| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Display using:
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 16 Dec 2006 07:24 AM |
Yesterday, I had just purchased a couple of vials from Elbert when I saw a darkness approaching. And in the darkness, I saw a grin, huge and toothy. Sugar Man. He... it? said it loved me and told me to come home, that it had a nice dark room for me. It was awful, I was so scared that I couldn’t even run away, I was pretty much frozen from fear. I told it to leave me alone but it said I’d never be alone. And then I heard a child’s voice. For a while I thought it was Seil. Maybe it was. There was no doubt that the smiling shadow was her father. I felt his presence almost crushing me, the things I saw inside my head... After saying that I would see soon, the darkness left. See what? I don’t think I even want to know. I sat down and tried to get myself back together, which wasn’t an easy task. Elbert asked me if I was all right and I asked if he’d seen the darkness. He hadn’t, even though I was standing quite close. He must’ve thought I was insane but was kind enough not to say it out loud. He said that maybe I should get some rest and so I got up with his help, thanked him and left for the inn.
I sat down at the inn. Mr. McGillicutty asked whether I wanted a drink. Maybe I should’ve taken one. I sat there and tried to calm down, when a man appeared into the room. I think he might’ve thrown up, I didn’t really deem it necessary to look. I thought he was just some drunk. Then he came to me and sat down next to me, and told me he’d had a nightmare. He was pale and sweating, and he said he’d dreamt about a grin, and horrible laughter. I guessed the rest. And he’d made a deal. The reality of his deed was starting to sink in and he was crying, and I tried my best to console him but it didn’t make much difference. He’d made a deal to see his dead wife (I assume), and then go “visit” Sugar Man’s home. The talk about coming home seemed to have sinked in in his case. Poor man... Then the door opened. I didn’t see anyone coming in but the man clearly did. He was panicking, and he was talking to someone that was considerably shorter than himself. Seil perhaps? Then his eyes started turning red, and soon he was gone. Simply faded away into thin air. And then I heard it, a giggle and Seil talking in my head, saying that I was next. I was yelling for her to leave me alone when Mr. McGillicutty came checking up on me. He tried to calm me down and it became obvious he had no idea what had just happened. He thought that I should go and see the Sisters so that they could fix my head. It was humiliating! He went back to serve a customer who didn’t want anything, and then resumed his cleaning duties. I decided that some fresh air would do me good, and so I went out.
I was approaching Four Winds when I saw movement in the woods. I think it was the man from the inn, and it came to me that I’d seen him before, at the herbalists’. He didn’t seem as if he was trying too hard to hide, he was simply standing next to a tree and then moving behind it as I walked past. I was heading to the Standing stones and as I glanced back, I saw him following in the distance. I had no idea why he was following me and because of the state I was in, I was getting more nervous by the minute. Any other day, I’d just went to him and asked why he was following me but not then. After passing through the gate, I cast some spells and hid in the tall grass nearby. It didn’t take too long for him to show up. He was looking around but didn’t seem to notice me. As he walked further towards the Stones, I returned to Northern highway. I walked around and finally sat down at the ruins near the entrance to Carfax. I prayed to Mother to protect me from Sugar Man and told Her I was afraid. Then I heard footsteps approaching, and thought that it was the man who’d followed me. I sat there, trying to blend into the background, when the man started talking to himself. It was Jusin, he was looking for me because he’d forgotten to tell me that Salt was looking for me. I jumped up as I felt I had to share the events with someone, and who’d be better for that purpose than Salt? Seil had bothered him too, and who knows, maybe he’d been visited by the darkness as well. In any case, Jusin said he was doing something in Brandibuck, possibly baking. So I hurried to Shira and rode to Brandibuck as fast as I could. I ran into the bakery but he wasn’t there. I felt my mood sink and I was just getting out, when Merrarry shouted that he’d went to buy bandages. And there he was. He said he’d seen Seil and that we should talk. We decided to head to Ladriel tower, as he thought it would be safe there. We ran into Ophelia on the way, and she was going on and on about the potions she wanted. Salt had just proposed that Ophelia could come with us when a grumpy guard started complaining to us that we were standing in the middle of his route, which wasn’t exactly true. Then something horrible and unexpected happened: his eyes started bleeding and his bones started to crackle. Next thing I noticed was Ophelia doubling over in pain. Salt was in the middle of wrestling the possessed guard when he suddenly returned to normal. He must’ve been quite confused... I offered a helping hand to Ophelia but she just slapped it away. And then she started talking about the potions again, as if nothing had happened. Around this time, Bidee showed up and joined us on our trip to Ladriel.
I was walking ahead and as I was approaching the tower, I saw a deer standing on the bridge. I was a bit surprised to see it there and shocked as it fell to the ground dead without anyone touching it. I ran back to the others to tell about what I’d seen. Salt inspected the carcass without seeming too worried, while I was bursting with all sorts of worries. Was Sugar Man trying to tell us not to go to the tower? Or simply implying that nowhere was safe.
When we got inside the tower, Ophelia returned to her now favourite subject, potions. Salt told her that we’d seen “her” Sugar Man. Then Ophelia threw up, and fell down on the floor. She was yelling something about her skin peeling off, even though her skin looked completely normal. Then her breathing started to become difficult, and she started crawling towards the door. Salt seemed to figure out what was wrong and he yelled that we should get her out, and so we did. We were in the middle of dragging her out when it became dark and I heard the horrible laughter again. Apparently the tower wasn’t a safe place after all. We made it out and Salt told the guardian that the wards of the tower were harming Ophelia, whose condition was bettering now that she was out. Salt said that the tower was warded against demons and that there was a library inside, about demonology. Ophelia seemed to be eager to lead the conversation to a different trail. She and Bidee started talking about giants and coffee. I returned into the tower with Salt.
Salt told me that he wasn’t really surprised by what happened with Ophelia and said that she was lost. He told that she was the one who made the deal that brought Sugar Man out. Salt had talked to Jessup, who’d related to him that even hell has its rules, and that once the demon is released, it is free to make as many deals as it can, and won’t return back down until all deals are complete. There’s one catch, though. These people can’t be taken there against their will, or that’s what Salt said at least. It didn’t look like willingness earlier... In any case, Jessup had suggested two solutions: either gather up everyone who’s made a deal and send them down, or kill them. Neither of these seems too compelling or even plausible. How on earth are we supposed to even find all of them?
We found out one more thing: Bidee told that some “tubby man” had killed himself in Port, possibly because he didn’t want to go and seal the deal by entering Aboddan. He died and there were some odd symbols burned into her chest. Someone had skinned him to preserve them (what is the matter with these people? Eugh!), and apparently Bel has a copy drawing of them. Oh, and Salt told that there is one person who has been prisoned in Aboddan and made it out alive – Fat Sam. Maybe talking to him would help us to solve this?
Before leaving, I asked Salt about the wake and told him that Nero had forgotten that she was supposed to help. I don’t understand why Talion didn’t ask Salt to do it, as he was present. Nero has a memory span of a mouse, of course she forgot! Luckily I wasn’t too late and we agreed that the wake would take place in three or four days. I promised to handle the food.
Oh... and the Port trash paper has found new victims to torment. I am absolutely sure that Sylune and Josaphine were not the ones initiating the muck-slinging, actually I seem to remember hearing something on the contrary from someone, was it Coralyn? It was somehow connected to Mrs. Miggins and her disgusting pies (I am so grateful that Nero happened to reveal this to me, otherwise I would've bought those nasty things to be served at the wake). They should be stopped inventing news, it is getting way out of hand. Maybe some healthy competition would fix the situation? |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
  |
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 21 Dec 2006 04:27 AM |
The wake is over and I lived to tell the tale. Previously I also survived from a mission to rescue Salt, who went and got himself mauled by the trolls at the Great River just a few days before the wake, with all the preparations still unmade. It was a close call and a rescue mission was necessary in order to, well, to rescue us. To cut a long story short, we were not faring too well with the trolls and then a Naillanme mage appeared, and took Cerno down. I tried to heal him but it was too late. Then it became quiet. I didn't know where the others were, I was huddling there over Cerno for Mother knows how long, and then I heard voices. Tristian, whom I’d saved earlier, had come back with others. Bereil. I thought he looked familiar but it took a while to make the connection: he was the horrid man at Dana’s trial. And now I am in debt to him. He was at the wake as well, but he was behaving much more agreeably than I expected of him, which is nice because it would feel wrong to hate him, since Cerno and I might very well be dead if he hadn’t showed up.
The wake was nothing short of a total catastrophe. Fat Sam ate most of the food, even though I was sure it would feed an entire army, and I didn't get a chance to talk to him about the markings. There were some rather unsavoury characters who came to pay their respects (and maul poor Pork in the process): a vampire from the Undercity, a squid-face (who posthumously made Lucius an honorary illithid or something equally bizarre), some invisible monster whose name escapes me, as I was quite drunk at that point. Se’eth or Nu’men? I think it was the first one, and the second one sent a winged demon-creature. It took one of my pies! I know this sounds barking mad and I wish they’d been just my drunken imagination but I know they were real. And why they’d show up to pay their respects to Lucius is something I fear to think. The vampire I can sort of understand, maybe he pulls the strings down at the Undercity and Lucius used to frequent the markets, thus bringing gold and/or items to his hands? And the illithid... well, Lucius didn’t voluntarily help them, it was all an accident. But the others? I don’t know, maybe it was a joke, and a real bad one at that? Lucius couldn’t have worked for them, could he? I am not sure, as I didn’t really know him too well after all. I will do my best to push these glum thoughts aside and remember him the way he was when Dana was still alive. A young woman named Emma said this to me before leaving from the Mask: sadness, not despair. I think it was very well put, and that is what I’ll aim for. I will not sink into despair, regardless of all the obstacles that fate throws on my path. I will mourn for the ones I’ve lost but I will stay strong and go on living my life as good as I possibly can. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 07 Jan 2007 06:11 AM |
I talked with Salt yesterday, about the demon situation. He told me that many people have made deals, and are marked with a scar: Valethrion, Emma, Balthor, Nero, Ophelia. He’d met them on the previous day and much to his horror, some of them refused to enter the circle of his protection wards, and then they’d just left. Salt said Balthor even tried to dispel them with all his might, but failed. And Rosen now follows Syn. I don’t get it at all. I am pretty certain that Elbereth approached her and the other paladins some time ago, causing her spiritual crisis, but that she would go to Syn’s side instead? It is too awful to even think of.
Bereil, Alton and Fennigan joined us as well, and eventually we moved from Port to Ladriel tower, to hopefully stay unheard. We talked about plans to solve the situation. Here is a rough sketch of the alternatives:
1.
Follow Jessup’s plan and kill the ones who have made a deal.
+ Alton said that they don’t need to stay dead for too long.
- How can it be made sure that all who have made a deal are found?
-->Jessup plans to kill all who have talked with Seil, including Salt and me (and Cerno). We have a week or even less until this starts.
-->Bereil said that a location spell works on the scar. Contact Jessup? If he refuses to listen, go higher? Queen? She probably wouldn't want her knight to go on slaughtering innocents just in case.
2.
Fennigan’s plan: trick the demon into making a deal that imprisons him.
+ Demon is easily angered, it might not be able to see through the bluff.
- It is difficult to come up with a wording that would work.
- Making deals with demons is never a good idea.
3.
Cancel the current deals by removing the scar.
- Might as well remove a limb, says Salt.
-->Can it be replaced with another scar: cutting, fire?
-->Healing? Not likely possible without divine aid.
4.
Go down to its domain and kill it.
- It is stronger there.
Other notable things:
Why does the demon want Salt so bad?
* Ophelia has authorisation to talk him into a deal, as well as one other, whom she won’t name. Perhaps me? If so, why me?
* Demon hasn’t promised Salt anything other than to go away once getting what he wants, even though he’d go away in any case, after all deals are concluded.
-Can this be used to our advantage somehow?
-What does he really want?
--> I haven’t been offered anything either, Seil has asked for my help (in saving the forest) and the demon only asked me to come home. As I said no, they both said that things close to home would make me deal.
-Cerno? He’s seen them both and is assumedly among the ones to die according to Jessup’s plan. Is the demon planning to somehow use him as a bargaining chip?
* Does the demon actually fulfil its promises? Others seem to take this for granted. Hard to tell, since the scarred are no longer able to discuss their deals with others.
* He can’t take anyone who doesn’t want to be taken. Does this mean that even those who have made a deal also have to go down willingly? This would make sense, as they’re still on the ground. -->Can we just ignore it?
*Sam’s fate. Why was he imprisoned, who made the deal that freed him?
---------------------
The situation looks very bad and I have no idea if I'll be alive in a week. Fennigan said something about hiding from the demon behind a god, maybe it's the only solution to this. In any case, praying won't do any harm. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 10 Jan 2007 02:33 PM |
((Not a journal entry, but a short story born out of post-mortem depression))
Alis wakes up at the Wyrmtongue Estuary, her whole body aching terribly. She leans against the wall, all her strength gone. Why am I here? What happened? She looks down at her arms. The sleeves of her robe are torn in the places where a huge beak or claw has ripped the fabric, opened a gash, drawing blood. She remembers. Gnome city. I didn’t make it. The pteradons... angered. She gets up shakily and walks to the woman standing in the other corner of the room. She thanks her for saving her life and walks to the fireplace. She sits on a chair in front of it, looking pale, as if the walk had exhausted her again.
Mother, my life is in danger. I think I almost died already but... that is not the issue. And I'm not the one who has the worst fate.
This demon... It wants to take me. I said no. But some have agreed to make a deal. Please, Mother, don't let it happen. Some of them... I consider my friends. Please, help me to help them. If I could... somehow heal their scars. Maybe that would sever their ties to the demon. Can You help me? No-one deserves a fate like the one they have in store... She trails off and stares into the flames quietly. She feels helpless and weak.
She heads to Ferein. Salt said it might be safe there.
She walks around Ferein, visiting places she hasn’t been to for a while, and maybe will never return to. She is far too sad to enjoy the beauty of her surroundings. She continues onwards, and finally reaches the palace. She walks to Eowarar, and asks if she can meet a member of the Council. Eowarar writes her name down and says they’ll let her know. She walks away, dispirited.
Her next stop is at Oamael river. She kneels in front of the statue, as she has done so many times before.
Mother... I feel so helpless. I came here to ask for protection, but the time they'll agree to meet me, I might be dead. You are the only one who can protect me. I just... I don't know what to do. Should I just let go? Stop fighting and accept my fate? Be murdered, just in case? It feels... it is such a waste. All the lives that will be destroyed just to make sure... She sighs.
Please, hear me.
Have mercy on us all.
She gets up from the ground and resumes walking. This time she heads to the temple gardens. She greets the high priestess and cleanses herself before walking into the heart of the garden. The further she goes, the calmer she looks. She reaches the two, glowing statues and sits down.
This is a good place to die. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 15 Jan 2007 09:23 AM |
I stayed in Ferein for a couple of days, but bad news from Brandibuck and Port forced me to leave. Apparently the Atalan attacked these places. I met Alton in Brandibuck and needless to say how he was feeling about it. Poor lad... He said the Atalan might’ve done it to take our resources, perhaps in order to weaken a stronger target. It seems certain to me that they’ll attack again. I’m sure there will be a counter-attack as well, and Alton will get his revenge.
I heard other awful news from Alton as well: Zubeida has died. He’d found her grave by accident. We visited her grave at Sable Lake. It makes me very sad that she, too, is gone, as I was hoping that we would become good friends. And I assume that her mission to save the poor girl wasn’t completed, and there’s nothing I can do to help her now, since I knew about it only vaguely.
After visiting Sable Lake, I joined Alton on a rescue mission. Emma had left Alton a note that Tristian had fallen in Nothari’in. I was worried because I know how tough those dwarves are and I have no interest in fighting against them if I can avoid it, but nevertheless, saving Tristian was more important.
When we got inside the tunnels, we were immediately attacked by one of their warriors. Alton’s air elemental defeated him easily, and soon we found Tristian’s cold body, lying in the tunnel. Alton tried to bring him back but to our surprise, nothing happened. Luckily I succeeded. We headed out as fast as we could, only to end up in an ambush by the dwarves, who apparently had sneaked through the other tunnel to surprise us. We managed to defeat them, and got to Icy Vale safely.
I’m still at the inn and I’m not sure what I should do next. One thing I can do is plead for Jessup to scratch Tristian off his list, as he’s already died, of course assuming that I remember correctly and he was there when I saw Seil for the first time. I’ll have to check this from Tristian before doing anything, though. Alton seemed certain that the only thing we could do about Sugar Man is let Salt make a deal. The thought frightens me, and the fact that Alton suspects there’s a reason why they want him doesn’t help in the least. Maybe they have some horrible plan that will eventually threaten us all. I wish I could find another way, I really do, but I am all out of ideas. I think I’ll just keep praying for a miracle to happen. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 20 Jan 2007 04:35 AM |
| Gladden has been destroyed by Atalan, and Midor plans to attack Ferein. Fennigan is gathering people to defend Buckshire but as much as I’d want to, I have to be elsewhere. Today I realised that even though I spend most of my time in the surroundings of Buckshire, Ferein is the place I carry inside my heart. I go there when I need to calm down, to find my inner peace. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do everything I can to defend it. Actually, I'm ready to die for it. That way my death would at least serve some greater goal. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 24 Jun 2007 11:20 AM |
I was among the group that liberated M’Gok Tukar. I had vowed to myself I would never go there again, but, as I said to Tristian, it was the lesser of two evils. I didn’t really have a choice. And on top of that, I carried Ulalume’s shield into the battle. I just felt like it was the right thing to do, to use it against the enemy that parted her from it in the first place, in stead of just letting it lie at the bottom of my bag. Regardless of the harsh words I’ve used previously in describing her, she is my Mother’s daughter, and I hope that one day I can return the shield to her.
I have to say, much to my surprise, that returning to M’Gok Tukar wasn’t so bad. The attack was planned and executed well, and I was able to focus on it and ignore what had happened in the past. It seems like a whole lifetime has passed since that horrible day when I joined Lucius as he was going to get Dana’s remains from the chief. So much has changed, so many friends lost. I felt a tinge of sadness, yes, but I was glad to see the joy of the freed orclun. I found myself thinking of the feast I participated in, also a whole lifetime ago. Back then, I could only think of Dana’s future plight of marrying Karkus, but surprisingly now I remembered the whole primal joy of it, the food, the drink, Dana’s dance... It was a fond memory, and that is the way I want to remember M’Gok Tukar and its people. I think they’re better off now, without that monster Borogask leading them astray. I sincerely hope that they’ll find a better leader. It was quite shocking to find out that their chief had betrayed them and simply handed M’Gok Tukar over to the dark dwarves without battle. I can’t imagine why, since I thought he was a blood-thirsty beast, who would’ve loved the idea of fighting until there’s no-one left to fight. I’m not sure which one of these alternatives is the worst.
I don’t know what the future brings. The Atalan threat is far from over, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they would retaliate after this. I doubt they would try to attack Ferein again, I think Buckshire is much more likely a target. I hope that I am wrong and that they’ll indeed make their last stand in Undraeth, as Sehran suggested. I can’t do much else now than pray that things will get back to normal and the rebuilding can finally begin. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 21 Aug 2007 11:58 AM |
So much for things getting back to normal...
Cerno is gone. He packed his belongings and left, before I got the chance to talk to him. He didn’t even leave a note. At first I was in a shock and could barely believe it, thinking he’d just popped to McGillicutty’s for a beer. But he’s gone, and I don’t know if he’ll ever return. And it’s all my fault. All those times I’ve left him alone, travelling far away to do ridiculously dangerous things, and never even bothered to think how he must’ve been feeling. Tristian said something about how the concept of someone never returning can be too much to handle, and I can see it now. I could’ve died on so many occasions, and I barely bothered to let him know that I was all right. I can’t believe how selfish and inconsiderate I’ve been!
And then there’s Tristian. He’s so confusing. At first I thought he’d developed a liking to me, but I changed my mind quickly because he didn’t seem like the jealous suitor type when we talked briefly about Cerno. And then he commissioned the garden, and left a note, asking if I’d have dinner with him, and my mind changed again. If that wasn’t a romantic thing to do, I don’t know what is. I was panicking because If he would really start wooing me, I would have to stop spending time with him, which would be sad because I really like spending time with him. Partly because of this, I gladly accepted his offer to take me as his apprentice: it was a legitimate reason to be in his company. My fears of him making any sort of moves on me faded away again, as he didn’t admit that the garden was necessarily meant to be a romantic gesture. And he was such a perfect gentleman on the day he found me crying outside my home after finding out Cerno had left, and he managed to make me feel so much better. It’s incredible how he’s capable of making me forget my worries, even if he himself is one of the things I worry about. He coaxed me into having dinner (he cooked a delicious soup and even though I had no appetite, I managed to empty up my bowl), and then we took off and ended up in the Smallest Pub in the Known World. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been that drunk. It was quite embarrassing, but also rather, dare I say it, liberating. (The next couple of days weren’t so much fun, though, even with all the hangover cures.)
That day at the pub, I drunkenly blurted out to Tristian that I liked him and regretted it instantly. If my slightly blurry memory serves me correct, it seemed to take him by surprise but he apparently shrugged it off as the booze talking. I wouldn’t probably have said it if I hadn’t been drunk, but it doesn’t make it any less true (and I suppose it was pretty obvious, even without saying). I do have feelings for Tristian. Needless to say, I feel horrible about it. It may well have been one of the reasons Cerno left. He must’ve been suspicious about the garden, and maybe he’d heard from someone that I’ve been travelling with Tristian a lot lately. I haven’t done anything out of line but I haven’t talked to Cerno about any of this either – actually, I’ve been avoiding him because of it, so I can’t really blame him for jumping into conclusions. I hate to admit it, but a tiny part of me is happy that he left. Things weren’t so good between us, and I managed to avoid the confrontation that was looming ahead. I just don’t know where to go from here. I doubt there’s much sense in hoping that he would return but I can’t just throw myself at Tristian either. Even though I like him, I don’t really know him that well. And maybe I like him because I see Cerno in him – the way he used to be: full of enthusiasm and fun to be with. This is so frustrating! I just hope that I can keep my wits about me in this mess. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 02 Sep 2007 01:16 PM |
I was supposed to be sensible about this but it didn’t quite work out that way. Tristian has totally swept me off my feet. I don’t know if I could’ve stopped it, even if I’d tried. He’s just way too charming and kind and funny and understanding and... I could continue this list for Mother knows how many pages. Or I could cut it short by simply admitting that I love him. There, I said it. Sort of. Now I’ll only need to find the courage to tell it to him. I don’t know why it scares me, when everything else seems so easy. I guess it’s the final battle between my mind and my heart, and it’s blatantly obvious which one has been winning so far.
I’m a little worried about Kalid. Tristian has told me that even though their relationship has ended some time ago, she refuses to move on, and that she is insanely jealous. On top of that, Salt told Tristian that he saw Kalid around when he found the dead, eyeless man outside the Guyver store, and suspected she might’ve had something to do with it. I have a feeling that if she would want to scare us, she’d do something that is more precisely directed at us. Or most likely just me. I hope not. Yes, she seems uncomfortable when I’m around, but not hostile, so I’m hoping nothing will happen. In any case, there’s no harm in being cautious.
The day when we enter the tomb approaches, and I’m not nearly as afraid as I should be. It’s because of Tristian. I think I’d probably follow him into a dragon’s lair, if he asked me to. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 15 Sep 2007 09:13 AM |
The Cold Stone was retrieved successfully and it is in the hands of Aurora now. She will keep it safe until it is time to make our next move. It’s still far from over, and it’s not just about the stone. When we were in the tomb, Tristian, Talion and Johe met a spirit of a little girl. It might be just a coincidence but I couldn’t help but think that it might’ve been the same girl Zubeida told me about. I wish she had told me more. I feel like I have a puzzle in front of me, and most of the pieces are missing, but nevertheless, I’ll still have to start somewhere. Maybe she went to the Grove to ask for help? I promised her not to talk about this but I think it’s time to break my silence, and I’m sure she’d approve.
A couple of days ago when I woke up in the morning, I found Tristian sleeping on the couch. He’d left me a note that said there was no need to worry, he was fine but he’d have to do something for the S.C. or he’d become one of them, and that he would tell more about it later. I didn’t put much effort in figuring out what S.C. stood for since he didn’t seem overly worried about it. I knew I’d hear about it soon enough, pushed the whole thing in the back of my mind and took off to run some errands.
Later that day I asked him what sort of a mess he’d gotten himself into this time, and he told me that he’d been ambushed by the Syncursed. S.C. How slow-witted am I?? They, or it, wanted him and Salt to retrieve something for them, and they’ll learn what it is in ten days’ time. The only thing worse than this would’ve been if they’d already been turned, and not being given this chance. However, I fear to think what they’ll be asked to do and I’m pretty sure it won’t be anything they’ll be able to do with a clear conscience. Also, giving the Void what it wants can’t have a positive effect on, well, anything. I try not to despair but it isn’t as easy for me as it is for Tristian, who believes that he and Salt will overcome this, just like they always do. I’m torn between admiring him for believing that everything will turn out all right, and wanting to yell at him for being such an irresponsible fool. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 06 Oct 2007 10:46 AM |
I went to the Grove a while back, to ask about dealing with the girl, and Zubeida had indeed been there. I didn’t learn much, just that Zubeida had said that the girl is brought back every morning and killed every night, which shouldn’t even be possible. Also, I’m afraid that the only way to help her to move on is to defeat her brother. Vrodo said that it’ll soon be time to put things into motion.
I also asked about helping Salt and Tristian, and the druid I spoke to said I should try Mirghul, and so I did (after asking Tristian to come with me and witnessing some fisticuffs and generally being very embarrassed, and I’d rather not think about that). We talked to Corona, who hadn’t heard of the gem but said we should ask the dwarves in Ferein. She also said that it’s possible to remove the pieces of the Void but that it wouldn’t be easy (no surprise there). And that she wouldn’t be able to do it unless someone else would look after the cave. She said Lex might be able to help, which didn’t please Tristian that much, and me neither, quite frankly. He certainly won’t help unless we can give him something he wants, and I have no idea what that could be. Tristian said he only cares about his island, so we would probably have to go there and look for something that he’d want to see. Needle in a haystack.
The worst part is that now both Salt and Tristian carry pieces of the Void inside them. Well, it’s not completely certain that Tristian does, but it seems very likely. Salt has gone into hiding and I fear that Tristian has to do the same soon. He didn’t even tell me that he’d been attacked by it – it entered him through a wound in his stomach and he had to stab himself with a sword to get it out. He didn’t tell because he didn’t want me to worry. Well, no success there, since it made me worry even more that he was going to hide something of this magnitude from me. To his defense I’ll have to say that he really thought he had managed to remove all of it, and if that had been the case, I’d been okay with not knowing. However, Salt thinks that he didn’t succeed, and based on what Tristian told me, I have to agree. Apparently, most of the time Tristian is himself but sometimes it takes over. A couple of days ago, I saw him at the chess hall and he left before we got to speak, and later that day he didn’t remember it. He is drawn to the gem, ”his gem”, and because of this, he will stay in Port for a while now. He’s asked Serai to look after him, which is probably a wise choice. There’s no way I could do it – if he’d start acting out and would get violent, I couldn’t do much about it, other than simply watch and despair. The only thing I can do to help is to go and talk to the dwarves, even though I’m fairly sure that they won’t know anything. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
Re: Journal of Alis Rapidshill
Posted: 29 Nov 2007 03:12 PM |
Tristian asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We had talked about it previously but it still took me by surprise when he kneeled in front of me in the middle of Swiftdale. In a perfect world it would’ve happened after we managed to remove that thing from him, but on the other hand, Mother knows I can use something positive to occupy my mind with. After Tristian is free, we will get married, pack our belongings and sail away from the mainland. I don’t know where we’ll end up but it doesn’t matter as long as we’re together. We’ve both had our share of sadness and pain in our past - it will be our chance to leave it all behind, to get a fresh start. Thinking about it gives me strength to keep going. I know I’m going to need all the strength I can muster to get through this, and give Tristian the support he is going to need. He has decided to ask Corona to burn it out of him and Salt, even though it’s incredibly dangerous (and I don’t even want to think about the pain it will inflict). If Corona lets me, I will work alongside with her and heal the wounds as she progresses. I wish there was another way but at this point it seems she’s our only hope. We even went to Maldovia, looking for something we could offer Lex in exchange for his help, but we came back empty-handed. Empty-handed but alive, I might add.
On a side note, I met the rather self-absorbed man who was looking for animal trainers. Apparently he wants to secure the trade routes through the desert by gathering an army of elephants. My task would be to bring the elephants close to Port and to take care of them. I'm not entirely convinced that this is a good idea. Firstly, I would have to go to the desert. He told me he went there with Vrodo and they got out safely but still, it's risky. And secondly, his plans... Well, he hasn't even figured out where these animals would be kept. I would much rather solve the problem by helping to end the threat once and for all but there has been no word from Aurora. While waiting for that to happen, I suppose I might as well talk to this de Breenie fellow again and see if he has come up with anything new. |
IG character: Alis Rapidshill |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|