The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Arelush made with Ai

[Winterhawk99]

Arelush is called back to the Hullack forest by Gaoler. An emergency had come up. After seeing what was wrong the ranger figured it would be 5 days before she could hope to come back to the city. She sights and sits down, “Well with all this work should make journal notes for myself and Arrilan. She gets quill and ink out opening her journal.

Hello Journal.

I go to town for only 2 days, but many things happen. City the same. Even more chaos that before. I do not know what is what, so stay far away from it. I know College it gain favor and there is new group called Old Guard. They seem crazy. They motto is ‘Everyone Pays.’ Pays what is what I ask. Maybe give them some berries as pay. Maybe better is give some hazelnuts to them. They may feel some kinship. There also some crazy gnomes running around. I know is always crazy gnomes running around but these more crazy then ones I see in past. I think they worship giant mole or something.

Five big things happen in 2 days there. First is that city have grand tournament. Was not very good. None of men naked that fight and no women either. Not care about women but where all the muscle. I do not think they know what real tournament is. Some may have to see Chessentan games, so they know give women something look at.

Tournaments they for young 20s early 30s for dumb metal covered men to beat each other on head. Is not for someone like me in older 40s. I also born with small brain. These young they beat each other in head all day and brains shrink down to size of mine. Can write many instances where these young adventurers have no sense left after circus and yet keep going. Sense goes down faster each one. Keep seeing self in Chessenta like tournament while watching. Arelush against Sir Steel a lot. Arelush dance with her bow. Her breast beating her head. Ops? Arelush get knocked out by own breasts. Arelush breasts declared winner. Sir Steel a lot disappointed. Wait if my breasts are winner that mean I winner too? Ummm something to think about.

I think Brent win tournament. He big man they have to squeeze into armor while he exhale all air. Is much strength and much magic being he devote himself to magic college bodyguard or something.

And that was circus. Was ok. Still, everyone should be naked. I imagine is not because most these western men embarrassed by what have. Ummm where was I. Am still thinking of proper Chessenta circus.

Yes well. There was problem in Hillmarch that day too. Goblins attack. So Great group of adventurers show up. Was not much at Hillmarch. Goblins already retreat up to mountain where Roc live. So, we go up mountain. Was not hard fight. After all is only goblins. Still good practice and we reduce goblin population for like second and half. They breed faster than rabbits. One wonders how they have enough time to get off each other to go fight against city. Elves similar but not. Oro want go for days and I finally have to say finish already! I done. Is good when young. When you my age not so much. Need hourglass.

Later this day. Adventurers called to college. Was not sure where college is. I never go there because everyone know my head challenge. Maybe wizard want to fix me and turn me into squirrel instead. Never trust wizard always say oops! Or Whoopsie Do!

They talk and talk about gate in Kings Forest. They want to open gate to another tear. I have many questions: seeing Ellatria not here. I find out she not around for long while. Maybe check on Majesty and find out what he do with heart when come back. Like said had many questions then say if you go to King Forest to do these things should have either Ellatria or Majesties blessing. In other words, should ask permission. That’s when college say Ellatria missing and Majesty just an afterthought. Is no need talk to him first.

Ah-ha I think to self. See city people have no respect for guardians of nature. Is too bad because they screw up later and break portal gate. In other words, lots of learning and once again no sense. So, we go to Kings Forest and to gate. I scout for them. When they get to gate College people, they start their magic with one mage I think the dwarf Ferin and another mage on other side doing magic in front.

Well, Drow attack us again and again. We that do not know magic fight them off just in time to see College wizards put crack all the way up arm of gate and it lose chucks of rock that fall down. They. I think few people hit by boulders of stone that fall off. Is very big gate. Now it is broken and probably no way to fix. What I say. Should have asked permission from Majesty, maybe would not happen. This why city people they think they smarter than everyone else. That may be but have sense of cat that spend 8 of its lives already…….oops there goes ninth……. That one on way to Bast now.

That was full day. Will write of 2nd day. Both major things I see or work with, worry me.

First was ceremony. Sterius and another inducted in Lathander church. There many things make me wonder about this ceremony. First is who lead it. Was Seraphiel. This is tall man with gold eyes. Some say angel in his family. He seem lead church of Lathander. But have see how he run. He kill blue dragon girl and often is in controversy in tavern talk. He also seem not priest but ummm sorcerer. He make magic without books. How is sorcerer leader of Lathander church.

He take over Eveningstar and seem to be its ruler now. Ok but something about man seem wrong to me. Then is his god. I do not know much of this Lathander. But seem to be good and merciful god. Is somewhat akin to Horus Re though Horus Re much more marshal. So why this sorcerer look for things like power and be so judgmental when far as I know faith is not.

Ceremony start at dusk get delay from rain then start again even later at night. Now far as know Lathander have something do with dawn. Like Horus Re the sun. All Horus Re ceremonies at high sun. why would Seraphiel want to start his at dusk. Makes me question.

In ceremony Seraphiel cut his hand and poor blood into cup. He make Sterius and another drink from cup. Is this the way of a good and peaceful god. Are not sorcerers blood like magic. Maybe Seraphiel look to make Sterius and the other thralls to his will.

All this big concern of mine. It seem Seraphiel he may be imposter like cleric of mask trying infiltrate other sects because ceremony make no common sense. The starting at dusk, the blood the ending near dawn but not at dawn. Seem like Seraphiel maybe darker than faith he professes.

Is what I think. I try stay away but still need watch to see what happen for report to Arrilan when get home.

Last thing have is about this Red Knight lady. Worships ummmm strategy or something like that. Wonder if plays checkers. I cannot play chess is too hard. She have meeting to say ravens defending north need our support and help so that old adventurers can stay in town defend city. She say new adventurers should go north to desert and help Ravens. Ravens are band that protect northern border. They seem not do so well with Tilverton. It gone.

So what she do. She take all old adventurers like me and go up to help ravens. We kill lots of stuff. Mostly goblins but other things make no sense except giant vultures. Then we go to goblin lands and kill lots of goblins that stop playing with each other for moment and big ant lion they keep as protection. And ant lion friends. We come back. I did not hear anything about long time support for Ravens.

Was like, Hello we adventurers. We hear to save you. We kill everything for you today. After kill everything have nice, day, 10-day, month, year. See is no talk of lasting support so same goblins come back and all creatures come out Ravens slaughtered. I guess red knight lady say Oh well, we help that day. Should have been able to defend selves without us now.

See these city people. Maybe smart but have no sense.

That is all to report for 2 day in city. Will report all this to Arrilan when go home.

[Winterhawk99]

Hello Journal is Arelush again.

It has been a space since last I wrote. Maybe month. Am not sure. Much happen and I lose names as quick as be with them on who do what and where. So will give report on most important things saw since last wrote in journal.

First thing I remember is invasion of orcs from Hullack. They numbers been hiding from my eyes. Even as keeper of Hullack cannot see everything. An Orcish horde crash through the gates at edge of the forest. Was only me and two others that fought them for maybe two hours I run and shoot and another one who makes magic ran and fired magic at them. I lose so much blood and healing potions during this time almost fainted.

Then help arrived. Allies come to us in ones and twos. Now things become somewhat manageable. It take us another 2 hours to stop the horde before they get to Bospir but we do. I used many potions and wands in fight. Again almost faint several times. But in end we stop the horde and their tribal leaders that were many. Maybe 300 dead orcs on field when finally over. I call it battle of Hullack gate. We lick our wounds and go each to our home. For me is grove.

Second thing I remember is Deadwell. Is a cemetery off of Bospir where evil dwells. Is always undead there. Is always necromancers practicing raising dead. You would think cemetery run out of bones and corpses to make them but is always more coming in I guess. Especially here in these lands. Necromancers make many undead. They start spill over to village of Bospir. I go with very large group put an end to it. We fight and fight I faint after shoot most of my arrows out. I usually carry 500 to 1000 in special bags with more space than seem. Still they come. I see comrade fall and act quickly to get him up again. Was in way mistake. Just after was surrounded and paralyzed. I faint.

I wake up in Selune’s temple many hours later and find out they still fighting. I go see what goes on. We get to back of cemetery many miles from Bospir and find dozen magic circles that raise undead. We fight and fight again finally Barena throw fireball and destroy one circle. Now we have way to destroy them Furin destroy rest and finally the undead stop raising from ground.

This experience weaken me greatly. I no longer have many of the spells I had and my shooting isn’t as clean. I may have died and was raised. I suspect this. Am trying to get back strength but will take many months.

Next we hear of undead and strange sea beast coming ashore at Immersea. We dive down with potions of water breathing and fight all kinds of things from giant fish to scags which are undead sailors lost at sea. We come to area where there are the same circles I see in Deadwell and necromancers making undead. It trap one of those strange sea creatures that look like giant worm with tentacles and three eyes. I think they call aboleth.

After deal with necromancers creature thank us and dive deep.

I also go on expedition with Furin to underdark to purify gem or something gem turn out to be pure elemental magic. We go down to volcano crater that turn everything acid. There he purify gem but Drow come we fight them for very long time even Vyra generals drawn into battle. Again was very large fight. I almost do not make it but by skin of teeth do. Am very glad too. I was given ring which cannot use. I have ring that bonds me to Gaoler and my mother’s bracelet. I will not part with either one. Maybe I can find mage that will put one of properties of ring on mother’s bracelet that way can add my mark for future generations. Would be nice to have my mark somewhere after I die to help my children and their children.

Last was big meeting at palace. Three stand up to become new king or queen of Arabel. First show up was Banker. He mostly talk of money and making sure people get rich. Second was former purple dragon knight. He talk about war mostly. I do not think is nice person. And third was woman with high ideas that never work in real life.

What I think of this? I do not care. Is not my place to care. I am field agent for THORN and tied to the Gaoler grove of Hullack. It is not my place to decide outcome of a city where I just visit on vacation from duty. Am only here 5 more month or so anyway.

Something else come up though. They want us to retrieve a cup and give to one of these three. Seem a great stone giant invade Kings forest and have cup palace want. Whoever get cup have more status to become king or queen. Something like that. I think is stupid but I know Kings forest need help so I go with them.

We go there to find cup and deal with giant. There again is drow and shadow and all kind of giants. We fight a long time but when giant go down the cup fall from his hand. Next thing you know The old guard members of group steal cup and leave us with dozens of drow and shadows to fight.

We end up cleaning up while they give it to old purple dragon knight. We get to palace and there little fight over cup. More you see things change the more humans seem the same always fighting for prestige. I just sit and watch.

Even though I do not care who win city I see what is done. I find I do not trust this Old Guard. I think they very evil bunch and will be cautious around these. Was another incident involving vampire I question this old guard on as we all had give blood to undead thing. Vampires not like mummies. Mummies have purpose and are sanctioned by gods. Vampires they just evil predators feeding off the weak and bringing strong into they covens. They very evil and blight to all that is living.

There many other things happen during these weeks but I am of small mind and forget these things.

I do not know if own quest can be achieved now. Ellatria who had scepter that can purify pool of Eldath has disappeared. I went to Kings Forest grove and find the spirit Majesty greatly weakened. She be gone now a very long time and has not tended to her grove. Perhaps she die. Perhaps she find way back to Toril. I do not know. It means must find other means to purify pool and to find pool though duties often keep me from exploring hidden areas in Hullack. Is big forest with many problems.

Would love to bring wood elves back to Hullack to balance against Eldreth Veluuthra but time is against me now. Even if elves say no I still hope have a chance to talk to them. We will see. This will be my journal and report to Arrilan when day comes THORN pick me back up.