The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Hello again, Journal

I spend 6 days in the field and come back to town for 2 days. First thing I notice is Goaler loose her wings and tail again. Her shop not open. I set out to restore her again. I not do well those two days overall with this task. I add some magic to her and few hook horror spurs but she not restored by time I go back to deep forest. I will try better after 9 days of chores and come back to city for 4 days.

I look for broken weapon and knowing that Grishank have one I look for him too. I find him on first night back sitting in Old gate inn. I ask him about weapon and if I could purchase it. He say 100 gold fine but I must find new weapon for him like broken weapon. He say it powerful magic. I was fine with this and say ok but then he say I also have to duel him for it.

Grishank is a mountain of orcblood in his prime and I am an old woman that cannot have children again. Is first reason I say no. Second is I think duels are just the silliness of young that just want measure they inch sticks. I do not duel. But was not surprised or offended. Grishank think like orc or human man in his twenties. They have little in brains because blood always somewhere else and they have little experience to see the silliness of duels. This what young men do and many pay ultimate price for this silliness.

I will continue my search for a broken weapon. Eventually will find one. Then will find the pool of Eldrath and see if can open the gate after praying to goddess.

A grand crowd of adventures gather at the old gate inn. A messenger come and say there was break in at palace. We go there. I think there maybe 20 maybe even more. We find a secret grate had been opened. We go down into sewers then down further all the way to underdark where there is great salt cavern called salt marshes. There we find Vyra Drow priestess leading army of drow and undead. We start to fight her.

In fight several drow in our own group turn and try to kill Grishank. It surprise me but then again had just learned that the orcblood had killed Vel and put his head on a pole in Hillmarch. Well so we fighting priestess, her drow, undead, and our drow. Was a mess. 6 in our group die but we do succeed in killing priestess and her minions. We go back and were rewarded well.

I do not think Grishank live long and think he will end badly but this is not my problem. I am here to take care of forest and maybe help figure out dilemma of chain tree. What happen in city it do not do well if get involved deeply. It also not my place to do so.

In between do some small tasks when could walk with others but in two days must had bad timing because no one at inn to walk with most times.

Oh I do one more thing. I call meeting at spirit grove to talk to those love nature about several things: chain tree, the caring of the groves and getting others to help Ellatria’s and my goals at having healthy forests in area. Only one other show up a new male elf. He was very nice but cannot remember name off hand. If I walk with him again will note his name to put in journal.

Was nice meeting and we go over important information with each other on what each knows. I will hope to have another meeting next month. Will call it something like the meeting of groves or something.

That’s all can say for now Journal. Arrilan will read journal when he debrief me after my time is up here. Hope he approve of all things I do.

Ok journal next time will write longer journal entry because will be in city for 4 days.

[Winterhawk99]

Before Arelush writes in her journal she writes a letter to two people. The first is Fleur a woman born with blue dragon blood and worships Selune. The other to Keeper Ellastria who is the keeper of the Kingswood Grove.

Greetings Fleur and Keeper Ellatria.

I send these letters to you because spoke with Gaoler about crystal ruby Fleur gave to me. I write this letter before go into deep forest for 10 day will be back after. Hopeful Ellatria can set up meeting of groves. Apology I do not always write in trade tongue well, but I do not think you can read hieroglyphics so have to do.

I speak to Gaoler about crystal. Sometimes is hard because think Gaoler not like she have a human keeper. Reminds me of Elven wives at stream washing clothes on clothes day. They always make me feel small. I know am small and not have long life. Fortune that I am use to this from long years living with proscador. Still sometimes want stick out my tongue and make farting noises at her. But we stuck together until can find replacement for me.

Ummm do not pass that on. It was hard to get information from Gaoler because she is old woman much older than mine. Her mind wander a lot. She always mix important stuff, wise stuff with nonsense stuff. I try think on the wise stuff she say. Is very good things when come out.

So, I speak to her about crystal Fleur give me. Gaoler say she can contain crystal but she do not know how to break, crush, or destroy crystal. Then she say cannot and willing two different things which make me suspicious that she know how break it but will not tell me. We not know each other long so relationship must blossom some I think. Ummm well not like that like keeper to spirit. Am married to nice elven man and have no thoughts of other women. Eww! Bad taste in my mouth now.

I told her would take crystal to Magisty too. She say he would not know and even if know would not tell. Then looked at me as if she insulted. We will work these things out. I also have her words on the disciple of the rotting oak. This for Ellatria.

Gaoler say that they are never to be trusted and should never let them plant seeds in grove. Ummm Have been forester very long time now. I already know this. But she say something else. Gaoler say she have rotting oak masters contained in some form of prison. Which means they rotting oak may have vendetta with the local groves. I will cover this more on meeting of the groves. She very much approve of the groves having regular meetings though. She seem enthused about this. That is a good sign.

Be wary Ellatria and if do not hesitate to call for me if you think I needed. I wish for all the groves to have keepers before have to leave on shortest day of year. Also would like all groves to be able to work together and get along much better than stupid city people with their factions. This is not our way and we should not copy such behavior. If Paeric and Nebettaway do this would knock their heads together and send them both out to find willow switch.

Where was I? Oh yes now you both have information of heart crystal and Ellatria you have information on Rotting Oak cult. Is good I get to speak with Gaoler before leave for deep woods.

Thank you both and take care until come back

Keeper Arelush.

[Winterhawk99]

Greetings once again journal,

Late spring is here. Hullack is healing and Gaoler, the spirit of the forest, is at full strength once again. Is not easy to do but I work towards it little by little until she back to full strength. Will have to work harder to keep her up to strength for next visit to the city. Do spirits get mid life change? I think she do. Have bit of an uneasy relation now with her but hope in future we come to rely on one another till I must go.

Ellatria tell me of someone coming to her grove. He or she say they are from rotten oak and want to plant seeds. Ellatria refuse which is good on her. The blighted should not come into groves at all. If come here will certainly turn them away.

I focus last 4 days trying to build Gaoler’s strength. I achieve it but wish could have done more. I did not do well meeting groups to do little quests so got very little of what Gaoler feeds upon at first. I went alone and fought elements of the mad druid. There I find quite a bit to help her. But still did not do many adventuring. Will have to work harder when come back.

The main thing I do is fight a goblin invasion. There was undead invasion of Evening star. We turned that back and I fell. When woke up was more sore than usual and felt very weak. I find myself in temple of Tymora alone. I check my hand to make sure it still there or if Derrick demand my hand for some slight against him. It there.

The priestess say she have to raise me. Then started sermon about the Tymora faith. I do not depend upon luck but I listen hopefully did not roll my eyes. In end she say to me, “You know that Tymora a friend to both Bast and Isis.”

That get my attention because priestess recognized my Mulhorandi faith. It did give me respect for priestess. If Derrick more like her there would be much less problems in city. I was honored.

I go back and find Stenius. He cry on my shoulder. He say that Tahri animate me after my body fall from person carrying me. I tell him I am alive so gods have more for me to do. That cheer him up some. They said for little bit was undead.

Well am not sure if honored by this or should be angry. After all I am Mulhorandi. We do not treat undead, at least mummies, like other lands do. I will not explain it here. I will say my joints ache much more after return and still feel a bit weak. I survive that is important part. Little over 6 months and I return home to husband and children. Have nice retirement.

Now that undead invasion I think connected to this tribe of goblins that raise ginormous maggots. It not long before goblins invade Evening star again. We repel them. After a few days someone in deadwood find out location of where goblins nest. There was sending. I go to deadwood and find dead goblin. Group already leave. So I go back to Old Gate in and find many adventurers preparing for incursion of goblin horde caves.

We fight them There were goblins, trolls, and maggots. Army of maggots. We find golem that Harlan wanted and he study it. while we waiting a few of us here voice. We follow voice and find hag that want blood. She want to make deals with blood on us not our blood unless is rare blood.

Am not sure my blood rare being born in time I was. I not tell anyone how traveled through time to get here when mother send crew home from Netheril. But probably not. Blood is blood and Mulhorandi is just another common human. I do not think it matter when was born. I only make a little 3 1/2 thousand year leap when was much younger.

There were two people traded blood. The hag then give golem to Harlan. I think is stupid dealing with hag but what I know.

Next we find goblin king. He want to duel one of us to end war or something. Eathor I think his name agree and they start dueling. Then Dart start throwing darts at goblin king. King say we renege on single combat and call all his people to attack us. This was great battle. I use most of my healing potions but doing well until troll chase me and several others to next cave. But he after me mostly. I swing around column of stalactites and go back run and fire, run and fire. I lead him back. When I turn the corner I dive to shadows. He come into room and say, “Where did food go.” He turn his attention to others in the room and say. “Food gone. I eat you now.”

As the front line attacked him I came out of the shadows and lent my bow to putting him down finally and we do it. it take a long time to find treasure room but we find it. I get almost 1,000 in coin. Was sorely needing this.

Fleur make an oath to destroy crystals. She give me part of one to take to Gaoler is in letter I copy and include in journal. We go to desert to dark lady’s temple clear it out. Fleur looking for something there…… again.

Is about all can remember for now, Journal. Except have not found broken weapon yet. Could make quarterstaff and break it but I think Eldath would appreciate broken weapon from battle more. So will continue search.

That all for now Journal will write again after 10 day working in forest and go to city again for 4 days to remember am human.