Official Daily Report, January 14, 1845 AK

Commanding Officer of the Island Aurix Reporting

 

With the new year always comes a bunch of new faces. Why is January tourist season? I never did figure that out. Back in the day I came in January because I was paid to come in January, but it always seems that we have the most new faces in January, then they leave, which is honestly for the better. It was fortunate this time though, as I needed a larger group to attack the void cultists that have been plaguing us. We raided their camp only to find it was deserted besides a token group of undead so it didn’t seem like they had abandoned it. When we got back to town we discovered that they had known of our coming and moved in while we were away. They wanted some book or other, but there was some confusion on that front. We all decided even if we knew what they were talking about and how to appease them, it would be a better idea not to. They left, leaving us some sort of alchemical device that releases a toxin that knocked people out when it was triggered. It was triggered whenever it was moved, so naturally there were some who decided to keep moving it. After some trying, we managed to open it and see that we needed components to disarm it. During this intervening period, Sven decided to return, although a little less well for the wear, warning us she was coming. Sure enough, she returned. Our bestest friend in all of the universes. The usual lecture about how she could just take everything and kill us all. Although she also seemed interested in a book she thought we had. I don’t think she is in cahoots with the void cultists, but something that both of them want surely doesn’t bode well for us. I expect further visits from both parties. Well, while we tried to figure out what to do, we kept getting attacked by undead who had the components we needed. We disarmed it just in time for the cultists to return. This time they wanted a fight, so we gave them one. They nearly broke us, but we fought them back and got all except the prince, who made it away, to return and cause us headaches at some later point. Oh, and Sir Symon returned, although he wasn’t at all helpful in anyway. Shocker there, but I can write what I want in these Official Reports because he never reads them anyways. The former sheriff agreed that of the three of us, I’m the only one who seems to actually function and do their job.

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-Best Lawman the Island Has Seen Aurix

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Official Daily Report, January 16, 1845 AK

 

No good January passes without a portal to the Wildlands dragging us through it. Today was the day. We got there and instantly people decided to strike first and ask questions later. Truly the Wildlands spirit. I forget how we got roped into it, but we ended up going to an old temple for “investigating.” There was a series of puzzles inscribed in a story to get past locks to get into and through the temple. In the first room inside, we found a journal of someone who had died trying to get into the temple. That’s when the first of them attacked. This time it was an air elemental that was difficult to kill. We learned from the journal that we needed to plug a hole in a face thing and it would stop forming, so we did. Upon reading the journal further, we learned that the person had already taken care of the earth elemental. We made it to the next room and saw a mouth with fire in it, so we doused the fire. And were not troubled by the elemental, then made into another with a thing of liquid, which someone drank without warning. Nearly killed themselves in the process, but I suppose I’m not one to talk about that. That’s when a group of natives came armed and told us to skidaddle, which of course we did, but in the opposite direction than they wanted: farther into the temple. We came across a wall with four sets of handprints upon it that demanded blood magic. So four of us, myself included, cut our hands and the wall opened to us. We found ourselves in some sort of throne room with what appeared to be an undead (why is it always undead?) king trapped by a magic rock. Well, some people thought it was a good idea to remove the magic rock, and so he got away. Jadriel decided to be selfish and while we were working out what was happening with the king guy, looted the place and refused to even let others investigate what he found. Even pirates know how to share, or so I’ve heard. They understand that if everyone just decided to loot instead of handling all the hostiles, they wouldn’t last long, and so work together and share the bounty. But no, had to take and keep everything, even though it may be vital for getting out of the Wildlands. When confronted with this, he refused to listen and eventually decided to run off alone. We chased after him and caught up, investigated the items, and, much to my disappointment because there were others who worked hard to ensure that we could get out with everything, returned them to him and returned home.

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-Sharing and Caring Aurix

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Official Daily Report, March 17, 1845 AK

 

Part of me wishes Jadriel and Aznug showed just so they could get coming, but for once someone new showed up who actually seemed to care. It was great. Soazig was there too, but nothing can be perfect. I was just settling in, getting to know our new visitor Avaline when who showed up but our Lady Carthairen. She showed up to (finally) replace the old mayor. The elections were going to be held the next day, so people should start thinking about if they want to run and who they might want to run. Later that night Unseelie showed up and told us that the evil ones were planning something and we needed to stop them. Really forthcoming with facts and details. Some unknown threat and politicking ahead. Great fun will be had, but that was to be a problem for future me.

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-Relaxed Aurix

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Official Daily Report, March 18, 1845 AK

 

Started off with a nice breakfast. Rukazagin decided to grace us with her presence. After breakfast, I go to arm up for the day, and when I return, not five minutes later, what do I find? Not only undead freely walking through the inn to take firewood, but I find Aveline and Soazig helping them...I was dumbstruck. Later I learn that the undead have been taking wood, food, and basically everything from the farmers. We heard of missing people and people starving. I just wish word of this had reached my ears sooner, I’ll need to set up a system to attempt to ensure that I hear of these problems before they become crises. Throughout the day we had goblin issues. Why I’m still not sure, but they brought two trolls into the inn and stole things. Typical goblin things. They also had some invisible ones, which are always a pain, but fortunately (and I can’t remember, but I think it was intentional) the inn has creaky floors. Invisible things still make noise. We were joined this day by a celestial fey, who apparently had spoken to Lorman. Poor soul actually listened to what Lorman had to say and didn’t listen much to me because of that and never really trusted me. Unseelie returned and enlisted us to rescue a life fey that had been captured. When I got there I discovered I knew this life fey. It’s that pain that was here in January who nearly got us killed. But he can be useful when not annoying and I promised Unseelie, so he was rescued. Also throughout the day we had visits from undead ghosts. Still not sure what that was all about, but now we have another competing church: The Church of Schmee! We also rescued a woman, in her own words, is “older than dirt.” She confirmed what Unseelie was telling us and gave us more details as to the who, what, where, when, and why. Basically these people were doing something they thought was the right thing, but it had a side effect of cutting off the flow of life into the world, something I can’t stand by while it happens. We needed to go stop them that night. But before then, it was dinner and elections time. Running for mayor was myself and Lord Lane. He won, which is probably honestly for the better. We both are among those who actually care for the island, and the last thing I need is more headaches, so when after that Lady Carthairen appointed me sheriff, it was a win-win. After dinner, it was time for final preparations to stop the end of the world. We prepared then headed out to meet up with another contingent the Lady was sending. Turns out they were a no-show, so it was Aveline, Soazig and myself. We got past the traps in the antechamber and entered the ritual chamber. Soazig and I squared off against golems while protecting Aveline who was disrupting the ritual. It succeeded and those who were performing the ritual decided to let us live and not to try it again. After that it was bedtime for all.

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-Saver of the World (Again) Aurix

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Official Daily Report, March 19, 1845 AK

 

Woke up to a scream coming from the inn. Rushed to help and there was a man who had lost his daughters dead on the doormat, with one of his daughters over him, where the scream came from. There were also more goblins in the area. I dispatched the goblins while Aveline helped the daughter. Then a merfolk decided to grace us with her presence and decided I was to be an ambassador between our folk. I think that’s a good thing. I hope it’s a good thing. Then an undead family with a baby came in and were dispatched. I was about to dispose of the bodies when Mayor Lane told me they were recently enough deceased that they could be raised. He raised the three of them along with the father from earlier. Once all were raised we were graced with the presence of our bestest friend in all of the universes the crazy necromancer lady who can’t be harmed. She did her standard spiel, then left us.

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-Saver of Lives Aurix

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Official Daily Report, May 19, 1845 AK

 

After an uneventful day, I walk into the inn to find the Lady Carthairen present. It’s always a pleasure to see her, and it was a relaxed visit trying to relive her glory days as much as possible without being allowed to carry a sword. Notably present were Zara and crew, Soazig, and Heiler, and Jadriel. Someone decided it would be a good idea to pay the Lady’s guards to try to kill her, and for some silly reason they decided to do it in the inn in front of everybody. They hit her with some kind of poison blade, but were quickly dispatched and Heiler healed her and neutralized the poison. After that, although unrelated, these shivers started attacking. They are a form of undead who only shiver and say “so cold.” They don’t do physical damage, but instead drain one’s connection to the storm if they touch you. Fortunately for me, I am a mage and have a strong connection to the storm and even if my connection is completely drained I will remain on my feet. That can’t be said for the others. Unlinked were completely unaffected though. Heiler tried to get us to follow him to some sort of cave, but didn’t have clear directions, so we weren’t going to try and blindly explore the island in the dark. Ashling also paid us a visit, although it seems unintentionally. She appeared on the floor of the inn unconscious (which I didn’t know was possible for a goddess. Learn something new every day). Growing all over her was some sort of moss that “smelled funny” and seemed to either be making her sick or be a symptom of a sickness she was experiencing. Our last visitor was some sort of undead who claimed to be a chieftain of ages past, called back to duty because someone (whose name begins with a J) decided it would be a great idea to lift a magic rock off an old orc king and release him back into the world.

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-Done with Undead Aurix

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Official Daily Report, May 20, 1845 AK

 

The moss got worse on Ashling overnight. Never a good sign. More and more run of the mill undead, the zombies, skeletons, and whatnot, came, specifically to try and take Ashling away. I don’t like this escalation of undead on my island. I am so done with them. We got visited by three more chieftains with the same story. Turns out this is the first time they’ve worked together since they were first confronted with their overlord. They had various tests or needs of assurance to make sure we were worthy of their support. It would appear we passed those tests. We decided it would be a prudent idea to try and visit Ashling’s tree. Turns out, she is in a bad enough place she can’t even remember the way, or something is deliberately blocking her from knowing. We returned unsuccessful, but ventured out again once I got my map of the area. We were blocked by lots and lots of undead, until finally we were confronted with a barrier that the undead could pass through but we could not. We tried many things to get through, but in the end we came up short. Zara managed to make it through with a blessing from her god, but the rest of us had to return through the zombie-infested forest unsuccessful. When I got back there was a man there who apparently was there to study the Box of Do No Touch. I kept an eye on the process and helped him answer some questions, and he did not touch it, so all seems well with it. As is unfortunately common on the island, the goblins were up to their mischief. This time there was a game of tag going. Blue versus red. Some people called it red versus blue, but it sounds silly when you say it backwards like that. Still not entirely sure what that was about, but I think it kept them out of our stuff a little more than usual and didn’t appear to greatly affect us. Also today Jadriel and I settled a dispute that was starting to rift the group. During the day, there was a cave in in a mine on the island that appeared to have opened a cavern with golems. We defeated the golems and took the miners back to Lord Laine, who was able to raise them. With nightfall came more undead and the return of the shivers. They kept coming and coming. Really not a fan. Also to visit us that evening were the four chieftains. They were going to perform a ritual to make us able to pass the barriers and give us gifts, both information and physical. Heiler as the most dedicated healer in our group got a cup that multiplied healing abilities, Soazig as the most bold-headed in the group got a skull that when looked into removed all fear from one’s heart, Jadriel as the one who pretends to know how to fight got throwing daggers that would disrupt the magic of the undead, and I, as First Frederick of the Goddess Ashling and the only one who seems to care about the island, was given a necklace that as long as it was worn by Ashling, the moss could no longer grow. It wouldn’t, unfortunately, get rid of it. We were also told what to expect within the barrier, at the internal barriers, and ultimately at the tree itself. Nothing good was the answer. Because we could not leave Ashling alone, we decided to spend the night in the cellar of the inn and barricade the door.

 

-The One Who Cares Aurix

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Official Daily Report, May 21, 1845 AK

 

Battle day. We woke up to find that the undead had stolen Soazig’s armor and shield and threw it all into the ocean. This is why you sleep next to your gear. Hopefully she will learn that lesson. Goblins had come along and gathered them from the beach, which is legitimate salvage, then came to us to try to sell them. Before things could be resolved, Jadriel took it upon himself to resolve it violently. This is why we have goblin problems, because no one ever listens to them and everyone sees them as just little monsters they can kill like a giant spider. Once we had all our gear, ate breakfast, and Ashling was ready to travel, we headed towards her tree. We waded through undead to get there and it was a long fight to get ourselves to even the first barrier. We made it past the first couple barriers without much issue, before we come across our undead friends from the night before. This time, though, they weren’t our friends. They were redominated by their overlord and trying to kill us. Fortunately for us, we got the better of them and of their master. Ashling reentered the tree, and the moss started to die. We returned to the inn victorious. We tried to burn the bodies of our friendly undead, but when it was discovered they would not burn, I gave them a solemn naval burial. The overlord was given a less than respectful burial at sea. By the time we all reconvened, we discovered that the gifts that were given the night prior stopped working, but they had done their purpose. The most notable part of the entire situation was the camaraderie shown by all the adventurers. Everyone stepped up, did the best they could, and worked together. Made my job so much easier.

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-A Rarely Proud Aurix

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Official Daily Report, July 28, 1845 AK

 

Oh what a day. I got up bright and early to work at the yard, as the mast is about ready to be raised. That took quite a while, so I headed to the inn to have a nice relaxing drink. On the way though, I was asked for help by some farmers. Very nice people, all of them, not like the rabble rousers that call themselves adventurers, but who are really homeless, murderous creatures. Helping the real people of this island is so much nicer. They say please and thank you every time, and actually seem happy when you help, instead of trying to take credit for what you did, or running as fast as they can to loot bodies as you continue fighting to protect them. No, the townsfolk are great. They are truly what make this island possible. Trust me, I was here before there was a town, before it was safe enough to farm. They make it stable, while adventurers just try to destabilize the whole thing. Anyways, after a long day at the yard and several hours doing my job, I was feeling pretty good, even though it was around midnight by the time I got to the tavern. There is nothing quite like entering that place. I came by the kitchens first to see if there was food left, which fortunately there was, then I step out into the hall. That was a mistake. By the time I sat down, I was being talked to by four different people at once, and the one I actually wanted to listen to was not talking. After a few moments of me ignoring them, Avaline took the hint and got them to shut up. Probably felt my headache. They allowed Lady Carthairen to read me my pronouncement of Hero of the Realm. Hooray. Go me. Apparently only after saving the queen does one become a hero, not after saving the king, or the island, or the country, or even the world. Nope, just the queen. Eventually, the adventurers started talking to me in a manageable way, and I learned that Heiler owed six lives to the fae. Typical fae commodity, but hey, if they were to die anyway, may as well advance a cause. The more important thing is Orin decided to touch the Box of Do Not Touch. Apparently the name including DO NOT TOUCH is too subtle a hint. His defense was that he didn’t touch it physically, that I of all people should know you can cast spells on things without touching them. So he touched it magically. That is probably at least ten time worse. He got a splitting headache from it, so I hope he found it worth it. Well, now I will finally codify this: meddling with the Box of Do Not Touch without knowledge and consent of the Sheriff, Mayor, or Lady shall result in a fine of 1000 pieces, 500 to the Lady, 300 to the Mayor, and 200 to the Sheriff. I happen to know the Lady reads these, so she can attest to the date and authenticity of this decree. Anyway, after I ate and chided, we were joined by an dwarf Aetherling with a problem in their lands, and were willing to pay for our help. There was a beast that could not be seen that was killing dwarves and leaving their bodies behind. I volunteered, as did the rest and we were led into their lands by way of the market, but when we got to the market, we found the bodies of our merchant friends. Dead, all of them. Some of my companions tried to loot the bodies, but were quickly told no. After gleaming what little we could, we went on our way into Dwarven. A beautiful land, too bad it couldn’t’ve been seen under better circumstances. We arrived at the hall of the chief whose lands were under attack by the beast. Apparently he wasn’t expecting us and wasn’t too thrilled to see us, but the Aetherling showed up and told him to accept our help. He told us that the beast left no fur, no footprints, no sign save for the dead. On that happy thought, we retired to the barracks he provided.

 

-Aurix, Hero of the Realm

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Official Daily Report, July 29, 1845 AK

 

What a land. Seeing it in the daylight is completely different, if it can be called daylight. The light is caused by sun ants that scurry across the roof of the cavern pursued by giant spiders. What a weird thing, but hey, I’m sure they think the same thing about a ball of fire. As I was sitting in morning meditation, an old dwarf lady came to the hold. She was a historian, full of old knowledge, and we started having a great conversation and I learned a great deal about dwarves and their traditions. When we realized the day was getting away from us, we went to go wake the others. She does this quite well. We all gathered for breakfast, then went out with the chief and historian to the sights of the attack to try and find hints, and that is when we first encountered it. It started as a growling noise, slowly getting closer. Orin and I could see it after we cast Detect Magic, but other than that it was invisible. Additionally, whatever we threw at it, passed right through it, blade and magic alike. A dispel went clean through it, which is unusual. It wasn’t after us though. It attacked us as we stood in its way, but it was targeting the dwarves with us. We sheltered them in a barn, which the creature appeared to be unable to get inside, and eventually it disappeared. Two valuable things were learned. It wants dwarves and only dwarves, and it is constrained by physical spaces. We talked to the historian and the chieftain if there was anyone who might have cause for this, but they both came up blank. That is when we first saw the visions. Two dwarves clearly in love with each other at the beginning of a relationship, then it faded. When asked, the chieftain had no idea what we were talking about. We found a statue of a dwarf on a hill nearby. We asked around, and someone recognized him to be Calvin, a clanless dwarf who left a few years ago to make a name for himself. We detected great magic on the statue, strongly teeming with emotion. We knew it was related somehow, but couldn’t yet figure out how. He wasn’t dead either, which was the interesting part. While trying to piece the puzzle together, we saw another vision. The couple was happy together, looking at things together in the corner of the hall, then once again faded. Goblin merchants came through with angel’s blood. Interesting folks, a bit different than the kind we get on the surface. The two fae Heiler owed a debt to showed up, as did two bandits, and so Heiler gave them to the fae. Turns out killing bandits is bad. According to Zahra at least, who I happen to know has killed a fair number. Apparently burning and drowning is considered torture, but they were to die anyway, so what difference does it make? But no, Zahra and Orin judge all and deem who shall live, who shall die, and how they shall die, even when they are guests in another’s land. The chief was fed up enough he gave Heiler the authority to kill those who bring harm to the land. While the others were still debating morality, killing, and hypocrisy, I spoke to Calvin using magic. He said he was a dwarf here who fell in love with the chieftain's daughter, but they were cast out, so they left to go make a life for themselves, but when they had a child, she returned, only to be killed and have her child killed by her own father. That his pride killed her. While I was pondering this, the historian returned with a story. She told a tale of an old clan that when greatly wronged, had the power to sacrifice themselves to bring great revenge upon the offender. I then spoke to Calvin some more, but he was very adamant as to her death being due to the chieftain’s pride, but then the emotion drained out and my connection was lost, only to have the beast return. I called it Calvin, and got its attention. It led me to a spot in the woods with a grave for Lydia, daughter of the chieftain. I left, knowing that there was more to this than just his side. As I was contemplating this, the visions reappeared, this time the woman was with a child and the chieftain was there. Upon seeing the child, the chieftain broke its skull on a mushroom, then proceeded to do the same to his daughter. Naturally, the whole group was outraged and jumped to conclusions, so before consulting the person who actually knows stuff, they summoned the Aetherling. Big mistake, especially when I point out we have no evidence. They didn’t care, they were to confront the chief regardless in front of the Aetherling. It started off poorly and only went downhill. I was so relieved when giant chipmunks came by and gave me an excuse to leave the table. I just stood there. The sooner I killed them, the sooner I would have to return, and they weren’t harming anyone, so I saw no problem. I am glad for once a higher power could endure the headache I put up with on a daily basis from these idiots. The chieftain nearly killed them and would’ve at the very least expelled them from his hall had the Aetherling not forbade it. As they were rationalizing their huge failure, I decided to talk to the chieftain and get his side, something hitherto no one had done. He told the tale of finding his daughter and grandchild dead on the border of his lands, burying them, and then the curse coming down upon him and his. I decided to talk to Lydia, but she wasn’t at the grave we were shown to by Calvin. Instead, she was in the family graveyard. I spoke to her there, and she said that she was travelling back to visit her father and show him the child when they were attacked on the road, but she never saw the attackers. She told me to make sure that her father and husband got over this, and gave me information to verify I actually spoke to her. I wanted to speak to Calvin alone, but before I got that opportunity a merchant showed up. Wow how they flock to someone they think they can purchase things from. Like moths to a fire. Anyway, the merchant was also a mage, so after the others had their turn, I pulled her aside and tried to make a deal. Turns out, the others really don’t like it when I disappear and there is a guard keeping us private. Like I can’t handle myself, but I honestly think they were worried. For me. Almost like they cared. A deal was struck, I returned to the fools waiting so desperately, and we continued the problem of solving the mystery. And of course by we, I mean I as I was the only one who seemed to be doing anything. With that out of the way, I managed to get a few words in with Calvin. I convinced him I spoke to Lydia, and he agreed to help us break the curse, and manifested himself as the beast, which I think scarred Orin in quite a hilarious way. He led us to the sites that were close to him and Lydia, sites with magical markers that needed to be destroyed by freezing and burning. I was contemplated this when we were set upon in the hall by roughians, so Heiler set the fae upon them. Really annoyed certain individuals. They started having a debate with the fae about hypocrisy, which led the fae to making them feel what people have done in the name of Solis. They weren’t so pleased about that either. Either way, some nice men wanting fair fights came through, so we fought them and they went on their way. A nice, normal thing that happened. After dinner though, the fae were getting bored and wanted to burn and freeze things. Only then did I realize that they were what needed to be done to the magic markers, so we took them there, then after speaking to Calvin, who told us to return in the morning, we retired. I wish I could say I over exaggerate my part in these reports to make myself look good. I really do because that would mean I wouldn’t actually have to be doing as much. Writing a good looking report is a lot easier than actually doing good.

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-Aurix, The Only Capable One

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Official Daily Report, July 30, 1845 AK

 

Once again, I am up before all the others, even though I stayed up later than the lazy fools. I had a talk with Calvin, who supplied me with a sword that could hit the beast, but would grow heavier as one wielded it, and a branch that would distract the beast and undo the effects of the weighted blade. After obtaining these, I had some lovely conversation with the fae, who offered me 5000 pieces for the sword. I just want that on the record for all who think I’m simply greedy and in it for myself. Did not take them up on that. They were getting bored of just me and they wanted to kill something, so they went to where Heiler and Avaline were sleeping and told Heiler to get out so they could drop a spider on the barrack. That got Avaline up really fast. Over breakfast I asked the chief if he would be willing to do the same as Calvin and put the past behind them and work together for the sake of Lydia. It took some convincing, but I managed to do it. After, we waited for the beast, during which a travelling circus came through and Heiler got another sacrifice, although the two were unrelated. We faced and defeated the beast with difficulty. Turns out it isn’t the easiest thing to be the sole attention of a creature much larger than you and that you can’t harm. Once defeated, Calvin manifested from where it was, and went back into kill the chief mode. I managed to talk him down. I further convinced him that I could speak with Lydia, which is what ultimately convinced him. Now enter her. The person who turned out to be the murderer was the chief of another hall and a rather powerful mage using my favorite of all spells, Charm. When we caught on, she became incorporeal too. Perfect. I had to juggle keeping her at bay while preventing the chief and Calvin from tearing each other apart. I eventually did kill her and allowed Calvin and the chief to make peace, and was congratulated on how I was good at coming up with resolutions to situations without violence. That is when Zahra started acting up. Turns out, a year or two ago before the Wedding, she was possessed by the Big Bad Wolf. Once again, Aurix saves the day and exorcises it. Another thief is found, and Heiler got his last sacrifice, so all ended well. Oh, and Zahra is turning into a vampire and now has an Avatar’s blessing of Marcus. This is simply perfect.

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-Aurix, Peaceful Solver of Problems

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Official Daily Report, September 22, 1845 AK

 

Adventurers are a problem. They are like little children: if you turn your attention away from them for a second, they screw something up. In this case, they decide to kill goblins whose only crime is stupidity. Not only that, but the goblins were trying to help us. Always that “stab first, ask questions never” attitude they have is a nuisance. If anyone knows how to solve this problem, please, please let me know. They don’t even clean up after themselves! Lady Carthairen had to hire a gravedigger full time just to keep pace with them. From this point forward, for each body an adventurer leaves for the gravedigger to move before dealing with, that adventurer shall pay the gravediggers wage for that day. Lord Laine noticed a similar thing when there were many dishes at the end of the day, and therefore decided to institute a plate deposit: you pay him a small sum of money to get a plate, which is returned when you bus it. These uncivilized adventurers make me feel cultured. The issue the goblins were trying to help us with, was actually a matter of importance though. They managed to obtain pieces of writing from someone who had investigated Dear Old Elizabeth and her handiwork. Of course, all this one said was that she was bad, and he would look into it more. The goblins, once I managed to convince them I wouldn’t kill them, agreed to help bring more. On that note, I would like to remind all adventurers that murder is murder. Just because it is a goblin, doesn’t mean you have license to kill it. Maybe one day they’ll learn. Oh, and heiler is now a red fairy? Still not quite sure about that one.

 

-Aurix, Seeming Parent of Adventurers

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Official Daily Report, September 23, 1845 AK

 

What better way to wake up other than Catsidy? Now, now, get your mind out of the gutter. Contrary to popular belief, orange tabbies are not on their way. Anyway, we got to watch a fun meeting between our very own Zhara and a newcomer Hobbes who is a paladin of Marcus. It almost came to blows. A willing duel too, so I wouldn’t’ve had to get involved. They settled down by breakfast though, where Lady Carthairen joined us before asking to borrow a sword. Trusting her, I lent her one of mine. That was a mistake. She made me kneel and named me Earl of Yestin. I stood there flabbergasted long enough to let her run away on her ship. No time for celebration though, as there were pressing matters. A farmer informed me that there was a “witch” threatening the children of the village. I have and will continue to do everything in my power to protect them, but let’s consider terminology for a minute. Please, at least in my presence, do not use the word “witch”. It is a derogatory term for a female magic user. Just because someone uses magic and is a woman, doesn’t make her a witch. The term hurts all magic users as it is the personification of the fear of magic. Yes, it is a powerful force that not everyone possesses, but the term puts a negative connotation of magic itself, something that many magi work so hard to prove wrong. Anyway, the goblins continued to help, and the adventurers finally got the hint, after some tense interactions. From them we learned how Elizabeth usurped the bodies of others to keep herself alive. This is part of why magic, especially necromancy, has the reputation it has. Black magic, which is different from necromancy, is simply another element of the storm. Yes, all necromancy is black magic, but just because the element is Death, why is it bad? When a doctor studies a corpse so as to learn more about life, you don’t think twice. Why then is this different? Regardless of naming, what she did was wrong, and fortunately the chronicler of the papers the goblins gave us recorded a ritual to contain her, and Hobbes had a vision to tell us when she would be performing it. Throughout the day, my duties to Lady Carthairen took me away from the adventurers. Proof someone above is smiling upon me. Probably Catsidy. One time when I returned though, Heiler, Soazig, Jadriel, and Hobbes were stuck in the inn with a magic stick. Heiler commendably got them out, knocking them out, knocking himself out in the process. When he work up, he was “conveniently” missing a large sum of money. The others of course denied taking it, but I knew immediately that they worked together to take it, I just had to prove it. They were not treating him well and that just drove up tensions in the group of adventurers. Just what I need. Winter joined us for a little while before inviting us to the fey realm for lunch. That was an...interesting time. And of course the idiots decided it would be a great idea to drink the punch. It was a pleasant time, but I was ready to be out. Later in the day, Schmee blessed us with his presence, wanting to apply to be Captain. What a character, although his communication skills are very commendable for someone who can only say the phrase “I am Schmee”. After dinner, Winter invited us to a fae bazar, which was bizarre. They were selling items for memories, aspirations, and other such things. Winter, protective of Heiler who was clearly wronged, contrived it so that she gathered the evidence I needed to convict the three guilty parties. Unfortunately, Heiler had gone to bed, so that had to wait until morning. We had all had to get to bed early though, as Elizabeth was hatching her plot at dawn.

 

-Aurix, Somehow Earl of Yestin

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Official Daily Report, September 24, 1845 AK

 

An early morning, although earlier than some would want, so the fae had to give a helping hand in getting people up. All stolen money was returned to Heiler with apologies, who dropped all charges. That did not absolve them from the earful that Zhara gave them, something that they totally deserved, although honestly they deserve a harsher punishment, and I think I have just the thing. For his repeated commendable actions, caring for others, and general reliability, I name Heiler, Hero of Delbin, to the town guard. Once breakfast was completed, we headed out to prevent Elizabeth from hatching her plan. No matter how much I emphasized tactics, clearly it wasn’t enough, for as soon as we put up a containment ring, Zhara had to go and break it. Within three seconds of it activating. It was then discovered that Hobbes, who was in charge of the rituals as they were rituals to Marcus, forgot the needed components at the inn, and so had to run back and get them. I am surrounded by idiots...Elizabeth managed to successfully complete her ritual, but we managed to neutralize her and put up another containment boundary. So I don’t think either party entirely succeeded. As a part of neutralizing Elizabeth, we freed the owner of her body, who was very confused, and rightfully so. Some of the adventurers were taking her back to the inn, but instead decided to abandon her part way and go oggle at an avatar of Solis. I had to go back and make sure she found her way there and settled in.

 

-Aurix, the Only Useful Adventurer