A Distant Drum

Life has been quiet of late. Once you have gone about the business of destroying a god, mundane problems don't loom so large. If you had told me those years ago before I first enrolled at the Ascalon Academy about everything I would see and do in the world, I would not have believed you. Now, it is hard to image that there is anything left for me to do.

So I've been spending a lot of time reading. A lot of time. I've been following the serial adventures of a woman from another world who also has taken up arms against the evil that besieges her from all sides. I can identify with her quite a bit, though she has never once lifted a bow for any other reason than to sell it. What a mad woman. Her tale never seems to end, though. There are so many other heroes in the world that seem to achieve much greater things. I wonder sometimes what the point of her story is if she never aspires to loftier goals. I suppose the same could be said of my reaction to Urgoz, Kanaxai, and Mallyx. Something to ponder.

I also took the time to renovate the Brotherhood's guild hall. The old Ascalonian design was weighing on me, so it has been converted into something more resembling a serene Canthan estate. The merchants enjoy hiding in seperate areas instead of the common market of the old hall, but it's a small complaint.

I have been spending much time among my Kurzick allies. There is something peaceful of the shadowed world of the Echovald Forest. Of course, nothing is peaceful on that frontier long, so I have taken up arms against the Luxon invaders. Count zu Heltzer has acknowledged me with the title Kurzick Supporter, though I wonder if I will soon be know as the Scourge of Ferndale so often do I patrol there. This service has earned me the right to be trained in the Kurzick method known as the Triple Shot. It's a tricky feat of archery that I am ill at ease with. But I find myself using it with greater frequency than my beloved Maurader's Shot. And I was promised more training should my support of the Kurzicks continue.

I must admit that I've come out of my long solitude due to rumors of... well, something in the far reachs of my old home, Tyria. After being away for so much, I find myself with a strange longing for those shores that I was not aware still burned inside me. Certainly there will be evil to overcome and allies to win, but I would face anything to protect my home once again.

The Fall and Rise of a God

It is finally done. Neither the Desolation nor the Realm of Torment could keep me from my confrontation with Abbadon. I was quite fascinated to find my old friends, Vizier Khilbron and Shiro Tagachi in the service of the fallen God of Secrets. It certainly explains a lot. But I've bested them before, so even together they were no threat.

And then came the final battle with the fallen god. I have trouble even comprehending that I fought a god. It was nearly a futile exercise. Time and again my companions and I fell before Abbadon's might, only to be restored and renew the attack. And when he was defeated, beyond all belief, Kormir stepped forward to take up the mantle as Goddess of Truth. I can think of no one more fitting than the Spearmarshal.

Saving the world is an exhausting endeavor. Elona is at peace once again, though there is still much I have to discover. The Sunspears must be returned to glory. And there are whispers that the Order has discovered a forgotten gate in the Realm of Torment. Someday maybe I'll be able to rest.

Solitude and Desolation

My journey to Vabbi was in vain. Seemingly the instant I gained the princes backing to fight the Kournans, Varesh Ossa's Nightfall was unleashed. Now I find myself trudging across the sulfur wastes, sometimes afoot, sometimes in the belly of a wurm. And all around me, the world grows darker.

I write now from the Bone Palace, the bastion of Palawa Joko and his undead minions. Is this what I've become, just another minion, knowing that not even death will keep me from this fight? Sometimes I wonder if the struggle is worth all the trouble. I just wanted to defend my family and my home. How many failures must I endure before I give in to the darkness. Ossa is somewhere in the wastes, but I am too tired to try anymore. Let the night come on. There are others who can take up the fight.

Intrigue and Subterfuge

It has been too long since I've had the time to make note of my experiences. So much has happened in so little time that I barely have recollection of all that I have done. Even now there is so much I have to do that I have trouble justifying even this pause to inscribe my thoughts. But it is easy to disappear among the thieves and con-men that populate Honur Hill and take the time for reflection.

It seems that Elona is a land made for scheming and much as it is for warring. Recently a centaur called Zhed Shadowhoof infiltrated our sanctuary and threatened to betray us all to Varesh Ossa. To prevent this, he required my help in rescuing his brethren from enslavement. As I would have undertaken the commission voluntarily if he had just asked, I was annoyed by his temerity. But my displeasure was not such that would keep me from helping the centaurs and striking another blow against the Kornans. And afterward, Zhed dedicated himself to my service to insure his peoples continued safety.

Not long after recovering Koss from Kournan hands, I came into contact with the most mercenary corsair in Elona, Margrid the Sly. She has been instrumental in spiriting my Sunspears past Kourna's navy to Istan as well as helping invade the fortress of Gandara. I was inclined to a direct assault upon discovering that Spearmarshal Kormir was held in the prison there, but Margrid persuaded me that a more subtle plan was called for. She help me waylay an Kournan patrol for its armor and we snuck into the fortress in disguise. With daring and luck, we freed Kormir and fled the fortress with corsair assistance.

And now I find myself in Vabbi, seeking assistance from the princes here. I made little impression on them at the Festival of Lyss. I guess saving the world twice isn't enough to impress some people. However, Prince Bokka invited me to view a new play in his amphitheatre, so I readily accepted hoping to secure his backing. The play, it turns out, is the story of Rurik and his flight from Ascalon. And beyond that, it was staged by Kournans who staged the event to capture me. Did they choose that production because of my involvement in those events? There are wheels turning within wheels in this country and I am ill-suited for diplomacy.

Olias is glowering at the Xunlai again, so I must move on. Everyone here is too lively for his tastes.

The Attack on Gandara

I write from somewhere below the Kourna desert in this sanctuary the Sunspears have made. So much has happened in the last couple of days and I need to write it down while I have this respite.

It turns out that I was confused about my role in the upcoming attack by the Sunspears. I was not just to direct a small squad of champions in the battle, I was placed in charge of the entire Sunspear army. That came as a bit of a shock to me, but I took to the challenge and lead the charge as best I could. My personal cadre acted admirably, though their inexperience lead them into some folly during the fray. Nothing a good resurrection spell could not handle.

Speaking of resurrection spell, the Sunspears have this marvelous variant of the trusty resurrection signet I was given upon first arriving at Ascalon Academy. This Sunspear Rebirth Signet actually becomes more effective as one rises through the ranks of the Sunspears. Evidently it's powered by the expression of one's own majesty. The things some people will think of astound me.

All was going reasonable will during the battle until we reached the heart of Varesh Ossa's defenses. There the damnable woman summoned enormous demons and completely routed the Sunspear army. I must admit that I tucked tail and ran in the face of that horde. Along the way, Spearmarshal Kormir was lost and Koss, one of my cadre, was captured.

So I have gathered what Sunspears I have left and set up a temporary headquarters in the Kourna desert. It is an underground oasis overrun with overgrown termites. The cleansing of the shrine was not overly difficult. And now we have a base of operations from which to strike at Ossa and her demonic horde.

As one last item of note, I would like to thank Midshipman Morolah, a corsair raider on the Marga Coast. I learned from him the technique for firing a single Burning Arrow. And though he did not survive the lesson, I will remember his ability for a long time to come.