The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Jodro

“Teach me.” A simple enough request, but when Jodro had asked to be taught by Sir Cael he had not expected to be put through so much. Oh he knew it wouldn’t be easy, but days upon days of endless drills, repeating the same basic attacks until it felt as though his arms would fall off? This was not what he had expected at all.

Sir Cael had once been one of the most famous knights in the land; however as age came to him he gradually became slower and weaker until he had become little more then a memory. It was at that point he had decided to pass on his skills and knowledge of combat to a worthy pupil, who he got instead, was Jodro.

Jodro wasn’t a complete failure, he was willing to learn and eager to become better, but he did not understand what it took to become a true master of the sword. He was brash, impatient, naïve, and most of all he had almost no respect of authority unless he got something from them. Among his redeeming qualities was the fact that Jodro was always quiet, not dumb or slow, actually he was quite smart, but he had taken his master’s words to heart. “The more you talk the less you listen and the more you will not understand, all those Politian’s, priests, wizards… they all have one thing in common, they like the sound of their own voices.” A true warrior didn’t need to ask questions, if he didn’t talk he could gather the needed information easily with no one being the wiser, not to mention the fact that it was so easy to underestimate a person who never spoke.

So as Jodro practiced one of the endless drills, Cael smiled. Whether or not Jodro knew it, he was getting better, almost as skilled as some of the famous knights. He had the basics down almost perfectly, now the only things that could teach him was watching combat and participating in combat. Cael was not yet ready to risk his only student in life and death combat, and the mock combat many knights participated in did more damage to training then good. Pulling punches, playing to the crowed, asking honorably if an opponent yields, these things would get a man killed. A man armed with a twig and the instincts of a trained, battle hardened warrior could kill a fully armed an armored knight who had been trained only in the practice ring. As for watching combat, real combat, there were always goblins and orcs about Cael could use in lethal demonstrations. Despite having lost most of his edge due to age, Cael was still more then a match for any band of orcs that came his way.

Cael called a halt to Jodro’s practice; it was almost noon and if they were lucky Cael could find some orcs to display combat skills on. They moved quickly through the woods and just before sundown Cael found what he was looking for. He dismounted while Jodro stayed on his horse, calmly watching as Cael attacked the band of orcs. As the battle wore on Jodro watched as several orcs circled behind Cael, he wanted to call out to his master but after a year of being told to watch, listen, and learn he knew better. Finally just before the orcs at his back were about to strike, Cael spun and dispatched them with a few well aimed blows. As the last of the orcs bled out his life Cael approached Jodro, smiling slightly.
“Were you able to follow the entire fight?”
Jodro nodded.
“Did you see all the different attacks I made?”
Again Jodro nodded.
Cael looked please “there is another reason I’ve been teaching you the silence is a virtue, if you go into a battle yelling and screaming as loud as you can, you lose track of where your enemies are. As I approached them I counted how many there were, in the battle if I ever lost sight of one I would listen for it. It is a matter of life and death to know exactly where every enemy is on a field of battle and for that, hearing is among the most useful of tools.” Cael smiled slightly “and as I’ve always said, if your talking you aren’t listening.”
Jodro nodded in understanding.
“Now it will take a few years to be able to train your senses to the level needed in most combat, but for now you’ve gotten a good start. Come we’ll make camp here, there is much I need tell you before tomorrow.”

Jodro quickly set up camp as Cael cleaned his sword and removed the bodies of the orcs he had just killed. As night finally fell Cael sat near the fire watching Jodro finish his meal. “There isn’t much more I can teach you, but before I leave you with the last lesson there is something I require you to promise. Before you die, be it in ten, fifty, or even a hundred years, pass on your knowledge of the skill to a worthy student, pass it on to someone who will use the skill correctly, not to destroy murder or maim, but to protect those who cannot protect themselves.” Jodro looked confused but finally shrugged and nodded “I promise this.” Satisfied by Jodro’s answer, Cael began to give Jodro the knowledge that explained all of his previous teachings. Jodro nodded, listening intently, He knew it would take practice to fully understand Cael’s teachings, but one day he would master them.

The next day Cael was gone, taking all evidence of his existence with him, leaving Jodro with nothing more then a practice sword and his leather tunic. A few days after Cael left, Jodro vanished from his world.


Entry 1: I’ve been exploring this new land for a few days now, honing my skill with the sword and improving my skills in the wild. I’ve met a few people since I arrived, including a strange man named Kano, it would seem he isn’t even from Toril. Kano and I were sitting in the camp when a griffon approached us and asked for our aid in awakening the god Mielikki, we needed a whisp of air and a forester of sorts to conduct the ritual in Mielikki’s grove. Kano and I traveled north to find the air elementals, after trying several times we were able to catch one. We quickly left the cold mountain to search for the grove. We finally found it, well guarded by trolls, the battle was difficult, as soon as we killed one another we thought dead would rise up and attack again. We reached the stone circle and placed the whisp. I was unsure what to do… honestly it has been just a few hours and I don’t even remember what I did. Whatever it was, it worked; Mielikki awoke and was amazed to find mortals still in this world.


Entry 2: HoboSmirf, an interesting name... an interesting lady… she is a half dragon, green, very green. She is as skilled in the hand and a half sword as my master… former master. We spoke for a time… well… we spoke as much as I normally do… after a time I asked her to become my teacher… to teach me what my former master did not… perhaps what he could not… she was reluctant at first, I followed her for a time, she attacked me… she went into a rage after a time, finally she regained control and told me she would think about it… Later she told me she would teach me what she knows… train me… help me become a better swordsman. Finally I have someone to turn to in this strange world.


Entry 3: it seems many people have been coming from my Toril. Many of them wish to return home, they all speak of the life they left behind… the things they miss… I feel… strange… I have nothing left on Toril and I’m starting to like this new world. It seems peaceful. I will be staying here… this world is my home now and I will not leave it.


Entry 4: Helped the lady Alistra today, she was looking to create some potions and start out a store. She asked us to get her the spikes from a manticore and the body of a troll chieftain. The manticores were easy to find and kill, the spikes were easy to collect to, just needed to pull them out of our armor. The troll chieftain was a bit more difficult… after much searching, we located to troll chieftain in his cave. We fought for a time, a few of us died, I survived though I’m not sure how… Niombi Tansu saved us. She didn’t say much…didn’t say anything… she did however drop a strange fan at my feet, I picked it up and she promptly left us. We returned the body and spikes to Alistra and she rewarded us by making us special potions. I took it gratefully, but I felt something strange… I don’t know what it was… but I didn’t feel quite right… something was nagging at me in the back of my mind… I tried to shake it off but it wouldn’t go away. I spoke to no one about this and instead turned my attention to the strange fan given to me by Niombi Tansu.



Entry 5: The dragon kin asked for our help in finding out what had happened to the dark elves. I didn’t like it; I’d never been comfortable underground… it’s too close, too confined. Luckily I was not alone. We found the dark elves, they were blocked in by a cave in. It was difficult, but HoboSmirf and I were able to clear a way to the dark elves, once opened up the dark elves traveled to the Dragon Kin in order to discern what had happened to the world.


Entry 6: I sat in the Vail, watching the antics of a few others. HoboSmirf was there, a cleric and hyper Halfling were there as well. Suddenly the calm was broken by a group of fiends, they attacked us but were easy enough to defeat. We followed the trail of bodies left by the fiends until we reached the Dragon Kin; they had been attacked by the fiends as well and had set up a defensive line. We offered them our aid in return for safe passage for the Fey ri, Ameilia. They refused; I suppose I need not say how much I despise prejudice, especially when a person is offering aid. Finally HoboSmirf got mad enough that she attacked him, finally we pushed him down the stairs and tied him up, forcing him to come along and witness the good she’s done for them. I’d not like to recount the battle we faced but after wading through a multitude of creatures we found a portal. When we attempted to close it and end the threat to the land a strange little man appeared and ordered us to stop. He told us he was sending the creatures out to find two ‘roses’, we made a deal with him that if the portal was closed we would locate the roses for him. I do not know if this is a deal is a wise choice, I don’t trust someone who summons such monsters to do his bidding. Not to mention the fact that these ‘roses’ seem to be more then he claims they are.


Entry 7: The priestess of Sune… an interesting lady. I asked her about the fan, and the Eye of the Dragon that it seemed to belong to. Apparently the Eye of the Dragon is a group that protects this world from harm… or something like that. I learned that the fan was used as a symbol used to recognize others in the order.

Elpis also ask Shana, a Druid, and me to investigate her scrying room, she claimed that is was behaving strangely. When we investigated, a servant of Sune appeared and told us that we had gained the attention of the goddess and that we were to have three questions answered. We found out that we were on the world of Sierra Na; we learned that one third of the population ascended to escape persecution, then a meteor hit and destroyed many more in the world, those that were left were easy prey for the more barbaric races here. We learned that we had been brought here to ‘reseed’ this world and keep it alive (I noted that Shana was not happy to hear this), we learned that all the gods of this world selected people from the other worlds to come, they based their decisions on who would be most likely to survive and thrive in this new world. We finally learned that the only way to return to our home worlds was to master a skill called planewalking, and that once we left this world we would never return. Shana seemed shaken by the revelations brought on by these answers; she left Elpis’s scrying room with little more than a farewell. I followed her and found her staring at her shield which bore the holy symbol of Lathander. It was painful to see her in such a state, I wanted to help her but I didn’t know how, I was a simple swordsman, not a person who could argue theology or give advice on gods and religions. All I could do was sit down near her, listen. I don’t know what happened but she claimed she felt better. I don’t understand how she took so much comfort in a few simple nods… I just don’t know…


Entry 8: Shana seemed to be feeling a little better today, we traveled toward the portal, when we arrived we found the dark elf commander examining it. He admitted that he was out looking for two of his men who had traveled north to pay their respects to a man they used to know. The two of us agreed to look for his men while he returned to Morzelmore to look after his soldiers in the city. Shana and I traveled north, through the bugbears until we came to the lands controlled by dragons. We were able to kill a pair of them but upon facing the next pair… we barely escaped with our lives. Shana collapsed down and refused to move forward. I was distraught when she wouldn’t go on. I didn’t blame her for stopping, honestly the dragons freighted me as much as they did her, but I knew if I stopped the nagging thought at the back of my mind would form into a more coherent idea and overwhelm me. I knew as long as we kept moving I could focus solely on the battle and not… other things. I was just about to leave her and continue on when I noticed something seemed to be out of place. It was as though she was casting magic without even moving. I returned to her and sat next to her, talking to her a little, mostly listening. Suddenly a servant of the gods appeared and spoke to Shana. Shana became even more frightened after learning that Lathander was not responsible for sending her to this world, not even existing in this world, she felt alone. I tried to comfort her but I did little more than listen to what she had to say. After recovering, Shana agreed to continue on and find the lost soldiers. We found no more dragons; I’m not sure how good a thing that was… it gave me more time to think than I truly wanted. Thankfully we found the lost soldiers before I could explore that nagging thought, I knew it was only a matter of time but I hoped to but it off as long as possible. One of the elves was wounded and Shana quickly healed him with a few of her spells and we escorted them back to Morzelmore.


Entry #9: Who am I? I don’t know what to do… I don’t know what I’ve become. I don’t like what I see... something has been annoying me… nagging at the back of my mind since I became competent with the sword… I believe I finally know… I have become the very thing I used to hate… I’ve been empty since I took my revenge on those who killed my family (who am I kidding… it was murder nothing less). And now that I am here in this new world, I am the invader, I am the bandit that is killing and taking from those who call this land home.

I don’t know what I have become, I’ve lost myself into the battle, forgetting what I used to defend, reveling in the battle… I talked to Shana about it… she’s a friend, one of the few I have in this world… I suppose I sounded like a confused, lost child to her… perhaps that’s what I am… I truly don’t know anymore…. I did offer her my oath… I told her she could direct me and my sword whenever she has need of it… perhaps it was foolish of me… perhaps it is the only thing that will save me… I don’t know… I hate not knowing… I… hate myself…



Entry #10: The white Halfling returned today, asking for the roses. We informed him we didn’t have any and that we would travel to Sune’s shrine to ask Elpis about the crystal roses she had. However the only roses she had were completely non magical, doubtful what the Halfling was looking for. We returned to the vale only to inform the Halfling of what we learned, only to find a strange, red clad woman waiting for us. She told us she wanted the roses because she needed them to break a spell of the Halfling’s. She vanished before we could ask her too many questions. She seemed rather genuine in her need for the roses and rather scared when I mentioned we would likely give the roses to the Halfling, a lie of course but it was interesting to see her reaction.

Entry #11: Shana… I’ve sworn an oath to guard her and keep her safe but… there seems to be something more to that oath now… I don’t even fully understand it… I took her to Mielikki’s shrine today. I was hoping that we could find a way to bring Lathander to this world for her. After two tries (the first being unsuccessful) an owl came to Shana with the words of Mielikki. Unfortunately the task would be even more difficult than either of us had hoped for, only the prayers of many (or those of a strong few) would be enough to bring Lathander to this world. I offered my aid to Shana in any way she may need it, though I doubt that would be much help. Of all the gods, Lathander seems one of the better ones, but that still doesn’t change my feelings to him or his brethren, gods meddle far too much in the affairs of mortals, pulling us around by strings, expecting us to be pawns in their wars with rivals. For Shana though, I will do everything I can to hasten the arrival of Lathander.

Entry #12: Shana and I sat on the ground near Sune’s temple, talking and eating, she had had a lot to worry about lately and I was doing my best to help her be at peace for a time. For a time it worked and we were both happy. Until Ameilia arrived, cut in dozens of places, beaten nearly to death, we healed her as best we could quickly before taking her to Elpis for rest and additional healing. Seeing Ameilia like that was almost physically painful, strange how a warrior so skilled with the sword could be hurt so much by seeing a friend in pain… I looked to Shana and knew instantly the only reason she didn’t hurt as much as I was because she was so angry at Niombi for what she had done. I hugged Shana close, to comfort myself as much as her but it seemed to work as she soon started to calm down, though it was obvious she was still angry. Shana has confessed in me that she feels Ame is simply telling her what she thinks Shana wants to hear. I’ve tried to talk to Ame about this but as of yet I’m not sure how to broach the subject to her…


Entry #13: Shana… a wonderful person… never have I had so much to smile about since the bandits came to my home… I don’t know how it happened, how we stopped being simple acquaintances to become friends, how resting a comforting hand on the others shoulder became a comforting hug, I don’t remember when we stopped being friends and became more… as Shana pointed out it seems we were the last two to notice it. But now it seems almost obvious. I’ve decided to build a home here, a village I don’t know where would be best, as of yet it is little more than an idea, but now, at least I have someone to share it with.


Entry #14: I carried out my plan with the white Halfling today. I went to Elpis and convinced her to give me a red rose and a blue rose, perfectly normal (except for the fact they as beautiful as Shana) in exchange for a promise of returning them when I was done. I returned to the vale to find Paetyr and Ameilia discussing various things. Soon after I arrived the Halfling appeared. I watched him closely as I first recommended we destroy the roses, and then told him about the lady in red. He claimed the lady was here to use the roses in an evil spell and that the white Halfling wishes to prevent. He also claimed that the roses were his and he had lost them long ago (he only started looking for them when he learned the red lady wanted them). After he had finished telling us all he would about the lady and the roses I pulled out the red and blue rose I had gotten from Elpis, watching his reaction closely. He seemed to fixate on them, looking at them almost too eagerly. He wanted me to give them to him right away before payment but I refused and he vanished to gather some sort of payment for us. Ameilia had, at first, been rather surprised and unhappy that I was so willingly giving the roses to the Halfling, I’m sorry I had to trick her like that but she seemed to trust my judgment in the end. While the Halfling was gone HoboSmirf and a few others joined us. HoboSmirf was complaining about losing her shield and sword. While we waited, a small group of eye tyrants, mind flayers, and flying eyes appeared and attacked us. We bested them easily enough though they seemed to focus on me. When the Halfling returned (soon after we defeated the creatures) he seemed surprised to see the bodies of the creatures we had killed, either surprised at their failure to kill us or at their attack I do not know. The payment he laid out before us was HoboSmirf’s lost sword and shield, I wasn’t happy that I was trading the roses for stolen items but I did so nonetheless, giving the roses to him and the sword and shield to HoboSmirf. I then watched in fascination as the Halfling tested the roses by shining light through them as Rigo held them; apparently, when light shines through the red rose it should not be red; through the blue rose it should not be blue. Disappointed, the Halfling left, leaving both the weapons and roses in our possession, hardly something an evil man would do it seems (if indeed he is as the red lady would have us believe). It seems everyone distrusts the Halfling now; he paid in stolen items, lied about various things, and seemed a bit too eager to get the roses back. The others also distrusted him because we were attacked by monsters he had previously commanded, but it seems odd to have us attacked if he was just going to pay with stolen items anyway… I would like to do the same test to the lady in red before I make a decision. And at some point we will need to find the real roses, perhaps destroying them really would be the best thing to do…


Entry 15: We had a meeting with Lord Vallarios and Sanser, at the time I was unhappy with Sanser… he’s too arrogant, too used to giving orders and having them followed. Regardless, we (Shana, Kano, and I) were asked to speak privately with lord Vallarios in the capital building. I was curious and a bit suspicious but decided to go along with no complaint. As it turned out, Lord Vallarios needed our help; he wanted us to act as spies for him. He claims to have been having problems with some of his people, Turasaur, the leader of the thieves guild based in the gambling hall, Tilsara, his mate and tax collector in the claw (I’ve met her once before when she demanded I pay her), Aldisendry, the herald… she uses magic and seems to have hopes for a higher position of leadership, and Saurdy, the leader of the mage guild though beyond that I know little of this dragonkin. I can’t say I’m happy about being asked to spy or act for Lord Vallarios’ plans though I think he’s much better for us then any of those he has asked us to keep an eye on. I believe the best way to hinder them is to mislead them and lie to them at every opportunity, it would be better to sabotage them rather than actively trying to oppose them. I will have to keep an eye on this and see where it leads…. I distrust most of the dragonkin.
It would seem I’ll be forced to aid Lord Vallarios and Sanser, Turasaur is trying to convince all his kind that we off-worlders are here to enslave them and Lord Vallarios is aiding us, it is believed he wants to put his puppet, Aldisendry in power.


Entry 16: It is complete, after many months of hard work we have finished building our new village, a place of peace, free of hatred based on what people are, a place many of us seem to be willing to call home. The house I built with Shana is a nice house with plenty of room for the two of us and life seems good. Ellidy lives here as well as Ameilia and Kano (Kano seems to have gotten over his fear of skin and has moved in with Ameilia); Dark has also decided to build a home in the village, he is an interesting person and I don’t completely trust him, though by far I do not DISTRUST him as I do the dragonkin and many others in this world. He seems a bit too eager for battle and to unwilling to listen to the ideas and opinions of others when they differ from his own. I hoped this village could be a place where we could share our ideas and opinions and debate our views without turning to anger, though that hope seems to be fading fast. A smith and his family arrived at the village as well, Bret and Jane Fendlesmith along with their child, they have set up a forge and tailor and offer their services to all those in the village. Unfortunately with the village growing like it is, we decided that we needed to inform Lord Vallarios about it so he would not be caught off guard should another dragonkin stumble upon us. He seemed to take the revelation well. I worry that other dragonkin will find out about our village soon as well, and with Aldisendry now allied with the orcs and Turasaur moving against all off-worlders we may soon find ourselves in conflict with Morzelmore, or at least the small faction that the thieves guild controls.



Story by Baskilsk Kron