The Desolation And Fire Elementals

## Entries

These are the unedited notes of Smiling Within Records as he set off on his first exploration;

*Day 1*

*Today marks the start of my journey in which I set off after saying goodbye to my mother and stocking up on supplies and hearing rumors of a tribe of devilkin and goblinoids living between The Dreadlands and The Desolation of Ditimaya. I’m flabbergasted that anything other than the people of Qola and my hometown Castlegrasp live in this region. So I decided that this will be my first explorational find.*

*Day 5*

*I have been traveling through the Desolation for days now, running low on energy, but thanks to my magic hat and coat I’ve been able to push on. I’ve seen all manner of creatures out here and have seen a black obelisk in the distance that I DO NOT feel compelled to go to, in fact, I think I'll go in the opposite direction.*

*Day 7-8*

*Today I got to see and experience something extraordinary! As I was cresting over a dune, I gazed upon a ring, not unlike the one that would be used in a swordsman's fighting circle or competition. Just outside the ring stood a red figure with burning fire for hair. This entity was hefty and had to be 12ft tall - I was only using my binoculars so it was hard to discern. It was pitch black with a snarling face and a wicked smile, with its arms folded and posture upright and proud. Horns protruded from its head and it seemed to be wearing an ornate loincloth while its feet seemed to be made of fire. It had two floating flaming weapons that stood on either side. Its body seemed well built with patches of fire throughout and was fascinating to behold. I felt small in spirit and size when gazing upon the visage of this being exuding pride and demanding respect. This entity, who I later found out was a powerful elemental called an Efreet, a creature made of flames and power (not unlike the Doa who blessed the Stone Arms), looked upon 3 humanoid figures that seemed to be two devilkin and one hobgoblin, all of them wearing armor and armed. This Efreet raised his hand and the moment seemed to last hours but couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Then the Efreet lowered his hand swiftly, as if cutting a barrier separating the humanoids and the one goblinoid, and they began to attack each other, the humanoids that is. They raised their swords to each other striking and blocking.*

*Day7-8 pt2*

*After watching the magnificent fight one stood with the Efreet. The victor of this exciting , though barbaric, act was one of the devilkin. Battered and bruised, the devilkin knelt in front of the Efreet. A sinister smile crept across its face and, even from my distance, I could hear its booming voice as it told the victor, quote:*
“Well done, my new champion! You may join my Warriors like your fellow brothers and sisters and I shall grant you a portion of my power. On accepting this you will be linked to my flame so you must fight as if you were a flame burning bright,furious and never relenting. You must come when called and aid me when told, and don't disgrace the name of the Efreets. Do you accept, my champion?”.

Sadly I was too far away from the devilkin to hear the response but must assume it was "yes" because after a moment the Efreet lowered its thumb onto the devilkin’s head and smoke began to billow out without ceasing.

Unexpectedly, after witnessing what I can only assume is what probably similarly happens when stone arms are created, I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and saw that in my lack of awareness, and being enraptured in the spectacle that I saw before me, I had been surrounded by a mix of devilkin and goblins, all holding their weapons on me. After a conversation where I explained why I intruded on their very sacred ritual, they surprisingly allowed me to come back to their settlement - well settlement is the wrong word it was more of a collections of portable houses.

*Day 8*

*After being led to the 'settlement' I was shown to a 'guest' house, where they made me retire until the next day. So I sat awake and wrote these notes, because I just couldn't sleep...*

*Day 9*

*So, somehow, I fell asleep and awoke to a tribesman shaking me awake (this must be a local custom). As I awoke and got my items together, the tribesman, who happens to be a hobgoblin from what I could see, led me to a large portable house and we entered. I saw a very strong looking devilkin with a quite large thumbprint on his forehead that billowed smoke continuously. (Later I found out that this smoke goes away during slumber, and, before you ask, yes I watched one sleep - don't judge the extent of my research). This powerful looking devilkin gestured for me to sit. Then what I assumed to be servants brought refreshments and wine (it was passable but nothing like our fine Castlegraspian vintages). He spoke to me, willingly and without hesitation, sharing his desire to explain their ways. I was forbidden, however, from sharing the location of the site, even though they were nomadic. As I sat and listened, I found out that this mixed group of peoples came and formed this tribe because of the prejudice that both races had experienced in the surrounding areas. It was while traveling through the Desolation that they ran into the entities known as the Efreets. One in particular offered knowledge of how to survive in the Desolation and power to their strongest members in exchange for loyalty and becoming part of 'his flame'. The leader admitted that they do not know exactly what becoming part of the flame means but it grants their warriors the blessed power of the Efreet. Some of the other people in the tribe worship the Efreets and it has granted them divine-like power which helps in battle - almost like the nature clerics that visit Castlegrasp from time to time. They call the warriors who are blessed by the efreet the 'Smoldering Ones', due to the smoldering thumb prints on their forehead. After that, I heard more of their history and customs which I will publish after i finish my expeditions.*

*Day 10*

*I decided to stay one more day at the behest of the leader of this group. He wanted to show me what the Smoldering Ones were capable of. Three of them lined up, all mounting Desert Runners - the group's main mode of travel - which are large flightless birds with powerful long legs and feathers seemingly made of gems that glow in the dark. (These Desert Runners can apparently come in different colors as well.) Anyway, the Smoldering Ones stepped off their mounts and pulled out their swords and in an instant the weapons lit up with flames. I was in awe of this because I have never before seen this done with such minimal effort. They showed expert mastery of the flames and fought with the fury of a burning flame indeed! I shall depart in the morning traveling back to Castlegrasp and heading to the docks. I'll stock up on supplies and compile all my notes and not just my journals. I'll probably set off and go on a ship and learn from the sailors so that I may sail on my own. I've been told there are many undocumented things that many a sailor has experienced and hopefully, I’ll experience some and get to record it.*

End of personal notes From SWR, from their first expedition.
[[Category:Smiling Within Reco
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