There's a renaissance happening within the Circle; it's made me glad Aiden and I returned to settle in the Sword Coast when we did. The trouble that happened with
Oona has been resolved, though I won't commit the details of all that transpired to paper. I guess they are that sensitive, I don't feel comfortable seeing them in black and white, even in my own journal. Things are happily resolved anyway; for a while there I was sure it couldn't be.
It's given me another view of
Sarisay though... one I am ambivalent about. She's worked hard to be level headed and even-handed, with the rocky start to her new position. But after what has transpired I've seen something hard and formidable in her, something cunning. Granted, this only showed itself once she felt the Elder Circle was in danger and was directed as a means of protecting us. Something she perhaps learned from her upbringing - after all, even I still have dregs of those lessons taught in higher society. I know there was a moment where I had my doubts, my frustrations... now I feel confident in my instincts, and casting my stone for her.
Seems the Circle will be growing soon too, with luck, anyway. There's been many new druids and their ilk arriving to the area and in such a short time, I wondered if there was some sort of call. I try to reach out to them. They're from so far and so many different paths, my curiosity won't let me leave it alone.
Menolly is one elf from a much larger Circle, one firmly established with their own traditions and cultures. She came with me the other day to gather medicines from the water cave then shared some stories of her home with me. When we'd talked about traditions and trials for our Circle she'd mentioned a Trial of Healing, and I'm not sure such a trial has been used by our Circle before. But it's a thought, an option.
I hope Menolly asks to join us.
Who else is new here...
Sten, for one, the Shaman in the wolf pelt. Shaman, or... druid who knows some shamanistic things. He says he's from Ruathym, one of those frozen islands in the far west sea. Again, a way of life I know so little about but want to know more of; the sound very ritualistic and perhaps supersticious. he practises a form of divination in bone throwing, and talks about their dance rituals, and spiritualism. He's a streak of ferociousness though, I cannot quite tell if he simply respects the brutality nature can show, or reveres it. A little investigation showed though, people of Ruathym frequently follow Umberlee or Tempus. It doesn't follow these are his Gods; he doesn't seem a sea-faring type, and despite Tempus' guardianship of Eldath, he's not a nature God. Time will tell.
MaLuke and
Yeslynn have officially begun their initiation time, there's maybe a fortnight before trials may begin. But if this is to happen I will need to speak to MaLuke and get a better read of his mindset. His heart is good, but he can be child-like, which looks like it's become a bit of a problem where personal space is concerned.
Encourage to grow, don't punish and restrict. That's my part in all this anyway, I suppose.
It's odd to have found my life settling in to something so comfortable. Even with the wars in the Troll Claws - and a skirmish I needed to take part in, alongside House Vale.
Aiden tends to his duties there when required, but we've fallen into a way of life much like that when we first met, those simpler years together in the mountains around Amn. Living in harmony with the world, preparing for the winter months, roaming freely together. Granted, he doesn't need me to teach him much about survival any more.
Has life gotten easier? Or have we just gotten a little better at it?
