Sharan Haerzyna - a Journal (aka. Nivele Windreed)

[Skarain]

- Link to the Biography -

A woman sits writing before a table, an old and weather-beaten journal laying open on the desk ahead. Quiet, almost invisible runes of magical power crawl by the edges of the book, hinting of more than just paper lays between the covers. The wielder of the quill - a quill that dances on the paper in a calm and steady rhythm - looks over their shoulder, as to confirm that they are alone. They aren't.

In the corner of the room they rented from the inn of Candlekeep, on the smallest of the beds sleeps a young human girl, slightly past their fifth winter. Their mouth is left narrowly open,
and they seem to be having peaceful dreams. The woman smiles slightly on the sight, a faint yet somewhat sad expression on the wrinkled and weather-beaten face. Moving a strand of their dark hair aside with a finger, she glances at the other bed in the chamber. The pile of sheets that occupy the other steadily rises up and down by the pace of the breathing of the other woman sleeping there. Past their twenties, still pretty though looking a little untidy, their grain yellow hair kept short. Their clothes, as worn and faded as her own, rest on the back of a nearby chair. Below the chair is tucked away several books, scrollcase and other light equipment of a wizard - admitted that of a rather poor one, with little coin to spend.

A breeze pushed through the room and the writer, the only of the women still awake, glances at the windows. On the windowsill sits a brown cat, looking out into the night. "I don't think you'll find rats in this town", the woman says quietly to the cat, which responds by stretching and glancing unimpressed back into the room, letting out an annoyed "Mrouummm...... Why did we have to come to this place, anyways? There is no fish." the cat complains. "I know, and came because we had to", the woman responds. "'You' had to", comes a sharp, accusing response from the windowsill, the cat glaring across the room. The woman sighs. "I'll see if I can find you some fish tomorrow. The sea isn't that far-..." she manages, before being interrupted by the cat: "Just three hundred feet belowwww", comes a sarcastic comment from the feline. The cat looks if the woman is going to add any more words, but as she doesn't, the cat lifts its tail up high proudly and turns its back - seemingly with hurt feelings - towards the room as it disappears into the night. The woman resumes writing to her journal.

5th of Flamerule, year 1353

We arrived to Candlekeep during the day, having made the journey from Baldur's Gate. In our party were I, Dawn, Clara and Omurn. Unsurprisingly, Omurn complained most of the journey, though she found great joy in ambushing the unfortunate bandits hiding in the bushes or behind hills who happen to be along our path.

While Omurn doesn't see it as such, she had the greatest part of avoiding violence during our travels. The unfortunate would-be ambushers are usually distracted by a talking, sarcastic cat for long enough for us to lift the sphere of invisibility and pass on ahead unharmed.

Sometimes I wonder, how many of her nine lives she's already spent, or whether Omurn actually have nine hundred lives to spare - so careless she is about her own safety. While it's true that she's faster than any of us, she does not always walk away unscathed. Five days ago, a missfired arrow grazed her side. Fortunately it was only a scratch. I treated the wound as best as I could. Dawn was helping. Last time we checked this morning, the wound was good way healing, but Omurn insisted on being carried anyways, for having done the "heaviest work so far". I think Dawn was more than happy to carry Omurn, though. She usually doesn't like such, but then again, that feline can be as fickle as the gods of chaos themselves.

Both Dawn and Clara has been mesmerized at the sight of Candlekeep. Neither have to much experience with larger cities. We stayed in Waterdeep only briefly with Clara, and Dawn wasn't even born at that time. I think the awe they expressed was about equal to their sight of Baldur's Gate almost a month ago. We came with a ship, from Velen. When the walls and rooftops of Baldur's Gate were slowly approaching in the distance, Dawn was pressing on tightly against the railing, standing on a box, intent on to absorb it all with her young, curious eyes. Clara was mostly nervous, fearing that we'd face accusations and charges for what happen with the Teal Torch over five years ago near to Waterdeep. It's been many years, and it's a completely different city, I reassured her. I thank the gods that this was indeed the case. Not a single soul showed recognition as we made our way to the Blushing Mermaid, the local low-standard tavern.

I think we made the right decision by choosing not to remain in Baldur's Gate. While the incident to Waterdeep have faded from the memory of most, I really do not want to deal with the mess that would come out if a member of the lynch-party happen to come by Baldur's Gate and figure that I am still alive. Besides that... well. That red tower sticking right in the middle of the city might have it's own part in that.

I admit myself surprised when I found out that there was a Thayan Enclave in Baldur's Gate. I don't remember there being one to Waterdeep, though some Red Wizards were at times sighted at Skullport. If not for them, I might have stayed in Baldur's Gate, but to start an arcane craftmanship business in the shadow of that tower... would not end well. Knowing Thayans from the stories from back in Rashemen, I'd be driven out from the market, assassinated in my sleep, my child taken away from me, and otherwise completely ruined - assuming I could even compete with their prices. I 'could' have competed with quality, but that just resumes to the earlier point. The Thayans don't play nice.

So, now we are here, in Candlekeep. Far-away from political struggles, far from power-hungry wizards seeking to conquer all, far from people who would seek to harm me or my daughter. I do sincerely hope that I will enjoy it here, that Clara, Dawn, Omurn.... that they all learn to enjoy it here. I am tired of running, hiding, being forced to fight and all other shit that life seems to fling my way.

And I really need to figure out how I can get fish up here, either purchase or go fishing ourselves, else Omurn's presence is likely to become unbearable.

That cat sure likes fish.

She took a moment to inspect her work. There was still some empty space at the end of the page, enough for a few lines or a signature. She usually didn't sign letters with anything fancy, even less journal. Some people wrote the blessings of their gods, before their name and many titles. Others just used fancy words. She rarely did. This time, however, she had a feeling. Was it guidance of the spirits, fate or something else? She didn't know. But she did write down what she felt was right.

Sharan Haerzyna
Bearing the name of Nivele Windreed

Unproven of the Wychlaran
Former thief of the Shadowmasters of Telflamm
Former mercenary Lieutenant of the Sabers for Sale
Apprentice of Archmage Drunelai of House Koramor
Former Speaker of the Teal Torch

Wizard, Necromancer, Bloodmage,
Scholar, Arcane Crafter,
Enchanter, Teacher,
Mother

As she was finished, she couldn't help but to smile faintly by herself.

"That's a lot of titles." she says quietly, "But I like the last one the most."

[Skarain]

7th of Flamerule, year 1353 DR

It's been two days since our arrival to Candlekeep. Beyond the first day, I have yet to catch sight of the so-called "active" avowed. Of course there is a lot of staff in here, ranging from the guards to the librarians, readers, scribes, seekers and common folk, but the way I understood the vouches need to be from the more... adventurous avowed? I might be wrong, of course. I'll ask the Guide the next time I see her.

Dawn and Clara have started to settle in nicely. Between our lessons and from taking care of Dawn, she's been wandering around the village surrounding the keep. I hope that she manages to make some friends with the locals. She's always been a little shy when it comes to strangers. There is no worry of that with Dawn. Already after the first day, I saw her playing with the girl of the farmstead, even helping her with farmwork such as feeding the animals. She's having really fun, she told me. I am glad she doesn't have to grow up without friends. Maybe the girls will leave to see the world together once they're older.

Since the keep remains a ghost-town in terms of the adventurous avowed, I commonly sit by the benches surrounding the keep, waiting, and writing this journal. I have also offered my aid to the staff in charge of laundry, fields and the likes. They were more than happy to have an extra pair of hands. I do hope that someone have spare rope that I can unravel and make a fishing net out of. Turns out that Candlekeep doesn't particularly live off the sea, despite being perched high above it. For my 'clear intention of trying to improve the situation', Omurn has given me more time, for which I am grateful - means less complaining. She wouldn't abandon us though, even if I was not able to get fish for her. While neither says it out aloud, we two do respect each other, as well as the pact that we made years ago, when we were younger.

As for Candlekeep, what I have figured of the life in here so far, might as well recap parts of it in here. The keep is largely self-sufficient, protected by extremely strong magical wards, and has never been successfully besieged. According to the Gatekeeper, Isabella I think she was, no-one has ever got as close as to touch the door. That is reassuring, and easy to believe. On a narrow path as that which leads to Candlekeep, a simple spell such as Gust of Wind is more than deadly.

As for the life, as a self-sufficient organisation, Candlekeep grows it own food in the farms, growing grain, roots and vegetables. They also have livestock. Chickens, pigs and couple of cows what I have seen so far. I also spotted one herb garden by the farmhouse. It may be simple, but you do come by with surprisingly little. I should know, growing up eating fish every day at the archipelagos of Thousand Swords in Altumbel.

The other things that the people do involve laundry, cleaning and cooking - daily chores of life. For a "small" place, there are still a surprisingly many mouths to feed, many monks, guards and scrib-.....



I'll continue the journal later. There are people moving about in the courtyard. Maybe I'll get someone to talk with.

[Skarain]

9th of Flamerule, year 1353 DR

I am now an Acolyte of Candlekeep. I have been since yesterday. I got my last vouch from a rather strange elf lady who looked almost like a drow, except that her skin was more light. She was very short and with white hair. At first, I thought it was a disguised Drow but turns out she wasn't.

Shortly after meeting her, I got into a meeting of Candlekeep personnel. It was a neat, structured meeting, with a clear form and order. They start with the Guide opening the meeting, and bringing up any official announcements. After that, members in the meeting bring their own matters and what they have been up to for others to hear, starting from the lowest rank. After that, the meeting moves to talk deeper on projects and such. In the end, there is a praise to Oghma and the meeting is concluded.

Dawn, Clara and I moved to our new quarters this morning, in the Female Acolyte Quarters. As by the words of the Guide, my Wards are to live where I live. We were fortunate enough to find beds for each, though Dawn could probably still sleep next to me or Clara. As not personnel of Candlekeep, they do not get the same black robes as I do, though I should try get them some new clothes when I can. Their current ones are as patchwork as my previous ones.

The current quarters are very simple. There are tower beds, closets, a stove for warmth and that's about it. There are shared commons room downstairs though, with a simple kitchen, bookshelves, a few tables and several sofas. It's more than enough for a simple life. I'll probably make use of one of the tables downstairs to write this journal in the future, as well as use one when I am teaching Clara.

Speaking of that, I should really get working on that again. We've been travelling so much lately that I have barely had the chance.

Dawn has been playing with Pia. She told me that they've been catching chickens and carrying them back in to the pens. She thinks it's fun, though Justin, the stableworker has been saying to the girls that they're doing unnecessary work. That the chickens return anyways at around the feeding time. If you ask me, do let the girls play.

[Skarain]

10th of Flamerule

I am in good progress with a net that I am creating. While they didn't have any already ready nets in Candlekeep, I did get my hands on many feets of rope, which I am dissolving into smaller ropes to weave the net out of.

I can probably find rocks to serve as the weight from down at the shore, closer to the mainland. I don't have a stoneshaping spell currently in my spellbook, but I can probably ask to be permitted into the library and have an Avowed copy the spell for me. It goes for a common purpose, after all.

I'll have to see which type of net works the best by these shores. I'd assume similar ones that they use in Velen, but I will have to see. The currents could be very different from what I know.

I'll probably be done tomorrow, or the day after. We will see.

Clara is slowly getting used to the presence of the other Acolytes. As usually, she's initially shy, but I think she's warming up to them slowly. Just like I, I think she would prefer to have private quarters, but we don't exactly have a choice in here. To add to the list of problems, i'll have to figure out where I can wash myself without showcasing my collection of scar spells. I'd really want to avoid the mess of revealing to every acolyte that I do practice Blood Magic.

I could avoid bathing entirely, but someone is bound to complain of the smell eventually. I could bar the door to the bathroom whenever I am in there, yet someone might force their way in or generally be annoying and bang by the door. I could wash up at the sea and claim it's a religious thing. Would probably lead to least amount of question.

Probably the best option. I can heat up water for washing with a cantrip spell and do it at the same times that I go to check for the nets. I'll have to ask around how safe the path leading there is. If it is safe enough, I might be able to bring Clara, Dawn and Omurn with me. We could have those nice trips down to the shore again, just the four of us.

I think we all would like that.