Duncan, a dead warrior druid from Moonshaes.

Dear Journal,

In my archives i've found a note that led me to learn a tale of Duncan, a dead warrior druid from Moonshae Isles that visited Narfell in the past.

Duncan was a less known friend of Elrien and Delawen, Attentus's Druid and Wizard friends.

He said only one interresting thing in his life, according to many.

'Only stupid people read books. The more they read, the more stupid they are.'

-- Yours, Chea Allin, Peltarch's Library Archivist & Selune Temple's 'Lighthouse' a Scribe.

Fugue Succubus of the Past.

Dear Journal,

Reading from the past, memories of Attentus, i found out that the fugue was different before.

it was ruled by evil and Succubus tempted dead mortals with option to return at cost of their soul and experience.

Attentus didn't like Paladins at all, as i do not either, so he tried to send them there to kill a Fugue Succubus. He told them that they lacked bravery or morality to do this.

Then Cassius, a Guide - appeared instead of Fugue Succubus, whole place changed somehow. Is he good or evil in disguise? i don't know, but often using his aid to return from fugue is not wanted, for price is too high or there's no inclination.

Attentus, my former teacher killed Succubus using Paladins, i think.

He was not a Paladin.


-- Yours, Chea Allin, former student of Attentus filius Versutus.

Aftershocks.

Dear Journal,

i've heard this at Inn:

'Several small tremors have hit Narfell, Norwick all the way to Peltarch have felt the shaking from the quakes. Although no major damage was reported, several engineers are getting some extra coins the past few days to make sure houses and businesses are structurally sound.

Rumors begin that the dwarves have delved too deep and everyone will soon collapse into the ground and grow a beard, some say the quake was caused by Leanna, that scatter brained daughter of Mystra, others say the ancient Narfell Empire is arising from the earth and soon demons will flood the land and enslave everyone while the whips of their demonbinder overlords muahahaha behind them..

Others say it was just an earthquake.. but who knows?'

---

What worries me most is that ugly and cruel side of my former teacher's morality seems to show that way.

Attentus used to talk with demon to protect his first more or less true love, Ruri Hasegawa. He was also quite overlordish and tyrant when it came to ruling the Spellweaver Keep at times of his misery and glory.

if not appearance of Wethrillina Aeliath he'd never change i think and it would be even worse.

after that he changed and died at some point as a good person, and some people seemed to miss him suddenly.

magic fails too often, when it's needed most - he used to say.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, former student of a demonbinder overlord of the Spellweaver Keep in new Narfell.

Professional Zeitgeist.

Dear Journal,

My leaders in Cerulean Knights division of Peltarch Defense Structure Hierarchy do try to hurry me to work faster.

It's not worth to hurry an Artist nor Mage.

This Spirit of Time has to be defeated somehow, i shall unbind us from it's arcanisms he tries to impose upon us, instead.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, opressed and opressor.

Properly.

Dear Journal,

What is 'proper'?

Anything can be proper in my opinion, but if it is too stiff, it is not.

i don't mind formal evenings and such occasions as long as there's a good style - even if they are properly improper. As long as people won't harm others.

Informal occassions are often also quite enjoyably proper - if the good style is preserved somehow.

Picnicks are not proper in my opinion in most cases, i should mention.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, properly improper party admirer.

Hazy Memory of a Sacrifice.

Dear Journal,

My tormented past is hidden from people.

i'll report to you something though, of how i was destined for Selune for an extended time of service.

i do not remember everything but when i was fairly young and vulnerable, we were thrown into strange realm with other Narfellian adventurers.

One perhaps a Paladin plotted to take advantage of us, while we were trapped in a dark cave of unknown evil. it was cold, we had no means of escape and spiders started to crawl from the dark pits to devour us...

A being from outer realms of evil origin appeared trying to make us slaves, entrap us and abuse... Perhaps a Paladin started to make bargain we didn't ask for... ignoring our means.

I didn't wish us to remain trapped in that hell forever as servants of this devil or demon perhaps.

despite my doubts and vulnerable emotions after mental tortures of Loviatar Arcanists, i prayed to Selune, sacrificing myself with a dagger to her so they are set free - in a call for aid.

Selune's Powers manifested, i wandered for a while in Lands of Fugue's Mists, to be called back to Narfell and i felt obliged to pay debt to Selune.

When i told this more or less to Val Kyrie, powerful Bard and Paladin, she did handcraft for me a holy amulet and symbol to Selune and Mystra.

'Holy Symbol of Selune

Handcrafted by Master Songstress, Val Kyrie, this holy symbol is made of platinum and set with a Moonstone on the front and a Spellcrystal on the back.

The amulet itself is circular with the Moonstone cut into the shape of a gibbous moon. The moon is surrounded by seven small stars, a symbol shared by both Selune and Mystra. When the moonlight catches them, they reflect the silvery light of the Moonmaiden in a dazzling show of wonder that allows the wearer to channel her holy grace.

The Spellcrystal on the rear glows slightly with a reddish tinge whenever the wearer turns it to the front and accesses the weave, showing the bond it has to Mystra.

Due to quality of it's construction, this amulet can be enchanted and still act as a Holy Symbol.

Base Item: Amulet
Weight: 0.5

Special Properties:
Material: Platinum
Quality: Masterwork'


-- Yours, Chea Allin, follower of Enlightened Energies and various other mental and spiritual disciplines.

Undeath.

Dear Journal,

What is the state of 'Undeath'?

When a human dies but does not leave mortal world, he or she enters so called state of 'Undeath' - not alive anymore, but still haunting and oppressing mortals with their past-life agenda. They won't rest until they finish what they were intended for, what they missed during their lives.

There are many types of 'Undead' (beings in the state of 'Undeath'), intelligent or not, with differing purposes. For example, a ghost is spirit of the dead that might seek reunion with loved ones, or a revenge.

There are terrible spellcasters who wield Arcane Magicks that turn people into Undead, they are called 'Necromancers'. Undead Necromancers are also there, they are called 'Liches' and often they seek Immortality and Arcane Power that way.

Vampires are another type of Undead that prey on blood of the living and on their emotions.

Undead are hard to put to rest, and often they require great deal of effort to put to rest. For example, to put 'Lich' to rest, phylactery with it's soul must be found and destroyed properly.

i should add that Selune fights Undead, like Lathander and many other more or less good deities, while Shar - dark sister of Selune and her Hatred uses them often. Shar often attacks Selune and Mystra, but they do fight back.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, loremonger arcanist and scribe.

Dark Times.

Dear Journal,

i think Dark Times are coming again.

i think it's best to keep low till danger passes.

i think best magic for times such as this are protective and subtle spells, and similar.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, a Witch.

Wizardry vs Sorcery.

Dear Journal,

Wizards often consider themselves superior in magics to other practicioneers such as Sorcerers.

Is this true?

Perhaps in some ways.

While wizards are arcane scientists that focus on external laws of the universe to change reality, i see sorcerers as the spontaneous casters, wielders of the arcane energies in a creative ways.

They are always prepared, and their metamagic lets them be more versatile.

Wizards are known to be scholars, but sorcerers can also learn arcane theories - their own way, for books are not only source of experience, knowledge and lore.

A sorcerer, being an artist instead of an arcane scientist that the wizard is, does not have to be so well 'defined'.

Art does not need to be defined, nor beauty has to be.

'don't define it'll be fine'.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, Sorceress and a Witch, a student of Attentus and others.

Cat, Wave and Moon.

Dear Journal,

Is it true that wave rules cats?

i think yes.

My panther familiar, Nade, is little scared of the Icelace, a Great Lake near which Peltarch was settled by the 'Fisher King' of the past.

She does not understand argument that Selune's Moon decides about waves, gravity and such.

i admit, it is true that moons play key role in scaring cats with waves...

there's no scarier thing than a scared cat.

it is insanity, i had to say.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, a little philosophical cat admirer.

Wolves of Narfell.

Dear Journal,

'Wolves of Narfell', who they are?

They are Rangers, guild that scouts southern parts of the Pass, Rawlinswood and it's surroundings mostly. But their presence can be noticed anywhere.

They are slightly different from 'Far Scouts', Peltarchian organization, part of Peltarch's Military.

They follow Ranger gods such as Fenmarel Mestarine from Elven Pantheon or other deities of any race.

They are quiet now for some reason... Perhaps no one is as patient as a Ranger in a wait or after a good, hearty meal.

People sometimes try to discredit them, with talks such as:

- 'Do not speak to this woman! She slept next to a wolf! can you Imagine?' then they add to it suggesting that wolves stink and are too feral and evil. They also mention about fleas and worst diseases that only evillest Druids of Talona are capable of.

But there are no better travellers and overall-guides as Rangers.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, ex-Ranger.

Goblin Skeletons & Necromancers.

Dear Journal,

News again from Norwick, haunting and dire. Perhaps related to 'Goblin Corpse Carts' i mentioned earlier.

'A bruised and bleeding woman, covered in sandskin, reports goblin trouble of a gruesome necromantic flavour to the guards. She claims to have encountered a veritable army of goblin skeletons alongside horrid patch-work undead in the area west of the lake, along with goblin necromancers...'

-- Yours, Chea Allin, loremonger and scribe.

Darker Side of Arts.

Dear Journal,

i am still young, despite my physical age which i won't disclose even to You, my dear Journal.

Modified Longevity Potion and Spiritual interrests somewhat alleviate pains, mine and of others.

i've seen my share of Darker Arts, Magickal and not, of atrocities of the past and terrible deeds but i do not let them cloud my mind.

i feel happy telling people about Nade, my Panther Familiar and dressing properly and bringing them little joys and lights in this gloomy frontier that Narfell is instead.

as long as they find it helpful, i have will to live and to carry on.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, Magical Light Artist.

Goblin Corpse Carts.

Dear Journal,

There are plenty of troubles and rumours in Narfell... I've felt i need to share just one at least this time.

'There have been several reports of Moldy Rat tribe goblins pushing cart loads of hacked goblin corpses out of the coal mines not long after a group of adventurers cleared out the entire goblin hold, leaving hundreds of corpses behind.

It is unknown where the Moldy Rat goblins are hauling the corpses, maybe they are giving the goblins from the hold a proper burial?'

Goblins dabble in necromancy to large extent i should add, and since Skara's times they use shadows in particular - but they do not limit themselves only to this type of undead, as my wisdom helps me where memory fails.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, loremonger and scribe.

Mystra's Way.

Dear Journal,

i went on duty again, and took my place in Peltarch Commons as usual... a night's duty this time.

People were present in Commons.

Then a spell happened, more or less known hin mage cast a Darkness Spell.

People were quiet and i felt it's rather artistic... so i waited with judgment and arrest, as proper Cerulean Knight should.

One woman left, i should ask her later.

Usual gossip and riff-raff, but hin mage gave a tribute to Ozi, Mystran Clergy.

- 'Mystra guide You' said Ozi,

- 'Yep.' he answered,

- 'indeed.' i added.

he should indeed follow Mystra's Ways, neither neglecting nor abusing spellcasting or not.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, Cerulean star 1st.

Current State of Banditry.

Dear Journal,

From what rumours i've heard, bandits are few - mostly in hiding and in southern parts of Nars Pass, next to Norwick.

They are noted to have hidden camp somewhere.

Adventurers scoured the pass and killed desperate one or few. Shesarai and Gnarl, perhaps others did it.

Meanwhile Legion is busy with Gnolls in the Northern parts of the Pass.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, cerulean star 1st and advisor.

Compassion and Fearlessness.

Dear Journal,

Why bandits should be talked with before killing them?

Desperate people do not succumb to power of their oppressors even if they die that way - they hate their lives so much anyway, so they can as well die for someone else they love instead, in a war if neccessary. if they have scarred bodies, perhaps they'll reincarnate with better ones and live better childhood instead of suffering more in their broken bodies, tattered reputation, lack of wealth and royally screwed lives.

Opressed start to rebel against oppresors instead.

You can't force submission on someone by showing skillful dick and fucking their lives. To think otherwise is very infantile, irresponsible morality and mindset.

If you kill such a person, you'll regret. Perhaps few of bandits will come to terms with oppressors somehow instead - they have to be given a chance, but they won't accept their lives spared at all cost.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, cerulean star 1st and advisor.

Bandits in the Pass, again.

Dear Journal,

It seems that Banditry has returned to the Nars Pass again.

I do not know if they are related to the Eastlander Bandits under Atol that Attentus fought in the past.

They must be desperate to fight, despite Nars Pass being so militarized.

i suggest letting them surrender, on humane terms for us all. Peace negotiations with military backup.

or they will send a message with their deaths.

but if they do not have right arguments, and are attempt to abuse our good will, they should be killed instead.

-- Chea Allin, Cerulean star 1st and advisor.