Back from 4 years of libraryhunting Dark Cloud and jumping			PTF 8 years old

Week 27

Exiles seems to have fallen for that parachute idea, and are trying it from the cloud - left and right. There is one thing that puzzles me about this whole cloud-mirror thing. Everybody seems to think it`s the mirror that is opened, that the "opening of the mirror" is the key thing here. A quest solved, a puzzle done. I think this whole mirror thing is really just a side-effect of the more important aspect, the cloud itself. I hear there have been illusion breakers up there, searching the whole place with no findings - the paths have been pinpointed as well. It "seems" to be empty, other than the beasties there, but we know from before looks can decieve. Thanks to some smart exiles, we have access to the cloud - despite it having moved away from the mirror in south forest.

It has been some very busy Zodiacs for me, as I have been running around trying to catch up as fast as I could. I`m slowly getting the hang of things, although I still can be quite the walking disaster. As my life settles down again, I am able to write a bit more about my adventures. I have enjoyed the company of PTF, and we have been travelling the planes. Readers from before may remember I always enjoyed that, travelling the planes. It`s been some busy years for PTF since I got lost in the library. A lot of changes in the world, and in the group itself. They have managed to overcome many challenges and have grown stronger and wiser. It has also been a difficult time, as such a group has a lot of "passers through" - exiles that enjoy the ride for a short time, but then either decides it`s not their thing, or find out they can`t really commit as they thought they would. Keeping faith and focus is pretty challenging then. Still, this has also been the strength, to find those exiles that are interested in exploring "right now" - while they are highly motivated. PTF is now 8 years old. Thats longlived for a group of this kind. I`m very proud to be a part of it. If you are interested in the results and findings, they are everywhere. In my scrolls, in Drablak scrolls and in the world itself. Knowledge you now take for granted was maybe first discovered and reported by a group like ours. How do you know about the ethereals? How do you know about the tower in EP? The libraries? Etc. etc etc etc ad infinitum. My bet is that 85% of what Puddleby know about the ethereal planes comes from PTF. Maybe it`s as high as 95%. So there.

Slight problem, Yor is on the other side and can`t come back - and we can`t reach him. Thankfully he was in sphere 1 and thus easier to reach. We got ambushed on the way and had to call for backup. A small rescue party headed out and ran through Cimmbrions maze to Ep. This way can be quite hairy, but at least it`s more predictable where you end up. These snells in EP can be so full of critters, that the sheer number of them are very very dangerous. In addition there are roaming Ethereal Golems, and of course the dreaded Ethereal Cloud. I got the very boring, but oh so very important task of keeping the critters in the ring, while the rest of the group went outside and started peeling. A small misunderstanding and we had 2 powerful healers, Haenk and Califas in the ring with me. I have to confess I panicked a bit when Haenk slipped into Purgatory and Califas was alone rodding a Golem.. Eeeep. Some damage dividing, and Califas found out he could rod one successfully. Wooo! All were rescued in the end, and thankfully there was the famous Lorikeet waiting in the temple in town and everybody was raised as well. We did get some things done, not all we had planned but least some things.

The cloud has passed the mirror, but exiles still seems to be able to get up there.. :

Week 25

For some time, I do not know how long - there has been a dark cloud moving over Puddleby. I just recently became aware of it. Exiles tell me it has been moving around in a pattern that seems irratic. From towncenter to passes to fields to marsh etc. Exiles also seems to think it`s an ether "anomaly". I came aware of it just 4 days ago, when Mjollnir, Silky, Baff and I found it over north east field. Our ethereal amulets reacted as well, and shortly after - we heard there were an ethereal attack in ocean, and also on Portal Isle - where they all probably came from.

I have been very busy these past days. I have been fallen in Jade Noids, been to a short but exciting trip to the EP. I have been whisked away to Foothills by a mystic (!) , and I have run around in Melabrions Zodiac Maze. I am also back to the usual rancoring - as I have earned a total of 1, I repeat one whole rank in the time I have spent outside library since my first day out in the free. I have rescued all, and I have gotten everyone fallen .. I have been the lifesaver and the walking disaster.. All in all, it`s been a very typical week for me - just as usual...

We were 2 standing fighters and 3 healers in the jade Noids cave. We almost had it, and were ready to celebrate, and I could see Yor had the usual OOooga on his lips. But noooo, some more spawned - and one spawned behind us as well - close to the healers. And then it became rather hectic. Kojiro saved the day, and kicked that Jade Noid`s butt.

I have also met some new beasties. And that is, of course, a special moment for a fighter. This is the first time I have ever seen a mud golem. They are fun beasties. Tink! when you hit them. In Ep I attacked a drakish thing, convinced it was an Astral Drake only - turned out to be a Wyrm and not so easy to kill as the former. When we entered I fought something big and white - that I learned was an ethereal golem something. Let me tell you - it IS quite scary to fight something you have no idea what is and how hard it is...

I was finally able to dig my way out of the library, after 4 years. I am back! Hooray! So many things have happened, and I look forward to travel the lands and see new things again. Yor have already showed me the portal, the result of the deal with the Brions. Right before my unfortunate long stay in the library, I was with PTF out in the ocean checking odd things at the place where the Isle of Melabrions now is. I quite enjoyed seeing it risen from the sea like that. Zorton made me a new shiny sungem, still haven`t figured out how to use it. Oh, and I made a catsbane necklace to Nesse! I am pleased someone remembered I am a jewelerer on the side, and trained in the making of those things. I really apprecciated the warm welcome from exiles, despite the splatty welcome from Althea. She is of course envious as always, and threw a bodypaintsomething on me. In addition she has the nerve to state that this is somehow my "Inner prue"! The horror! All lies of course. Vagile came out of the library, and since she was her usually confused self - adressed me as Prueface. Nothing I said or did could convince her. I even pretended to be Prue for awhile, just so I could take off the "mask" and show her Baba.. As Vagile opened up her eyes, a thoom pulled his way in front of her - and well... this thoom is now Baba in her eyes. Very confusing I know, my head spins already, but this is Vagile we are talking about here! Anyway and finally ..... I couldn`t see any other way out than to pretend I was Prue and able to throw spells around, and turn Vagile into a toad. I did some handwaving to try and trick Vagile, told her she was now a toad - AND said she couldnt move out of the puddle or else she would die. Think that was mean of me? Sigh. Probably. Vagile of course believed she was a toad, and stayed in the puddle when I left. Tayra said she would help her, I hope she did.

Tested for the 6th circle again, and failed - not surprisingly. Cerberal still tells me that most who passed were weaker than me, as he did 4 years ago. Then I swear I can hear a chuckle. I have no idea how to pass, other than to have twice the ranks others had. That means it will take some time. Michael promised to help, all RW style - that was very sweet of him. Some of my library studies paid off in pathfinder-knowldge, although the hermit is not fully pleased with me yet. A shame, as studying pathfinding the regular way is such a bore for a very battleminded sylvan like myself.

The Knight is still in the library, and I do miss him a lot. I am not really sure how I will manage without him. I do have hopes that also he will find his way out from time to time. At least for nothing else than to please me.

I spent quite some time roaming around. I went to the Meadow, where I was so happy 4 years ago. Maybe it was destiny, but I found an Uli flower there. Meadow have always been close to my heart. I then proceeded to find some new place to fall, and trapped Xantcha on Melabrion`s Isle while I was fumbling trying to remember how I pulled exiles away from danger. Sigh.

Had to borrow 3000 from the clanfunds, as storing 17 items for 4 years was costly. Postoffice was cheap though, only 50 c. I am going to spend quite some time in the lands chasing furry critters to pay it back. AND .. I really need a new outfit. I really do. I have my mind set on something, but its going to take awhile.

Its great to be back!