animals or children anywhere. It turned out that this Goliath was waiting for the crypt map we made in Pepkey for Nanna H. He's some kind of broker but was cagey about who might want such a map. He's previously worked as a debt collector for the Crooked Men - if he was more forthcoming he may have some useful information. Drenn and I drew the map for him and will drop of the money to Nanna H.

On Tuesday morning I went to the temple. There were no children to be seen anywhere. The church was odd, almost formulaic and no-one seemed keen to talk. Everything felt "off" in the place. The priest made up some nonsense about Blue Sleeping Sickness having killed many children in the village - but this can't be the whole story. I asked him about the water building in the mountain. He denied knowing anything but had some plans. They were in gnomish! I suggested he had Nanna H translate them for him at some point.

We visited a small shop run by a drow elf. Everything was covered in dust - I can believe they don't get many visitors. It's not a great destination! In the town there was a dilapidated old church and a fountain with spider statue. Hargrim had tried to buy the ruined building the night before but the rent was extortionate at 1000GP per month!!

Hargrim and Arwyen decided for a closer look at the ruin, but got caught breaking in through a boarded up window. We weren't particularly welcome before but it was positively hostile now. The whole town felt too odd for me. The lack of birds. The lack of children. the lack of spontaneous conversation. I cast "Detect Evil" and the town lit up like a festival party. Every single townsperson has been desecrated, particularly the mayor. I couldn't hide the shocked gasp when I saw the level of damage to the people in the town. We made our way out, under guard, as quickly as possible and I was relieved to be outside the boundary.

Drenn spoke to a raven. I wonder if he can speak to any beast? So far it has been rats and now a raven. It is a peculiar and useful skill. the bird said that the town is evil and animals and birds won't go there. It also said that the evil is in the water.

We returned to the ruined switch and tried to move the lever away from the spider. It broke. Underneath were 3 channels - 1 to Brannion, 1 headed towards Mistdark and the incoming channel from further up the mountain. Hargrim took a sample of the water in one of Valdis' flasks and we headed to Mistdark.

### Mistdark

We arrived late on the Tuesday evening and at least the place was more welcoming! The town fountain was old and crumbling but had badger statues. There were birds and children and the whole place felt "normal"!

The mayor, an old Warcaster gentleman called Hannish agreed to have a look at the water sample we had obtained in the mountain. He told us that dark magic was involved. He told us a little about the animosity between the town and Brannion. He told us the town had never had water from the mountain but used a local well instead.

He told us that further up from the "switch room" we had found was a well house - I have a feeling that if we are to ever find Artur we may need to head up there again.

We headed down to the local Inn to try and speak with Henry, a ranger that Decon had told us lived here.

As we settled in for the night, no-one as yet has seen any sign of Artur but I think we will need to head back to Brannion and that makes me nervous. Changelings are so difficult to find! The shop keeper, goliath and priest in Brannion mentioned a dwarven visitor and a halfling recently - could they both have been Artur? What horrible things could have befallen him - I can see little chance of good things happening in Brannion. I am not sure if Brannion can be saved. The damage looks powerful and deep. If we can bring light there we should try. There is certainly much darkness in Bacland.

Hannish introduced us to Henry and to a young boy with white hair, called Ivan. The young lad was most disturbed. He had been up to the well house on the mountain and could simply mutter about "The stone". Apparently he has never been the same since visiting the place. Henry told us he'd been up the mountain many times but had never found the place and wasn't even sure it existed. We coaxed a little more from the child and it seemed that a new moon night was necessary to reveal the path. Given there is one tomorrow we plan to go up then. Henry said he'd come too, as did a pretty hopeless bard called Folk. apparently he needs some new material so he's coming along too!

Well last night was eventful. Hargrim nearly died. He was attacked in his sleep by that bitch Celina from the shop in Brannion. She came through his window and nearly killed him before we got in there. She then damn near escaped but Drenn caught her. She had that awful symbol tattooed on her neck so we took her to Mayor Hannish to try and get her to talk. She wasn't very helpful so we had Hannish polymorph her into a tortoise so Drenn could speak to her in animal form. The thought of spending the rest of her days as a lettuce munching shell beast loosened her tongue a little. Apparently Grinkvil sent her to kill us - been asking too many questions! That symbol is from big organisation that Grinkvil works for too. We locked her up for safekeeping in a cupboard! Before we went off to rest Arwyen checked celina over and, as is her way, saw fit to acquire a ring! I had a look and it seems to be a ring of silencing - I gave it back to Arwyen as it seems like he sort of deal! We had a rest that day, after the night's fighting and then met with Henry and Folk to set off to find the well-house.

### The Well-house

Bacland is a terrible place but the events of this evening are so troubling I can barely write them down.

We climbed the mountain and Henry noticed a path he had never seen before. we followed it and eventually reached the Well house. You could see the old aqueduct running into it. There was a cart there accompanied by Grinkvil, 2 halflings, Dencier (that priest from Brannion) and what looked like 3 acolytes of some type. Arwyen vanished, I can only assume she headed down to do some snooping!

When they all moved inside I also moved down towards the entrance to better hear what was going on. I could detect significant evil or desecration about the place, similar to Brannion.

I heard some awful evil ritual take place. They summoned some kind of portal and the back wall seemed to vanish and be replaced by some orange yellow vista with a hooded figure. They spoke of our "interference" and how Grinkvil had sent an assassin to "deal with us". They were then told to "prepare the 3 children" and "ship them to Arron Greyfield in the Eastern Downs." There was other stuff but I wasn't really listening anymore. These bastards were involved with the children. They were evil and desecrated and doing something with a being on the other side of a portal and were about to do something to 3 more children.

I must confess I may have lost control a little bit. The thought that Aerith may have been taken and involved in some evil ritual was too much to bear. I called upon Huwl to shield me and ran into the place. He granted me his cleansing fire and each of them in that place felt his touch.

I don't remember much but Grinkvil approached and then I felt an overwhelming sense of death. I saw Cestosh next to me and then awoke with Arwyen pouring potion into my mouth. I can never thank her enough for her speed and stealth. I roused myself in time to hit Grinkvil again and then they were all dead. Drenn was at his most wolflike and threw bodies out of the building and Grinkvil into a sort of reservoir of the water.

We found all sorts of things upstairs, many of which we'll need to have a proper look at sometime. There was a particularly weird mirror. It seemed to contain a devil of some sort. He's trapped within and offering us all sorts to get him out. I'm not sure we can trust him but he might prove useful I guess. Apparently Grinkvil had opened a portal to Hastur. Valdis found instructions on how to do this which he used to destroy the place - thank Huwl.

As we were looking at these items, Drenn and Henry came back. They'd been downstairs and found three children and 4 satyrs. I recognised the children from that list we found. the Satyrs had healed them and apparently had done so for many years, kept prisoner in the well house.

During the fight that priest Dencier vanished so we decided to go after him, find Artur and try and figure out what the hell is going on. I was so angry and upset. Finding those children just proved that what Marvarkus had said was true and somehow Aerith was involved in this. I've never felt the desire to kill in the way I did tonight. It scared me.

### Return to Brannion

We sent the kids and the satyrs back to Mistdark with Henry to seek safety with Mayor Hannish. Folk was last seen throwing up his dinner in a bush - he'll never make a decent bard if he can't watch a battle. We took pity on him and threw him some heroic words about the party to help his next composition. We headed back to Brannion as fast as possible to find Dencier and Artur. The town seemed deserted. The fountain has lost its spider. As we headed for the temple we could hear a gathering in the derelict church. It seemed Dencier had corralled the whole town there.

We entered the temple and were almost immediately attacked by the stone spider from the fountain. It was pretty bloody tough and nothing seemed to be really touching it. Once again Arwyen's quick thinking saved us all as she hit the thing with acid and dissolved it. That bastard Dencier showed up and once again Drenn's superior speed and agility showed as he stopped another escape.

Finally we got to ask some questions - I almost wish I hadn't as the knowledge is grim. Apparently the water here had healing properties. Grinkvil and Dencier found the well house and managed to build a waystone, a way of communicating to other planes. Despite the obvious evil involved they did a deal with this being to gain immortality from the water from serving him. This pair were over 4000 years old now. Grinkvil got sucked in, way too far, he ended up gaining necromantic skills - which I think I felt earlier that evening. I shudder to think how close I was to death before Arwyen healed me. I think I may have seen Cestosh as I died, I hope this doesn't mean he is dead too?

So many children have been through their hands. Apparently they have been delivered for hundreds of years, again the Halfling with the triangle scar crops up. They were healed by satyrs. Apparently they trapped their very essence in a small pearl like jewel and then transported them to the EasternDowns. Aerith may be trapped in such a pearl. Why would they do such a thing? What can this mean?

Dencier told us that Goldmaker, the goliath inn keeper, had also been part of the trade. He was a former slave trader and was a key player in shipping and finding goods. Goldmaker had also been involved in the torture and murder of the Vetra, Valdis' people; his family. He was trying to get their book, the Grimoire. I thought Valdis would break. He and Drenn rushed to the inn, apparently there may be a secret tunnel out of the town. It wasn't there. There were 5 coded books with his seal upon them. I will study them until I understand their code. I will find out what he did with my sister. I will help Valdis avenge his people.

Unfortunately when we returned to the temple we found Hargrim asleep and Dencier gone. Hargrim used the key we found at the well house to unlock the ruined church and told the townsfolk to leave. I think they will all die soon. Without the mountain water preventing them aging they will soon feel their many many years. Arwyen visited Celina's shop - not sure what she found but whatever it was she deserved the pay for tonight.

Drenn decided to speak with the local raven again. To see if he had sighted Goldmaker and Artur leaving Brannion. He had. They were headed to Mistdark. They were headed where we had sent the children to safety. As we prepared to ride there as fast as possible, Henry arrived and confirmed they were indeed in Mistdark. Oh Huwl what have we done? I cannot bear to think we have lost 3 children. Have we put poor Ivan at risk again?

### Goldmaker

Henry was riding to tell us that Goldmaker had returned to Mistdark, taken the mayor and Artur hostage and was demanding 200g and horses for him and his men in the next 30 minutes. Henry said the children were well hidden and out of immediate danger but we rode with abandon, despite nearing exhaustion.

When we got to Mistdark only we were allowed into town. We left Henry with the horses and headed to where Goldmaker was waiting at Mayor Hannish' house. The bastard was holed up with Dencier and four sidekicks and was holding both Mayor Hannish and Artur as hostages. The threat to kill one or both was clear and we wished we had spent more of the journey strategizing rather than riding as fast as possible and running into town!

We made attempts to gain some more information and buy some planning time. Goldmaker told Valdis that it was Hastur that had wanted his people dead in order to get the Grimoire. This mythical book is apparently very real, although we are none the wiser as to its location or power. Goldmaker became increasingly angry and Hargrim, Arwyen and I left to get the horses he was requesting. a quick look around revealed a window behind on the 2nd floor. Unfortunately despite being the sneakiest person I know, not even Arwyen could climb up there, so we rounded up some horses and returned to the front door.

As Goldmaker came down to leave, Drenn threw the Bag of Tricks he'd been given by Auntie Greenleaf. That woman knows her stuff! As the bag flew through the air a tiger appeared that attacked Goldmaker on Drenn's command. Hargrim used his skills to convince one of the Dwarven sidekicks that the odds weren't great while Drenn put his axe through Densir's shoulder whilst missing Artur - Venali would be so impressed with his skills with a weapon.

We killed the remaining thugs and trashed a few rugs and wall-hangings in the process - Valdis really needs some target practice, but I think its hard when you're facing down the man who tortured and killed your people. As we destroyed his team and hit hard and fast Dencier ran for it and Hargrim went off in pursuit. Goldmaker ran for the upstairs office and a window smashed. I went to tend to the mayor who was near death after a final blow from Goldmaker. Artur was unconscious but stable. A drugged sleep.

Drenn and Valdis ran after Goldmaker and both nearly died. It was awful. He'd hidden in the office and jumped them as they went in. Goldmaker eventually jumped out the broken window taking Drenn's beautiful axe with him. I tried to shoot him from the window and think I may have hit but he just pulled himself up and lumbared off into the woods. Arwyen and I healed Drenn and Valdis but we were a weak and disappointed group. So close to vengance.

Hargrim had managed to catch Dencier and bought him back to the house. My anger may have once again gotten the better of me as I stopped his shoulder bleeding with a small blast of flame. I feel like I did in Pepkey. I should be the better person, but I'm not. I'm angry and frightened and I want to kill everyone responsible for desecrating the Church of Light.

Dencier answered some questions, I don't know whether he would have done so without his painful arm? Maybe he really just got in with a bad crowd? I can't bring myself to forgive him. He thinks Goldmaker has probably headed to Arron Greyfield in the Eastern Downs. His is another name that keeps coming up. Apparently he's "Hastur's right hand man" so certainly someone we nee to meet and I will ask Huwl for permission to cleanse the World of his evil presence. Dencier also says that Cardinal Rishni is working with Hastur too - how corrupt has the church become.

We woke Atur, with an antidote that Dencier was prepared to test out first. He was paranoid but grateful but and totally unhelpful. He had a pearl in his mouth! A bloody child soul - in his mouth! I took that from him and Valdis crafted me a tiny cage of wire to keep it in, on a chain round my neck. This might be Aerith. It feels right to have it close by. He refused to wait and travel with us and left straight away. He's a bloody odd chap.

We left the house. the tiger had moved on to finish off the archer who had been keeping Henry under arrow and was looking very pleased with itself. We slept well at last and then decided to head back to the Inn and collect our reward.

### Return to the High Cloak Inn

We took the children with us. They have no family and the orphanage in the mountains is probably the safest place in Bacland right now. We stopped by Aunty Greenleaf. I love that woman. She makes everything feel peaceful. I showed her the pearl. She says the soul of a child holds huge energy and the magic that trapped them is more powerful than a primordial.

We visited the orphanage where they welcomed the children, as I knew they would. These are good people. I asked Belinda if she could read and write down a translation of the infernal text from around the devil mirror. Apparently Agerth is trapped in there for "mercy" - he may turn out to be more merciful than I am.

We visited Gideon on our way through Arrith Natel. He theorised that the pearl would be a powerful magical energy source. I can only imagine the horrors that would require such a power. He also had an update on the symbol we saw at the Ottersman farm and the shard that Valdis is currently carrying. He had no books that referenced it but said there should be something of it in a Sylvan book titled "The Hidden History of the Feywild; Waxing moon's and rising sun's" and this may have something to do with undead Fey of all things. I can see this really worries Drenn in particular who has visited the Feywild many times. Guess who owns a copy? Ethel! that drunken, mushroom addicted elf in Evesfol. I guess we should call ahead and book an appointment now or at least pick up some more fungi and wine before we try and visit.

We asked him about everything we've learnt and found - poor Gideon! He was a bit worried about our demon mirror friend and suggests we keep them well apart from the shard. The book from the portal was in abyssal and was about making communication spells and waystones. I'm not clear on exactly what this means but communicating with extraplanar beings that want the souls of children and the destruction of entire peoples to get a book cannot possibly be good.

On our way towards Pepkey we came across a tavern. It certainly wasn't there when we travelled South. Mr Celadon's Traveling Tavern was just too tempting a place to stop for the night. They were kind and welcoming and promised not to move on with us inside!

### Mr Celadon's Travelling Tavern and The Yule father

We had a lovely dinner and did some light trade! Drenn got an endless rope and Hargrim a lovely pipe for that Greenleaf he's become so fond of smoking! Arwyen managed to do a deal and get some magic soles for her boots thrown in for next to nothing!

Apparently Goldmaker had passed through yesterday. It was good to hear he looks a bit sore at least! He was headed North so at least we're going in the right direction.

We ate well and I felt relaxed for the first time in a few days, however our sleep was interrupted by the biggest crash and then it got stranger and stranger!

We rushed outside to see what had happened and found Saint Nicholas's red sleigh, named 'subtlety' had crashed. Drenn was excited; almost childlike glee at the thought of "The Yule father". Arwyen looked into a sack in the sleigh (probably hoping for things to steal!) and an injured Yule time elf jumped out and promptly passed out. He seemed to be frost damaged and quite badly beaten. The sack seemed to disappear into a long tunnel. With Drenn's rope around his waist he went off exploring and shouted up that there was a huge pile of gifts down there. There was evidence of a fight and the ropes at the front of the sleigh had been cut. After rousing the elf with a quick slap and a splash of water, he told us that Lady Shesacarva was out to kill the Yulefather and they were both somewhere in the dimension inside that sack. The elf

We asked that Mr Celadon kept watch on the sleigh and we all went in the sack on a rescue mission. Lady Shesacava is a name we've heard in relation to Greyfield and the cardinal. She wrote the letter to Bishop Wrightingham about the children. She is definitely someone I want to "meet". I worry that I'm enjoying harming these people, but I am. For those moments I feel I can do anything. I can rescue Aerith. I can please my father. I can be the daughter he wanted.

Reassured that the top of the rope was safe we all jumped down after Valdis. The Yule father has an impressive set-up it must be said! The door was iced over and even Drenn could barely chip at it. We headed into a nearby vent and found an alternative route. There were some ice skeletons down a corridor that had attacked some other Yuletide elves - they were easily dispatched with some warm hands - warm hands, cold heart they say - is this me?

We found ourselves in a room full of pine trees with no exit. The central tree was decorated and the whole place felt magical. Hargrim read some dwarven runes around the base of the tree that said we should give - when we left a gift the wall disappeared - a nice piece of enchantment. I'm not sure if giving pain and retribution was the type of gift the Yule father had in mind but it was certainly what happened.

On the other side of the room was a workshop. There was the Lady Shesacava and 4 masked figures and some more ice skeletons. They were trying to break into what seemed to be a huge forge; frozen shut.

When she turned; in a red ballgown; wearing a white mask with black eyes and red lips - I know her. I recognise her. She's been to Parnos. I remember her from a Court party, many years ago, when Aerith was a tiny baby. I hated the parties. They were so dull. All that polite conversation and formality. All I wanted to do was ride in the forest and fight with Venali! I remember her laughing with my father as they sipped drinks. I remember the mask - not unusual at court parties at that time but she never removed it, unlike most guests. I remember her looking at Aerith as my mother carried her over to say goodnight to father. I remember her smiling and laughing but with blank eyes.

I sent guiding bolts in her direction but she deflected them back. She is clearly powerful and deadly. As she came closer I could only see her laughing with my father and looking at my sister. She laughed when I said Aerith's name and says I will never find her alive. Any restraint I may have had snapped and Huwl's power and light surged through me and radiated out through my body. I don't know how many died - 4 or 5 maybe. I don't remember much but I'm sure her eyes went red behind that mask. Then a huge wave of roaring sound. Drenn stood over me with a healing potion at my lips. She was gone.

In the daze that followed we found the Yule father safe in the iced over forge. He told us that his brothers of the seasons may also be missing and something was terribly wrong. The Yule father gave us gifts. Drenn was so happy and childlike that I almost felt happy with him, but i felt numb and empty.

The Yule father gave me a book. The Omnium Codex. The book of All Things. It allows me to Identify - which will be helpful - but also contains all the knowledge of those that have written in it. I wrote Arron Greyfield in the book and text in many hands appeared. So much information. I will ask about my sister at some point but I'm not sure I can face the answer.

We left the Yule father and returned to the travelling tavern. Nutmeg could fly - Hargrim was so excited. He took off to check on Pepkey as we headed back to The High Cloak Inn.

### High Cloak Inn and X

We returned to the Inn, which was fortunately quieter than the last time we visited. We gained admission to the network of rooms and corridors underneath the Inn with Decon. Much of the next few hours passed in a blur. There were many down there. A mummy. An Undead Wizard and his wife. A Vampire. A ranger and his panther. Artur. The place seems safe. At least for now our motivation seems aligned. They are certainly working against the same people we are right now. They have some other "Child Pearls" in a safe - I thought of leaving ours here but can't bring myself to let it go. It is my only link to Aerith right now.

I never thought, in the Temple, that I might be allied with the undead and people who live hidden away underground but maybe they are my people? Do dark times justify dark behaviour? Is "the light" something that is carried in people rather than in buildings and rituals? Am I of the light or am I just a different shade of darkness?

### A Short Break at the UnderInn

We have decided to stay awhile with Decon and X. Leofrick, the undead, and his wife Lorna have hit the books and are researching the shard and our demon mirror; and it is a relief to have a period to reflect and consider what is happening.

I'm studying Goldmaker's notebooks. They are in code. I think I need a codeword which will allow me to decode the cipher and read the books. "What's in a name?" is scribbled in the back of one book - is that a clue? I will ask the omnium Codex about Goldmaker and see what I could try.

So much has changed in the past few weeks. Things I held as certainty are now uncertain. People I would have once avoided are now, I think, friends.

I haven't had many friends over the years. Growing up it was largely me and Venali and people from Court. Being seen; smiling; giving "the right impression"; being good Malthen children left little time for friendships. Cestosh was the closest. I'm uncertain why he suddenly left, so soon after we became close, but I have a feeling my father may have had something to do with it. Having your daughter, even one you have rejected, in a relationship with a common ranger would be unacceptable to him. Seeing me happy would also have been unacceptable I think.

The Temple in Parnos was full of kind and calm people. Everyone there seemed certain. Certain of the light. Certain of the rightness of Corellon and Huwl in the order of things. Following the light and bringing that light to others seemed a path to fulfillment. They supported me when my family did not. They did not seek to blame or challenge me. They just accepted my service and carried me along the path they were walking. I never asked questions that now seem so obvious and important! How does the Church work? Who is "in charge"? Is there more than one way to serve the light? What is goodness? Can people be both light and dark? How do you know?

Over the past few weeks I have stood shoulder to shoulder with a barbarian, a thief, a grieving warlock and an arrogant dwarf. None are anything like the calm people of the Temple. None would consider themselves particularly religious. But they have saved my life. They have stood by my side in battle. They are helping me find Aerith. They don't have to. So why do they stay?

Drenn is a dichotomous soul. Half pure feral temper; the slightest provocation and he will maul you to death. But he loves and respects nature. He is kind to animals, even the lowest rats and ravens. When we met the Yule father he had the unbridled joy of a child. He seeks to right the wrongs he sees. His anger makes everything so clear and certain. His physical strength allows him to mow down those that stand in his way. He kills before thinking but never just for fun. He saved my life more than once. He cared that the orphans were safe. His anger at the Church's treatment of Mavarkis was palpable. I wish I had his clarity about right and wrong; good and evil. He sees the dark and seeks to eradicate it with sword or maul. He doesn't seem to have any confusion. His people are lucky to have him. I hope they realise that.

Arwyen is an enigma. At first sight she is all bad! She steals, from friends and enemies. She seems only interested in herself. She fights like a cornered wildcat! I know little about her family or past - she is a closed book. But she ran into the wellhouse and the danger within it to save my life. She didn't need to. She was hidden; invisible; safe. She put herself in danger for me. In addition to gold and silver she also looks for letters and documents in which she has no interest - because they may help someone else. She and Falben would get along well I think - I hope to introduce them someday. She seems reluctant to open up or commit but I think she cares. She puts herself in harms way for us on a regular basis. She is often first into dangerous situations and seems to thrive on the risk. I'm jealous of her careless disregard for safety and the feelings of others. She is confident in her own strength and her ability to deal with anything that comes her way. The Church would surely consider her bad - a dangerous thief - which she is; but she is so much more. She has an inner light. She hides it well but I am sure it is there.

Valdis is angry and rightly so. Vengeance burns his soul. He seeks to hurt those who hurt him and his. He wants to kill and torture and maim those that did him wrong. By all understanding these are evil thoughts and lead to evil actions. But his motivation is true. He wants to avenge his people. He wants to honour his heritage. He wants to understand the evil that befell them and remove it from the World - thus protecting others. I think he feels crippling self doubt. That he won't be good enough. That he shouldn't have been the one to survive. When he realises that there is a purpose in his survival over vengeance he will be a truly formidable opponent. Yet, even with his darkness he seeks the truth. He doesn't look outside himself for a holy purpose. He looks within himself and draws on his own strength. He acts purely to right wrongs and cleanse the World of a deep darkness. Is that an evil act? I don't think it can be?

Hargrim is a short man with a huge heart. He is proud of his heritage and his people, almost to a fault. He wants to be celebrated and recognised for his work and achievements and often boarders on arrogance in his dealings with others. However he is loyal and fierce. He will fight when a fight is necessary but also offers mercy and escape where that is possible. He seems to recognise that nothing is black and white. He sees all the shades of grey and tries to navigate the World on that basis. He engages in conversation while the rest of us draw blades and blood. He is probably the most light of us all although he doesn't see it, I think.

I no longer know anything. The Church that sheltered and taught me; took me in and nurtured me; appears to have a darkness so deep I can't comprehend it. I believed that all I had to do was follow Huwl and all would be well but that cannot be true. My friends follow no such celestial path and yet bring light through their actions. Where Hargrim has shown mercy I have used flame to hurt for the sake of inflicting pain. that is not the action of the light. I am beginning to think I may be the darkest of the 5 of us.

I focus on Aerith; the children; the taken. Children are pure. They have not the darkness that comes with age. Their purity is of great use to someone. Maybe if I can save them; reverse the damage done to them it will purify my soul too? Maybe it is my test?

I miss Agerth. That worries me! I liked knowing that I had darkness trapped in a mirror in my pack. That I could look it in the face and not see myself there. But Agerth was trapped for being merciful. If a devil; a demon; the darkest of all dark can do good then what is good and evil anyway? Is it all a construct The Church use to keep people subservient and controlled? Have I spent all this years learning to control people in the name of the Church? I don't want to control people. I want to do what's right. I want to help those that need help. I also want to punish those who hurt others, abuse and torture and entrap.

But maybe the path of light is all an illusion. The brightest light seems to create the darkest shadows. Is the path of light as impure as the path of shadow. Is truth between the two? Maybe I should release Agerth and see what he can teach me about mercy as the Church doesn't seem to have done as well as I thought? Would releasing him be a merciful act?

### Goldmaker's Books

I have spent hours and hours working on the notebooks I found in Brannion. Drenn has brought me food and Goodberries to keep me nourished as I have not really emerged from my room. The cipher is incredible, Goldmaker must be both wary and intelligent to have coded all his notes in this way. After days of study and meditation I think I have finally cracked it. Despite all the things we know about him our eventual goals may end up the same. All this study and work to discover that light and darkness; good and evil are more complex and entwined than I can comprehend. Although I can now read his notes they simply throw up more questions.

    Goldmaker has clearly been involved in a terrible evil, much of which we knew, but Greyfield appears to be at a different level of darkness. I had always considered that good and evil were two sides of a coin but it is becoming clearer that it is more akin to a torch.

A torch can be both dark and light; it can burn brightly or be dimmed depending on circumstance and intention. Even the brightest torch can be extinguished into deep darkness with a jug of water and maybe even a dark torch can be brought to the light?

When eventually I emerged to share my findings; I explained about a group called the Blackstar, made up of Goldmaker, The Lady Shesacarva, Canis Jerako and two I don't recognise; Sir Valerie and Finnian Underbough. Valdis and Arwyen were particularly excited to hear of the location of a number of stashes that Goldmaker had made in his travels and Valdis immediately sent word to Nannah H. who he comissioned to create a map of their locations. I discovered my friends have also been busy.

Drenn has learnt to carve wood and seems to have been practicing with his druidic staff. This must be the longest time he has not been in some form of rage and it is good to see him connecting with his ancestry and the pride he feels in this.

Valdis and Hargrim have being bonding over their mutual blacksmithing skills. They have started to make what seems to be a wrist mounted shield shaped like dragon wings. It is a beautiful thing.

Apparently Arwyen disappeared for a while and came back with bigger pockets and more gold! It seems sold some goods - I hope she got a good price for Writingham's candelabras!

Both Hargrim and Arwyen, being sociable and interested in the tales of others shared information they have heard around the inn and markets. There was lots of gossip about giants and bandits and Kings. I wasn't paying much attention! to tell the truth all the noise was quite overwhelming after so long in a book!

I retired to my room again and wrote to Falben. I don't know why. I felt te need to connect to home and didn't have anyone else to write to. I told him he had been right about the children and that I would do all I could to bring an end to it.

### Information and Planning

I got my mirror back from Leofrick. Apparently it is older than recorded history and the demon within, a powerful extra planar being. Leofrick warned about releasing him. He thinks he could be hurt if energy was amplified and channelled through the glass.

We spent a pleasant enough evening sharing information that X had collated over the recent times. I felt much happier with papers to review and study - like I have a role; a purpose. After some discussion we decided to head to the Island of Krellion of the North coast of Katos. Hargrim seems excited at the thought of showing us his dwarven homeland and then return to Hegwin to visit the Athenaeum Arcania University. I have heard of this place and am keen to visit a site of such renowned learning.

We are keen to return to the Eastern Downs to attend the Festival of a thousand wines. I have many grievances I would like to air at the festival and Greyfield is clearly a pivotal player in all these events.

### Return to Evesfol

I left Royal Cinnamon at the Inn and we chose to return to Evesfol on the cart we arrived on. There was no sign of Canis but instead we were stopped by the bloody guards. We were interrogated in a "zone of truth" although I am unconvinced that it was not just the circle of light from the campfire and bluff. despite this Valdis lost his nightshade and Hargrim his greenleaf resulting in a rather grumpy ride from there.

We skirted the outskirts of Evesfol to collect Ethel some of her favourite fungi and then paid her a visit. I'm pleased to see she is cutting back on her fungi consumption and was quite lucid when we visited. She had heard about our odd shard of metal from Gideon but seemed taken aback that we were carrying it about! She told us the legend of the Raven Queen - the only undead Fey; her daughters and her crown. It seems her crown was shattered and cast into the astral sea, except a few fragments - of which this may be one. Her 1 daughter was vanquished and the other has disappeared.

Lady Shesacava also appears to be a title rather than a person. Always linked to the Greyfield family and the church but otherwise a complete enigma. Given her powers I have deep concerns she may be the missing daughter. Ethel gifted me a copy of her treatise on goblin history and a book about constructs.

### Old Xal and Krellion

We caught up with Old Xal at the docks. The trouble with the smugglers and Young Xal seem to have really taken their toll and he seemed beaten down by it all. We talked about our trip and he offered to take us on his ship. We made Hargrim Captain and hired a very small white dragonborn cook. I was a little disappointed that Bess was not in dock, I'd have liked to get to know her better.

We sailed to Krellion and I took the opportunity to write in the Omnium Codex, adding information that we had received and reading a little about Katos and Krellion. Valdis gave me a notebook called CONJECTURE as I don't like to put theories in the book of knowledge as theories are not always truth. It was a touching gift. I have written there about my thinking that Lady Shesacava and the Raven Queen are linked and the monumental challenge this may result in.

We circumnavigated the island prior to docking on the South Coast. Drenn had a conversation with an albatross, but there was nothing much to see from the ship. We arrived to find trouble in the small port town. The Governor reported people being taken and dangers lurking in the forest.

On our map from the Inn there was writing about Janko's children in the forest but we couldn't really interpret this - other than it is probably bad. We stayed the night in the local Inn and drank some decent wine. The following day we set out to the woods (naturally!). There was a stench of death coming from a tumbledown tower.

This was living death and darkness embodied. We found a plague doctor, who had been stealing dwarves to use on his experiments, attempting to cure something he referred to as "The Pestilence." There were grotesque monsters of his making - flesh men with stolen organs and extra or missing body parts, functioning only at his will. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering they might have endured.

I did my best to show interest in his research and science. He seemed to be building dragons from assorted bones and attempting to cure group of werewolves referred to as the 'Jerako children'. Of course Canis Jerako - Jerako's children are werewolves. Greyfield filled the woods with werewolves to stop the dwarves straying too far from their citadel; protecting whatever was going on at the mine perhaps. I added this to CONJECTURE this evening. He mentioned that he was being financed to do this by an anonymous and wealthy client but he was talking so much pseudoscience babble it was hard to discern any truth.

Although he was happy to converse and did not attack, he seemed entirely unrepentant about the taking of people from the citadel and deemed it "essential to his research". We could not let him continue and so attacked with light and blade. It was a vicious fight in which I had a nasty fall, but eventually he fell - as evil tends to do - and vanished.

Arwyen took his bag and mask and an assortment of herbs and potions. Hargrim looks good in his armour, We were well rewarded in the citadel but this really just begs the question, 'What on Krellion is so important that Werewolves are required to guard it?" Tomorrow we will go North and find out.

I pray daily to Huwl for guidance and some evidence that the light is still good - he has not yet answered or shown an omen. Maybe I am too far into the dark for his light to reach? Maybe I should just talk to the demon in the mirror instead - at least he answers.

### Krellion Mine

I’m done. I can’t do this anymore. Hargrim is dead and I’m to blame. I’m meant to be a healer. I’m meant to save those who deserve saving and I failed.

I have always been taught that light is good and that this goodness is most focussed within the Church and that I, as it’s servant can bring that light into others.

But that is a falsehood; a simplification for children to keep them in line. There is no such thing as good and evil merely power and action and the dynamics that creates.

We went out to investigate that bloody mine. Greyfield is involved as is Canis. We should have known. I should have known what might happen. Blinded by my selfish need to understand what happened to Aerith; to salve my own conscience, I enthusiastically sought the danger that lay there.

With information I can have knowledge and with sufficient knowledge I can become wise enough to understand what the hell kind of a being would destroy children to harness the power of their soul.

The soul must be a truly powerful thing, otherwise why would demons choose to trade favours for them? They could have anything they choose but a soul transcends wealth and Worldly power – an infinite ocean of energy made manifest in a mortal form.

I digress. We dealt easily with the guards of the mine. My casting was awry. I tried to use the flame of Huwl to cleanse a prisoner but instead a peel of death bells echoed down the canyon and the soldier became a mass of necrotic, putrid flesh at my feet. This disconnection from Huwl should have served as a warning, not subtle as far as omens go; but no I was too focussed on understanding enough to destroy “these monsters”.

We entered a large administration building overlooking the mine itself. Within was a tall female guard in pristine armour with 5 guards. Across the mine was Canis and the mine itself was full of guards. They were destroying papers; evidence; information; wisdom.

Drenn and Hargrim went straight for the tall warrior. She was virtually untouchable. Despite ringing blows she barely flinched. We should have known. I tried to summon my spiritual weapon, a blue bird of Huwl. Instead something akin to a raven appeared. It couldn’t hit her. Maybe it was her ally?

The room filled with an ashen smoke. I was paralysed, as was Arwyen and Valdis. I could see my friends battling inner demons.

Drenn shrieked in rage, shouting virtually unintelligibly about the White Woods, his home, his people. I’ve seen him rage on many occasions but the fear on his face was painful as he fought a foe only he could see. The nearby guards fell to his wild rage as no smoke could paralyse Drenn.

Arwyen sobbed quietly, arms wrapped around her as she lay on the ground. Don’t leave me. Don’t go. I don’t know the details of her visions but she was also full of fear and (self?) loathing.

Valdis, I am sure, was seeing his people die. He screamed out to Goldmaker and the terror in his face and the depth in his haunted eyes could only be created by the terrors he has seen.

Hargrim alone seemed unaffected and as such faced the warrior alone. A flash and he was encircled in a ring of fire. I could see him through the flames. I could feel his danger. I could do nothing. I failed him.

Unsurprisingly Drenn felt no such paralysis and ran into the fire to save Hargrim. With no thought to his own safety he grappled the knight and held her in the flames. She seemed to hardly feel the fire. Maybe when your heart is so black within hellish fire is simply comforting and familiar warmth?

Valdis joined the fray but she remained uninjured and fixed on Hargim. Then Drenn was pulled and crushed beneath his own weight. He fell defending Hargrim. I’ve never known him fall. My heart fell with him. Through the flames and smoke I caught sight of a Halfling like a shadow; a triangle scar catching the red light.

I healed Drenn. It was instinct. Drenn could not fall. He is the protector of his people. He carries the light within him. Without him we are lost. As he rose Hargrim fell. A sword plunged through his heart. I believe its devastating impact was fuelled by a remnant soul. Who could use a child in this way?

I tried to help him. I was too late; too inexperienced. I cannot undo the depth of evil that had ripped through him. I wept for his soul. I wept for my own.

Drenn and Valdis charged onwards after our enemies. She escaped and Cannis came to try his luck. Drenn and Valdis fought him. Arwyen shot with skill at his feet exploding him backwards into the mine. Drenn chased but it was clear this fight was lost. I returned to Hargrim.

The mineworkers, gnomes I think, told us that they had been providing cover for the export of the remnant souls, along with other more usual gems. They had a box of remnant pearls. One was missing. The bitch that slew Hargrim had simply smashed it to teleport away. It meant that little. Simply a convenient energy source. Disposable. Empty. Devoid of meaning.

Drenn carried Hargrim to the druid stone. We built a pyre worthy of his ancestors and left him with the axe of the Yule Father. We prayed the Dwarven Rites of the Dead from the omnium codex and walked back to our ship.

I’ve travelled alone for the past 4 days. I cannot face my friends and our loss. My failure to save him. I tried to seek guidance from Huwl but I can find no connection. I spoke with Agerth. He answered. I made a decision. I have lost my protector. I cannot find the light in this darkness.

I must protect my friends. I must keep death from them and bring it to those who seek to harm them. I must stop seeking to salve my soul for my failings as a daughter and a sister and, instead, work to help Valdis avenge his people. Help Drenn in his quest to become the protector of the White Woods and help Arwyen in whatever way she would accept my help.

If I can keep death from these people and condemn to the 9 hells those that seek to harm us maybe giving a little of my soul to Agerth in exchange would be a worthy sacrifice. I think the time is coming to release him from his mirror and cut a deal.

### Festival of 1000 Wines

As we arrived at Eastern Downs I confessed to my friends my belief that we should release Agerth from his mirror prison. I let him try to convince them as he has me. He promised the death of Arron Greyfield and favours for us all in addition. The anger and sadness since the death of Hargrim has, I think, made them more favoured to the idea.

We spent a week in Eastern Downs prior to the festival. I had black robes made that cover my armour and feel more fitting both for my allegiance and for a party where I hope to bring death to our enemies. I also had my red hair bleached the white silver of the high elves. It is strange. I look more like my sister, although still nothing like my father. I found a mask like that worn by Lady Shesacava and had it fashioned into a headdress.

Arwyen was absent for large portions of time. I think she was shopping and visiting people she knows around town. She certainly returned with information about guards and security details.

We had a briefing on the expected guests from the UnderInn team who have also come to network and seek information. We told them that there is something going on in the tunnels under Eastern Downs; armour and weapons for a large army. They had heard similar news and were here to investigate. They gave us a boat that is hidden in a pack and 2 necklaces that will teleport 3 persons to the other necklace when the crystal is broken. These preparations for a rapid escape cannot bode well.

I took the mirror to the party, hidden in the front of my robes. I walked in with Ethel’s ticket as if I should clearly be there. I tried to channel every ounce of my Father’s noble bearing and arrogance. My name was marked and I was taken off to the side. I was reassured that Valdis was there, invisible, and Arwyen let me know that she was pretending to be Lady Green. We met this shiny armoured human who was helping the guards.

He had the posture of a man who believed himself to be of true greatness; a confident and exuberant man. He convinced the guards that they should treat ladies with greater respect and with that we were inside.

Valdis was seen, despite invisibility, by a white Tiefling. We seem to have both friends and enemies in this room, but who is who may be unclear. The world is taking sides.

Drenn was outside, keeping watch as a bird. It was reassuring to know he was there. He pecked at Canis’ eye but Canis was so fast. He ripped the birds head off. Although I knew Drenn was safe outside it still sent shivers through my soul.

They were all there. I tried to read the mirror. I couldn’t help it. To be surrounded by Goldmaker, Canis, Shesacava, Greyfield, Valerie – it was overwhelming evil. I needed to balance that with an evil they could not fight.

They tried to silence me and when that failed used force to pull the mirror away from me. I had a moment of pain as Greyfield appeared to break the mirror but he could not. He did not have that power. Simply an illusion.

We followed Greyfield into the tunnels beneath the Downs. Pim got the guards to show us the way and Drenn joined us there. There were strange crystals sparking electricity powering some hideous experiments. Werewolves in cages.  A wereHog? Something is being designed here. Being built. Something terrible. We found another 2 shards of the Shadowmetal that possessed Avery Ottersman. They tried to assemble themselves in the box with that shard, but failed, like an automaton jigsaw.

We entered a chamber by a docks. Greyfield and Valerie were sitting there overlooking the water. A buzzing hum of energy behind us. Above us in the huge space were thousands upon thousands of warforged. A huge army of metal men. Currently inert. How would you power such a formidable force and why would you need them.

Greyfield wants to save the world. Unite the peoples of the world. Prevent any wars and hatred. I cannot believe him. He cannot have a noble purpose. I cannot countenance that any good could come from the entrapment of the souls of children. I know he has done deals with Hastur. Can the ends ever justify means such as these

Drenn covered me and I read the mirror. I can speak Infernal clearly and with fluency. Reciting the words to free Agerth felt like a prayer, a benediction. Valdis tried to cast “protection from Evil” upon me but I shrugged it away. I do not need protection from Agerth anymore than I needed it from Huwl.

The way to understand the dark is to accept and explore it and not shy away and pretend it can be obliterated. A bright light simply serves to blind and create deeper shadows. Good and evil are nothing, as thin and abstract as the air we breathe. There is no good or evil, only what we choose to do and how others choose to react to it.

As Agerth left the mirror I felt a powerful force rip through me. My holy symbol cracked through it’s centre and I felt my mind freed to contemplate wider possibilities, horizons. The wisdom of Agerth is certainly different to that of Huwl. I feel liberated and clear to contemplate possibilities.

Agerth shot straight to Greyfield and the skin was melted from his bones. His screams of pain and shock satisfying. Agerth vanished with the promise to return if called. That left us with Valerie and a score to settle.

From behind us the buzzing got louder and a huge warforged blasted through the wall; a prototype or a leader of the huge army?

We fought hard. Drenn took the warforged to pieces one blow at a time; revealing 5 souls powering the beast. Is this what they have needed them for? The purity of a child’s soul to power a massive mechanised army of death? I took them when it fell. I now carry 14 souls in addition to what remains of mine.

I cast on Valerie. My spells feel different; unusual. Black tendrils reached out and wrapped her. Her blows became weak and less effective. We took full advantage of this. Arwyen and Pim shot from the shadows and took her down while Valdis attacked her with sword.

Valdis fell but Pim dragged him away and I could save him from the grave. It is not his time. He is not to die. I didn’t fail him.

They were defeated. A lowly guard surrendered. He is not worth the trouble. He has no power here. He has a job; he feeds his family. He doesn’t make decisions; have power. He is not complicit. It is not his time. He will be judged by another on another day.

As we approached the dock Greyfields’s body rose like a marionette. Hastur. Seeking a new host I presume? He tried to take Drenn; he failed. Drenn fell but not even Hastur could take him. I fear he will find someone weaker willed; less clear souled but he failed here.

Arwyen revived him although he has been blinded. We left in a ship. I will see if I can heal his sight. I hope I have the power to heal him. I sit back as we row away and contemplate what we have learned and what I have become.

### Escape, Insight and Choice

We rowed until we reached a cove and headed to the nearest town. We stayed, exhausted in a place called Smallton at the most decrepit, run down excuse of a tavern.

That night as I meditated on the actions I had taken Huwl appeared to me. It is strange that it is now, after I have turned towards the dark that he makes his presence known again. He tells me not to forget the light.

Valdis sent word to Xunnol that there is a traitor in the organisation and same thousands of ravens carrying word of Greyfield’s death across Bacland. I think we are now hunted. Nannah H has sent her map of Goldmaker’s secret locations. There is one nearby. From the notebooks I think it contains a darkness pellet. This may be helpful if we are being sought as criminals.

We met another traveller, Fu, who is seeking a scroll in the nearby ruins of Dresnill. He asked for our help. He wants to use the spell to find someone he has lost. I know his desire and his drive. We may help him but our first priority is Drenn.

Drenn’s eyes are scarred and white have clearly seen the most terrible sight under the hood of Hastur. His blindness is aberrant and beyond my power to heal. There is a healer in the woods, a witch who can help – we set out to find her as soon as possible.

We got caught in a net trap, well Valdis, Pim and Drenn did. A group of bandits; “The Hoods” apparently. Arwyen knows of them. They are far from their home territory down here. I wonder if that has anything to do with Alana Dale being at the festival?

Arwyen works her locutionary magic and the bandits let down the net and grant us passage through the woods.

We find Arabella in a tree house deep in the woods. She is kindly and offers both to heal Drenn and gives us the opportunity to seek information though enquiry at a shrine in the centre of a nearby lake.

We take that opportunity and Drenn kneels at the shrine. Although his body remains quietly meditative his mind has clearly left to roam other places. As he mutters, spirits of long dead warriors rise from the lake around us. It is painful. We can’t hit them or hurt them but they hurt us.

Valdis takes his place next. No such warriors;  but the lake turns to ink and he is surrounded by lightning which burns his flesh. After his commune is done he is weak as a child and I cannot strengthen him. His arm has scales burnt into the flesh which I cannot heal.

I kneel at the shrine and am transported far from my body. I am floating between an endless star strewn sky and an endless fire. In the sky is Huwl, bright white and blinding in his moonlight intensity; obliterating the gentle light of the stars with his intensity. In the orange red flame is Agerth; Arnigithorgextim – Unstitcher of wounds, the scarring of the dark and the wretched mildew of the dammed. He is dark in the heat of the hellfire but clear. Both he and the flame are equals.

As I ask questions I feel myself pulled towards the being as they answer me. I ask Agerth if Aerith is alsive.  He tells me Aerith is close; in Eastern Downs; that I have been within 2m of her.

I ask Huwl if she can be saved, his answer is chilling, “Who knows what crimes are forgivable?” This is not the light. This is not the warmth of comfort and salvation. This is the blinding white light of a snow covered mountain; cold and deadly. This is the light that will leave you wandering lost and blind to your death without a second thought. How could I ever have thought it good?

I ask both how I can help my friends with the gargantuan tasks that confront them. Huwl simply says follow the light. Agerth tells me to use all the power I have. I know now what I must do. I must not follow a light to my death; I must be the light.

As I moved to return to my body a door opened on either side; a deceptively beautiful gate in the sky or a tumbledown rusty gate in the fire. But it matters not what you look at, it’s what you see. I see a deceptive, easy route or a difficult path of broken things. I walked without hesitation through the rusted gate. I chose the darkness and I will be the light.

Arwyen also kneels at the shrine. She goes immediately pale and looks like she is suspended on the edge of death. When she returned she was as weak as I have ever seen her. She healed. She is well.

As we walked back to Smallton we shared our experiences. Drenn’s eyes are now lupine and yellow; his vision restored. We shared tales of prophecy and mythical weapons; of dragons and blood magic; of the Fey and of giants. It seems we have many challenges ahead of us and the path will be difficult and strewn with broken things. It is the path I chose.

We spent a pleasant enough afternoon with Lady Benford. There are more strange happenings in the nearby town of Laysfeild. Unexplained, ritualistic burnings – murders. They are related in some manner to the festival. They started before it was due and then stopped during the postponement, only to begin again as the festival drew closer.

We rest here; a nicer location than the tavern and prepare to set out again tomorrow as hunted people with the weight of prophecy on our backs.

### What is honour?

We stayed with Lady Benford and then, with Fu, set sail for the Dresnill Ruins. Arwyen is getting pretty proficient on a boat, using the skills she gained from Old Xal. I’m not much of a sailor so spent the time reading and ordering the papers we have retrieved from the Krellion mine and the Eastern Down’s laboratory. I also made a start on Ethel’s book about constructs.

We could see the ruins from a way off and as we approached the door, set into the hillside, was closed from within and locked. Not one door was barred to Arwyen that day. She seemed to simply walk up and open them; her skills with a pick are impressive.

Within the chambers and passages beyond we came across several old foes. They seemed to be made of illusion magic but could still hurt effectively. Pim saw people from his past but the rest of us all saw the same people. Bishop Wrightingham, with sunflowers growing from his mouth, attacked first, next was the grey soldier who surrendered at Krellion Mine, “You said I could go” he cried as we killed him for a second time.

Valdis used his impressive tinkering abilities to mend the mechanism to lift a broken portcullis. I gave Pim Hargrim’s message pin. It seems pointless to not be able to communicate with him. Hargrim wouldn’t have wanted anyone excluded in that way. It felt like finally saying goodbye.

As we moved through the portcullis we were attacked again, this time by Sir Valerie and Maith. I could not attack Maith again. She did not deserve the scorning I gave her the first time. I attacked Sir Valerie though and Pim appeared to have no such reservations in dealing with whoever he saw in Maith’s place.

In this room a magical darkness made communication and exploration difficult. The room was full of stone statues. We found a statue of Igni; the Aasimar warrior that had helped Marvarkus escape from Arrith Natel. In seeing them it became clear that these statues were people, turned to stone.

Unfortunately Valdis suffered the same fate. I spoke to him; asked if he could still hear and understand us. Skuveklis flew to my shoulder. It became clear that these people were or had been trapped in stone until they died but were aware and possibly still alive.

We took Valdis with us. I asked that we take Igni too, on the chance that they may too be alive within the stone. My desire to save the people who have helped us; those that have shown they carry light within them; is much more powerful these days. If Igni is alive within the stone then she must be kept from the grave if at all possible. She risked herself to help Marvarkus escape; she had honour and light; we should carry her with us despite the additional burden until we know whether she can be rescued.

In the hands of a statue we found a missing gate piece for a large mosaic in the previous chamber. We returned to that room, destroying the portcullis mechanism behind us.

As the gate piece was placed the mosaic rolled away a large room was revealed. It looks like this was once a library but not much is left intact. Sitting upon a bronze platform was a purple and gold spinning orb. This seemed to be responsible for the illusions we had encountered. In addition were two scrolls – one creation and one location and 3 blank scrolls.

Fu reappeared at this point. He had vanished in the fighting, clearly a coward and the reason for wanting our assistance. He had not dared enter the room of statues. He returned now to claim his treasure. He wanted the orb and scroll of creation; not the scroll of familial location. He had no deep interest in finding his lost sibling but instead a huge interest in making lots of gold. Drenn took the orb, which stopped spinning as he hid it. Fu insists that he wants to find his brother, but that a great deal can be achieved with gold.

After removing his scimitars and daggers and taking both the orb and scroll from Fu we returned to the boat. Fu needed a little persuasion to help move the statues but recognised the risky position he was in.

On the return journey I used the Omnium Codex to help me identify these items we had retrieved. The scroll of familial location would allow the user to know how many living relatives one has and the exact location of one of them. This seems to be exactly what Arwyen might need to help her find her family. The scroll of genesis allows the user to create their own demiplane of existence. Only one person appears to be able to access the plane, but as a personal escape place to use if the end of the World were coming…?

We returned to Smallton around a week after setting sail. The Hoods had moved on from the woods. We headed to Arabella with another request for her assistance. Arabella was most obliging again and we paid her for her time and kindness. She restored Valdis to his more usual form, although he was more exhausted than I have ever seen them. Igni was also restored but having been stone much longer was in need of more prolonged rehabilitation and stayed with Arabella.

Upon further discussion with Fu he revealed that his buyer was one of the 11 high eleven council members of Mathnhil. He offered us three quarters of his payment.

We approached the Twin Bridges and made camp for the night. Valdis needed sleep more than I had ever seen; he was exhausted and pale. We were approached by an obese man travelling along the path. He asked to share our meal and we obliged. In payment he flipped a coin to Drenn. It was seven sided, with writing on both sides.

Pim could decipher the text as being Celestial on one side and abyssal on the other. It read, “A payment like no other” and appeared to be indestructible, although not magical. Drenn kept this for safekeeping. I write the phrase into the Omnium Codex but nothing else appears there. It is uncertain the meaning and value of this. Fu eventually confessed to being paid 20,000GP for the scroll and orb and he would give us 15,000 of this.

In the morning we unearthed the first of Goldmaker’s stashes: 5 darkness pellets, 3 supreme healing potions, a magical silver ring in the form of a ram’s head and a locket.  Maybe there is more to Goldmaker than we first thought. In addition to items that would help him fight or defend there is also a personal trinket; an important other. I took the locket. It seems that it might be important to him and maybe returning it one day will be helpful to us.

We travelled north to Dateley a nearby village. We entered the backroom of the local inn to meet with the Elven noble. He was certainly dressed the part in wig and tails, exuding the wealth and arrogance of his high elven ancestry. He was disdainful of Fu’s need for assistance in obtaining the items. He says that he anticipates the ending of the World within 2 months, the scroll is his insurance. Fu kept his end of the bargain and in exchange for the return of his weapons he gave us $15000 GP to share.

We returned to The Twin Bridges Inn for the night. Valdis, although looking better still seems pale and weary. Pim was absolutely opposed to another night outside and suggested we stay at the Twin Bridges Inn for the night before travelling on to Laysfeild.

That night Arwyen used the scroll of familial location and in doing so discovers in addition to her father and mother, she also has an elder sister and a half-brother of whom she knew nothing, and a grandfather. She decides to trace her grandfather, as the one likely to know most about her family. He is currently living in the higher levels of a tall white tower in the elven city of Mathnhil and is missing his right eye. As he signs some papers she sees his name is Laraden Galamin.

I know that name. Penlador Galamin is one of the 11 high council members; he was at the festival. Galamin must be one of the eleven high elven families. Arwyen must have noble ancestry in her lineage.

I’m not sure how she’ll feel about that. I find my ancestry both a mystery and a burden. I’ve never felt like a high elf; more wood elven in appearance and nature. Maybe that’s why my father hated me so much. I can see resemblance to my mother but none at all to father. I look at Venali and Aerith and they both had his silver white hair and proud high cheekbones. I have none of his features at all, maybe I’m just misremembering; it has been a long time since I last saw him.

Next time I write to Falben I might ask him to do a little investigating; is my family as obvious as it seems? If Arwyen can have a noble heritage and siblings, about whom she knew nothing what may be lurking in my family that might explain the way I am?

### Who is Arwyen?

Arwyen is certainly not just a wood-elf rogue that's for certain. I'd always taken her at face value although it's been clear for sometime that she has a past she'd rather not discuss.

Since her gaining the scroll of Familial Location she and I have had more converstaion than we have almost in the whole trip to date! Given that we both meditate for a few hours a night we have found ourselves conversing in the early hours and the more I learn the less clear the picture.

She was given up to a thieving gang as a child. I thought my parents were uncaring but to sell your child into service. Arwyen says she's always been able to steal; it caused problems and they gave up on her. I understand now why she talks so little about her past. I also understand why she is such a good thief; she's been practicing for a hundred years.

The scroll has unveiled her past in more ways than she expected. She had hoped to learn why she had been given away but instead she learned of family she knew not existed. If this Laraden Galamin is her grandfather and the Galamin's are a high elven family of Mathnhil then she is no wood elf and her parents may not have ever been her parents. Does this mean she has been given away twice?

We decided to scout out Laysfeild given the gruesome murders there. Unsurprisingly a combination of a disguised Arwyen and Drenn through a falcon's eyes got enough information to make going into town a definite no! The place was crawling with Grey soldiers; guarding every road in; patrolling the town. Why so many guards in this out of the way little place?

Arwyen found a member of the 45s who asked her to help free a compatriot who'd been imprisoned in the local manor. He was being held by a Hawkin Davlin. Pim remembered him - a bully with contacts who never seemed to get any consequences. Arwyen decided to go on a rescue mission - she says for the safe and treasure within but I think she needs the action and the concentration; so as not to have to think for a while.

We sent Boff with her! I'm not sure what we were thinking as he is untrained in combat and effectively unarmed. Maybe that helped? No-one suspects a woman and an unarmed man; more fool them. The rest of us stayed with Valdis. He was still weakened by his time as a statue and subsequent restoration. He was exhausted and just needed rest and keeping safe.

We headed South to wait for Arwyen and Boff in the forest. Drenn and Arwyen planned extensively and then he made a single person path through the woods for her to follow. I set a campfire and Drenn and Pim caught dinner. We ate and waited. Valdis slept.

Sometime later there was a flash and Arwyen appeared holding Boff and a bloodied corpse. She had crushed the homing crystal and returned to it's pair which Drenn held. A quick and effective escape strategy. She asked us to burn the body so it appeared like another murder - we obliged and then Drenn hung the mangled corpse in a tree.

Arwyen told us what seemed a fantastical tale but essentially the 45 was freed and she emptied her smugglers bag onto the ground for us to see.

There was a beautiful rapier; not my weapon of choice I admit, but only Arwyen and I could weild it at all. An elven magical blade. A great club was more Drenn's type of weapon! There were many other items not least of which, a flying carpet, she ave to Valdis. There was a golden orb topped with a crucifix that seems to be some sort of weapon. I don't really want to be near to anything from the church of light right now and anyway Drenn can throw it much further than I can, making it more useful in his hands.

We headed off and stopped, at Pim's urging at a tiny village called Ader North. Pim had seen them on a map and was idetermined to pay them a visit. A hunting party arrived that evening and I was sure they were looking for us but Boff again stepped in to assist. He went down and asked if he could help. It turns out they were hunting some other poor souls. I wonder what crimes they may have committed.

We returned by boat to the High Cloak Inn. Drenn chatted to his horse like a long lost friend. I'm sure sometimes he prefers the company of animals. We returned to the UnderInn to talk to Xunnol. He had received Valdis’s letter and as a result any of the other members of X; Artur, Leofrick, Redsand and Caution had left. Apparently they didn't like the accusation and suspicion. I had wanted to ask Leofrick more about the mirror but maybe we will meet again. Drenn spent a long while talking alone with Xunnol. He shared with me that Xunnol is a red dragon trapped in human form which explains some things and as usual opens even more questions.

Xunnnol suggested some options for destroying Hastur on this plane; we might persuade the King and other leaders to intervene, or finish House Greyfield by destroying the heirs. Neither seems an easy option. We didn't tell Xunnol about the Deus Mori or our plans with giants. I'm just wary as we know there is a traitor here somewhere.

Laura had some useful information about House Galamin. As I suspected it is one of the 11 houses on the elven council. Ladorian Galamin, is considered the mastermind and the force behind the power. He has 1 child, Penlador Galamin who sits on the council. This, therefore must be Arwyen's father. If Arwyen can prove her kinship she would be in line to a seat on the Elven High Council. That kind of connection may be valuable, but they gave her away before; I'm not sure how welcome she will be now.

We need to help Arwyen sort out her past and present so have decided to head for Mathnhil. The Giant kingdom of Zephyr is close by so a trip with Valdis may also be on the cards. Eventually I think we will head to Oaktown to meet with King William the Elder and ask how we might assist him and what he might do in return for our aid.

I feel much clearer and more focused than I have in years. The path is indeed difficult and there are many broken things; broken families; broken people; broken souls? Arwyen will have difficult times ahead; families are never easy; and discovering you are not who you always believed yourself to be is a feeling I'm getting to know well. I wonder who her siblings will turn out to be. I wonder whether mine are who I think they are. I wonder whether I am who I think I am.

### Identity

I am now almost entirely sure that I am not high elven. It would explain so much. I have written to Falben to ask him to use his contacts to dig around the gossip of court and see what he can find out, but I am not a Malthen.

This was never more certain than when we arrived at Mathnhil, the most high eleven city of them all. Built and maintained in the old style of High Elves, when they ruled lands and worlds and had little to do with the rest of the World. A small pocket of both history and identity. As we entered I have never felt less at home, it is beautiful that is sure, but in an artificial and carefully placed way. Every stone, every piece of water moulded to an ideal.

The forest we had approached through was so much more; soaring trees searching for the sun; tiny flowers sheltered in the roots; animals and birds heard but unseen, protected in the shadows; the babbling waters. Tranquil and peaceful and balanced. There is life and death in the forest in perfect equipoise; death simply returning to the Earth and enabling the progression of the living. My identity? My home?

Arwyen, in contrast, may not have known the customs, learned from years of schooling and habit, but looked entirely in place here. She walked taller. She looked comfortable and placed. This is her home.

Valdis, Drenn and Pim wisely pretended to be our escorts to this place. They made no claim of equivalence that would have upset the elves here. Again this caused me some disquiet. A place where you need pretend to be inferior in order to be accepted at all is not a place I can identify with. These men have laid their lives on the line for me and have suffered in ways I cannot understand. I can feel no kinship with a people that see no value in honour.

We approached the white tower that Arwyen recalled from her visions. She and I went in and went to the library. This was an impressive affair and I enjoyed hiding in the texts here. I looked for the books on the list that we received from X. All the volumes are here except 4 and 7. Why would they be missing? The librarian assumes they were borrowed and not returned.

Arwyen studied the family records of the house Gallamin but found little to add to the knowledge we already held. We spoke with Amity, the elderly librarian who has been in the tower all her life. She spoke a little of rumour. Arwyen told her about the scroll and that Ladorian may be her grandfather. Amity offered to take us there directly, and so we did.

Ladorian accepted Arwyen openly. They used a scroll that we had purchased from Gideon (at one of his franchised shops in Last Stop West) that confirmed their blood relationship. He did not speak of her mother but said that Penlador had been a known philanderer and there could be many choices! He took her to the Council chamber to meet him. Penlador was clearly shocked and we were rapidly ushered away by Ladorian. Arwyen has the most noble lineage; inheritance of a seat on the elven council; an identity, albeit one she was not expecting.

Our comrades had used their time while we were in the tower to enter a tournament! Drenn was to fight in the melee and both Valdis and Pim in the open. When we met up with them Arwyen opted to take part in the archery section. We entered the grounds and saw Lardorian and Penlador in the stands; however I also saw Edward Greyfield surrounded by Grey Cloaks. I scanned the crowds for other faces we know but could see none.

Arwyen shot well, placing second in the archery - I'm sure I saw pride in Ladorian's scarred face; her identity. Penlador looks pale, even for a high elf, and somewhat shellshocked! I'm not sure how he might look when he discovers he has another daughter and possibly a son!

Drenn enters the ring with drama, casting off his wolfskin cloak and rising to his full height weilding an elven longsword. His opponent was none other than Morradin Greyfield. Again I search the crowd but can see no sign of Reeve. Edward is smiling.

Drenn fights like Drenn; anger focused through his blade; his identity. Morradin may be a talented warrior but there was no match here. He yielded and Drenn walked away. Edward looked both embarrassed and angry, I think my expression was exactly opposite.

Vaidis faced a wily Tabaxi. They were fast but he was faster. The magic was skilled, defeating the Tabaxi though his pact. Skulveklis swooping around the arena. His identity.

Pim entered combat with a rose, that he gave to some lady in the crowd. There was drama and arrogance aplenty; his identity. He faces a goliath; scarred; gold tooth; Goldmaker is here. Edward Greyfield is smiling again.

I sit in the crowd and see the enemies of my friends. I watch. I wait. I hold my rage. I will protect them. I will send their enemies to their grave. I will hunt down those that mean us harm. My identity.

### Destiny Fate and Family

Pim threw the fight. After some odd conversation he and Goldmaker put down their weapons and what followed could only be described as an odd dance show. Eventually Goldmaker was declared victorious and Pim retired to the stands, where his rose was waiting for him.

Drenn gave no quarter to a Black Knight who he met in the second round. He held his anger in check on this occasion, which I think is progress, but knocked him unconscious anyway.

As Pim had allowed Goldmaker to advance without even a minor injury, he was in prime condition to meet Valdis. This was never going to end well. Drenn armed Valdis with Sir Valerie’s sword. Although the pearl that can power it is the soul of a child; if it saves my friend is that life wasted?

So valdis, entered the arena, armed with the sword, and carrying the need to avenge his people heavy on his back. From nowhere he summoned a gelatinous cube which proved an effective distraction, attack and defence. There was much posturing and shouting, and then Valdis disappeared; taunting Goldmaker from the very air; and when Goldmaker discovered the sword Valdis was wielding even he paled.

Goldmaker yielded, knowing the sword’s potential, but Valdis could not resist a final taunt. He sent Skuveklis to fly over his defeated foe; Goldmaker crushed the tiny dragon like a fly and it fell in pieces to the ground. I could feel Valdis’ pain as Goldmaker crushed the dragon with the same indifference as he had crushed Valdis’ family.

Valdis rushed toward him and plunged the sword through his chest; crushing the pearl. The stadium was shaken and filled with blinding light. Through it I saw Edward Greyfield being hurried away. AS the light faded Valdis was kneeling on the glass, where sand had lain moments before; his hands shaking uncontrollably and scars on his arms. Goldmaker was unconscious and removed rapidly by clerics and healers. As the stadium emptied in panic Valdis was taken away in chains.

Drenn and I followed to the jailhouse where Valdis was being held. They wouldn’t let us in. They wouldn’t let us know whether Goldmaker had survived. My heart ached for Valdis; the murderer of his people; the destroyer of his life and family; his opportunity for revenge taken. I wonder whether he felt the child die; whether he cares; was it worthwhile? I hope so. The burden of a lost child, an innocent, is not an easy one to bear.

Just as suddenly Valdis is released, with his belongings and Skuveklis cradled in his hands. He bandages his arms. His eyes are haunted and dark; he is guarded and preoccupied. I am worried for him.

Arwyen had rushed to the council and explained the events. Valdis’ history with Goldmaker; the Greyfields’s; the sword and the death of Hargrim. Lardorian had ensured Valdis’ release. Arwyen does indeed have some powerful relatives.

I received word from Falben. There is certainly something; he won’t put in a letter. There is something afoot with the Church in Parnos; I hope Abbot Galad is not involved or in danger. He was kind to me when others were not. He guided me when I was lost. He gave me a home when I had none. I may have left the Church of Light but he is a man I would consider a friend, rather than a clergyman; but being in the Church may have become hard for him too these days?

Falben says something is coming. Whatever is happening seems bigger than Bacland; if the effects have reached Parnos then whatever is happening is across Randore. I put the letter away.

Arwyen tells me of an odd conversation with Ladorian. He asked her about other potential heirs, as currently Arwyen would be next in line for a council seat. She did not lie to him. She told him she was aware of an older sister.

Ladorian says a child was given to a cleric to be cared for; a long friend of the Gallamin house; by the name of Gallad. Surely not; the coincidence is too great; the age would be right; could Abbot Galad, my friend, have been involved in this somehow?

Arwyen says he asked about her birthmark, a mark like an archer’s burn on her arm; he asked about a sunburst. Arwyen was confused as she’d never had that mark. I knew it though. Aerith had the mark. It is why everyone was so enamoured of her as a baby, “Touched by the Angels” everyone said.

Ladorian says that if an older sister were to be found it would put Arwyen’s claim to a council seat back as her older sister would be in line. He encourages Arwyen not to seek out her sister. It would make things “problematic” for her succession. Strange that Ladorian would welcome Arwyen so readily but not seem to have any interest at all in finding other potential successors.

We attended the council meeting. Arwyen looked at place at the Gallamin table; with her family. I felt a pang of loss and loneliness I haven’t experienced for many years. The Greyfield’s had been petitioning the elves to join the Grey alliance. Thanks to Arwyen’s intervention and the power held by the Gallamin family the elven council voted not to be involved.

I had an odd conversation with Cardinal Rishna after the meeting. I told him that the pearl in his ring was the trapped soul of a child. He looked taken aback, confused and scared. He asked whether the rumours of a demon killing Arron Greyfield were true. I simply said that all I recall is that from the body rose an aberrant being that blinded my friend in a way beyond my healing and then left. He stood tall and said, “Then he lives?” He knows of Hastur; but did not know of the pearls. Is he as trapped as the children? Is he trying to save the world from within or his own skin?

I can no longer tell who is friend and who is foe.

Valdis was drinking whiskey, or rather turning the glass in his hands. I took it away. He is haunted by what he did. He heard the child ask why it had to die as its death powered the sword. The burden is great. Is he now as bad as Goldmaker? Killing innocents for “a reason”; is there a reason good enough to salve his conscience? I don’t know the answer. If his life had been in danger then I too would have sacrificed the pearl, but it wasn’t, the fight was won. The child died for anger, for temper, for hatred and anguish. I drank the whiskey.

Arwyen decided to become a legitimate Galliman. She now has papers and an identity. She also has a beautiful elven sword. When she drew it she saw visions; Ladorian, her mother, her half-brother and an aura, trapped and pulled asunder by grey strings.

We need to seek her mother. We head to a nearby town where Ladorian tells us she has been for many years. Why does he care? Why is he watching her?

Rhea is married with a son, Arwyen’s half-brother Finder. It as an emotional moment for Arwyen - asking her mother why she had been sold to a thieving gang and the tale she told was worrying.

Rhea and Penlador had an affair for a long time. Her first child, a girl, Arwyen’s sister was born in Mathnahil. The child was taken from her. Rhea never saw her daughter. She was given away to a cleric to care for; given to Galad.

When she fell pregnant again she fled Mathnahil, fearing the same loss. She cut her ties with the house Gallamin and set up life away from the city. Life is hard when you are poor and food is scarce. When there are no rich relatives to help.

The family was starving. The 45s offered a way out, for both of them, and Rhea took it. She chose survival apart rather than starving to death together. The money given to Rhea by the 45s allowed Rhea to live, and eventually start the small shop with Torsol that they continue to run, and the 45s gave Arwyen a purpose and a home, of sorts.

Rhea warned against trusting Ladorian and I must say I tend to agree. Who takes a new-born infant from its mother’s arms and hands it to a cleric? Penlador may be a philanderer but why not keep Rhea quiet in Crimsonvalle with money and the child or send them both away with Galad? If having illegitimate children was an issue why was Rhea allowed to continue seeing Penlador after the first child? Why is he still watching her after all this time?

The gnawing question is the coincidences: Galad, a high elven child, a sunburst birthmark – to me that is Aerith, my sister, but who is this child?

I have doubted my parentage for a while. I am clearly not a high elf; I have the hair and eyes of my wood elven brethren, of my mother, and no sign of my father in me. But Aerith? Aerith was a perfect high elven child; it’s why he worshipped her. But where was any sign of my mother, the wood elf, the ranger, in her? If I believe I am not of my father’s blood could Aerith possibly not be of my mother’s? So who is she?

Is Aerith Arwyen’s older sister? Never my sister? Not my kin? A Gallamin hidden in Parnos by an old family friend? As far from Mathnahil as possible? Why send away the first child yet allow Arwyen’s birth and childhood to continue in a nearby village?

All this time I have been searching for Aerith and Arwyen for her family; have we been looking for the same thing all along without realising?

I need to meditate on this development. If Aerith was banished or hidden and then taken is she pivotal in some way? Why so much trouble? Why enquire about the birthmark now and why watch her mother for hundreds of years? Why tell Arwyen not to look for her?

In Arwyen’s vision she saw her family; Ladorian, Penlador, Rhea, Finder and a soul trapped and being pulled in many directions – her sister? Aerith?

Is Arwyen’s sister trapped in a pearl, trapped in another plane, being used against her will, possessed? In parts the walls between worlds are paper thin and in the endless cycles of conjecture and ratiocination they dissolve entirely. She could be anywhere and anything. Lost or found. Living her destiny or being prevented from enacting it.

There are so many questions and too few answers; so many possibilities. As I was once instructed, “Given a conjecture, the best thing is to prove it. The second best thing is to disprove it. The third best thing is prove that it is not possible to disprove it, since it will tell you not to waste your time trying to disprove it.” I must gain information and seek to prove or disprove some of this conjecture.

We are at risk. We are exposed. So much to get done. So little time. All the evidence suggests something is coming, and soon. We must act for knowledge without action is futile, but action without knowledge is useless.  I must find the knowledge to ensure we take the right actions.

I must seek the book of prophecies and find it soon. I must read and understand and gain the knowledge within. If there are prophecies written about us, as Odin suggested, maybe there are also prophecies about an elven child, marked, awaited? Prophecies about the end of the World? The Return of the Raven Queen? The Wraith that never died? With that knowledge I can help inform our actions. I can better keep my family safe.

We are headed to the Giants, to the plane of thunder, I must find the book of prophecy and soon.

### A name without a face and a face without a name

We entered the Giantlands and met their king, an old cloud giant, Esal Monir. He is a towering warrior who gazes upon the clouds and reads portents and predictions through the windows of his castle.

He knew of our coming. He knew us by name. I looked at the clouds and saw nothing but the usual puffs of white and grey flitting across the vastness of the sky.

Arwyen asked him if he knew of other prophecies, whether he had the book we are searching for. Giants care little for the permanence of text, preferring the transitory ephemeral messages of the clouds. He did however suggest we seek a Storm Giant, Sel Sevir, the greatest seer of the giants. The journey, to Seeker’s Truth at the highest of the frozen peaks sounds dangerous but potentially valuable.

We need this information. This may be the way, or maybe there are other options.

We have rooms in the castle. I spent my time there with my books and papers. I value the quiet and solitude, the study and reflection, the focus and peace. There is solace in knowledge; there is also power.

Drenn spent time training with his sword and Pim went off to visit some the nearby settlement of Puddleside. He met a boatman, a Drow called Spikewell, who navigates the waterways and caves beneath the mountain. He told Pim about a ship, lost deep in the cave system with a lost treasure of gold aboard. Pim volunteered our services as guards and negotiated a rate of 32% of the haul. But we are not to tell the King. I’m not sure that Easl Monir is someone I’d like to cross. We may need caution ahead.

That evening we were invited to a feast at the castle. The King is a generous host and it was a pleasant affair. Valdis busied himself chopping an apple the size of a watermelon.

The King told us his history and that of their people: carving the very World for the first peoples, building with the elves and planting with the Ents.

He is older than Randore. In return the Angels gave them a World apart called Austeria. As happens a civil war erupted among the Giants and Yismir, the traitor, stole the Nexus stone from the Giant King’s Staff of Planar Travel. The staff allowed the giants to travel freely between planes but without the stone they have been stuck on Randore for 20,000 years. He wants us to retrieve the stone for him.

Of course to find and retrieve the stone we must first find the stone. If only life were simple! The key to the knowledge lies within the mind of an insane Fey creature thrown, faceless from the Feywilde. He is held, chained in the dungeon of the castle. As he remains locked in his mind the Giant King offered us the assistance of his sorcerer to go within this mind and find the truth he is unable to speak.

The jester, for he is…was…is a jester has no face. He can speak but mainly babbles, retreating far beyond our spoken words. Drenn tried and got some response in Sylvan, he feels he is unable to tell us what he knows. He saw Arwyen though, and accused her of taking his face for a bag of silver.

There is a prophecy about a jester. I should read it when I get an opportunity.

We placed ourselves at the mercy of Ulric the Sorcerer and visited the mind of the madman.

Within his mind was a room, with a harp playing quietly by itself. There were sarcophagi and tables scarecrows and cabbages, cards and candles and rugs; a strangely incoherent schema. A door was guarded by a young child. He said he could not open the door if the monsters came; and come they did; from the grate in the floor.

Arwyen, Valdis and I went through the door, beyond which were 6 doors off a short corridor. Each door had a riddle upon it. We were thrown back from the corridor to find that monsters had reached the small room with the child. He closed the door to keep them back. The memories beyond were fiercely protected and desired.

Drenn and Pim kept them at bay while we worked to get the memory doors open.

Arwyen and I solved the riddles. 1 needed a key and Valdis went to retrieve it:

1) "I open with that which can be broken by its name." – SILENCE – This door opened as Arwyen cut the harp strings

2) "The only thing that truly cuts the air. The clearest way that our body gives us guidance. Faster than sword, sound, wind or light, My Siblings hold shut these doors with this and all their might." – SIGHT – The door opened as I covered the roving eyes on the childlike scratched face on the wood

3) Three men went out hunting, The King, A Bishop and Woodsman. They came about a bear and were all startled. The King swung his sword, the Bishop cast a spell and the woodsman fired an arrow. Who died first? – BEAR – As Arwyen touched the rug the door opened

4) "A tall soldier of white, Stands watch at night, Her smoke alight, Her smile bright, Her life measured by height, By the stroke of midnight, The darkness will bite, And take away her warming light." –A CANDLE – The door opened as Arwyen picked up the candle

5) I m a man who carries an axe, unlike my brothers three. I have two heads, two eyes, two hands and one wife. My world is boxed on all four sides, I am rich but I have not one dollar. KING OF DIAMONDS – The door opened as Arwyen picked up the card

6) The key lies beneath the scarecrows face – Valdis went to get the key

With teamwork and using our skills in the wisest way we opened all six doors and gained the information within, although I’m not sure I wanted it now I have it. Knowledge is a fickle mistress.

1 - We saw the jester as a man, a human, with brown hair and the desire to be great; one of the first people and as such an amusement to the huge beings. He is taken in by the giants and lived with them. His descendants settled Puddleside and Stockwell.

He tried to surprise them, to entertain and amuse, but their foresight prevented him from achieving this and made both him and them frustrated.

2 - So the Stone Giants made him a mask of powerful and beautiful carving; white with red and black.  It hid him from detection and divination so he could better entertain and surprise the giants. I’ve seen that mask; on The Lady Shesacava.

3- Scrap is the personal jester to Yesmir from time before the rebellion. We see Yesmir try to gain passage to the Feywilde from the Ents. He is praying at a shrine. There is a symbol on the shrine; The Eye of the Raven Queen.

4-Scrap is wearing the mask and performing for Yesmir, the Frost Giant traitor. He hears things while he is hidden. The Giants have the nexus but without the king are unable to use it. They are just as trapped as the Giants in Zephyr. They discuss selling the stone; a risk, it is powerful and dangerous. “We’ll sell it to her; she’s always been kind to us”…”Her mother once helped us before”.

5-The jester is in a throne room, a frost giant with a crown and crudely made staff sat upon a throne. The staff held the nexus stone. Before him stood a woman in long red dress with black gloves and a red hat. She spoke, “Yes that should be acceptable”. Shesacva.

For a future alliance Yesmir sold her the Nexus stone. She comes to Scrap the jester and is startled by his presence. The Giants explain the properties of his mask; allowing him to avoid detection and divination. She wanted the mask. She threatened to break off the alliance. She took the mask; his face; for a small sack of silver; a pittance for his everything. The face that stole his for silver looked like Arwyen. Arwyen looks like The Lady Shesacva.

6- The mask is pulled from Scrap’s face and placed on The Lady Shesacva. Scrap loses his energy and skill as a jester now he has no surprise. He is ejected from the castle and wanders lost through the Feywilde and into the Shadowfell. He is lost in the dark; an ashen sky; a ruined castle; a light in the window of the Nexus stone. In trying to reach it Scrap falls and falls; landing in Zephyr and is imprisoned.

So much to take in; so much to understand:

We have a jester with a name, Scrap, but no face and it has driven him to madness. We also have The Lady Shesacava with a face, but what’s her true name?

Before the mask she looked like Arwyen? Her Mother helped the Giants? That doesn’t sound like the grocer we met in Crimsonvalle; Arwyen’s mother. If “her mother” was The Raven Queen then who is she? Who is Aerith? Who is Arwyen? Who is Ladorian Gallamin?

Scrap lost his face and then his mind, I think there is more to lose.

### Giants and Birds

The jester seems more settled since we clarified the pain in his mind. I think he is less inclined to hurt himself and hope that the Giants release some of his bonds as a result.

Easl Monir tells us that one more shard of the crown could lead us to the Forgotten Fortress in the Shadowfell. I wonder whether Gideon’s compass of location could lead us to another shard as it used the ring to lead us to Aunty Greenleaf?

While Drenn, Pim and Valdis slept Arwyen and I set off up the mountain to Seeker’s Truth. We had a small incursion with a couple of giant goats, but other thatn a few bruises we continued unscathed. We found the huge Frost Giant, Sel Sevir, the great answerer of questions, in a log cabin at the top of the mountain.

We sought information about Aerith, if that were ever her name; The chronicler and the events that are unfolding in Randore.

Sel Sevir rtold us the prophecy of the Gold Star Child. It certainly would fit the description of Aerith.  A child born of someone long lost in time, but destined to return in her lifetime. – The Raven Queen?  This child will be born and taken to a family that is not hers (My family?) and then to another which is not hers either (She was stolen – The Greyfields?), She will be raised amongst no friend or family, but amongst those she would call an enemy (Is she trapped like Arwyen’s vision?). She is destined to be key in either the arrival or the defeat of The Wraith that Never Dies.

Sel Sevir described the coming of a new age, a dark age; where many foes will return and many atrocities shall happen. The beginning of this age is marked by the physical appearance of Hastur in this realm. If he gains physical form I have no doubt many other things shall come to pass. We know Hastur’s power simply in spirit form; possessing the bodies of others. In physical form he would be insurmountable.

Sel Sevir tells us we should find the Deus Mori and use it. Apparently we are destined to be the only ones who can stop him. It is written in the movements of the clouds. We could also try to unite Randore as one, although having seen the divisions just in Bacland left by the war, I think the dragon may be easier!

Apparently we are destined to find this child of prophecy; Aerith; our sister.  Even then Sel Sevir cautioned about “knowing” she is family as “knowing” is a strong term and often not true. Is Aerith sister to both of us and neither of us? Who is her family? Are we here family? Is anyone?

I’m worried about the Galiman family. Something isn’t right there. I don’t understand why Ladorian would embrace Arwyen’s return yet never sought her. He tracked her mother. He doesn’t want her sister found. We are missing something. Sel Sevir agrees! He suggested that we look again at the signs for something you may have missed, something hiding in plain sight, escaping your eye.

He mentions Valdis and the Grimoire he seeks. He cautions the power he may wield and the price it may cost.

I asked how to access the Shadowfell and heard of shadows within abandoned graves and ruins. There is danger there too. Being lost. Meeting death itself. Could this be why Greyfield wanted land in Martindale? The grave Decon said was empty and abandoned? Is this a route to the Shadowfell?

The Chronicler may be easier to find, albeit in the Feywilde. He lives on an Island in a lake. His task is recording everything that ever happens. He communes with the animals of the World. They travel to the Feywilde to speak with him. He is occasionally known to speak with the souls of the dead. He knows how to make the pearls. He may also know how to unmake them. I wonder if Drenn could send a message there by animal?

I will consider the prophecies we have heard and seek the others in the book. Information is power, a light in the darkness.

While at Zephyr we heard of the death of Edward Greyfield. The tale is unusual, he burnt to death. No-one knows who killed him or why. Cardinal Rishna has disappeared. Morodin suffered severe burns but survived. Apparently it has left the House Greyfield in shambles. Morodin is muscle but had nowhere near the political ability of his brother. Valdis seemed to be overly interested in the whole affair and enjoyed spreading a huge number of rumours. I have no proof, but am suspicious that he may know more than he is letting on!

We headed South to Burnport to try and find The Magpie. Arwyen had heard tell of her return to Burnport, having vanished for a while. During the trip Skuveklis revived himself. Valdis seems much more content. The remains of the caravan lay burnt alongside the road.

We headed into Burnport. Arwyen gave strict instructions to watch our valuables and stay close. The city is chaotic and full of heavily armed wanderers. After some digging around Arwyen set off to find a Tabaxi called White Whiskers. Unsurprisingly information on Magpie came at a price. He wanted a dock clearing out of the competition.

We found Captain Bess there. This was a pleasant surprise and meant we resolved this issue without any fighting! We gave her the details of the North port at Krellion Mine and the gems there. Bess deserves an income. She did seem to suggest that she had set up Ragnor for the smuggling and I’m still not convinced that she was not involved after all – but credit to her for a pirate job well done.

We find out where the Magpie is nesting and head over there. Who should we find outside but Finnian Underbough and several Warforged. While we battle them, Arwyen heads into the building through a window. Finnian bolts into the building next door but his time is done, after Hargrim he was never going to be allowed to survive.

When the warforged falls Valdis takes the pearl from its chest and places it back into the sword. I worry about the power he wields. He pretends that it doesn’t affect him, but it does. The death of a child weighs heavy on the soul. Deliberately killing them is an almost unbearable pain. He must be careful not to drive himself into insanity in his desire for vengeance.

With the warforged down, Drenn and I go after Finnian and the others go to support Arwyen with Magpie. Finnian tries his potions and tricks, but this is not his day; Drenn cleaves him in two. I felt nothing. He hurt my friends. He isolated Hargrim and made us watch while he died; powerless. Dying a brutal death at the hands of a powerful sword was a fitting end for him.

Magpie attacked Arwyen! She seemed to think we were there to hurt her. She was also very drunk. She also has no idea who is on which side in all this. There is a huge Minotaur in the house, defending the Magpie? Guarding her? He ran when he realised the fight was not worth fighting.

So now we have despatched Underbough; one less for the Cult of Hastur; one less peddler of children; another death towards avenging our friend. We have Greyfield’s accountant.

We have learned much and surely have more to learn, when this bird is sober. She knows how the money moves and if you follow the money you find the power. I wonder what else we may learn in the city of criminals? I wonder how many children’s souls Valdis can sacrifice before losing his own?

### Fairies and Dragons

So life is never simple! The Magpie was not some half-cut woman with glasses but rather a large and fast minotaur. We had fallen for the ruse with all our blinkered prejudices.

Everyone set off to chase him down. I stayed back and retrieved the remaining pearls from the fallen Warforged. When they were safely stowed I headed into Burnport, following the chaos that was ensuing!

Valdis decided to fire from his flying carpet at a fleeing beast in a crowded marketplace. He hit an innocent. He also vanished and left Arwyen on the carpet to take the blame. He seems to have less scruples than before the tournament. Has using the pearl taken some of his soul in exchange?

I arrived to see Drenn swinging through the minotaur's legs, holding onto his nose ring. The beast's face was pulled into the ground in a spurt of blood and Orig was caught. Pim has vanished entirely. Boff said something about "old friends" and "we'll catch up" before rushing off again.

Although reluctant Orig realised he had little choice but to give us some information. Edward Greyfield is not dead. He has some body doubles; doppelgangers, and one of these was killed in the caravan. Valdis looked particularly angry about this, almost as if he had failed. I am sure he was involved in someway, how I'm not sure. Apparently the Greyfield's are planning a war; against everyone.

Orig told us that there is a compound underground in Oaktown where children were taken. This tallies with what Marvarkus told us; where he met Aerith. Apparently you can access the compound via the Smoakdale crypt.

While we were talking to Orig a tiny fairy was there; called Riona. She's a bounty hunter apparently. She decided to tag along with us for a while! She's pretty fiesty for a very tiny person.

We headed back to Mathnahil; Arwyen had some further questions for Ladorian and Valdis wanted to see Goldmaker. On the way we found a caravan of Greyfield documents; 3 wagons, drawn by warforged horses. We took down the wagons and saved the horses for Bilbot. the wagons didn't contain anything of use to us but hopefully the destruction of all the sales details and property information will cause trouble for Edward.

Ladorian is a piece of work. I knew he couldn't be trusted. He thought Arwyen was the child of prophecy. He descibed her "sister" as a waste of time thieving commoner. Arwyen set him straight and lost her place on the council as a result. Apparently a non-Galliman child of her father is a better candidate. Arwyen is hurting. To not have a family is one thing but to have one and find they only want you because they think you are someone else is a special level of torture.

Arwyen confided that the Galamin line is directly descended from one of the daughters of the Raven Queen. This makes sense about the sister and the prophecy I guess. He warned Arywen not to interfere with the prophecy that her older sister is involved in. He didn't tell us though! We will do all we can to prevent the restoration of the Raven Queen and the manifestation of Hastur. I am sure the two are related.

I read, conjecture and read some more. There are so many paths from which to choose, we need information. I must curate all the available knowledge and use it to provide guidance. We all have things we think are important and places we need to go, the priorities are difficult to disentangle but it is my strength. It is my job. It's how I can help. It's how I will keep them safe.

There is a problem with Drenn. I don't know what it is but he's not himself. His shoulder is itching. There is a bite there that hasn't healed properly. It looks like an animal; a wolf or a fox. We've fought such creatures but Drenn is hard to hit and I don't recall any causing him a significant harm.

He has been healed many times and has also had intervention from the witch in the Applebee woods that restored his sight - how is a minor bite an issue now? He doesn't want me to look at it. He was defensive and angry. He was barely tolerant; he forced himself. This is not like Drenn at all. He is gentle with us. He growled at me like he growls at our enemies; when he shifts; positively lupine. I can't find anything particular to treat but I am sure there is something happening to Drenn.

Valdis went to see goldmaker and had a similarly unpleasant outcome. The Goliath asked for mercy in return for telling him about Hastur. Apparently there is a way into the inner sanctum but then the Goliath ran. Valdis one moment of mercy, thrown back in his face. I think it unlikely there will be another moment.

With the burden of failure heavy upon us we set off to find the green dragon in the forest. Arwyen and Valdis' need to fight and hurt something was palpable; taking out pain and frustration in the only way we know.

We found the cave system with the dragon within, a tortuous pathway filled with Kobalds and water. Valdis spoke in Draconic. Suddenly we were escorted through by the very Kobalds we had been fighting. I have no idea why he chose a path of peace in this instance or what he said to achieve it, but it was better than wading tunnels in the dark.

We have reached a chamber filled with gold and treasures and a green dragon. Pim appeared. He looks as confused as we do, I'm not sure things went well with his "old friends"!

### Rejection and Transformation

The dragon battle was pretty immense. Valdis managed to swing the Kobald guards over to our side, where they were poisoned in our defence! As we left he also took full credit for the victory and suggested that his name be sung through their halls. His arrogance is expansive and, when coupled with his lack of scruples is a terrifying concern.

The hoard was worth the battle and we are richer both in gold and magic. I can now easily afford the diamonds I need to be sure I can keep my friends on this side of their grave should the need arise. I feel better knowing that even should they fall I can still stop them passing through the gate.

We returned to Mathnahil to tell the tale of Arwyen’s fatal blows to her blood relatives. We were knighted for this success; Sir Idril.

Our celebration was marred by Arwyen finding out her Father was to marry by accident; clearly not invited to the event. A further rejection; betrayal, from her “family”. I feel her pain but can do nothing to help.

I am worried about Drenn. He’s increasingly angry and aggressive. He has never been this way with us. He is gentle and kind, other than in battle. He has a bite on his shoulder. It hasn’t healed. I can’t remember an animal biting him. I can’t see why any would – he speaks with animals, he doesn’t attack them unless no choice remains. He tolerated me dressing the wound but was angry and edgy.

Valdis found out about the wedding and decided to go. Arwyen and I searched Ladorian’s office while everyone was gone and discovered the 4th book of prophecy. Arwyen is more excited about the find than I am. I cannot tell her why. She will be disappointed and frustrated. I don’t want her sanction to taint our success at gaining the book.

After the wedding we headed out towards Last Stop West; to resupply before setting off to Oaktown. We camped on the outskirts of town but as the moon rose it became clear what was happening to Drenn. He’s been bitten. He became a werewolf. He ran at me; without sense or reason; to kill me; without control. Drenn was lost within the beast.

We fought our friend. Eventually we subdued him with a Wolfsbane potion but not until he’d been hit with several bolts and hexed by Valdis. As he turned back to Drenn I healed his wounds and we urgently tried to work out a plan.

There were no acceptable options in the Codex. We won’t kill our friend. We tied him to a tree; Arwyen circling him in miles of the endless rope.  We bound a silver dagger to his leg and placed my cracked Holy Symbol of Correllon on his brow.

Drenn regained consciousness and we came to the realisation that he had been bitten by Cannis in the battle at Krellion Mine. We thought he would be secure enough but Valdis also cast suggestion; hoping to keep him still and sleepy.

Arwyen stood watch, floating safely on the magic carpet. Drenn transformed; a pained and tortured experience but then fell asleep until 2 hours before dawn when his howls and fury could be heard on the wind.

We all survived that night and are safe for another 27 days. 27 days to find a solution. 27 days to hatch a plan. I think I can remove the curse but need to prepare; although Cannis is no usual werewolf so maybe this is no usual curse.

In Last Stop West Drenn had a murder potion made from silver and nightshade and wolfsbane. He has given it to me. He trusts me to use it in an emergency. If there is no option I must kill Drenn to save the others. He trusts me to guard the grave; to prevent him placing us there. If that moment comes I hope I have the strength he believes me to have.

We made our way to Oaktown; a slow and tedious journey. The city is immense. This is good. I have diamonds now. If I have to fell Drenn I can at least restore him. I won’t lose anyone.

We went to the University but, as suspected, the professor is long gone. She had debts. She sold her soul and her research to Aaron Greyfield and he used it to create Cannis – and Drenn. She’s no use to us now.

Pim’s estate is predictably large although his family are strange. His father is Callous and his brother Conspirus. The De Mimsey family appear to have a talent for prophetic naming of their children or does the name generate the behaviour?

Either way, Conspirus as a name bodes badly I fear.

### Conspirus - What's In A Name?

We headed to the Church of Heller. Conspirus is the new Dean; young for such a prominent position in the church of death. Overseeing the entrance to the crypt of child souls.

Conspirus seemed keen to get Callous to leave and not as excited at a family reunion as Pim. He didn’t seem to know of a crypt beneath the Church. I find him shifty and dishonest but that may simply be his reaction to my presence. I stand, cloaked and hooded with my staff spinning black glass. I feel uncomfortable here. Aerith was here; whoever she was.

Con knew of the Smoakdale crypt and showed us its location in the graveyard. As he and PIm went off to get tools to lift the door, Arwyen found a hidden button that simply opened it. Carved on the facing wall was the symbol. The symbol of Hastur; tattooed on the  necks of the Vetra murderer Goldmaker, Celina, Grinkvil. This is the place. This is where they brought Marvarkus and Aerith.

Arwyen finds a tripwire at the top of the stairs. We descend into a deep darkness with unsettling quiet. There is magic here, supressing communication.

There were children here. There are cages; now empty; what remains of their occupants contained in Aremnant pearls. Valdis found a school or a church. Empty seats facing a lectern. A painting of Arron Greyfield commanding a huge army on the wall.

As we crept through the crypts we came upon a priest; the bishop; Conspirus’ boss. He was communicating with Hastur via a portal in a room with a mechanism to remove the souls from caged children.

We attacked, although he was well defended. Pim and his brother came to join us. Conspirus attacked Valdis. I knew he was not to be trusted.

The priest turned before our eyes into a tentacle monster. I recognise the description from the Book of Prophecy. He is of Blackstar.

He was vicious and powerful. His tentacles climbed the walls and birthed creatures around him, while he vanished. We fought the spawn.

Valdis released the stopper from the Eversmoking bottle. We were blinded and the darkness much more extreme.

Despite this we hurt him. He was being called and the bell on the rusted gate of hell was ringing. But we missed and he left. Although we survived, we were quiet and defeated. So close.

I found some papers. They were destroying information, evidence. I took them. I worked with Drenn and Valdis to dismantle the machine that has extracted souls. Did it take Aerith’s or did something worse befall her. Why were Tieflings exempt – do their children not have pure enough souls? Did they just deserve torture by the church of light, not sufficiently pure to fuel a weapon of death?