Being of Light (Crystal's Tale).

There are psychic vampires, many of them are my enemies.

They sip energy from their victims, they dominate people and use shadow beings to spy for them. Shadow beings also can negotiate when both sides want or need.

I've learned a spell, Summon Creature IV, spell that allows lawful good people to summon Being of Light, also called Lantern Archon. This summon spell also allows for summoning small xorn creatures.

Being of Light can protect one from shadow-spies, as it is stronger than shadows, as light that disperses the dark. Being of light can be used to spy or negotiate as well, but is worse at spying than shadows.

Not all psychic vampires are bad, some are our allies and use their powers responsibly, mostly to recover energy stolen from us.

-- Crystal.

Unworthy of 2 Camels (and a Duck).

Dear Journal,

It seems I've fallen under attention of a fat man from Calimshan.

Suitor's people came to me, with praises and promises of gifts.

They said he's influential man in his home, in Calimshan. They said he's worthy of 2 Camels at the very least... and camels hold the price well.

Perhaps his price is as big as his ego, I thought.

... I've answered that I am unworthy of him ...

What I didn't tell them is that I am unworthy because I could not stay with him... Instead, advised them to seek a woman who is worthy of him.

I've also said that he's worthy more than 2 camels, I've added a duck to his price... and to be with a man, I need to feel worthy enough. It would be unfair otherwise, and I would feel badly in such relationship.

... a man should not overpay for a woman, and a woman should not overpay for a man.

... In some countries, bold and often untrue stories are called 'journalism ducks', or 'hoaxes'. Some bards love to spread such tales.

How much a duck is worth?

Probably not very much... but still, he can say that he's worth more than 2 camels... and in some circles, particularly in his homeland, this can have a value.

I love Anheim, and we are worthy of each other, at least, Dear Journal.

-- Yours, Chea, Unworthy of 2 Camels, and a Duck.

--
(( Out of Character note #1: in a polish language, 'hoax' is called 'journalism duck', or 'kaczka dziennikarska' )).
(( Out of Character note #2: in a polish language, 'duck' in a silly and diminutive form is: 'kaczucha' )).

Three Enlightened States (Crystal's Tale).

I've been studying karma - the timeless law of cause and effect, and other related topics, like enlightened energies, chakras, and enlightened mind states.

This article in my journal is an attempt to explain three enlightened mind states, in short, simple and easy to understand words. Perhaps too simple, but a good start of explaining, nevertheless.

One will understand this fully, when one reaches enlightenment, I think.

There are three enlightened mind states:
- Truth State (dharmakaya),
- Joy State (sambogakaya),
- Radiance State (nirmanakaya).

When one reaches enlightenment, all of three above states become him or her.

Truth State is about seeing and understanding beings and phenomena as they really are (beings differ from phenomena in that beings have mind, are mind... and phenomena do not have mind; mind states like happiness are considered phenomena too).

Joy State is about finding happiness in mind, no matter what... happines both inner and outer.


Truth is that Clear Mind is in itself inherently joyful and actively compassionate.

Why then people sometimes are evil?

Because of 'stains' that pollute their minds. Stains of bad karma accumulated in this and previous lives that make them suffer.

When people suffer, they often turn evil.


... thankfully bad karma can be purified, and there are initiatory practices that allow this, known well and taught in the far east (kara-tur).


States of Truth and Joy are easy to understand, but Radiance State requires some explaination.

Abstractly speaking, every time we interact with something or someone, energies are sent and received. Thus, radiance is one way of explaining interactions. Giving a hand, talking, spellcasting or helping mother to dress - this all can be abstracted to sending and receiving energies.

Thus, in short, the Radiance State is about actively sending compassionate energies to others, helping them to improve.

16th Arcane Initiation.

Dear Journal,

... i've initiated myself into the Arcane Mastery again, 16th time in this life.

'Energy Channels' in my Mind, Speech & Body were purified & opened, allowing Arcane & Enlightened Energies to flow more freely.

... learned spells of 'Summon Creature VI' & 'Summon Creature VIII' ... but lost access to 'Chain Lightning' spell. Perhaps I'll re-learn 'Chain Lightning' later in my life.

While Summon Creature spells allow for some flexibility, the most useful summons seem to be Fire Elementals and Earth Elementals. Also, I should add, the 8th circle version of Summon Creature spell is -vastly- stronger than 6th circle one. Another mention I owe You, my Dear Journal, is that summoned creatures can be strengthened with spells like Mage Armour, Bull's Strength, Haste, and/or similar. But whether it's worthwhile to strengthen the summon, is another matter - as the durations of these summons are fairly limited.

Now I can cast following spells:

0th level (Cantrips) - unlimited/day:
- Prestidigitation
- Detect Magic
- Light
- Resistance
- Mage Hand
- Read Magic
- Message

1st level - 8/day:
- Mage Armor
- Magic Missle
- Identify
- Protection from Alignment
- Endure Elements

2nd level - 8/day:
- Cat's Grace
- Owl's Wisdom
- Bull's Strength
- Eagle's Splendour
- Knock

3rd level - 8/day:
- Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
- Dispel Magic
- Find Traps
- Haste

4th level - 7/day:
- Phantasmal Killer
- Improved Invisibility
- Bestow Curse
- Polymorpth Self

5th level - 7/day:
- Firebrand
- Hold Monster
- Lesser Mind Blank
- Teleport

6th level - 7/day:
- Greater Spell Breach
- Summon Creature VI
- True Seeing

7th level - 6/day:
- Shadow Shield
- Plane Shift

8th level - 3/day:
- Summon Creature VIII

-- Yours, Chea Allin, a Witch, Adventuress & a Seeker of Enlightened Energies.

-=- Large Fire Elemental. -=- -=- Summoned by 6th Circle spell. -=-		-=- The Greater Fire Elemental. -=- -=- Summoned by the 8th Circle spell. -=-

( Fire Elementals set enemies aflame on hit, which greatly adds to the damage caused ).

-=- Large Earth Elemental. -=- -=- Summoned by 6th Circle spell. -=-		-=- The Greater Earth Elemental. -=- -=- Summoned by the 8th Circle spell. -=-

-=- Choices for 6th Circle summons. -=-	-=- Choices for the 8th Circle summons. -=-

(exact choices selection depends on the summoner's alignment; Chea is True Neutral).

Fire Elementals of Kossuth.

-=- Chea, learning to summon the Fire Elementals. -=-


Dear Journal,

As my duties with Cerulean paperwork lessened, could find time for myself, and for my studies. I was buried under the tons of paperwork for too long.

Learning how to summon creatures, mostly the Fire Elementals.

The spells I'll use are:
- Summon Creature VI,
- Summon Creature VIII.

For a while I'll need to lose the access to the Chain Lightning, the 6th Circle Spell.

The higher summons ( the 6th circle or higher ) are no joke, and perhaps Kossuth - the Fire Deity - will be pleased as well.

Summons can be combined with Invisibility, as casting summon does not break the Invisibility spells.

-- Yours, Chea Allin, a Witch.

P.S. Wethrillina Aeliath, lover of Master Attentus, was a conjuring witch too.

5th Dan in Karate/Jujitsu, and the Dim Mak technique (Anheim's Tale).

I've trained hard lately, and then understood that my martial arts fulfill the requirements for the 5th Dan rank, already.

(For Martial Arts & Ranks: click to see).


I've also learned how to use technique called: 'Dim Mak' (also known as: 'Quivering Palm'), technique that can kill enemy with a single touch - if enemy fails to defend himself from that kind of attack.

I've also improved my overall physical and mental fitness, improved some basic combat techniques and anti-magical maneuvers (Spell Resistance) too.

Meditated and studied some books, and did some Blind Fighting exercises as well.

Blind fighting is particularly useful when one faces invisible spellcasters.

Crystals (Anheim's Tale).

I've recently invested thousands of gold coins in Spell Crystals, ones enchanted with Divine Power, Greater Magic Weapon (for combat gloves) and with Divine Favour.

I've two pairs of combat gloves, one useful with Greater Magic Weapon, and other for when fighting without Greater Magic Weapon.

When under effect of these spells, my unarmed might rivals some stronger armed and armoured fighters in the land.

... and this can be enhanced even more with other potions and spells, like Barkskin, Cat's Grace, Owl's Wisdom, Bull Strength, Mage Armour, Bless, Stoneskin, Haste and Shield.

-=- Combat Gloves enchanted with Greater Magic Weapon. -=-

-=- Combat abilities without and with crystals -=-
-=- (Crystals of Divine Favour, Divine Power and Greater Magic Weapon).-=-
-=- Can be enhanced even more. -=-

4th Dan in Karate/Jujitsu (Anheim's Tale).

I've been participating in some fights near the Dead Horse Inn.

My role was mostly to observe and learn that way, as others fought.

Then I've trained in Kenna's Dojo, incorporating what I've seen.

Either way, my Mind and Body improved by training Martial Arts (Mostly Karate & Jujitsu).

My unarmed strikes are faster (4 attacks / 6 seconds, and before it was only 3 attacks
/ 6 seconds) and more accurate (+1 hit chance for each of 4 attacks), my Mind is stronger (+1 Will Save), Reflexes faster (+1 Reflex Save) and Body tougher (+1 Fortitude Save & +11 Hit Points). A little of kobudo & other weapons skills improved as well, as did my resistance against spells and other minor tricks as stunning attacks too.

I've thought about it and understood that my training level at this moment is sufficient for the rank of 4th Dan, 4th Mastery Level in Martial Arts.

(For Martial Arts & Ranks: click to see).

I am starting to learn the legendary technique of Dim Mak (also known as Touch of Death or as Quivering Palm in Western Faerun), it is one of requirements for 5th Dan rank anyway, aside of following:
- Faster Running,
- Unarmed Attack Precision, (+1 to hit chance for each of 4 unarmed attacks),
- Armed Attack Precision (+1 to hit for each of 3 weapon attacks),
- Faster Armed Attacks (3 attacks / 6 seconds, instead of 2 attacks / 6 seconds),
- Tougher Body (+11 Hit Points),
- Avoiding Hits (+1 to Armor Class).

I'll also try to learn the feat of Blind Fighting. It's useful not only when blindfolded, but also against invisible creatures, including magicians with Improved Invisibility and Darkness spells. These foes are very difficult to defeat, when invisible, when given time for using their tricks in preparation for the actual fight.

Archery Target (Kenna's Tale).

So, long story short, there was an Archery Contest in Norwick, a part of regular fighting contests under the name: 'Fight Night'.

Most of people bet on Lence Arnimannes, a well known and experienced Ranger and Cartographer of the area.

I met there a friend - Amanda - and suggested to ally with her against Lence. She thought it could be amusing.

I was looking at the archery targets with my bow in hand, and spoke my concern:
- 'What if I miss badly and hit Lence?',
- 'That's a sound plan, do that. I might... mis-throw also... who knows what can happen?', answered Manda,
- 'Maybe he will lose his focus and concentration?'.

After a while of such archery innuendo, Manda told me to not go too far, as we could have been in his attention.

I've agreed to be cautious, so nobody would get hurt.

-- Kenna, 6th Dan Weaponmistress of the Katana Sword, always in training.

Ken of the Woods (Character Description).

Current Stats & Equipment:

Desired build: Monk 12 / Fighter 1 / Weaponmaster 7.

At level 12 monks get diamond soul power, which grants resistance to spells (SR 22 at level 12).

Game-mechanics-wise, there's no point in advancing over level 7 with weaponmaster class, as there are no worthwhile powers above this level. Level 7 weaponmaster is optimal. The only reason to have 8+ levels in weaponmaster class is roleplaying reasons.

Worthy feats:
- Blind Fighting - helps a lot versus invisible or hardly seen foes, including magicians who cast invisibility spells.
- Mounted Combat - mounted combat is superior to combat on feet,

If Ken will have too few feats to choose from as he levels, mounted combat feat can be acquired from appropriate magic item. At least for a while, until he learns that feat.

(Not sure if it's possible at all to learn both all neccessary weaponmaster feats, blind fighting and mounted combat at the same time, within this build).

Worthy skills:
- Ride: mounted combat is superior to combat on feet, and riding skill is symbolically related with skill in sex (in medieval ages, when a boy wasn't skilled in horseback riding at agre of 7, it was said that he was suitable only for being a priest/cleric).
- Tumble - for defensive acrobatics,
- Discipline - for resisting advanced combat tricks/feats,
- Concentration - for roleplaying reasons and for resisting taunts,
- Heal - not only for dressing wounds, also for roleplaying martial arts (knowledge of anatomy helps with striking at vulnerable points at enemy's body),
- And perhaps Lore - for roleplaying reasons, knowledge of Kara-Tur and other, and for identifying items to sell them better,

Weapon of choice: Eastern Scimitar - Liuyedao: Known as the 'willow leaf saber', this is the most common form of Kara-Turan (Far Eastern) saber, featuring a moderate curve along the blade.

Character Idea:

Western Warrior Yogin, who practices Eastern Martial Arts.

Planned romance with Crystal.

Brother Of Adeli and of Anheim.

Every Bard is a Girl (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

People joke about bards and their so-called meekness.

There are bards who do not admit to being such, even.

I have a half-orc bard friend, Bon Ausbourn, with whom I regularly go to deeper giants territory, where we do fine.

Should I call him 'Bonnie'?

Many think that every bard is a girl, my beloved diary.

-- Yours, Adeli.

Valley of Red Mist & Beyond (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

With my adventuring Bard friend named: 'Bon Ausbourn', Half-Orc, we ventured deeper into the Giants Territory, into the 'Valley of Red Mist' and deeper.

I spent a lot of gold coins for expensive potions in preparation (Ghost Visage, Haste and Keen Edge), but in the end didn't have to use these. Cheaper potions (Bull's Strength and Barkskin), Bon's inspiring songs, and Bon's bardic spells were more than enough.

It's not worth selling these potions, as the merchants would offer far too low price when compared to the price I paid, so I will keep them for future use, for when there's some kind of more or less unsuspected challenge, or other emergency need.

What we found in the Valley and beyond, was tougher and larger giants, and their tamed wolves (worgs).

I can ride horses pretty well but don't have mounted combat experience, so a helm I bought earlier proved to be very useful. After this adventure, I must admit that having a mount in combat is an Advantage. But what to do with a horse when one has to enter underground cave or other dungeon?

-=- Helm for Mounted Combat. -=-

-=- Mounted Combat vs. Mr Hill Giant. -=-

After we returned from the trip, and sold the spoils, Bon made a small performance - and I've enjoyed it.

-=- Adeli & Bon, Half-Orcish Bard. -=-

-- Yours, Adeli, Rapier-Fencer, Adventuress and a Skilled Horse-Rider. -=-

Spell Scrolls & Other Challenges (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

Our City of Peltarch, The Jewel of the Icelace, is in war with nearby Giants of the Giantspire Mountains, since many years.

As a weapon-able Citizen, I've fought Hill Giants and Outer Spire Giants, ... recently even alone, without any backup.

Experience made me skilled and tough, these Giants are no longer much of challenge for me, at least when I am playing cautious. The quality equipment that I've collected so far is also helpful, makes the difference between victory and death.

I am preparing to venture deeper into Giants' territory, where Giant Savages, Giant Brutes, Tamed Worgs (Big, Bad & Wild Wolves), and Wicked Fomorians (Giants of sorts) dwell.

Did some gossip for preparations, and was advised to invest in the Stone Skin potions or scrolls for when I go there. Also, people advised me to fight on the horseback. Bought special helmet for this too.

-=- Helmet for Mounted Combat. -=-
-=- Can be especially useful against Fire Giants, or other Fire-wielding foes. -=-

I do not know much about magick, about Real Wizardry or Sorcery, but read many books and learned how to cast spells from scrolls. Stone Skin Scrolls are cheaper and easier to find than Stone Skin Potions.

In Spellweaver Keep, in Norwick, they sell Stoneskin Scrolls for 504 gp each. Bought a few and will try it sooner or later. It's pretty expensive for me, but I heard it can be a lifesaver. Thankfully spells cast from these scrolls last for a fairly long duration, for about 70 minutes. Scroll with a spell is 'consumed' when the spell is cast from it.

-=- Scroll of Stoneskin. -=-


-- Yours, Adeli.

P.S. I am already using Potions of Bull's Strength (30 gp each) and Potions of
Barkskin (86 gp each). These potions last for short duration, so usually using 2-3 of each for about a half-hour trip.

Giants (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

I've tried my rapier techniques against Giants, alone this time.

It seems that with use of potions, and with some serious caution, I can beat Hill Giants and Outer Spire Giants.

Being cautious means using of potions such as Barkskin and others, fighting defensively, keeping Invisibility potions for emergencies and luring Giants to 1-on-1 fights.

I should never fight more than one Giant at a time.

... but perhaps this will change with time, after I'll master new combat techniques.

Killing Giants means that they will pose less danger to our city of Peltarch, and I can get some real-combat training, and earn some gold coins for my coinpurse too.

I need gold to pay my debt to sir Atlas, as he borrowed me a lot of coins, so I could buy my rapier.

-- Yours, Adeli.

--
Out of Character: fighting defensively means using the expertise feat.

Anyone can sing (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

... Anyone can sing, but not everyone should.

I am not greatest singer around, but this time it was too much. I've been helping some new adventurers to fight orcs and I've sung a song.

... ~ dum dee dum, deeeeeeee duuuuum ~ ...
Our party's dwarf started to protest, so I said: 'This song makes orcs flee'.

He replied: 'It makes me flee too'.

So I've stopped. Perhaps in future i'll meet someone who can appreciate my art attempts at that.

... My songs make both orcs and dwarves flee, can You believe that, my diary?

... I am better at cooking at least, they say. My dishes are healthy, tasty, spicy and dietetic too.

-- Yours, Adeli, a Spice Girl.

Shiny New Rapier (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

I've seen nice, great rapier in Kenton Seth's shop, it's price was the whopping 250 000 gold pieces!

Couldn't resist buying it, but I had nowhere near the amount in gold.

... So i've searched for someone who would loan me the amount.

... I've found sir Atlas Fullcrest, who did it.

It's probably the best rapier in the whole of Narfell lands.


With the new Rapier in my hands, Atlas wanted me to duel with him.

We fought up to 5 hits in Kenna's Dojo, and I won like 5-0!

Granted, he did not use armour, used strange eastern bokken stick - weapon he wasn't proficient with.

He even said he didn't want to win this time, he just used this loss as an excuse to grant me a discount.

He said he wants half of the price from me - 125 000 gp, but i think it's right to pay him back full amount.

I paid him 30 000 gp, and now the 220 000 gp remains to pay him back.

-- Yours, Adeli.

P.S. Atlas made me give him promise to not ever go alone to Dead Horse Inn, to the 'place where heroes dwell, and where heroes die'. That was extra payment for this rapier. I think he would feel crushed if I broke my promise(s) too...

Dreams & Memories (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

Reunion with my brother, Anheim, was both joyful and sad.

He did not remember me nor other family members, as his memories of youth were clouded.

He was kind and polite, and we talked whole evening.

He remembered being raised in the eastern-thought monastery in the west.

He was made to fight with longsword and arcane magick, but he did not like it. In the end, he meditated and cast away unwanted lessons and started training from beginning. Eastern Martial Arts this time.

I told him of our family in Cormyr, and how he entertained me with tales of heroes and warriors.

We could not find the how's and why's of his memory's loss.

But then he told me about his recurring nightmare dreams, that appear once a while.

In the dreams, he was laying wounded in the snowy forest, his own blood all around. Then a few of grey-robed, hooded figures came and one of them said in his old raspy voice: 'This must certainly been a wolf', as he was crouching near him.

Perhaps this nightmare dream is a key for unlocking his memories?

Anheim said that he will meditate on that, perhaps more dreams or memories will come that way.

-- Yours, Adeli.

Valuable Promise & Family Matters (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

The man who gave me my Composite Longbow before, Sir Atlas Fullcrest, had met me again.

He offered me to give me some valuable things, free of charge, if I give him a promise:

'Come back living every chance that you can...
Even if you have to claw through blood and mud'.

I said that I'll return every time if there's someone who needs me, and he accepted this as a yes.

He gave me Relic of Recall and a Ring, that goes well with my amulet, increasing my Endurance and defensive techniques in combat.

Later, when I've been asking around for my brother, Anheim, I was directed to him and to Lady Chea, a Witch - who was recently seen spending a lot of time with Anheim.


With Atlas's help, Chea talked with me and arranged a meeting with Anheim. She warned me though, that he has memory hole and does not remember his family, for reasons unknown to her and to him.

We'll see how it goes, I am excited to meet him again.

-- Yours, Adeli.

Gargantua (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

I've defeated many of Giants, but I wasn't fighting alone.

I train mostly with my rapier and shield, but this time I've had to resort to my Composite Longbow.

There was a dwarf in our party, mister Mitras Aegis, who took the blows and blocked passage of the giants who were trying to flood us. He took a narrow passage between hillscape and defended that position as rest of us were bowshooting them. I've heard tales of Dwarves training to fight Giants since youth, but now had an opportunity to see it in live, real action.

There was also an elven warrior and magician in our group, named Alvarn.

Found a Necklace on one of the Giants' corpses, Necklace that enhances my Endurance and Focus in fights.

After the fight, Alvarn invited me for a drink.

Oh, so innocent drink!

I think that the Elven Wine has overrated reputation. Or maybe it was stomach ache, probably caused by the fight with giants.

-- Yours, Adeli.

Adeli, a Woman of Rose & Rapier (Character's Description).

-=- Adeli, in a Ren Garden (in Cormyr). -=-

-=- A poor, undernourished, skinny creature. -=-
-=- Her grandma would weep. -=-

Always poor, or she feels to be such (she’s quite greedy). She feels empathy towards other poor people and shares her food with them. She just can’t eat much when so many people are starving.

/ en: 'poor' is pl: 'biedna' /
/ en: 'undernourished' is pl: 'niedożywiona' /
/ en: 'skinny' is pl: 'chuderlawa', 'mizerna' /

---

-=- Adeli, when wearing her shiny metal armour, -=-
-=- when wielding rapier and shield. -=-

---

Name: Adeli.
Gender: Female.
Alignment: Lawful Good.
Race: Human.
Classes: Fighter 5 / Rogue 3 / Weaponmaster (Rapier) 5.
Age: 18 years old.

Deities:
- Tymora (Godess of Luck),
- Sune (Godess of Love, Beauty & Passion).

Home Town: Peltarch.

Description: Wears a scent of a Rose. Speaks with Chondathan (Cormyrean) accent.

Family: Sister of Ken and Anheim.


Languages Known:
- Common,
- Chondathan.

Background Story:

Being born in Cormyr, she heard a lot of tales about warriors and heroes from his brother, Anheim. (These tales shaped her destiy for the rest of her life, as she dreamed about being a hero too).

Then Anheim left the family to some monastery, as her parents told her.

She trained a bit of fencing then decided to search for him... and trails led her to Damara and then to Narfell.

Character Concept: A woman of Rose and Rapier, a fencer.





Equipment:

... and some other 'consumable' items for combat, but also some things for daily life's chores, too.

... and about 98 800 gp in her coinpurse.
... she owes Atlas 145 000 gp (of 250 000 gp of total), for her rapier.