A Land Far Away

Figured I should probably start writing and keeping one of these now. Probably should have been keeping one for some time, but I haven't been. Not sure why. But now, with the House of the Sharpened Axe built, this seems like a good time as any.

I buried a friend today.

Well, burnt him on a pyre, but the effect is the same. Dent, or Rogen, or whatever his name finally decided to be. It didn't really matter. He was a warrior and an honorable man. A man of deeds, who died performing one. A Battle Death is a Holy Ending. But I guess that doesn't really make anything that much easier knowing it. He'll still be missed. Drake said something about him converting to Bane before the end. Do I believe it? I suppose it's possible, but it doesn't matter. What matter is who Dent was, and later who Rogen was in his stead. Which god he's receiving his rewards from now is academic really. Valor knows no bounds. Rest well my friend.

And of late, he's not the only one. I knew him for only a short time, but Garlus was perhaps the greatest warrior I have ever known. Honorable, honest, welcoming, and skilled beyond what should be reasonable in mortal ken. I don't know the particulars of how he died. Someting to do with giants south of Nashkel. If I were skilled enough, I'd seek vengence for him myself. I wish I could have been at the final goodbye with Alyra, Olaf, and the others. They were gone via magic before I knew. Alyra must be going crazy. I know how I felt when I found out Chris was presumed dead, and I know how I'd feel if I heard Jendarek had been killed. I can only imagine what that poor woman is going through. But she is strong. She'll survive it.

I can't help but think one thing in both cases of Rogen and Garlus.

Had I been there, would it have been different? Would I have made a difference with my spells and healings and such?

It is a question I'll never have an answer to.

On a different note, the Temple is doing well. A weapon donation chest has been set up for people to offer weapons to give and take in the Training room. The Empty Scabbard seems to do regular business, and there are at least some people daily in the worship room and the training room. The Half-orc, from what the Battle Chaplain tells me is on the road to following the path of Tempus. As much as I hate orc-kin, I think this is good. Perhaps this is how Tempus intends to finally get through my thick Uthgardt skull that Valor and Honor know no race or gender. I know I've used that argument before with others, mostly people like my Father.

I sparred with Olaf again, this time he was an Umberhulk. It was damn hard to beat. Tought Brenna, his lady friend, a few things about stances. She's not very good, but she'll get better. From what I understand, she's fairly new at the whole "adventuring" thing anyway.

Berendil is really damn fast. Stupid elves and their stupid reflexes...

Had a long chat with Trapper too. She wants to open a tavern north of the Gate, bring her child and family in from the Moonshaes. I think I'll help her. Apparently Dent's last wish was to establish an orphanage. The inn Trapper now owns in the Moonshaes on Corwell, if she were so inclined, would make a fine orphanage. In any event, the new tavern will hopefully be north of the Red Knight fortress but south of the Tempus' Tears shrine. We'll see how that goes.

It is time for meditations.

Take it outside, ugly

Well, this is a neat toy. A ring that keeps me from needing to eat, drink, or even sleep much, as long as I wear it. Will be very useful in long journies. My reward for completeing the maze from the High Queen at the festivities. Others got other things. Brenna looks adorable in that robe. As is, pretty much everyone came out well on that, though why and how all the stupid slimes got in there is beyond me.

Finished my enchanting practice. Time to head back to the Ruathym and find out if I can actually do an enchantment that holds now. Hopefully that'll work. Would really love to start enchanting up the rest of my gear, and I think it would bring a benefit to the House of the Sharpened Axe as well. But we'll see. I'm told it can be very very draining.

In any event, at least this day's events didn't go crazy like the fey kidnapping Brenna right after her own wedding. That was just wierd. Not to mention a bit disgusting at the end, but three purple worms are nothing to laugh at. At least the issue got resolved. More or less. In any case, those worms would have been needing to be delt with. Might as well have been by us.

Persephone told me she's planning on building a temple near Candlekeep. Good on her. Gave her a little money to help. Won't be much, but such things are expensive, I know. I wish her well. She's helped me enough. But we'll see how that goes.

Need to head back to the Gate soon. Need to talk to Trapper about our joint little venture. Have some more general weaponry for the Sharpened Axe donations box too. Good times.

Things continue to move forward here in Baldur's Gate.

Recently, a lich attacked Tempus' Tears with a vast undead army. Fortunately we were prepared. Many Flaming Fist and several others gave their lives for the defense of those who could not battle while others sought to destroy the lich itself elsewhere. A Battle Death is a Holy Ending. May their souls forever gain glory in the Warrior's Rest.

A few Banites assisted in the defense of the town. Which I suppose is fine. At least they showed up for the fight. I'm still not sure what the reason they helped is though. I've come to not fully trust the motivations of Banites in any fashion anymore. As it is though, they helped tremendously, as did Hully and a few others. The battles against many of the officers of the undead army were glorious. Unfortunately, my skills were also needed to assist with those in the shrine who were wounded, diseased by the undead, or drained and I was not able to be on the front lines the entire time. While I was there though, many are the enemies that fell before Foe Reaper.

I stayed at Tempus' Tears for some days afterwards to assist. The Battle Chaplain there was killed during the fight and I wanted to make sure all was well before I departed. However, I've returned to the Gate and Sharpened Axe. Soon though I shall have to make a trip to the Moonshaes to report to the Ruathym temple and perhaps further enchant my armor.

Well, the wind-downs and the cleaning from the Moon Festival are finally finished. The House is a bit less active now, but that's alright. It was a fantastic festival. Went down without a hitch as far as I can tell. And noone even got accidently killed! (at least noone anyone's told me about.)

During the festival sparred several people. Won most of them easily as it was just a game. Though the spar with Persephone was very difficult. We were both using weapons we were not so familiar with, nor using magic to keep the field even. Damn, that woman is tough. She eventually beat me, but I think that we were pretty evenly matched the entire time. From her stance and her breathing, it wasn't long before she was going to have to give in by the time I couldn't stand anymore. It was a good day.

Had to take a trip to the Mermaid the other day too. I don't mind the innkeep there sending people who are getting into bar-fight disputes to the Temple sparring room. That's what it's for, and we're practically next door to the place. However, he needs to start warning the people that there are certain things that just don't go. Next time some fool pulls a poisoned dagger, I'm going to let the Swordmistress take his head off.

On the plus side of the whole affair, met a pair of folk, an elf and a woman who wouldn't take her hood off. Pleasent enough both of them. As Tempus would have it, I had a spare crossbow for the elf to use, as he hadn't a proper ranged weapon. I hope it serves him well.

Time for bed. Opening service meditations are in 5 hours.