Week 24

You know you are in trouble when...Stepping out of library I sense a spiritlink from Lunaria, Wormtongue and others. Easy to tell there is a fire somewhere then... The place was Ternebrion´s Island and apparently the Guards were patrolling outside the keep. A small group, 4 to be exact, tried to get to the fallens, but we got into this predicament. Thinking the battle was lost before it had started, I contemplated the altar in town and a retry. Then I see this human girl run by, slips me on a chain, and Solas too. And we are raised on Centaur! Hooray! I am impressed by that chaining work Serv did there. Dodged, got hit, pulled and pushed and dodged again. Amazing! No Altar trip, but a retry still. We got help from some more exiles, like Biff, Dunderklumpen, and well, the green one - and this time I knew this was it. It wouldn´t be a retry if we failed, so I went the very very safe and dull route. Killing off every guard on the way, keeping close to the edge. We fought for a very long time. It seemed that every guard on the island could smell us and came to our snell to finish us off. We got Silky up, we got other fallens up - and by the time we came to Lunaria and Wormtongue the group had thankfully grown. It was a fine rescue, and I even got a chance to fight beside Dunderklumpen which I haven´t seen in a very long time. All the time though, I had to bear the torture of listening to Prue whine about how slow I kill, how lousy my fighting skills are, how fat I am.. Horrible! And I can´t even throw something back at her, since I am busy fighting while she is lying in the back healing and very able to speak....

I got to test myself in the 5th fighter test. A bloodwyrm, a fire beetle and a Banshee. Urgelt said it would easy for me. Well, yes - it would have been, was it not for the fact that Prue was gesturing and doing her evil witchy thing in town. What happened in the fighter testing arena was this... I had killed off the Banshee, had run around chasing the fire beetle and killed that while trying to keep the Bloodwyrm off my back, and now I had the wyrm to low red. I was bleeding a bit, but still had lots to go on for the final hits for the wyrm. Then I trip, overswing, lowering my balance to zero - the wyrm gets all his shots in, I turn around and are heading for cover, to rest just a tiny bit since I still have plenty of time - I trip again and the bloodwyrm is all over me, hitting me from behind. End of test. I come out of the testing area sad and bruised, but the Valiant Knight has been a witness to Prue´s gesturing in town, and knows her witchy spells all too well. He sues her for making me fail, but alas - the exiles still do not understand the power of this witch and claims she is innocent. Hear me out on this: Prue is responsible for putting the spell on Sleipnir that made him not himself, Prue is responsible for making Luce look like me - the thing that fooled the Knight and got him a son. Don´t believe me? Read Scholar Aeaea´s research on magical rites. Don´t you think a simple spell like making a fighter trip in the testing area is as easy for her as eating a trool eye? Next time I do my test I will make sure Prue is studying, or maybe I can buy a talisman of some sort.....

Fullmoonraid, at Nyssa´s request. Why oh why did I want to go? Possibly because it´s been such a long time. There is something about being in places where there are locks firing all over and around, lots of screaming going on, battling, retreating, falling... As a fighter who simply adores carnage, I am addicted to that sort of thing. I also enjoy what the lightning bolts are doing to my hair. And I miss the Foothills expeditions, those that has to go through Hatred Hollow. I dunno, I enjoyed that place... So, now I am on my back , due to my own silliness. I knew, and had seen that there were too many small critters in the way to get to the locks easy. Still, I crossed the bridge in OC3. Must be the inner Zo in me. At least many Zo claim I have one. I got up after awhile, but the illusion to orga Camp 4 escaped the mystics this time. They were simply not able to find it. One by one did exile leave, until the group that remained had to as well - we couldn´t even hold OC3 with what was left. Terrible for Nyssa of course, as the stone had her name on it today. In OC 1, the remaining group gathered for some Orga Camp blues....

Rumours of a fifth circle fighter test. The reports on what we are going to fight vary. The trainers must still be deciding and trying it out. I am looking forward to that, to have a test again. I passed the fourth circle fighter test 5 years ago. So, in all that time - I haven´t been able to test, other than out in the wild or in Colio. I do expect to pass it later than I did the last time though. Many things have changed, I have changed, and other exiles have surpassed me in skills. Or so I think. The last time I passed it when I was lucky with the weather. I think that will be the case now too. Weather and luck did it for me, long time after I was strong enough.

The tree giants have been training some with Detha or Balthus I heard. Haven´t actually been able to meet one lately, or if I did - I haven´t noticed much. I have always been a good student of Atkus, since my early days after the war. Not much of that now though, with all that studying in the library Mr Evus is the trainer for me. He trains it all, while I am still pondering the possibility that I can some day find the path for me.

Looking forward to the Slyphonics concert, although why anyone would want to call themselves that is beyond me. As her selfesteem and pride isn´t out of proportions already. And if you say that "you would know" I will throw you in with the rest of my stuff in the storage locker. Then you too have to deal with Storoenna. She is again insisting I have a , in there. The nerve! What is a , anyway? And why does she always insists I have one? What does it do? The Knight suggested it might be a poisonous sword. An invisible one. Hope Storoenna accidentally trips and stabs herself. She insists I have to tell her what I am looking for when I want to take something out, then she ignores what I said completly and starts to go down the list of my belongings. If the thing I want happens to be the last on the list, then I have to yell around 20 No! before I can get what I want. What is she on anyway? Eating shrooms ? Someone kill her off? Please? Anyone? I´ll pay well. Pity that Kyten powder couldn´t explode. No, I am not thinking what you think I am thinking. No way. And the above was only a joke of course. Just kidding!

Week 23

Every time I have been out of the library this zodiac, I have been hunting in the Valley. It´s an easy place to get to, and do not require longtime planning and time commitment. It does however require some fighting prowess. I was with the Knight there and other RQ members, Phineas, Aeaea and other exiles, Stryfe I think. We charged in, brave and bold as the Knight said we should, and was slain on the first snell. Too late I realized they didn´t know what would meet them. Toggletime.... Hurray for Tonle the organizer! Not all bad though, as I got 2 whole new songs written for me out of that little escapade. Quite the deal I would say.

Henryk didn´t lie and had not been drinking when he said he fell to a white cloud in the ethereal plane. Numerous reports on odd blue clouds in town. Since I have never seen one I can´t tell you more. Koric, Lundar and Norm are the ever so vigilant and reporting ones these days. And not only Silky saw the tower in the ethereal plane. Many others did too. Another Brion in there? Odd place to build a tower, if you are not a Brion and researching the planes no? J´nder could report that Tenebrion had said the portals needed ether to last. I would love to look at a visionstone or read some notes on that. I am sure he said loads of other interesting things. Or could, if you read between the lines. He is not the most frank one I know. He is very clever though.

Lundar has been beating his mystic stick on many a valiant fighter lately. Ouch, it hurts. I know. Yor was supposedly the latest victim. And wild rumours about a Fire Drake Lair somewhere on Devil´s Isle, and of course the mysterious Voolcons. Members of the Tan and the Winds of Dawns are still investigating. And PBI are investigating other things, while they try to keep their badges hidden.

A bit of snooping around gave me this little tidbit. A merchant that could sell us a new recipee for mere 80.000 coppers and loads of bramble berries showed up in town. Apparently the potion he made was silver in color and some say that they think Kyten powder was one of the ingredients. All this from Rugur and freshly stolen.... News to me at least. On a related note, Karkras has left the lands. For good? I do not know. Tan hearts will not tell.

And by the way, sign my guestbook!

Week 21

Another long stay in the library. I came out and saw that the alchemy lab finally had opened. And many exiles proudly showed me their bowls. I needed one too of course. And after a lot of searching and some gentle nudges from friends, I got one with my name on it. I failed the test a zillion times though. Better start to notice the nature around me, not only the beasties. Interesting story from Lundar as well, who met the Potion lady many many years ago, and at that time she had said that fighters would be able to make potions that could strengthen our skin or body or both, and mystics´potions would of course be secrets.. The tale on Lundar´s Scrolls.

I also do what I usually do when I have been studying a lot in library. I am hmm.. snooping around. Talking, asking - being my curious self. I heard about a raid to the Foothills that went horribly wrong, as the passes there were filled with beasties. Literally filled, and some shovels on the wrong side of the Outback.

And Henryk told me about the Ethereal Stone that Tenebrion now offers for an orga Stone. Henryk had no choice whether to enter the rift or not, as the rift the stone made appeared on him, and so he ended up in the ethereal plane, but not inside the circle as we do when we travel through the zodiacs, but outside. He told me he ran through several sne´lls before he was attacked by a White Cloud. Yes, you read right. A white cloud. No, I have no idea if he had been drinking...but he is a dwarf, although of the nice kind, but who knows..

And, a new valley is found down south of the trool town, that leads to the Savanna. I have been hunting there some, since it´s quite the exciting place. Valley Panthers can really make me run pretty fast. And Cave Cobras.. eeww.

And to those who have asked since the latest copy of the Fishwrap, No - I have not considered suing the Knight for stalking, he is far too useful as a skinner and pathfinder - and as such he is valuable. How else am I going to pay for the extensive library bill, not to mention Storoenna´s crazy fees. Speaking of which, I was overdue with my payment and when I talked to the postman, he dropped a bag full of letters on my feet. That silly dwarf had sent me a letter every other day for a Zodiac! She is crazy I tell you, completly mad.

Nevyn is working on being a better Ran Core - but it´s difficult as an advisor to , well advice one that want to Ran Core without fighting beasties that will fight back. Still, I must take this as a challenge and guide him through this fase. Maybe he could kill some of those rats in the library. Some of them are really huge you know. I am not kidding.

Week 19

Terrdi, day 63 of Autumn, 541.

What is the Darshaks up to these days? We haven´t seen this kind of activity from those in a long time. Another force tested our defenses, and were met by a large force of exiles at west beach. And again I met some Darshaks I have never encountered before. Harrier, the redshirted one. One that indeed make my face go red with anger, as this color was also worn by their leader on Ash many years ago - some Brutes, Veterans, Raiders and many others. We seemed to disagree on who would be able to rip whose head off, but we had the last word I think... They all hit as though they had the Orga Hatred as idol - but their defence were not as high. Many exiles fell as we moved up and past the gate a bit too soon, but we were eventually able to push them back and get to the fallens. Some exiles became rather pessimistic at this stage, as we had less than half of our force still standing. But, we were still fighting on west beach - which usually means we are winning - not losing. If we had been losing we would have been hiding in town...I do remember once, the elite force pushed us up north to the north field, and the darshaks held town. But not this time...

At which point we all entered our boats and searched the ocean after the fleeing warship. Finding it, we exchanged the usual pleasantries before it and the crew met the Lok´Groton marine life. We then proceeded to Ash and the horde and were ambushed by yet another large force. And another exhausting battle took place. Did some of the ships sneak off to Lyfe Isle and Umbrion? I don´t know. Frankly I am confused by all these different Darshaks lately. I can´t keep them apart. Do they belong to different branches, each with their own agenda? All seem to be interested in driving us off, but maybe there are other things they pursue as well.

I had heard about Umbrion and his Darshak mercenaries, and finally I had a chance to experience it myself. Darshaks I had never met before, like the Darshak Mate, and the tough Admiral. Since the latter didn´t have any shapely calfs as another Admiral I know, he of course had to die. But he was a meanie. Thanks to Zorton´s boost we reduced his defense to zero, and could dispatch him quickly. Mystics sensed large darshaks forces on the move, so we headed out into the ocean and checked the shores on Lyfe Isle. And there we found loads of Darshaks Warships. I hope we got them all, and that no forces were able to get to the Castle there. Now we are wondering what Umbrion wants with the Darshaks. What does he need them for? The natives on the Isle makes travelling there risky, does he need more defenders? Maybe he thinks we are getting too close to his own private property, or he prepares for a full fledged war - stationing the forces on Lyfe Isle instead of on Ash. No matter what his intentions are, holding them off and preventing them from getting there seems important. Whatever Umbrion is up to, I am sure it´s not good for Puddleby.

Qual the Wizard have been busy while I have been in the library. Yor got to talk to him one day, but didn´t remember to note down what he said. Zo you know...Anyway, Yor had mentioned the Kala Shana to the wizard, and for the first time ever did Qual show fear! How about that!

While studying in the library I had an odd dream. I dreamt we had found the Orga Stronghold. A huge and glooming thing with two towers, and a gaping mouth as entrance. Outside I could see bonfire upon bonfire with exiles gathered around them. All was quiet, there were no singing, no laughter - only the sound from logs burning and exiles readying their weapons. The bonfires went on as far as I could see. A sound from the sky made them all look up, and I saw blue wings cutting the air as Falinea approached and landed a safe distance away from the towers.

Week 18

I was finally able to step outside of the library, and got sweeped off to Lyfe Isle. Thankfully I had all the necessary items. It was night-time, and at one point we almost all fell. Depart looked imminent.

I learned something .Never stand close to a tree at this island, you don´t know whats hitting you until its too late. The beastie hiding in the tree was a Cobra, and those bites are nasty. I didn´t understand what was happening until I fell down and saw the cobra make short work of more exiles on it´s way. It also had company of a Thunder, and a mean Thunder too. Alcades and Achates managed to save themselves by hiding in this river, I think.. I actually didn´t see what was happening, only yells from these two. Gurgi managed to stay alive as well. It was an awesome recovery. From almost complete wipe out, to full strength. We all were able to get out of the island alive and rowing. I felt a bit out of touch though, all that reading had made me less agile than I used to be.

Still busy in library. Busy isn´t the word though. I am not really busy in here. Just wandering along shelf upon shelf of old books, some near or very close to death. I don´t think even Koric´s or Lorikeet´s combined Horus would be able to raise some of them. I remember Healery speaking of a book that she considered being alive, a person or something - but that was during the Fox Fever the RQ got, so I am not sure whether I should trust her or not. Still, it would be nice to meet something alive in here. Met some rats though, and had something fun to do awhile when I chased them down. But when it was dead it was dead. The fun gone. Sigh. It´s been awhile since I have been studying for this long, I start to see the library in new ways. Have you ever noticed how big it is? If you move away from the door, and start to wander - it´s simply amazing how many books there are here. Some are Vagile kind of books, you know - the ones with a lot of pictures in it, others are more like the ones Michael Aridfox would appreciate.

I wonder what the Knight is doing, if he gets himself into trouble. Probably. Or what the Fashion Zo is doing, if he is killing much. I got a letter from J´nder telling me I was missed. How sweet of her. I peruse the diaries still. They are public you know, and through them I am told of great adventures and battles. And my axe is here beside me almost unused, save for a rat or two.

I still hear that voice. Can´t figure out if it´s me talking to myself or what it is. Odd. How long have I been here?

Week 17

I have been stuck in the library for a month now, and have been reading all sorts of odd books and scrolls. It´s strange, it feels like I am in a dream state of mind. Sort of. I sometimes hear voices just outside. Some familiar ones, others quite new to me. And one day I even heard the fizzeling sound of lightning bolts, not the ones thrown from warlocks, but a dredlock. I wanted to run out of the library and charge the evil thing, but I couldn´t. All I could do was lean my head against the wall and pray that the exiles defeated it. I also heard the thumping sound of many Orga, my anger grew but there was nothing I could do. I feel helpless here. I miss so many. And I am beginning to hear voices. Not the ones from outside, but voices from within. Exiles come and go in here but I can´t touch them, nor speak to them. Their shape and form are blurry. Partly here - partly not here. Or maybe that´s me. Maybe I am the blurry one. I don´t know. The voice is with me now. A dark voice, like coming from the earth itself. It calls me, but I cannot go. Not yet. Not now. Puddleby, I miss you.