Entry 5
I have finally reached the shores of the old world.
Circumstances forced me to the Sword Coast far earlier than I previously anticipated, yet, at the same time, I cannot contain a surge of relief as I finally step onto the shore.
The crossing from Caer Corwell to the Gate of Baldur was one of the most uncomfortable and mortifying experiences of my life. If I had been cooped up for one more day in that poorly crafted piece of moldy hardwood surrounded by those reeking, uncultured, bumbling primitives I SWEAR-
It is imperative that I control my temper. The events at Caer Corwell have made it quite clear that I do not have any hope of completing my mission by being forthright about my intentions to the locals. I will endeavor to dull my senses in the face of the great tide of barbarism that is about to wash over me.
Entry 6
I feel much better today! The city itself was horrible, and I will not write about it now, lest it ruins my mood, but I was able to find some peace after leaving its walls behind me and finding refuge in the countryside.
Baldur’s Gate was all that I expected from mayfly society, but the farmland around it is surprisingly empty. I have observed entire fields and cattle herds left entirely unattended. I did not pay much attention to it at first, assuming that there were probably unseen wards protecting them, until I remembered that mayflies do not have such means readily available to them.
Do they have no care for their possessions, even the land that think belongs to them?
Oh, what silly questions I ask. And look at this, I am ruining my mood again.
Happy thoughts: numerous as they are, the mayflies are quarrelsome, and, from what I understand by reading the laws of their city, I should have no problem acting on my own against those who the humans have deemed enemies of their so-called civilization.
[Field Journal] Corellia Amekiir
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Zeikari
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:02 am
Re: [Field Journal] Corellia Amekiir
Entry 7
It is as I suspected. I went on a hunt and pawed off the resulting loot to one of the creatures living in the outskirts of the Gate. He did not have any objections to my actions, nor was I reported.
Oh, it felt SO GOOD, my first time squashing one of these bugs! Even after decades of training and mental preparation, one cannot describe the thrill and excitement of putting teachings into practice! My entire body was shaking so hard during the fight I thought I’d drop my blade!
Oh, but how that little monster squirmed and squealed when I delivered the final strike! And by the time the deed was done, I could just FEEL as if I had made these fallen lands just a tiny bit cleaner.
As small and insignificant as it is compared to your own triumphs against the terrible beasts of old, I dedicate this victory to you, o Greatest of the Coronals!
Entry 8
Such wonderful times, these past few days!
I must confess that I had my doubts when trying to convince my parents to let me depart from Evermeet. After all, what can a single person do against such an unending tide of barbarism? How can one hope to succeed in a feat that many who are wiser and stronger than her declared to be a lost cause? The very notion reeks of arrogance unbefitting of a blessed Child of Corellon.
But, after these last days, I feel at least somewhat more validated in my beliefs. These monsters are undoubtedly more durable than I expected, and I will fully admit that I was incorrect in dismissing my father’s concerns about my safety (and on that note, I will be sure to apologize to him when I make my return)... even so, at the time of this writing, several have been killed by my hand. Whom amongst my childhood playmates can claim to have hunted as much and relentlessly as I have? There are many amongst my kindred who are far stronger than I am, yet they are content to waste away back home, while the world dies!
It has not been so many that I have lost count yet, but, if I maintain this stride, I am more than confident that I will reach that point far sooner than I hoped!
It is as I suspected. I went on a hunt and pawed off the resulting loot to one of the creatures living in the outskirts of the Gate. He did not have any objections to my actions, nor was I reported.
Oh, it felt SO GOOD, my first time squashing one of these bugs! Even after decades of training and mental preparation, one cannot describe the thrill and excitement of putting teachings into practice! My entire body was shaking so hard during the fight I thought I’d drop my blade!
Oh, but how that little monster squirmed and squealed when I delivered the final strike! And by the time the deed was done, I could just FEEL as if I had made these fallen lands just a tiny bit cleaner.
As small and insignificant as it is compared to your own triumphs against the terrible beasts of old, I dedicate this victory to you, o Greatest of the Coronals!
Entry 8
Such wonderful times, these past few days!
I must confess that I had my doubts when trying to convince my parents to let me depart from Evermeet. After all, what can a single person do against such an unending tide of barbarism? How can one hope to succeed in a feat that many who are wiser and stronger than her declared to be a lost cause? The very notion reeks of arrogance unbefitting of a blessed Child of Corellon.
But, after these last days, I feel at least somewhat more validated in my beliefs. These monsters are undoubtedly more durable than I expected, and I will fully admit that I was incorrect in dismissing my father’s concerns about my safety (and on that note, I will be sure to apologize to him when I make my return)... even so, at the time of this writing, several have been killed by my hand. Whom amongst my childhood playmates can claim to have hunted as much and relentlessly as I have? There are many amongst my kindred who are far stronger than I am, yet they are content to waste away back home, while the world dies!
It has not been so many that I have lost count yet, but, if I maintain this stride, I am more than confident that I will reach that point far sooner than I hoped!
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Zeikari
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:02 am
Re: [Field Journal] Corellia Amekiir
Entry 9
I decided to take some time to finally write about the city of Baldur now that my mind has been cleared and I drained my bile.
As far as I understand, the mayflies call this the City of Plenty, and consider it to be one of the largest and most prosperous settlements created by their kind. The city is certainly more sizable than I anticipated, even when considering my expectations of the mayflies’ obsession for quantity over quality, but it is about as ugly, chaotic, and foul as I imagined.
There is no statue of the Seldarine that I could see! Not that it would be easy for me to make out any detail of this lurid, incoherent mess of primitive architecture- no, ENGINEERING. I am almost certain that even their temples are built by HAND! How can you create a hallowed sanctuary by laying the stones with your mortal flesh! Are even their wizards so incompetent that construction magic is beyond their understanding?
Perhaps there’s another reason. Now that I write about it, I am caught thinking that maybe their wizards simply refuse to cooperate with the priesthood. There seems to be some kind of animosity between the arcane and divine scholars of this race.
The quarrelsomeness of these creatures never fails to amaze me!
Entry 10
I could not believe my ears when I heard of it, nor my eyes when I saw it: the cemetery outside the Gate of Baldur is riddled with undead!
And the so-called authorities of these lands, ready as they are to watch over and reprimand ME for every breath I take, are entirely unfazed by the remains of their very ancestors being desecrated by vile necromancy!
And not only that, oh no! Avert your divine gaze, o Father of Elvenkind, cover your ears for what I’m about to say! One of their wizards is experimenting on undead flesh! Openly! He hires any thuggish mayfly that goes by, and tells them to tear the undead apart and bring their remains to his camp! Not to cleanse them and give peace to their souls, but to study them! His own kin!
How can ones so utterly barbaric come to rule the world?!
Everything I learn about these creatures makes me more certain of my mission. People must come to rule Faerun once more, it cannot be allowed to remain under the guardianship of animals.
I decided to take some time to finally write about the city of Baldur now that my mind has been cleared and I drained my bile.
As far as I understand, the mayflies call this the City of Plenty, and consider it to be one of the largest and most prosperous settlements created by their kind. The city is certainly more sizable than I anticipated, even when considering my expectations of the mayflies’ obsession for quantity over quality, but it is about as ugly, chaotic, and foul as I imagined.
There is no statue of the Seldarine that I could see! Not that it would be easy for me to make out any detail of this lurid, incoherent mess of primitive architecture- no, ENGINEERING. I am almost certain that even their temples are built by HAND! How can you create a hallowed sanctuary by laying the stones with your mortal flesh! Are even their wizards so incompetent that construction magic is beyond their understanding?
Perhaps there’s another reason. Now that I write about it, I am caught thinking that maybe their wizards simply refuse to cooperate with the priesthood. There seems to be some kind of animosity between the arcane and divine scholars of this race.
The quarrelsomeness of these creatures never fails to amaze me!
Entry 10
I could not believe my ears when I heard of it, nor my eyes when I saw it: the cemetery outside the Gate of Baldur is riddled with undead!
And the so-called authorities of these lands, ready as they are to watch over and reprimand ME for every breath I take, are entirely unfazed by the remains of their very ancestors being desecrated by vile necromancy!
And not only that, oh no! Avert your divine gaze, o Father of Elvenkind, cover your ears for what I’m about to say! One of their wizards is experimenting on undead flesh! Openly! He hires any thuggish mayfly that goes by, and tells them to tear the undead apart and bring their remains to his camp! Not to cleanse them and give peace to their souls, but to study them! His own kin!
How can ones so utterly barbaric come to rule the world?!
Everything I learn about these creatures makes me more certain of my mission. People must come to rule Faerun once more, it cannot be allowed to remain under the guardianship of animals.
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Zeikari
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:02 am
Re: [Field Journal] Corellia Amekiir
Entry 11
I have debated with myself about how to approach this cemetery issue.
I cannot deal with the desecrator, because he is sanctioned by the authorities of the city to conduct his vile experiments, and I cannot stop the plague of undeath itself on my own. I possess neither the fighting nor arcane skills required to perform such an act.
My finesse is wasted with creatures devoid of vitals, and I have yet to master any spell capable of cleansing them into eternal rest.
Furthermore, I have witnessed several fools, driven by greed, find their death at the hands of these abominations, which I have found to be quite the entertaining spectacle to observe.
Finally, and more importantly, seeking a solution to this problem would require an expedition in the great mausoleum from which these abominations are spawning. While I can put aside my personal feelings on going underground, there are also theological concerns: would Corellon disapprove of me breaching into this sanctum? Most of them are not people, but I think I have seen some kindred among the ghosts roaming the fields.
I am torn! Until I can satisfy this internal turmoil, I will have to leave this place be, and let the mayflies worry about their own problems.
Entry 12
WHY SHE NO
Entry 13
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Entry 14
I do not understand. I do not understand.
But I must write it down.
I was doing my usual extermination run in the outskirts, and somebody attacked me! Just, so suddenly-! And cowardly! From the back, while I was busy dealing with some vermin!
She was tall, and fully clothed in the rags of these beasts. She was yelping in their tongue too, she even reeked like them!
How could I be expected in the middle of deadly combat, not to act on instinct?
I swear, o Great Fellowship of the Woods, I didn’t know that she was people before I killed her!
Why would she attack me why would the first
I vow I will make amends for this error, I swear it! Fourteen mayflies should be enough for starters, and then ten times more in the coming months! I pray that this show of contrition will let the Fellowship know that mine was an honest mistake!
Entry 15
The accident, it
I fear that
Perhaps this isolation is having an adverse effect on my judgement. Purifying the land every day brings me peace, but I am no wild animal: I cannot live without companionship.
Never, ever since I have arrived, have I heard a single spoken word except from my own mouth.
All of this yapping, and squawking, and barking makes me sick.
I have been looking all over for signs of other people, but to no avail. This entire city is devoid of them.
Perhaps I cannot see them. Could they have also forsaken their kin, like the one that-
Is this something that I should be afraid of? If I spend time separated from civilization, will I also revert to a bestial state?
Am I the only one left? Was the great Retreat completed before I even had the chance to stop it?
There must be someone else! I cannot believe otherwise!
I have debated with myself about how to approach this cemetery issue.
I cannot deal with the desecrator, because he is sanctioned by the authorities of the city to conduct his vile experiments, and I cannot stop the plague of undeath itself on my own. I possess neither the fighting nor arcane skills required to perform such an act.
My finesse is wasted with creatures devoid of vitals, and I have yet to master any spell capable of cleansing them into eternal rest.
Furthermore, I have witnessed several fools, driven by greed, find their death at the hands of these abominations, which I have found to be quite the entertaining spectacle to observe.
Finally, and more importantly, seeking a solution to this problem would require an expedition in the great mausoleum from which these abominations are spawning. While I can put aside my personal feelings on going underground, there are also theological concerns: would Corellon disapprove of me breaching into this sanctum? Most of them are not people, but I think I have seen some kindred among the ghosts roaming the fields.
I am torn! Until I can satisfy this internal turmoil, I will have to leave this place be, and let the mayflies worry about their own problems.
Entry 12
WHY SHE NO
Entry 13
---
Entry 14
I do not understand. I do not understand.
But I must write it down.
I was doing my usual extermination run in the outskirts, and somebody attacked me! Just, so suddenly-! And cowardly! From the back, while I was busy dealing with some vermin!
She was tall, and fully clothed in the rags of these beasts. She was yelping in their tongue too, she even reeked like them!
How could I be expected in the middle of deadly combat, not to act on instinct?
I swear, o Great Fellowship of the Woods, I didn’t know that she was people before I killed her!
Why would she attack me why would the first
I vow I will make amends for this error, I swear it! Fourteen mayflies should be enough for starters, and then ten times more in the coming months! I pray that this show of contrition will let the Fellowship know that mine was an honest mistake!
Entry 15
The accident, it
I fear that
Perhaps this isolation is having an adverse effect on my judgement. Purifying the land every day brings me peace, but I am no wild animal: I cannot live without companionship.
Never, ever since I have arrived, have I heard a single spoken word except from my own mouth.
All of this yapping, and squawking, and barking makes me sick.
I have been looking all over for signs of other people, but to no avail. This entire city is devoid of them.
Perhaps I cannot see them. Could they have also forsaken their kin, like the one that-
Is this something that I should be afraid of? If I spend time separated from civilization, will I also revert to a bestial state?
Am I the only one left? Was the great Retreat completed before I even had the chance to stop it?
There must be someone else! I cannot believe otherwise!
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Zeikari
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:02 am
Re: [Field Journal] Corellia Amekiir
Entry 16
I have begun exploring some ruins south of the bridge called Wyrm’s Crossing. Judging by the inscriptions found within, they appear to be human-fashioned and of very recent construction, not much older than Father, I wager.
Presently, they have been infested by Kobolds. Playing hide-and-seek with the little pests has given me some distraction from darker thoughts.
There is something about them that I find personally amusing. Every once in a while, during our game, I would make my voice deep and yell “Do you not recognize your master’s disguise?! Bow before me, worms!” in Draconic. Most of them didn’t seem to understand, but a few got spooked and dropped their weapon, which made me laugh.
Entry 17
Still no sign of anyone.
I thought I saw somebody this morning, but as I approached the creature, I quickly realized my mistake and retreated.
I did not expect loneliness to strike me so quickly. I have only just arrived! I-
Entry 18
O joyous day!
I have found kindred! FINALLY! KINDRED!
His name is Cintar, and he’s not just any kindred, he is also a child of the Sun, from Evermeet, just like me!
I was so excited to finally meet someone I could scarcely control myself! I just hope I did not give him the wrong impression.
It’s such a shame, really. I simply couldn’t keep up with him! I
This is incoherent. I will resume from the start.
We met near the entrance of the ruins near Wyrm’s Crossing. I had been trying unsuccessfully to venture deeper within them (I have heard that sometimes mayflies build their mounds on top of older elven architecture) when he ran into me, so fast that he seemed to appear out of nowhere!
For whatever strange reason, he was speaking in the tongue of the manlings. In fact, my heart skipped a beat at our first exchange, as I was worried he might also be a stranger to civilization. Thankfully, that was not so: he understood me perfectly.
He claimed to be looking for a wizard hiding in the caves underneath the ruins, so I warned him about the monsters lurking within, but he looked entirely unfazed.
I naturally offered him my assistance: he was dressed in a simple tunic after all, and carried no weaponry to speak of. I assumed that e must have been a wizard himself, and that he would have been at risk running alone underground unprotected.
How wrong I was!
While he courteously accepted my offer of help, Cintar hardly needed any, and now I fear that my inadequacy has given him a bad impression of me.
He is not a wizard at all! I could barely keep up, running after him as he would charge against any opponent in our way, and cut them down with the most graceful and precise strikes of his bare hands, so fast that I had difficulty just to follow his movements.
It became soon clear to me that he must be my elder by at least a century, if not more. How else would he have been able to refine his reflexes and prowess to such an extent, if not through decades and decades of training?
Within the depths of the caves underneath the ruins, we battled against a young dragon, and where my blade could barely scratch the beast, Cintar’s hands would strike deep, crunching bones at every blow, until our foe lay dead.
After finding the man he was looking for, Cintar talked about his desire to recover certain magical berries that grow on an island near Ulgoth, and, obviously, I readily offered my help a second time. We had had barely any occasion to talk, and I was hoping for a chance to redeem myself in his eyes by being of greater help in our next task.
It was such foolishness. The island was crawling with giant monsters, the likes of which I have never faced. They were so many, so strong, I
If in the cave I was only useless, on the island I became a true burden to him. I felt like a little child being carried by her father through a dangerous wood.
He was just as courteous and helpful as anyone would expect a High Elf to be, luring the beasts away from me, even gifting me with an enchanted weapon, but his behavior only made my shame grow deeper.
After so desperately looking for kindred and receiving the most perfect opportunity to find someone by the Fellowship, I blundered it all!
Once our mission was finally over, I insisted that I repay Cintar for his generosity in any way that he saw fit, and he requested that I slay ten trolls and bring their hides to him. Naturally, I immediately understood that this was a test, another precious opportunity for me to amend to my dishonorable conduct during our two missions together.
Cintar presented it jokingly as a “need” of his for the pelts themselves, but his real intentions were clear to me from the start. He is simply too kind to show his disdain openly. Bringing the troll hides is just a way for me to prove that I have accomplished the task.
I will do it. I don’t yet know how, but I will NOT let this second chance go to waste.
I have begun exploring some ruins south of the bridge called Wyrm’s Crossing. Judging by the inscriptions found within, they appear to be human-fashioned and of very recent construction, not much older than Father, I wager.
Presently, they have been infested by Kobolds. Playing hide-and-seek with the little pests has given me some distraction from darker thoughts.
There is something about them that I find personally amusing. Every once in a while, during our game, I would make my voice deep and yell “Do you not recognize your master’s disguise?! Bow before me, worms!” in Draconic. Most of them didn’t seem to understand, but a few got spooked and dropped their weapon, which made me laugh.
Entry 17
Still no sign of anyone.
I thought I saw somebody this morning, but as I approached the creature, I quickly realized my mistake and retreated.
I did not expect loneliness to strike me so quickly. I have only just arrived! I-
Entry 18
O joyous day!
I have found kindred! FINALLY! KINDRED!
His name is Cintar, and he’s not just any kindred, he is also a child of the Sun, from Evermeet, just like me!
I was so excited to finally meet someone I could scarcely control myself! I just hope I did not give him the wrong impression.
It’s such a shame, really. I simply couldn’t keep up with him! I
This is incoherent. I will resume from the start.
We met near the entrance of the ruins near Wyrm’s Crossing. I had been trying unsuccessfully to venture deeper within them (I have heard that sometimes mayflies build their mounds on top of older elven architecture) when he ran into me, so fast that he seemed to appear out of nowhere!
For whatever strange reason, he was speaking in the tongue of the manlings. In fact, my heart skipped a beat at our first exchange, as I was worried he might also be a stranger to civilization. Thankfully, that was not so: he understood me perfectly.
He claimed to be looking for a wizard hiding in the caves underneath the ruins, so I warned him about the monsters lurking within, but he looked entirely unfazed.
I naturally offered him my assistance: he was dressed in a simple tunic after all, and carried no weaponry to speak of. I assumed that e must have been a wizard himself, and that he would have been at risk running alone underground unprotected.
How wrong I was!
While he courteously accepted my offer of help, Cintar hardly needed any, and now I fear that my inadequacy has given him a bad impression of me.
He is not a wizard at all! I could barely keep up, running after him as he would charge against any opponent in our way, and cut them down with the most graceful and precise strikes of his bare hands, so fast that I had difficulty just to follow his movements.
It became soon clear to me that he must be my elder by at least a century, if not more. How else would he have been able to refine his reflexes and prowess to such an extent, if not through decades and decades of training?
Within the depths of the caves underneath the ruins, we battled against a young dragon, and where my blade could barely scratch the beast, Cintar’s hands would strike deep, crunching bones at every blow, until our foe lay dead.
After finding the man he was looking for, Cintar talked about his desire to recover certain magical berries that grow on an island near Ulgoth, and, obviously, I readily offered my help a second time. We had had barely any occasion to talk, and I was hoping for a chance to redeem myself in his eyes by being of greater help in our next task.
It was such foolishness. The island was crawling with giant monsters, the likes of which I have never faced. They were so many, so strong, I
If in the cave I was only useless, on the island I became a true burden to him. I felt like a little child being carried by her father through a dangerous wood.
He was just as courteous and helpful as anyone would expect a High Elf to be, luring the beasts away from me, even gifting me with an enchanted weapon, but his behavior only made my shame grow deeper.
After so desperately looking for kindred and receiving the most perfect opportunity to find someone by the Fellowship, I blundered it all!
Once our mission was finally over, I insisted that I repay Cintar for his generosity in any way that he saw fit, and he requested that I slay ten trolls and bring their hides to him. Naturally, I immediately understood that this was a test, another precious opportunity for me to amend to my dishonorable conduct during our two missions together.
Cintar presented it jokingly as a “need” of his for the pelts themselves, but his real intentions were clear to me from the start. He is simply too kind to show his disdain openly. Bringing the troll hides is just a way for me to prove that I have accomplished the task.
I will do it. I don’t yet know how, but I will NOT let this second chance go to waste.