Post by Chris Waegelein on Apr 2, 2013 20:27:50 GMT -5
First Passage
After the events of this week, I have decided to keep a Diary. If this foreboding feeling is right, something very terrible is beginning centered around my bloodline and it will be of the utmost importance to keep a record of the Facts as they progress both for the posterity of historical record, and for there to be hope of a victory in the coming battles. But of course, to understand what lies ahead one must first examine what has already happened.
Three days ago, a delegation arrived from a foreign land, the Empire of Valdrace. As is our custom, my dear Anari and I granted him an audience. His message was short and to the point. "The City-State of Ilian is to unconditionally surrender to the Esteemed Empire of Valdrace and join the New Cora Order, or be wiped off the face of Cora." Anari did not take this threat well, though kept her composure. We exchanged glances; her blood father is the well known Dark Lord Magus Drakhen Lee. There was no way in the hells we would turn upon our own. Breaking our glance, I looked to the soldier and spoke evenly.
"What you ask is not to be considered lightly. We humbly request the time necessary to assemble a council before we reach a decision. The people must be informed, lest a riot reduce our ability to lend assistance. Please grant us one week. A message will be sent forward with our answer."
Anari was visibly shocked that I would offer Valdrace even the consideration of assistance, but said nothing. I believe she understood my diversion to grant us time. The emessary offered a stiff half bow, saying he would grant us the time needed; then turned his back to us and led his party out. His actions, subtle as they are, suggest a prepreation for war against not just us but an invasion of the entire Continent.
Today, mother and father arrived bearing news that confirmed my suspicions; an assassination attempt against Father, and an attack on the bridge connecting our Commonwealths. This was made futher alarming by the fact that it was not an army that attacked, or even a token scouting party. Many of Father's men were taken out by a single man. No, not a man... a Demon. The combined efforts of mother and father were enough to push him back, but not to outright kill this demon; this "Zexor". I fear he will be a constant thorn in our proverbial paw.
With so much at stake, we have arranged for my joining father on a quest to Zelonia. Our sister kingdoms must be contacted; both to offer warning and to gather more information. We shall make the journey today back to Kisareth then it is on to the Zelonia Mountains. I spent many summers making daisy chains and playing in those mountains; the paths will always be ingrained in my memory. Father looks like he's done shopping for supplies, which means it's time for my journey to begin. Good bye Anari. Good bye Ilian. I don't know when I shall see either again... She'dai, please watch over us.
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Second Passage
Good evening, Diary. Today was quite eventful. I guided father through the Zelonian Mountains. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the atmosphere here. In some ways, it reminded me of my childhood again. Close to the top we found Dissan wandering about. It seems she had gotten lost on the way to Zelonia. She had decided the same as us; that Zelonia was in danger and needed to be warned. For her safety and our own, she joined our party. It was a convenient thing too, for not far away we found a magickal fire raging and blocking our passage. I have read fairy tales of burning bushes in deserts talking to people, but this one didn't have a voice. Dissan extinguished the magick blaze with ease.
As we attempted to exit the mountain range, a man blocked our path. He announced himself as Calamar, Earl of Valdrace and stated that he was preventing any passage into Zelonia. He would not reveal further information and boasted that his sword skill was superior to anything our family could throw at him. A minute later, his blood was cooling the mountain floor.
Even as I write I can see his lifeless eyes staring up. Father's mood is impassive, though this is hardly surprising. He never seems to show neither joy nor sorrow when he slays a man, woman, or child. I love Anari, but I sometimes wonder just how much of her father is in her. I miss my wife, so.
Looks like it's time to continue traveling. Until next time, Diary. I'll let you know how things go in Zelonia.
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Third Passage
War is hell, Diary. We arrived in New Haven today. Father wanted to restock on supplies so Dissan and I took a moment to walk around town. Children chased butterflies in the pasture near the cows, but all the adults had only one thing on their mind; War. I wish we hadn't taken that walk, though... After visiting the village we entered Zelonia Castle to warn my brother-in-law, Cadar. Moments after delivering our warning, a scout burst into the audience chamber interrupting our meeting; Valdrace had begun it's attack on New Haven.
Oh Diary... So many people didn't make it to the safe haven in time. They even slaughtered the cows and smashed in the village well! Father made short work of the soldiers attacking the New Haven, but we were not in time to save everybody... Inside Ny'Elstian Temple we found Cadar with several wounds. Before we could secure his safety we were attacked by someone who had apparently last been seen in Father's prisons, a cruel man named Cyrano. Like Calamar before him, father destroyed him but he gave us our first clue to who may be behind the war. He gave us a single name. Ghaston...
It all seems illogical, Diary. Why would Valdrace go to so much effort to start a war with kingdoms hundreds of miles away? There must be a stronger force behind them, using them like puppets. But who? There are too many questions unanswered. I KNOW there's more to it...
Father and Cadar deliberated for a bit before we came upon a decision. To get answers, we must set sail for the Rim Kingdoms. Mother seems incredibly nervous about the trip itself. I wonder, is it the miles of ocean in every direction that she hates the most, or the rock of a boat that feels insignificant against the frivolous mercy of the ocean. I, personally, look forward to the journey. It will be nice to not have to worry about someome trying to kill us for a little while. Maybe I'll even be able to enjoy it!
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Fourth Passage
I HATE SHIPS. I hate large ships, I hate canoes, I hate yachts. But right now, I REALLY hate Fishing boats! Ugh, the guy who saved me is LEERING, Diary! He's so creepy! He's got a big cavity in his front teeth, and wild red hair. He's being so obvious about it, too... And the smell! It's like... Goat cheese and vinegar, combined with the odor of his daily catch. I guess I should be thankful that I'm alive, but She'dai, PLEASE keep this man away from me! We're coming up on the shore line now, thank the gods... Wait, is that mother?! She'dai, thank you! I just hope that means everyone else is safe too... If this guy stares at me much longer, I'm going to tell Mother...
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Fifth Passage
Good evening, Diary. I am feeling much better now that I have had a chance to change into a nice clean dress. Miss Goldenbloom has given mother and me nothing but kindness since we arrived, which is somewhat surprising considering our association with Father. After a short rest, Mother decided that she needed to head to Aetevian. Even though she just faced her worst ocean nightmares just earlier today, you could never tell that it fazed her. She has asked me to stay here, in case Dissan or Father turned up. I worry for them...
Speaking of Mother, I didn't tell her about the creepy fisherman. I didn't get the chance. It would seem she caught him staring at me lewdly as I climbed out of the fishing boat, and took out her frustration on him. I should feel worse about that but for two things. That guy was really creepy, and it was kind of funny to watch mother drop his body into his fishing boat, set it on fire, kick it into the ocean and mutter some quip about wishing she could kill the ocean with fire. Lots of fire. Does that make me a bad person? I've decided I'm not going to tell Father about this, when I find him.
I do believe Father just walked in, speak of the abyss. He looks like he just washed on shore himself... I'd best go and reassure him of mother's safety. Until next time, Diary.
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Sixth Passage
Well, Diary, it's been an eventful time since I last wrote. It turns out that father had been joined by Krysta Aier. As I understand it, she came to our realm from a parallel dimension, much as Maga'ra had. I have never had chance to ask, but I wonder if they come from the same dimension, or from two seperate, different dimensions other then our own. Why, if that second one were true, the possibilities would be endless! It could mean so- Ah, it is not really the time for that. This is something I must look into once I have a chance to return to my kingdom. The one thing I did notice about Krysta beyond anything is that she is very..... strange. She is a very strange woman. The stories she tells are so outright bizare that I can't tell if she's toying with me, or truly believes in flying goat men...
On a less crazy note, Lady Gelina Grey has also joined us on our journey. Father's eyes lit up when he saw her in a way that I have never seen between him and Mother Xiria. That is very telling... I know that the three of them have an arrangement that works, but it would seem that Magus is more in love with Lady Grey then he ever was with Xiria. That is... very disturbing the more I think about it. Now is not the time for you to think about that, Isis! You're on this mission to save lives, and protect your kingdom. Don't forget that, Me...
I think I need to distract myself from that line of thought. An old woman mentioned a being named Anto Calias. By his description, he looks just like the one in Cithiria's mirror... He seems to have history with Miss Goldenbloom; He used some kind of force to literally rip a village-sized chunk of earth and erraticated it, killing everyone save one old woman. Allegedly he was trying to create an emergency then solve it to garner her love, but I fear his intentions were far more insidious. I shall only say that if Miss Goldenbloom had not seen through the ruse, we may have found ourselves fighting a war on two fronts today.
Anto was able to escape punishment by fleeing but I get this sneaking suspicion that this is only the beginning. Anything revealed to Cithiria and her mirrors is ALWAYS of grave importance, even if it is unclear in what role that plays. We're almost in Solarion Territory, so it's time to stop writing for now. What could this all mean... Is Anto connected to Ghaston? And if so, in what ways? Oh Diary, I don't think anyone else even has a clue yet! But I mustn't tell Father until I'm certain. If I am wrong, the consequences could be far more terrible...
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Passage Seven
Well Diary, the trip across Solara Bridge was mostly peaceful. Mostly. As we were preparing to enter Solarion Territory, we were ambushed by the demon who slaughtered Father's Men back on the Kisareth-Ilian Bridge. He mentioned "King Ghaston". But he tipped his hand to me. I claims to be 'different' then the ruler of Valdrace. Where King Ghaston wishes to take over the world, Zexor means to destroy it entirely. This would suggest that King Ghaston does not expect Zexor to stab him in the back. This keeps getting more complicated. How could he destroy the whole world? I wonder if this has anything to do with Anto... It's time to continue forward to Solarion Castle, Diary. I'll tell you what happens there.
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Passage Eight
Today was, for the first time in a long while, a peaceful day. We arrived at Castle Solarion to be greeted with great courtesy by Queen Lystara, wife to my father's little sister. Oddly, it seems he didn't know his sister, Sabra, had come to live here. Possessing much the same resolve as Father, she seems to be on her way to Valdrace to try and end the war in her own way. I don't know what she must be thinking though... She didn't even bring her personal guard! Even though she is one of the Ladies of Chaos, it is foolhardy to go it alone... She'dai watch over her.
I've gotten to rambling again, Diary (I do that so often! (XD) ) We are continuing our journey to Valdrace. We have stopped for a small break on the Solarion Bridge and briefly discussed our immediate plans. According to Lady Grey, Ivory Mist has a strong distaste for Valdrace. If we could mass the combined forces of the Myri Landmass with the Rim Kingdom, Valdrace will be repelled no matter how they attack. But I am not confident that stopping Valdrace will stop the threat. For now, our immediate goals are two-fold. Ensure Ivory Mist's safety (it is well known that Ivory Mist is the closest of the Rim Kingdoms to Valdrace, making it an obvious target for Valdrace to begin their invasion with) and seek another... ship... to continue our journey. Somehow that thought is not entirely pleasing to me after last time. If Flying Goat Men really exist, as Krysta insists when I scoff at her, I think riding them would be preferable to a ship even if they ARE men!
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Passage Nine
It seems we arrived in Ivory Mist just in time. We had barely enough time to issue a warning before a large ship with over a hundred men came onto shore. We spearheaded the defense initiative and She'dai blessed us today. Led by the former Solarion and now-deceased Drea Nightshade, the army came at us in droves. Truthfully, diary, we were outnumbered. Father's response to this was simple and direct. Decapitate the serpent, and the body will fall. We made a direct strike for Drea. In father's fashion he offered her a chance to surrender and be spared death, but she chose the same thing they all choose. Father dispatched her without further word.
Upon her death, the enemy force scattered. After the battle Miss Chelise thanked us for our assistance and granted us the ship they sailed in on. Lady Grey and Krysta assured her that her forces would have been more then enough to repel the Valdrace attack, but I think her and I both know the truth. Father deliberated with Miss Chelise and we came to the decision that the next target should be Aetevian, and the Empress Elynore. It is father's hope that Empress Elynore will be able to lend us assistance in reaching Valdrace without detection, but Lady Grey seems apprehensive about the visit. I hope to gather more information there myself. Perhaps they know more about Anto Calias, or Zexor. I just know they have more to do with this all.
Now... Time to get up on that ship, I guess... I can only imagine the fit mother would have if she were here. She'dai please bless our journey, and deliver us safely to Aetevian.
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Passage Ten
Ah Diary, I know I only put down my quill a few hours ago but Lady Grey has revealed something quite interesting! It seems that after Anto Calias retreated from Solaria he came to Aetevian seeking sanctuary. Empress Elynore granted it to him, bound by her honor, and Lady Grey exiled herself in protest of what she viewed as a personal betrayal. It seems that Anto Calias was quick to attempt to overthrow the Empress which lends credit to my theory on his initial plans with Solaria. Rumor has it that he was spotted in Valdrace.
My mind is racing, Diary! This tells far more then my comrades think. Anto seems to be the kind of person who wants destruction, not power. If my thoughts are right, then he MUST be in line with Zexor who has also stated his desire for destruction. If they could destroy the world themselves, they would have no need of King Ghaston and his armies so they must not be strong enough yet. There are so many questions, Diary. I must think on this while we sail. I fear Valdrace, as powerful as they are, will be the least of our problems before this is all over. It must have been obvious in my features, for Father asked me what was wrong. I told him it was "Nothing, just a feeling..." Should I tell him my theories? Would they detract from the war effort? And by the gods, what if I'm wrong?! Even if I'm right, Valdrace is the immediate threat. I think I'll keep my thoughts to myself until I'm sure, or until Valdrace is handled.
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Passage Eleven
It has not been a good day, Diary... We arrived at port to Aetevian just fine, but we were not on the docks for more then a minute before our ship exploded in mystical blue flames. Somehow, Zexor not only deduced where we would be, but has shown himself to have immense power. His mystical flames began to surround us, and Krysta... Oh Diary, she tried to stop the flames! She may have saved us all in the process, but oh how badly she was hurt. Lady Grey was able to rescue her from the worst of it, but I was so fearful for her safety. For all the strangeness she shows, I have really come to like her. We discovered that she was breathing and carried her with us. She'dai's blessing would not restore her wounds. It is fortunate that Shivayne Castle in Aetevian was so close. Our first priority was getting Krysta into the Medical ward. Upon arrival, Lady Grey took her straight there while Father and I went to speak with Empress Elynore.
Well wouldn't you know it, Diary, but Empress Elynore already had guests, and what guests they were! We arrived to see Maga'ra Lee, father's parallel dimension twin (My, the existence we live is quite interesting, isn't it?) with Mother! We covered our battle against Duchess Drea and the sneak attack by Zexor. After that we went to visit Krysta in the Ward. She had her usual energy, despite the wounds. It is rather surprising.
Things went about as expected between Lady Grey and the Empress; Lady Grey ignored her entirely and left the room as soon as possible. We were advised to continue our journey west to Cyrdrin to reach the Empress' Regent, Miss Riley Connors. Allegedly she can assist us on entering Valdrace. Before that though, we are going to spend the night in the village. Mother has decided to rejoin us, which would normally be comforting, but Mother, Father, and Lady Grey keep exchanging these looks that are making me increasingly uncomfortable. Maga'ra has decided to return to Kisareth to prepare the country's defenses. Right now, I just want to get some sleep; the sun will be setting soon.
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Passage Twelve
Can't sleep... Too noisy... Very very annoyed... Quest is getting delayed, some blue man wants us to get some stupid stone in some stupid wall filled with stupid holes in the stupid ice mines. Stupid Lina killed some stupid girl for saying stupid things about my stupid father. She'll make a GREAT Lee, don't you think Diary? Bunch of crazy murdering people, my wife's family. Apparently stupid mother and stupid father thought this was attractive because when we got to the stupid bedroom, stupid father asked me to sleep in the stupid side room so he could have a stupid threesome with his stupid Beloved Ones... This stupid inn doesn't have any stupid doors... Why are the stupid accoustics so good here... They didn't even wait for me to leave before they started talking about it! Thud thud thud-OH GOD WHY WON'T IT STOOOOOP~! SHE'DAI DAMN YOOOOOOOU! T.T To top it all off I've got the Red Sea between my thighs and I left my pads in the backpack. Guess where the stupid backpack is, Diary? DId you say the stupid other room? What a smart Diary! Such a bad day.... Oh gross, the safeword is apparently "Wee N Woo". I SOOO did not need to know that.....
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Passage Thirteen
Well Diary, I thought getting this "Noran Relic" would be a waste of our time, but the artifact seems to have quite a history. When we brought it back to the blue man he told us of how it was a Key to a "Place not of this world", where a weapon of mass destruction laid. There was no way any of us would put such a thing into anybodys hands and Lady Grey made it quite clear so he attacked us in a rage. By his own admission, he would have killed Empress Elynore if he had gotten ahold of it. He didn't last long against our combined forces, though his strength was impressive. The Noran Relic seems quite interesting... It is certainly worth studying it's history to see if it may offer a back-up plan in case we cannot stop Valdrace, or worse if Anto and Zexor are really working together like I think. Regardless, our next destination lies through those Ice Mines. This second trip should be far easier then the first was, since we have a much better idea of the layout. I'll write you on the other side, Diary.
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Passage Fourteen
We've safely arrived in Geidr'un. It reminds me of my home kingdom of Ilian in the sense that the people of the city are protected by the castle walls, ensuring maximum safety. Even if it's a small comfort, any reminder of home at this point is a blessing from the gods. According to local lore, Geidr'un is supposedly the largest city in Aetevian, however I wonder if that is actually a fact.
On the way out of the Ice Mines we were assaulted by a minion of Zexor; a huge Lamia. The patterns on her body were very distinct, marking her as a Queen of her race according to bestiaries that I've read in the past. She would have been a formidable opponent without the knowledge that her power is primarily magickal. Mother neutralized that particular threat making her considerably less dangerous.
Enough digressing; Regent Brine (what an interesting name) gave us a Medallion that would temporarily neutralize a barrier that surrounds Charvaena and protects it from the rest of the world (literally; it is so powerful it even blocks out the wintery weather of this area!). He also gave us leave to restock from his treasure room. The password for his treasure guard was "Riley". Hmm, I wonder what relation Lord Brine has with Lady Connor, how curious...
No time for dilly-dallying though, there's a war to fight! I think I'll write more after we reach our next destination.
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Passage Fifteen
Oh Diary, this place is Beautiful! It's like a diamond in the rough; a Tropical village in the middle of the snow. Everything feels fresh and new here, and there are so many pretty butterflies! Local legend suggests they are the reincarnation of Fae who died here. It makes me wonder what could have killed those Fae if the legend is true.
The people here have something they call the "Numbers Game" that is ran out of their Item Shop, or as the locals call it the "Entertainment Store". Long story short, it seems very much to be a scam to me. I noticed Father eyeing the table but Mother gave him a stern look and he continued by it. We really mustn't waste time gambling here anyway.
In the back of the village we came across Regent Celene Starshade, a lady as sweet as the land she resides over. As it turned out, there are no ships available to sail to Cyrdrin (THANK THE GODS!!!) however there is an under-sea tunnel that was built long ago which is available. Of course, it has not been used in a long time and as such is infested with Ginar'i, but that was hardly a surprising notion. We're about to head into the tunnel. Mother seems to be hoping to encounter Acid-Spewing people-eating monsters or some such (which is silly; everyone knows there's no such thing as monsters. Ginar'i, Yes, but not Monsters). I'll let you know what's really in here, Diary. I bet you a Hundred Steryn Coins one of Zexor's goons are waiting for us at the end of this waterway. (It's as if they are always one step ahead of us. I'd think there was a spy among the group, but considering what few people are with us that is literally impossible. They must be very very good at guessing our course of actions.)
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Passage Sixteen
Good evening, Diary. Here's your Hundred Steryn Coins. What's that, Diary? Was it, for once, safe to exit some location without being attacked? Of course it wasn't! No, I was just wrong on who ended up attacking us. A very mysterious cloaked man blocked the exit to the waterway, asking us if we were ready to hear truths. Unlike Valdrace's usual grunts, this man offered no outward hatred of Father or Kisareth. Despite that interesting fact, Mother and Lady Grey were quick to taunt the shrouded figure. Father was rapt however, thank the gods, and silenced them. I could tell that he also knew this was not an agent of Valdrace.
The following were his exact words, in case I need to reference them later. "If you remember the wars with the Rim Kingdoms Magus Lee, then you may remember how your powers went out of control once...". The event this man refers to is a time during his war with the Golden Horn kingdom, before he lost the grace of Hazeezus, and destroyed an army while in a black out. It was at this point the man gave us his name, or should I say his title; "Harbinger". Then he attacked us, forcing father to test his mettle.
It seemed the whole time that Harbinger was toying with us, never using his full strength. It was as if he wanted to see if we were strong enough to serve some purpose. Father seemed to have an idea of the true identity of Harbinger but adamantly refuses to speak of it. What do you think he's hiding, Diary? After some time Harbinger tossed his blade on to the ground before Father and clapped. "Well done. Though strong, you are not yet worthy to know the 'Full Truth'. For now, know that your enemy in Valdrace is only a shadow of what truly lies ahead."
At father's request he elaborated just a little, stating that Valdrace was not the only enemy we are currently at war with. He then went on to speculate that there is a truth to evil, something he called a pure truth. Furthermore, he claimed to hold a truth about Father, just as there is a truth to our enemy. After that he claimed that the next time he saw us it would be the last, then teleported away.
Taking note of what we know so far, he must mean either Zexor or Anto Calias. Both have shown an interest in far more then domination. But they are certainly not strong enough on their own to destroy the whole world. What is the 'truth' I am missing. She'dai, please grant me the fortitude to seek this truth.
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Passage Seventeen
Diary, it has been a pretty good couple days. We are currently on the way to Senefarria aboard a ship prepared for us by Regent O'Connor of Cyrdrin. It seems after the last few cruises father isn't exactly eager to jump on board himself, and mother is eyeing the snowy ground like it's her last friend on Cora. Only Lady Grey seems relatively relaxed about the whole sailing thing. She is more resiliant than many people realize.
While we were in Cyrdrin I got to finally meet Talia Rhoube, wife of Crysta Aier and Father's Regent in Tezaroth. Mother and father greeted her like a long-lost friend, it was rather heartwarming. Interestingly, Talia is not just the Regent of Tezaroth but also the Ulfric of the Rhoube Clan of the Kisareth Territories. They are very distinguished for their bravery, loyalty and tenacity (not to mention the vast quantity of wolves.)
It turns out that she had encountered a Captain of Valdrace in Kisareth some time ago and discovered, through means she would not divulge but that her smile suggested was sinister, that Ivory Myst and Aetevian were to be the first targets. By the time she was able to rally her forces to help defend Ivory Myst, father and I had already dealt with the attack. Perhaps if she had been faster more lives could have been saved. It is pointless to dwell on such things though.
Since the Rhoube clan had missed that battle, they decided to move forward to Cyrdrin and fortify Aetevian's defenses. (As if the 3-to-1 ratio of wolves to humans didn't make that obvious.) Father and Mother promised to have a drink or two with the regent after we had spoken to Riley O'Connor (speaking of which, once they DID get around to drinking it was at the 7th mug of ale, after Talia gave us a mysterious Ancient Rune that pulsed with a magical power that Mother decided for us that she would not get on a ship until the ground stopped acting like the ocean. Father seemed happy enough with the decision. I suppose after meeting Harbinger, he felt like a couple drinks himself...)
Regent O'Connor was greeting us aloud before we actually saw her. (I bet she could smell our scent, being a Loup Garou like Talia.) She requested that I call her Riley, but it feels so impolite. I have already written so much, Diary, that my wrist is beginning to hurt. (It's been awhile since I've had enough free time to really write that much, teehee.) Long story short, we need a device called the Inferni Diadem if we are to infiltrate Valdrace. The Inferni Diadem is located in Senefarria, which is where Grandfather got exiled to when Father first received the Blessings of Hazeezus. Regent O'Connor gave us this new ship to continue our quest on.
My, I've really written alot haven't I, Diary? I guess floating along on this ship makes me forget how much time passes. So far the cruise has been fairly uneventful (thank you She'Dai!), with the exception of the occasional aggressive sea creature (really not that scary.) Let's pray it stays that way.
After the events of this week, I have decided to keep a Diary. If this foreboding feeling is right, something very terrible is beginning centered around my bloodline and it will be of the utmost importance to keep a record of the Facts as they progress both for the posterity of historical record, and for there to be hope of a victory in the coming battles. But of course, to understand what lies ahead one must first examine what has already happened.
Three days ago, a delegation arrived from a foreign land, the Empire of Valdrace. As is our custom, my dear Anari and I granted him an audience. His message was short and to the point. "The City-State of Ilian is to unconditionally surrender to the Esteemed Empire of Valdrace and join the New Cora Order, or be wiped off the face of Cora." Anari did not take this threat well, though kept her composure. We exchanged glances; her blood father is the well known Dark Lord Magus Drakhen Lee. There was no way in the hells we would turn upon our own. Breaking our glance, I looked to the soldier and spoke evenly.
"What you ask is not to be considered lightly. We humbly request the time necessary to assemble a council before we reach a decision. The people must be informed, lest a riot reduce our ability to lend assistance. Please grant us one week. A message will be sent forward with our answer."
Anari was visibly shocked that I would offer Valdrace even the consideration of assistance, but said nothing. I believe she understood my diversion to grant us time. The emessary offered a stiff half bow, saying he would grant us the time needed; then turned his back to us and led his party out. His actions, subtle as they are, suggest a prepreation for war against not just us but an invasion of the entire Continent.
Today, mother and father arrived bearing news that confirmed my suspicions; an assassination attempt against Father, and an attack on the bridge connecting our Commonwealths. This was made futher alarming by the fact that it was not an army that attacked, or even a token scouting party. Many of Father's men were taken out by a single man. No, not a man... a Demon. The combined efforts of mother and father were enough to push him back, but not to outright kill this demon; this "Zexor". I fear he will be a constant thorn in our proverbial paw.
With so much at stake, we have arranged for my joining father on a quest to Zelonia. Our sister kingdoms must be contacted; both to offer warning and to gather more information. We shall make the journey today back to Kisareth then it is on to the Zelonia Mountains. I spent many summers making daisy chains and playing in those mountains; the paths will always be ingrained in my memory. Father looks like he's done shopping for supplies, which means it's time for my journey to begin. Good bye Anari. Good bye Ilian. I don't know when I shall see either again... She'dai, please watch over us.
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Second Passage
Good evening, Diary. Today was quite eventful. I guided father through the Zelonian Mountains. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the atmosphere here. In some ways, it reminded me of my childhood again. Close to the top we found Dissan wandering about. It seems she had gotten lost on the way to Zelonia. She had decided the same as us; that Zelonia was in danger and needed to be warned. For her safety and our own, she joined our party. It was a convenient thing too, for not far away we found a magickal fire raging and blocking our passage. I have read fairy tales of burning bushes in deserts talking to people, but this one didn't have a voice. Dissan extinguished the magick blaze with ease.
As we attempted to exit the mountain range, a man blocked our path. He announced himself as Calamar, Earl of Valdrace and stated that he was preventing any passage into Zelonia. He would not reveal further information and boasted that his sword skill was superior to anything our family could throw at him. A minute later, his blood was cooling the mountain floor.
Even as I write I can see his lifeless eyes staring up. Father's mood is impassive, though this is hardly surprising. He never seems to show neither joy nor sorrow when he slays a man, woman, or child. I love Anari, but I sometimes wonder just how much of her father is in her. I miss my wife, so.
Looks like it's time to continue traveling. Until next time, Diary. I'll let you know how things go in Zelonia.
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Third Passage
War is hell, Diary. We arrived in New Haven today. Father wanted to restock on supplies so Dissan and I took a moment to walk around town. Children chased butterflies in the pasture near the cows, but all the adults had only one thing on their mind; War. I wish we hadn't taken that walk, though... After visiting the village we entered Zelonia Castle to warn my brother-in-law, Cadar. Moments after delivering our warning, a scout burst into the audience chamber interrupting our meeting; Valdrace had begun it's attack on New Haven.
Oh Diary... So many people didn't make it to the safe haven in time. They even slaughtered the cows and smashed in the village well! Father made short work of the soldiers attacking the New Haven, but we were not in time to save everybody... Inside Ny'Elstian Temple we found Cadar with several wounds. Before we could secure his safety we were attacked by someone who had apparently last been seen in Father's prisons, a cruel man named Cyrano. Like Calamar before him, father destroyed him but he gave us our first clue to who may be behind the war. He gave us a single name. Ghaston...
It all seems illogical, Diary. Why would Valdrace go to so much effort to start a war with kingdoms hundreds of miles away? There must be a stronger force behind them, using them like puppets. But who? There are too many questions unanswered. I KNOW there's more to it...
Father and Cadar deliberated for a bit before we came upon a decision. To get answers, we must set sail for the Rim Kingdoms. Mother seems incredibly nervous about the trip itself. I wonder, is it the miles of ocean in every direction that she hates the most, or the rock of a boat that feels insignificant against the frivolous mercy of the ocean. I, personally, look forward to the journey. It will be nice to not have to worry about someome trying to kill us for a little while. Maybe I'll even be able to enjoy it!
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Fourth Passage
I HATE SHIPS. I hate large ships, I hate canoes, I hate yachts. But right now, I REALLY hate Fishing boats! Ugh, the guy who saved me is LEERING, Diary! He's so creepy! He's got a big cavity in his front teeth, and wild red hair. He's being so obvious about it, too... And the smell! It's like... Goat cheese and vinegar, combined with the odor of his daily catch. I guess I should be thankful that I'm alive, but She'dai, PLEASE keep this man away from me! We're coming up on the shore line now, thank the gods... Wait, is that mother?! She'dai, thank you! I just hope that means everyone else is safe too... If this guy stares at me much longer, I'm going to tell Mother...
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Fifth Passage
Good evening, Diary. I am feeling much better now that I have had a chance to change into a nice clean dress. Miss Goldenbloom has given mother and me nothing but kindness since we arrived, which is somewhat surprising considering our association with Father. After a short rest, Mother decided that she needed to head to Aetevian. Even though she just faced her worst ocean nightmares just earlier today, you could never tell that it fazed her. She has asked me to stay here, in case Dissan or Father turned up. I worry for them...
Speaking of Mother, I didn't tell her about the creepy fisherman. I didn't get the chance. It would seem she caught him staring at me lewdly as I climbed out of the fishing boat, and took out her frustration on him. I should feel worse about that but for two things. That guy was really creepy, and it was kind of funny to watch mother drop his body into his fishing boat, set it on fire, kick it into the ocean and mutter some quip about wishing she could kill the ocean with fire. Lots of fire. Does that make me a bad person? I've decided I'm not going to tell Father about this, when I find him.
I do believe Father just walked in, speak of the abyss. He looks like he just washed on shore himself... I'd best go and reassure him of mother's safety. Until next time, Diary.
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Sixth Passage
Well, Diary, it's been an eventful time since I last wrote. It turns out that father had been joined by Krysta Aier. As I understand it, she came to our realm from a parallel dimension, much as Maga'ra had. I have never had chance to ask, but I wonder if they come from the same dimension, or from two seperate, different dimensions other then our own. Why, if that second one were true, the possibilities would be endless! It could mean so- Ah, it is not really the time for that. This is something I must look into once I have a chance to return to my kingdom. The one thing I did notice about Krysta beyond anything is that she is very..... strange. She is a very strange woman. The stories she tells are so outright bizare that I can't tell if she's toying with me, or truly believes in flying goat men...
On a less crazy note, Lady Gelina Grey has also joined us on our journey. Father's eyes lit up when he saw her in a way that I have never seen between him and Mother Xiria. That is very telling... I know that the three of them have an arrangement that works, but it would seem that Magus is more in love with Lady Grey then he ever was with Xiria. That is... very disturbing the more I think about it. Now is not the time for you to think about that, Isis! You're on this mission to save lives, and protect your kingdom. Don't forget that, Me...
I think I need to distract myself from that line of thought. An old woman mentioned a being named Anto Calias. By his description, he looks just like the one in Cithiria's mirror... He seems to have history with Miss Goldenbloom; He used some kind of force to literally rip a village-sized chunk of earth and erraticated it, killing everyone save one old woman. Allegedly he was trying to create an emergency then solve it to garner her love, but I fear his intentions were far more insidious. I shall only say that if Miss Goldenbloom had not seen through the ruse, we may have found ourselves fighting a war on two fronts today.
Anto was able to escape punishment by fleeing but I get this sneaking suspicion that this is only the beginning. Anything revealed to Cithiria and her mirrors is ALWAYS of grave importance, even if it is unclear in what role that plays. We're almost in Solarion Territory, so it's time to stop writing for now. What could this all mean... Is Anto connected to Ghaston? And if so, in what ways? Oh Diary, I don't think anyone else even has a clue yet! But I mustn't tell Father until I'm certain. If I am wrong, the consequences could be far more terrible...
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Passage Seven
Well Diary, the trip across Solara Bridge was mostly peaceful. Mostly. As we were preparing to enter Solarion Territory, we were ambushed by the demon who slaughtered Father's Men back on the Kisareth-Ilian Bridge. He mentioned "King Ghaston". But he tipped his hand to me. I claims to be 'different' then the ruler of Valdrace. Where King Ghaston wishes to take over the world, Zexor means to destroy it entirely. This would suggest that King Ghaston does not expect Zexor to stab him in the back. This keeps getting more complicated. How could he destroy the whole world? I wonder if this has anything to do with Anto... It's time to continue forward to Solarion Castle, Diary. I'll tell you what happens there.
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Passage Eight
Today was, for the first time in a long while, a peaceful day. We arrived at Castle Solarion to be greeted with great courtesy by Queen Lystara, wife to my father's little sister. Oddly, it seems he didn't know his sister, Sabra, had come to live here. Possessing much the same resolve as Father, she seems to be on her way to Valdrace to try and end the war in her own way. I don't know what she must be thinking though... She didn't even bring her personal guard! Even though she is one of the Ladies of Chaos, it is foolhardy to go it alone... She'dai watch over her.
I've gotten to rambling again, Diary (I do that so often! (XD) ) We are continuing our journey to Valdrace. We have stopped for a small break on the Solarion Bridge and briefly discussed our immediate plans. According to Lady Grey, Ivory Mist has a strong distaste for Valdrace. If we could mass the combined forces of the Myri Landmass with the Rim Kingdom, Valdrace will be repelled no matter how they attack. But I am not confident that stopping Valdrace will stop the threat. For now, our immediate goals are two-fold. Ensure Ivory Mist's safety (it is well known that Ivory Mist is the closest of the Rim Kingdoms to Valdrace, making it an obvious target for Valdrace to begin their invasion with) and seek another... ship... to continue our journey. Somehow that thought is not entirely pleasing to me after last time. If Flying Goat Men really exist, as Krysta insists when I scoff at her, I think riding them would be preferable to a ship even if they ARE men!
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Passage Nine
It seems we arrived in Ivory Mist just in time. We had barely enough time to issue a warning before a large ship with over a hundred men came onto shore. We spearheaded the defense initiative and She'dai blessed us today. Led by the former Solarion and now-deceased Drea Nightshade, the army came at us in droves. Truthfully, diary, we were outnumbered. Father's response to this was simple and direct. Decapitate the serpent, and the body will fall. We made a direct strike for Drea. In father's fashion he offered her a chance to surrender and be spared death, but she chose the same thing they all choose. Father dispatched her without further word.
Upon her death, the enemy force scattered. After the battle Miss Chelise thanked us for our assistance and granted us the ship they sailed in on. Lady Grey and Krysta assured her that her forces would have been more then enough to repel the Valdrace attack, but I think her and I both know the truth. Father deliberated with Miss Chelise and we came to the decision that the next target should be Aetevian, and the Empress Elynore. It is father's hope that Empress Elynore will be able to lend us assistance in reaching Valdrace without detection, but Lady Grey seems apprehensive about the visit. I hope to gather more information there myself. Perhaps they know more about Anto Calias, or Zexor. I just know they have more to do with this all.
Now... Time to get up on that ship, I guess... I can only imagine the fit mother would have if she were here. She'dai please bless our journey, and deliver us safely to Aetevian.
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Passage Ten
Ah Diary, I know I only put down my quill a few hours ago but Lady Grey has revealed something quite interesting! It seems that after Anto Calias retreated from Solaria he came to Aetevian seeking sanctuary. Empress Elynore granted it to him, bound by her honor, and Lady Grey exiled herself in protest of what she viewed as a personal betrayal. It seems that Anto Calias was quick to attempt to overthrow the Empress which lends credit to my theory on his initial plans with Solaria. Rumor has it that he was spotted in Valdrace.
My mind is racing, Diary! This tells far more then my comrades think. Anto seems to be the kind of person who wants destruction, not power. If my thoughts are right, then he MUST be in line with Zexor who has also stated his desire for destruction. If they could destroy the world themselves, they would have no need of King Ghaston and his armies so they must not be strong enough yet. There are so many questions, Diary. I must think on this while we sail. I fear Valdrace, as powerful as they are, will be the least of our problems before this is all over. It must have been obvious in my features, for Father asked me what was wrong. I told him it was "Nothing, just a feeling..." Should I tell him my theories? Would they detract from the war effort? And by the gods, what if I'm wrong?! Even if I'm right, Valdrace is the immediate threat. I think I'll keep my thoughts to myself until I'm sure, or until Valdrace is handled.
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Passage Eleven
It has not been a good day, Diary... We arrived at port to Aetevian just fine, but we were not on the docks for more then a minute before our ship exploded in mystical blue flames. Somehow, Zexor not only deduced where we would be, but has shown himself to have immense power. His mystical flames began to surround us, and Krysta... Oh Diary, she tried to stop the flames! She may have saved us all in the process, but oh how badly she was hurt. Lady Grey was able to rescue her from the worst of it, but I was so fearful for her safety. For all the strangeness she shows, I have really come to like her. We discovered that she was breathing and carried her with us. She'dai's blessing would not restore her wounds. It is fortunate that Shivayne Castle in Aetevian was so close. Our first priority was getting Krysta into the Medical ward. Upon arrival, Lady Grey took her straight there while Father and I went to speak with Empress Elynore.
Well wouldn't you know it, Diary, but Empress Elynore already had guests, and what guests they were! We arrived to see Maga'ra Lee, father's parallel dimension twin (My, the existence we live is quite interesting, isn't it?) with Mother! We covered our battle against Duchess Drea and the sneak attack by Zexor. After that we went to visit Krysta in the Ward. She had her usual energy, despite the wounds. It is rather surprising.
Things went about as expected between Lady Grey and the Empress; Lady Grey ignored her entirely and left the room as soon as possible. We were advised to continue our journey west to Cyrdrin to reach the Empress' Regent, Miss Riley Connors. Allegedly she can assist us on entering Valdrace. Before that though, we are going to spend the night in the village. Mother has decided to rejoin us, which would normally be comforting, but Mother, Father, and Lady Grey keep exchanging these looks that are making me increasingly uncomfortable. Maga'ra has decided to return to Kisareth to prepare the country's defenses. Right now, I just want to get some sleep; the sun will be setting soon.
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Passage Twelve
Can't sleep... Too noisy... Very very annoyed... Quest is getting delayed, some blue man wants us to get some stupid stone in some stupid wall filled with stupid holes in the stupid ice mines. Stupid Lina killed some stupid girl for saying stupid things about my stupid father. She'll make a GREAT Lee, don't you think Diary? Bunch of crazy murdering people, my wife's family. Apparently stupid mother and stupid father thought this was attractive because when we got to the stupid bedroom, stupid father asked me to sleep in the stupid side room so he could have a stupid threesome with his stupid Beloved Ones... This stupid inn doesn't have any stupid doors... Why are the stupid accoustics so good here... They didn't even wait for me to leave before they started talking about it! Thud thud thud-OH GOD WHY WON'T IT STOOOOOP~! SHE'DAI DAMN YOOOOOOOU! T.T To top it all off I've got the Red Sea between my thighs and I left my pads in the backpack. Guess where the stupid backpack is, Diary? DId you say the stupid other room? What a smart Diary! Such a bad day.... Oh gross, the safeword is apparently "Wee N Woo". I SOOO did not need to know that.....
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Passage Thirteen
Well Diary, I thought getting this "Noran Relic" would be a waste of our time, but the artifact seems to have quite a history. When we brought it back to the blue man he told us of how it was a Key to a "Place not of this world", where a weapon of mass destruction laid. There was no way any of us would put such a thing into anybodys hands and Lady Grey made it quite clear so he attacked us in a rage. By his own admission, he would have killed Empress Elynore if he had gotten ahold of it. He didn't last long against our combined forces, though his strength was impressive. The Noran Relic seems quite interesting... It is certainly worth studying it's history to see if it may offer a back-up plan in case we cannot stop Valdrace, or worse if Anto and Zexor are really working together like I think. Regardless, our next destination lies through those Ice Mines. This second trip should be far easier then the first was, since we have a much better idea of the layout. I'll write you on the other side, Diary.
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Passage Fourteen
We've safely arrived in Geidr'un. It reminds me of my home kingdom of Ilian in the sense that the people of the city are protected by the castle walls, ensuring maximum safety. Even if it's a small comfort, any reminder of home at this point is a blessing from the gods. According to local lore, Geidr'un is supposedly the largest city in Aetevian, however I wonder if that is actually a fact.
On the way out of the Ice Mines we were assaulted by a minion of Zexor; a huge Lamia. The patterns on her body were very distinct, marking her as a Queen of her race according to bestiaries that I've read in the past. She would have been a formidable opponent without the knowledge that her power is primarily magickal. Mother neutralized that particular threat making her considerably less dangerous.
Enough digressing; Regent Brine (what an interesting name) gave us a Medallion that would temporarily neutralize a barrier that surrounds Charvaena and protects it from the rest of the world (literally; it is so powerful it even blocks out the wintery weather of this area!). He also gave us leave to restock from his treasure room. The password for his treasure guard was "Riley". Hmm, I wonder what relation Lord Brine has with Lady Connor, how curious...
No time for dilly-dallying though, there's a war to fight! I think I'll write more after we reach our next destination.
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Passage Fifteen
Oh Diary, this place is Beautiful! It's like a diamond in the rough; a Tropical village in the middle of the snow. Everything feels fresh and new here, and there are so many pretty butterflies! Local legend suggests they are the reincarnation of Fae who died here. It makes me wonder what could have killed those Fae if the legend is true.
The people here have something they call the "Numbers Game" that is ran out of their Item Shop, or as the locals call it the "Entertainment Store". Long story short, it seems very much to be a scam to me. I noticed Father eyeing the table but Mother gave him a stern look and he continued by it. We really mustn't waste time gambling here anyway.
In the back of the village we came across Regent Celene Starshade, a lady as sweet as the land she resides over. As it turned out, there are no ships available to sail to Cyrdrin (THANK THE GODS!!!) however there is an under-sea tunnel that was built long ago which is available. Of course, it has not been used in a long time and as such is infested with Ginar'i, but that was hardly a surprising notion. We're about to head into the tunnel. Mother seems to be hoping to encounter Acid-Spewing people-eating monsters or some such (which is silly; everyone knows there's no such thing as monsters. Ginar'i, Yes, but not Monsters). I'll let you know what's really in here, Diary. I bet you a Hundred Steryn Coins one of Zexor's goons are waiting for us at the end of this waterway. (It's as if they are always one step ahead of us. I'd think there was a spy among the group, but considering what few people are with us that is literally impossible. They must be very very good at guessing our course of actions.)
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Passage Sixteen
Good evening, Diary. Here's your Hundred Steryn Coins. What's that, Diary? Was it, for once, safe to exit some location without being attacked? Of course it wasn't! No, I was just wrong on who ended up attacking us. A very mysterious cloaked man blocked the exit to the waterway, asking us if we were ready to hear truths. Unlike Valdrace's usual grunts, this man offered no outward hatred of Father or Kisareth. Despite that interesting fact, Mother and Lady Grey were quick to taunt the shrouded figure. Father was rapt however, thank the gods, and silenced them. I could tell that he also knew this was not an agent of Valdrace.
The following were his exact words, in case I need to reference them later. "If you remember the wars with the Rim Kingdoms Magus Lee, then you may remember how your powers went out of control once...". The event this man refers to is a time during his war with the Golden Horn kingdom, before he lost the grace of Hazeezus, and destroyed an army while in a black out. It was at this point the man gave us his name, or should I say his title; "Harbinger". Then he attacked us, forcing father to test his mettle.
It seemed the whole time that Harbinger was toying with us, never using his full strength. It was as if he wanted to see if we were strong enough to serve some purpose. Father seemed to have an idea of the true identity of Harbinger but adamantly refuses to speak of it. What do you think he's hiding, Diary? After some time Harbinger tossed his blade on to the ground before Father and clapped. "Well done. Though strong, you are not yet worthy to know the 'Full Truth'. For now, know that your enemy in Valdrace is only a shadow of what truly lies ahead."
At father's request he elaborated just a little, stating that Valdrace was not the only enemy we are currently at war with. He then went on to speculate that there is a truth to evil, something he called a pure truth. Furthermore, he claimed to hold a truth about Father, just as there is a truth to our enemy. After that he claimed that the next time he saw us it would be the last, then teleported away.
Taking note of what we know so far, he must mean either Zexor or Anto Calias. Both have shown an interest in far more then domination. But they are certainly not strong enough on their own to destroy the whole world. What is the 'truth' I am missing. She'dai, please grant me the fortitude to seek this truth.
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Passage Seventeen
Diary, it has been a pretty good couple days. We are currently on the way to Senefarria aboard a ship prepared for us by Regent O'Connor of Cyrdrin. It seems after the last few cruises father isn't exactly eager to jump on board himself, and mother is eyeing the snowy ground like it's her last friend on Cora. Only Lady Grey seems relatively relaxed about the whole sailing thing. She is more resiliant than many people realize.
While we were in Cyrdrin I got to finally meet Talia Rhoube, wife of Crysta Aier and Father's Regent in Tezaroth. Mother and father greeted her like a long-lost friend, it was rather heartwarming. Interestingly, Talia is not just the Regent of Tezaroth but also the Ulfric of the Rhoube Clan of the Kisareth Territories. They are very distinguished for their bravery, loyalty and tenacity (not to mention the vast quantity of wolves.)
It turns out that she had encountered a Captain of Valdrace in Kisareth some time ago and discovered, through means she would not divulge but that her smile suggested was sinister, that Ivory Myst and Aetevian were to be the first targets. By the time she was able to rally her forces to help defend Ivory Myst, father and I had already dealt with the attack. Perhaps if she had been faster more lives could have been saved. It is pointless to dwell on such things though.
Since the Rhoube clan had missed that battle, they decided to move forward to Cyrdrin and fortify Aetevian's defenses. (As if the 3-to-1 ratio of wolves to humans didn't make that obvious.) Father and Mother promised to have a drink or two with the regent after we had spoken to Riley O'Connor (speaking of which, once they DID get around to drinking it was at the 7th mug of ale, after Talia gave us a mysterious Ancient Rune that pulsed with a magical power that Mother decided for us that she would not get on a ship until the ground stopped acting like the ocean. Father seemed happy enough with the decision. I suppose after meeting Harbinger, he felt like a couple drinks himself...)
Regent O'Connor was greeting us aloud before we actually saw her. (I bet she could smell our scent, being a Loup Garou like Talia.) She requested that I call her Riley, but it feels so impolite. I have already written so much, Diary, that my wrist is beginning to hurt. (It's been awhile since I've had enough free time to really write that much, teehee.) Long story short, we need a device called the Inferni Diadem if we are to infiltrate Valdrace. The Inferni Diadem is located in Senefarria, which is where Grandfather got exiled to when Father first received the Blessings of Hazeezus. Regent O'Connor gave us this new ship to continue our quest on.
My, I've really written alot haven't I, Diary? I guess floating along on this ship makes me forget how much time passes. So far the cruise has been fairly uneventful (thank you She'Dai!), with the exception of the occasional aggressive sea creature (really not that scary.) Let's pray it stays that way.