A Missionary in search of her cause (Cybil Gelley's Diary)

[Fezzik]

(The Sea)
I boarded a ship today. I don't know where it will lead me, but I know that it is the one that I should take. I'm not sure why, like so many things that have lead me to this port, I know this place. The sea air is fresh and calming, but I feel a sense of foreboding as well. Only time will tell....

(The Port)
I arrived, after a stormy crossing, in a small port south of Sundren. The land is, familiar again. I had a dream last night. Something told me to follow where my sensibilities would lead me, and there I would begin to understand the blessing that the Brothers and Sisters talked about during my early years....

(Of Goblins)
I can't believe how many goblins infest the hills here. There was a chieftain today that Grayham sent us to deal with. We lost one in our number as we raided the mine looking for him, but most of use survived with few scratches and nicks. He was the biggest of his kind that I think anyone of us had seen....

(the triumvirate)
...and I met a lady again today. We had passed briefly in the bathhouse, were I overheard them, as I said earlier. Happy news; but we talked about Ilmater, Torm and Tyr and the Temple of the Triumvirate. She suggested, after hearing of my early years, and the blessing, which she calls favoured, that I would be welcome, but I would have to face tests...

(Angels and devils)
....in a foul region of the land, touched by some evil being, we met the winged one again. Together the four of us prayed while the foul fiend coalesced out of the black fog. She spoke, and I understood her, and I know now what one of the tongues that I speak is, but I still do not know why I do. The other harsher language I still do not know about...

... after fighting our way past the undead, we faced the summoning circle. When the beast appeared, I froze. Such a thing I could not have imagined in all my dreams. The courage and fearlessness of those around me spurned me forward, but I do not remember attacking, I only remember waking up, the beast in pieces all around and poor Osclow on the floor....

[Fezzik]

... An elf named Ru'umel whom I stood beside during a few skirmishes against goblins with has suffered a tragedy. He family sword has been stolen by a female brigand in the hills. Another man, whose name escapes me at the moment also was accosted by this woman. She has apparently taken the road leading to the mine as her stomping ground although we could not find any tracks because of the rain over the last few days. She also mentioned something about the Martyr's progeny; I discussed this with Hano, but he and others said that this could just be a ploy and likely has nothing to do with the actual progeny. Nevertheless, I have set my self to try to recover the heirloom and find this bandit.

We were also attacked by shadows in the trading post last night....

[Fezzik]

Run to the forest, run!

... at which point she turned into a Lizardfolk! She lunged at Cirion, knocking him to the ground, but along with the help of others, we restrained her. Two at the campfire had to be told to leave, because their idea of restraint was a rather permanent one. We managed to get her to the grove, and with the assistance of Lirael, I was able to get a potion down the patient's throat, which had seized up due to the later stages of the disease. All was well, after the potion was ingested, and the patient will be hoarse for a while do to the treatment and will require some rest.
Later that night, I again feinted. When I awoke, I could feel the energies again building within me, and I felt weaker again. This valley has an unnerving ability to bring forth these blessing with great rapidity. This is the third episode that I've had, but I only experienced two like it before coming in all my years...

[Fezzik]

After waking up in the Triumvirate - apparently being found floating in the river just past the sewage canals - after my expedition to storm drains. I was able to talk to Brother Melchior and joined the Temple to serve; my first duty was to help an Orcblood priest who was concerned about the undead in Gurmbar's house (the crypt in the mines). I helped him with that, and purging yet another Goblin chief as well.
A day or two later waking up in the Helmite temple after a trip to the Mossclaw encampment I was utterly depressed and couldn't understand why this was all happening to me. I arrived at the Exigo Outpost and slumped by the fire. Osclow asked me what was wrong, but I was a bit rude and curt with him -- that's when it happened. Of all people, Zack was the one that not only shook me out of my self-pity, but helped me see that I should be happy with what had been happening. He started talking about patterns that we follow, and he asked if I was happy, as I said I was, with what I was doing, then why was I complaining? It stunned me - his bluntness stunned us all with it's clarity. It was then that I realized that Ilmater's guidance may have been challenging me, but I understand why suffering is so important now.

After few successful excursions to the Mossclaw hills I feel reasonably certain that the pattern is broken. I also was informed by Sister Tam that taking the wine would be a good idea, since I would both more and less than the traditional clergy; and the guidelines for clergy would likely be helpful for me to keep my way. Brother Hano was happy as well, but seemed a bit concerned about how my revelation came about, even though he didn't want to show to much.

[Fezzik]

A secret and a pain

I've talked to Seer Marcus, and then to Brother Melchior about the second language. I was terrified at first of what the tongue actually was when I saw Seer Marcus' reaction. I panicked and requested an urgent meeting with Brother Melchior. Although it took a day or two before I could see him, there was one other person that I told. I trust that she will not reveal it to anyone. Brother Melchior was a little concerned at first, but buoyed my spirits when I told him that both languages and the blessing came at the same time, although he did say that there is a possibility that during the opening of the conduit for the blessing something else may have been able to get something in, or, more likely there is someone that I will be able to help with this tongue that is suffering.

After I went to the Camp, and had an discussion with Zack. I lost my temper with him because I couldn't get him to understand why helping others does not always diminish them. I was unsuccessful and challenging his argument about balance. I feel any connection that I may have had with him may have been disrupted and he will be harder to reach now. I think there is a lot of suffering behind his rough exterior.

[Fezzik]

Lost soul?

Right after I arrived in Exigo Post this evening. Not soon after my arrival, flashing lights and lightning appeared and a Demon sprung forth from the center, running at the Red Wizard shouting something about Bowing down and Serving Bane! The creature ran about attacking anyone in sight and set it's sights on Zack, who was taken down quickly by the hideous beast.

I managed to get his body out from under the things corpse and took it to the Temple of The Great Mother. He did not seem to realize where he was at first, but fled the temple quickly before I could say anything. I didn't catch up to him before he left Sestra, but I did see him later at the Post again. I fear that he has fallen into something that will only cause him harm in the end; he was talking to the same Red Wizard the the Demon was after - they talked in hushed tones; I fear the wizard may have corrupted him in some way.

[Fezzik]

Campfire chats

I had a long talk with Cirion tonight. About a great many things that were on my mind. First and foremost I learned some things about certain people that I did not know before. And I feel better about what I've been asked if I will do for Sundren. I will be no more forthcoming than that here. Cirion knows a few things about me, probably more than I really know about him. We were interupted part way through our discussion by the little hin that I have seen many time in the Druid grove, Logan I believe they call him. After a talk about what happened to him on the mountain, I got the distinct impression that he had a bone to pick with Cirion, and the only reason he didn't at that moment was because he wasn't yet up to the task, but a day of reconing seemed to be on it's way.
For myself, I learned that what is required, need not be evil or malicious, simply to listen, observe and gather information is enough. Knowing what you face if just as important on as facing it; if you don't know what you face, you cannot choose the time to face it with all your strengths in hand. Life in the valley, again, has just become more interesting.

[Fezzik]

Fire side Chat, pt II

Deep in the canyon, Yashia and I met Logan again. He seemed rather belligerent and nearly provoked Yashia into a fight that I advised against. Whether he has again taken up his old ways I do not know. I do not know the full story other than the snippets that I've figured out from the conversations that I've had with him, Cirion and Yashia.

Afterwards, yet another episode occured in, yes, in, the fire of the Post where most of the adventurers sit around, chatting and discussing things. What came out can only be described as a spirit, on fire. It said something about what we care about not being safe, and what we think is safe is not real. Whatever that means, time may tell, but if it was directed at Yashia and Cirion, I believe it has already failed.

[Fezzik]

More Demons

During a night by the fire at Exigo, it happened again. I don't know if it is just coincidence or not, but every time I've been there, a member of the Red's has been there as well. Just before hand though, a woman in dark armour appeared and walked up to the fire, did not say anything, then walked away. Moments later, the lights came, and the portal opened. Scrambling away frrom the fire I managed to buckle on my breatplate and grab my shield and mace.

Two of the demons went right to the merchant by the fire. I chased these foul females tying keep them from harming the merchant. At the end of the skirmish after the ruckus died down, I noticed a young woman lying on the ground, seriously injured. After dragging her out of the cold, Olsclow, Lauan and a young bard waited for her to awaken. After a while, and after they left, I had a short conversation with her. Aliria and I talked for a while, until she got her strength back. She did not remember the demons, understandably so. They must have hit her hard, and fast.

[Fezzik]

Rebillion and A mirror

I arrived in the post yesterday to find a Slicer had attacked those around the fire. As if fire-spirits and demons weren't enough, not we have to worry about the mechanical monstrosities of the Exigo as well. An obvious sigh would be inserted here if one was listening to the writer. At any rate, Yashia, Julia (more on her later), Foxfur, an myself took a trip to see the Captain at the Exigo. What we found was a full blown mechanical hell! Everyone of the slicers, and the special construct the Captain himself had been working on, had gone berserk. We found the culprits, more specifically, they found us -- Yashia and I were knocked out almost immediately by two agents of the Eboncoin. The fact that Yashia, an experienced warrior, could be so quickly taken down worries me about the strength of these infiltrators. The Captain was not terribly forthcoming of how the constructs were made, so we were left with very little in the way of answers.

Later Julia had a strong disagreement with Lauan. Where I would have backed away when I had a bit less wisdom, she went on the offensive against Lauan's taunting and intimidation. As it stands now, I simply let them slide off and continue on. With time and understanding, Julia will learn, I hope, that sometimes Wisdom is having a lot to say, and learning not to say it. She is a very gentle soul, and I'm glad to know her.