Tales By The Fire

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  Fedar
  • TheGnome

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  Entry One Bah, I've decided on writing in a journal, so that me thoughts may be recorded on paper, in the event that I'm mugged for a second time. The Sails appear to be decent employers, an' I may as well function as a member as long as it benefits me. The captain immediately assigned me to a relatively difficult task involving thieves. I have received one response from a potential ally, yet I doubt I will progress on it any further as I recouperate. Another assignment is to identified who mugged me, which will require the assistance of a priest, and Tymora if my bloody fortune remains. The agony in me neck has receded, yet occasionally it returns at inopportune moments. Anyways, I will compile a list of the Sails members I've encountered here, in the event that I'm mugged..again. The Captain-Deacon Sterr-Regarded as a fool by a few of the members, yet appears to be competent. Drelan-Second in Command-Direct superior to meself, quiet an' authoritative. Should receive more respect. Bub-Fighting gnome, enjoys ale, reliable. Grak-Impetuous, a bit arrogant addicted to gold from my first impression. Corana-High Priest of Umberlee-Supports the others, unyielding, deadly with a greataxe. Space remains for other crew members Apparently the Dolvaks are interested in a housebreaking operation. I would prefer other hin, yet if they're cooperative, I may offer 'em a chance to join up. I'm beginning to understand what occurred to me, and am developing quickly with regard to combat. I've yet to sight Drelan in quite a period of time. I would be intrigued by his advice and opinions on my project and the Dolvaks. I will add more as new developments arise.
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  Vescar
  • Lucidious

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  –- WARNING: THIS STORY IS RATED R. --- --- No one under 17 admited wtihout a parent or guardian --- "Merilelle Kericent? Yes, I do know of her." Vescar, interviewing with Kestrix Corvance for position of bodyguard to his son Vintaro Corvance He lowered himself slowly down to one knee, his dark leathers bending with a slight sigh. He leaned in close, pulling away the black mask covering his nose and mouth. She lay there like a doll in that blue and gold dress, eyes wide open, unblinking. He was certain she couldn’t move, but mostly he was amazed she still lived. He could only tell by the glimmer in her eye. That little bit of sparkle you can see when you look close and they don’t turn away. At first, his expression was pure amazement…but slowly his lips curled into a grin. A wide disturbing grin, something you would expect to see from a child after giving them a piece of candy. He leaned in even closer, breathing on her skin. Slow calm even breaths. His eyes explored hers and the smile remained. His other knee came down slowly to her other side as he leaned in closer, now on top of her. He tipped his face in close, gently bumping his nose and lips against her cheek for a moment, still breathing evenly…backing away just enough to become a light touch. He kept that distance, now exploring her face, moving his against it, taking in her touch, her smell. He whispered to her softly in elvish as if only to amuse himself: "This must be a gift from the gods. You …" the smile, the look, became something more sinister "…are a gift." Now on all fours, he followed the curve of her cheek, his mouth brushing against her neck, moving slowly up to her ear. He paused there, pulling back just slightly, just enough to marvel at what he thought was so beautiful about it. His expression changed again … inquisitive, fascinated or perhaps enthralled. He reached back with his left hand, slowly drawing a dagger from the sheath on his side. The one he used on the Orc. The one he had sharpened and polished to perfection just a day before. He tilted his head slightly away and brought the blade down slowly and carefully to the side of her head. He went to work on her there, on the floor by the bed. Her blue and gold dress now grew dark in some places. A deep red bled into the blue, turning it dark and foul looking. He worked on her for perhaps an hour with the dagger until he noticed. He gazed like a child into her eyes. The light there was gone. All he could see was a shadow of him self there. And somehow, that pleased him. Later they would say she was killed along with the other nobles attending the dinner that evening. They would claim the target was not her, but Elindril.
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  War Stories
  • Caoimh

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  The huge Peltarch Siege Ballista firing at enemy positions during the eastlander war:- "General Lavindo stood upon the platform, gazing back calmly at the already battered eastlander positions. He uttered four words… "Death to Peltarch's enemies". In a moment of firing the long hours of preparation and surprise was ready to be unleashed upon Peltarch's enemies, and in that moment the eastlander positions became as ash, weapons, bodies and the ground itself became as one. And death followed after..." Extract from the Memoirs of Barrim Asbravn.
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  Shanr, the simple traveller
  • szeltolo

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  The fierce warrior...
  • szeltolo

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  Soldier and marksman
  • Wannabe_Irish

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  "Discharge? Wha… why?" Mark stood dumbfounded. The captain sighed, stood up calmly and walked around his office. "Mark, your orders were clear. If your superior fell, you were to retreat." "But our objectives were achieved..." Mark replied, but the captain cut him short "It doesn't matter, Mark. You disobeyed direct orders, you needlessly endangered the lives of other soldiers. You do not have the training nor the position to lead. You are lucky his Lordship didn't order a public switching, as the family of your fellow demanded. Personally I would've let them have their way..." "The Red Knight..." "Stow your whining, boy. The Red Knight doesn’t favour you anymore than she does any of us, despite your father’s capabilities. Quite frankly, I haven’t seen you live up to even half of his exploits. You will never get anywhere if you do not learn to respect your superiors. Now go, his Lordship’s orders were clear. Your status on his lands is now that of a peasant, you are to return your armour and weaponry. Your belongings will be returned to you, and you will leave for your village soon after.” _Mark sighed and did as he was told… “Maybe I should’ve done that in the first place.”, he thought. No… despite Ben losing his arm, if they would’ve retreated, more would’ve died… They took the camp, sure enough, none escaped, so the other groups couldn’t be warned. If they had retreated, every other encampment would know they were discovered. He cursed those bloody Lords and their bloody wars. Coming to the crossroads, he looked around. There was the road he once walked down, he hadn’t walked down in the past two years. The road home… But he didn’t walk down the road. He turned the other way. “Away from these wars between humans, these Lords, far away…”_
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  The Story of Ponce LaRue
  • PedjtOfValar

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  A Dark Request Ponce smiled as he saw Lucidious walking down the path from Jiyyd. He greeted his friend, and after the normal exchange of pleasantries, they agreed to do a normal patrol to the southern gate of Norwick. A calm, uneventful trip, just the way that Ponce likes it, and they had arrive to the glowing, familiar gates of Norwick. When they reached the other end of the city, Lucidious waved down a young woman standing on the ramparts of the city walls. He addressed her as 'Shay' and they seemed to have been previously acquainted. She spoke to Lucidious for a short while about the resurrection of people, and she asked if he could have a body resurrected by a strong priest he was acquainted with. He agreed, and accepted the gold that was to be paid to the priest. Ponce soon realized that a woman, who he would later come to know as being named Raisa, had joined the small gathering, apparently also an acquaintance of Lucidious and this Shay individual. Shay told Lucidious to follow her out to the forest to show him the body. Raisa followed, and being a man who was always interested in the higher arts of the divine, Ponce chose to tag along as well. It was about the time that the woman dashed out alone into the western reaches of the forest, unarmed and without proper protection, that Ponce realized what her intentions were. The Raisa woman realized this even faster and was on Shay's trail before Ponce, leaving Lucidious gawking at the scene. They crashed into the forest, making their way through the dense undergrowth, the shadow of Shay bouncing about in front of them. Ponce could hear her making all sorts of noise, intentionally attracting the attention of a small host of goblins, which was soon between her and Raisa in a long race to an unknown destination. Lucidious had caught on to Shay's suicidal intentions, and had managed to catch up with the rest of the party. When Shay finally stopped, she began to fight the horde goblins with what she had, but it was clear she was not trying to win, as hardened goblin soldiers began to surround her. Fuming at the madness this woman was displaying, Ponce began to release volley after volly of crossbow bolts and rays of searing light, as Lucidious did the same and Raise hacked her way through the goblins. The three of them together managed to make their way through the ranks, breaking them entirely, and found Shay with her back to the trees, still wounded from the experience. Many wails and cries of confusion and desperation were thrown at the seemingly mad Shay as she backed away from the group. Ponce managed to cure her wounds, and just as it seemed she would come back to Norwick, she tore off again, leaving the three of them to grapple with their amazement. They were not able to track Shay this time, and after much depressing talk, they chose to split up to try to find her, or her body. Ponce sputtered, but finally agreed to travel to Jiyyd to see if that is where she went. As he suspected, the woman was not to be found there, and he made his way back to Norwick, as was agreed. He arrived to find Raisa waiting there, but Lucidious was nowhere to be found. They waited, for hours they waited, and still Lucidious did not make an appearance. Ponce began to worry, and since Lucidious's absence was highly extended, Raisa dispatched a bird, perhaps her familiar, to scout him out. It returned on the western horizon, and they made their way to the western end of the Rawls. The scene that followed was disturbing. A bloodied and grave Lucidious stood away to the side, in the shadows, as an equally bloodied Shay flailed hopelessly in a mass of goblins. Lucidious cried out to Raisa and Ponce to hold back, but his words fell on deaf ears as the two sprung into action, though they may have known there would be no saving her this time. By the time they had worked there way to Shay, Ponce's healing enchantments fell helplessly on a lifeless body. Confusion and anger swelled up in Ponce's mind as he sared down at the body, while Lucidious collected it up, and began to carry it back to Norwick. Raisa solemnly collected up the fallen woman's possessions, and turned to return to Norwick. Ponce blinked at this mechanical demeanour, unusual and unexpected from Lucidious. As it would turn out, the woman, Shay, was supposedly possessed, an the only freedom was death, followed by a short period in the Fugue, and then resurrection. These words washed coldly over Ponce as he waited alone in the chapel of Norwick for the priests to arrive and take the body. When they left, he immediately found himself a table, and began to write a letter…
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  ChatLog: Why dice provides humor.
  • Maverick_tO

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  ((LOL.))
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  Lilin
  • losl

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  Surrogate, Part 5 Sunlight filtered through the curtains of the window of the small room, making pastel yellows fall on the objects littered throughout… black armor, a ratty looking plain cloak, sleek shoes, a pretty bow laid flat on the dresser. A bag with various supplies was stacked in the corner, with the tips of arrows sticking out. The figure of a young woman lay in the bed, on her stomach, her hair light blonde fanned out like a hood across her naked back, her body draped in white sheets, her eyes closed, though she was awake, she gave the distinct impression of someone with a sore back. Somewhere outside her door, a cat mewled loudly, someone stopped to let to let the cat into her room, peek in briefly before shutting it quitely. The grey cat padded softly across the floor and hopped up on to the bed. The woman gave a muffled greeting into the pillow and the cat continued carefully across the big bed, checking each step carefully before putting its weight on its paw, it crept smoothly across the bed, stepped softly on to the woman's back. "owwww," she moaned, "You can't stand there Elz!" The cat hopped back off and circled around to her face, rubbing up against it with her own before sitting down an arm's length away for optimal petting. She stroked the cat softly and it purred, they laid there lazily for another hour or so before pushing herself off and sliding off the bed, still keeping the sheet draped around her, collecting a mirror off the dresser and standing facing the opposite direction as another mirror, so she could see her back. She checked all along her lower back for scars but found only fading bruising, She swept away her hair and nearly dropped the mirror. She stepped closer to the mirror to get a closer look. There, ever so faintly across the back of her shoulders to just a small dip between her shoulder blades and up the back of her neck a very short ways were rosettes. The cat sat and watched with unblinking eyes as the woman traced her hand across her spots, seeing her expression of fear and disbelief. She set the mirror back down on the dresser then set next to the cat on the bed, rubbing her face and sighing. Elz stood and stretched, then rubbed her head against her bare side, purring. She stroked the cat and rubbed her eyes, then laid back down Lilin covered her spots.
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  Diary of Old Scars
  • aeolderr

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  Something strange happened today, I met the woman named Ocean, and she almost acted as if she hated me. Every question was met with a cold remark, and she told me I shouldn't be here, because Lilly was happy dead. Whether this is true or not, I don't know, but if her hatred of me is enough to tell, she loved Lilly very much. Strangely, her and Eowiel fought over me. Eowiel berating her because she wasn't happy to see me. Ocean nearly left in a boat because of it, I hope she doesn't. I don't want to cause trouble, I just want to know who I am, what I'm supposed to be, and why I'm here. Then, the really strange part happened. I was sitting outside the college, why I'm unsure, but Ocean came back. She sat, and we talked for a few moments. She wasn't much more helpful, but was rather cold to me. Still, I felt a connection to her, she is important, I know she is. My dream told me she was, and her eyes..her eyes are so familiar, I don't know why I didn't notice them when she was playing in the commons. More so than that though, I felt an anger boiling in me. I've never felt it before, a simmering rage just beneath the surface, yet it was more than anger. Could this rage be something important? I suppressed it, I was scared, but..I felt as if I should have screamed at her. Screamed, "I am Lilly Laer" but now I wonder why I felt that? What I have to wonder, was if it was me that wanted to scream it, or Lilly Laer.
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  Remnant Aura - The Prestory
  • Linah

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  "The End"...all stories come to a close
  • Zyphlin

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  Yeah fantastic story, detailed, concise, and very humourous too.
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  Tales of a mercenary
  • szeltolo

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  Adrian's Journals.
  • EnigmaticIncognito

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  Random jumbled journal of Bryn
  • Grimm0256w

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  Of Clairity and Chasms It has been many days since that door appeared in my halls. Stangely I can not open it. It remains locked and sometimes fades from sight all totally when I try to gain entry. Strangely I feel as though there are times my clairity has lapsed which is scarey given the amount of control I have. There are yawning chasms in time. This scares me, I have seached my memories and can not find the times. They must be behind that door. One thing becomes more certain though I am now hells bent to find this Locke and remove him from this world. I am sure of solid conviction that he is of demon spawn. I feel battered mentally and physically with all this goings on , the undead chasing me , the accusations of talking to a demon to be abducted by drow. I look to Arvandor beseachingly. Good Coronal guide me give me strength and wisdom to persever. I shall be victorious or fall in the attempt to excecute thy will. I must remember to have my protection from evil up at all times. I almost feel like my old self again. I am attempting to put on a face of serene normalicy in hopes of convincing others that all is well. I do not need their close scrutiny. Once reinstalled in their own happy world they will leave mine alone. As loosely constructed as the fascad is at this moment it cannot gear scrutiny let alone close scrutiny. The previous entry, I tried in vain to re read it. It scares me the loosely connected ramblings what on earth possessed me to write such things , where are the pieces of said amulet , where have I hidden them, when did I pick them up and why . My head still pounds like a dwaven smiths hammer on an anvil. I am out of the medicine for the headache, and just as well it was no longer working it merely dulled my wits without release from the pain. So I shall forbear and learn to put this aside as I do all pain and it shall cease to exist. One more thing I am weary of others dissecting my love life our lack their of. I am merely going to shove them all away pleasantly and return to my solace of celebicy. A lonely peace is preferable to the havoc men seem to create in my life. This to I shall forebear in a regal fashion, strength of character will prevail. Not to mention I loathe how others love to see me wallowing in the pit of my last amourous misadventure. I have made up my mind , built my walls, my guardians are in place from this moment on if it goes beyond sparing with friends, the latest news and gossip, or the weather. I mentally remove myself and will so bury myself out of harms reach. I shall once again throw myself head long into my work to the point of exhaustion for work cleanses work and prayer. speaking of fatigue that comes easily anymore I pray that will receed soon as well. All things in gods good time I suppose. With this, these brave words I leave my hearthside seat and wander out to see the brave new world. Corellon be blessed for you are always with me.
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  The Death of Scutum
  • nealparr

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  ((Thanks, I appreciate the comments.))
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  Elena Nightsbrooke
  • Revenant13

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  The two sides collided in a wave of sound and destruction, as weapons flashed and blood was spilt. A roaring sound was all Elena could hear and she was unable to discern the line between the combatants, so chaotic was the scene. Stunned into immobility by the display of savageness, she was almost pinned to the earth by a stray arrow, which barely missed her by a few hairs. Gasping, she raised the cumbersome shield in her left hand, supporting it with her right, as she tried to move around without getting too close to the fighting, which was taking place only a few paces away from her. “Keep moving!” A nearly unrecognizable Graham, face streaked with dirt and blood, shouted at her as he sprinted past to help a fellow soldier in need. Elena’s mind whirled, for her orderly world was being torn to shreds at that very moment, shock rendering her movements leaden. She could only watch somewhat dumbly as lives were taken before her eyes at a frightening pace. The soldiers were pushing the orcs back, but there were already bodies lying on the ground, with wounds terrible to behold. Elena hurried to each one; but at the edges of her vision she could see more, and her heart sank. What could just one healer do, when faced with so many casualties? She checked the person for his pulse, and when she could find none, she moved to another. There were some who were still breathing, and she applied her healing spells as best as she could, relying on her supplies of medical aids when the need arose. However, with each passing moment, she could feel herself draining of strength, and her bag becoming lighter and lighter. But every time when someone stood up on shaky legs, picked up the nearest weapon that was within reach and stumbled on, her spirit rose. Had she thought about it more, she would have been appalled by their single-mindedness, and would have debated upon the wisdom of her own actions. For the moment she had only one over-riding thought, which was to save as many as she could. There was no time between breaths to think, nor to argue. The orcs had hitherto been kept at bay, but as the line grew thinner more of them began to break through, and was hotly pursued by some of the men. One such orc, for reasons inexplicable, saw Elena, and decided to target her instead. With a gleeful warcry it charged straight at her, axe raised. A clammy hand gripped her insides as Elena saw death mirrored in the orc’s eyes, and tried to warn someone or place an obstacle between them. The orc still kept coming, and was now within striking distance. The axe swung in a mighty stroke… …and was deflected with a loud “thunk!” as Elena hastily put up her shield. The force of the blow transferred itself through the shield though, and a sensation of pain jolted up her arms. The orc bellowed and the axe was now returning on the back stroke, once again smashing into the shield which Elena was cowering behind. Desperation rose up in her throat as the blows kept coming on relentlessly, without stopping. Then out of nowhere a figure leapt upon the orc, sinking a long dagger into its neck, splattering Elena’s shield and part of her robe with blood. It was the half elven archer! Without as much as missing a beat, he rose and pulled out his dagger in a graceful fluid motion. Elena stared wide-eyed at him, lost for words, but he never hesitated, just sheathed his weapon, unslung his bow, and ran off again. Elena murmured a brief prayer of thanks to Ilmater, and hoped no harm would befall him. The flow of the battle was not going smoothly; suddenly Graham was at her side again, panting, his sword stained with gore. “We need to force our way out now – the orcs are trying to catch us in a pincer! Not enough men to form a wedge at my side, so I need your help!” Elena protested. “But I can’t kill!” “No killing! Just use your shield!” Graham yelled above the din, and beckoned her to follow him. They ran to a point where Farrel and some other people Elena recognized were fighting. Graham rushed forward, shouting hoarsely: “Link shields!” Everyone within hearing range quickly gathered together, and there was a booming sound as shields were thrust together into an overlapping pattern. Farrel motioned for Elena to fill up a gap; she ran forward and added her shield to the wall. Elena felt the blood rushing to her face as the heat and cramp, not to mention the smell, of bodies pressed together so closely got to her. “Now push!” Instantly Elena felt a pressure on her back as the soldiers in the back applied their hands to the people in the front. Almost as one, the wedge chanted. “One, two!” Despite her lack of training, Elena quickly caught on and moved as the others did, pacing her steps to their shouts. She could feel an overwhelming resisting force on the other side of the shield, but the formation progressed forward inexplicably, one step at a time. Sweat beaded up on her forehead, and the handle of her shield grew warm and slick. Every now and then something thudded on the shields, and there was an angry roaring filtering through the solid wood. Slowly, Elena felt herself gaining ground, and she idly wondered what was happening outside. Then from somewhere to her left, Graham called out in muffled tones. “That’s far enough, boys. Forwards!” Everyone angled their shields away from their neighbors’, and veered away in different directions, their weapons out once again to meet that of the orcs. Elena was shoved about as men ran past her, and the catch on her bag opened, spilling several bottles onto the soil. She bent down to retrieve them, and just when she was straightening up, a shadow loomed over her…
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  Zach Fryar's Journal
  • Neuromancer

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  Month: 8 Day 18-19 Hour 11 to Hour 8(next day) After a rough introduction I traveled with Milshot and Shanr (they didn’t believe I fought umber hulks they thought I ran away). It was rough because I forgot to lock the gate… We traveled to the saurian territory and tried to capture one, yet they attacked on sight sadly we had to dispatch them. We were attacked my goblins along the way as well its is too bad we could not reason with them. Along the way home, we were ambushed by the lizard creatures' father and Shanr was poisoned severely. To my shame I could not react fast enough to kill the creature yet I saw it first. I believe the saurian are intelligent if aggressive, we did kill its son or try and capture it before. I helped him to Friar Fred's for help. All I could do was buy him herbs and healing kits and yes pray to Oghma. Last time I saw him he was fine. He gave me a small diamond for helping him. I do not deserve it. Month 8 Day: unknown Hour: unknown I was waylaid by goblins and was killed. I was left in the underworld by my fate, yet in there I found that it was not so grim. My party looted my body and left it to rot, to my shame the took the amulet and the diamond. I swear I will have revenge. I met a man named Locidios Falan(I think thats he's name). Good enough person, he died in a more spectacular way. I believe it was hill giants. An kind elf by the name of Nakururu of the Forest revived me. She was who told me of that my body was looted I had lost the amulet she gave me. I had dealings with Nakururu before and she was very kind. She gave me gold and this wonderful (if oddly colored) armor the same one she was trying to sell. Even with my untrained senses I could FEEL its magic. Month 9 Day: 18-21 I met a druid named Tobias (can you believe the coincidence?) with his help I learned new skills about survival and hunted orcs. He even gave a scythe. Yet he was a bit wary(a bit strong of a word) of my armour as he did not know where it came from, when asked by passersby. And yes people tend to make jokes about my armour, I just take it with good humour and make jokes back. They do not know the magic that it holds. Maybe along the way I can find the amulet that I lost and the bows Nakururu was selling. Along the way we met some interesting characters, a mercenary of the legion I believe and an elf mage. With his Tobias' help my skills increased! We traveled with the elf mage for a while I tried to give him some of my meager gear but he refused. Too each his own I guess. Tyal I think was his name.. Month 9 Day 21-22 I travel with a party with Shanr and some new found friends attacking spiders we were able to kill easily. But we were attacked on the way home by an Orc Destroyer no less. and was wiped out, Month 10 Day 2 Hour 0 I met a Dentias Flomeigne nice enough person.
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  Lanae
  • Pyrus

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  Any's tale
  • Davidnwn

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