Gwen Irima

Nov 39, 359/Nov 25, 2006

My shift at the Rose yesterday has been the busiest one ever since I started working in the tavern. People kept coming and going and amongst them were many new faces.

One of the new faces was Jern Fretting’s 6 year old son. When laying my eyes on him the first time, it was surprisingly easy to recognize him. He looks after his father! And the mother is doing a good job of raising him. It’s a good boy and I’ll definitely tell Jern he can be proud of his son. The child had been fishing and had caught a big one that I traded him for cookies for him and his sister.

Having the child visiting the tavern had me worried when a woman named Tammy suggested he should drink strong beverages. Unbelievable that a grown up person would want to poison a child like that. I don’t trust or like her (and I think the feeling is mutual). Are all of Vesper’s people like that? How could VanQa tolerate people like that?

She even said that she had seen Devante with other women each time she saw him…

I have to admit the comment hurt me, but I am sure that when she saw him with all these other women, her corrupted mind did not see more then what a person like that would ever be able to see. It was a good thing that Devante returned to the Rose just before I turned in, for I fell asleep no longer thinking about the things that Tammy had said.

Gwen Irima

Gwen Irima

Dec 1, 359/Nov 28, 2006

Are you willing to give up your soul, your chance to go to Valinor, for the benefit of our people?

Gwen Irima

She put her pen down. A new Shadow Warrior, one with a Secret that must never see any daylight. His life would be at risk if others knew what he had done. A decision she did not agree with, but nonetheless a decision of a shadow warrior. What a pity shadow warriors would only receive praise and respect from the guildmistress...

Gwen Irima

Dec 25, 359/Nov 30, 2006

Last night Jacob Churchill came to me with the message that Devante had been brought to the Elven Infirmary. As usual I was waiting to hear from him because it makes me feel better to see he is well after a visit to Serpents hold. But today he wasn?t? something I feared for happening happened. He had been caught during the attack on Kaldor and I guess they wanted to punish him for his actions towards the Kaldorians.
Luckily Ruadnit was still in the area to offer healing and he will be all right.
I hated to see Devante hurt like that but I know that with the work he does such things can and will happen, but why Mordred ? When he came I was angry at first, but seeing the hurt on his face softened it completely. Part of me understands that that is the way the military works, setting examples, no room for friendships with the enemy? but the other part refuses to understand. If this is what friendship means to them, what does the friendship that my predecessor thinks she has mean to them?

Gwen Irima

Gwen Irima

Dec 51, 359/Dec 2, 2006

*still quite offended so the pencil is pressed a bit harder on the paper, leaving thicker written lines then usual*

That woman dared to touch me! I still can?t believe it? next time I?ll slap her if she does that again. I so do not like the idea of that human female from the Swagger?s inn ever doing that again, that Tammy. I sure was glad to see her leave, very glad. Didn?t like the way she was looking at me.

*mutters while writing*

And then this ridiculous situation with the Marskmen and the Kaldorians. I feel so put in the middle of it, trying to keep things peacefull because I am told to do so, but also because I don?t want to be in the middle of two fighting friends, Devante and Mordred. It hurt when I had to make Devante put away his crossbow when he felt threatened by the Kaldorians surrounding him, when he aimed his bow at Mordred no longer trusting his friend. I had to ask Devante to put his life in mine, Elion?s and Haila?s hands, while I know that the Kaldorians would never draw their weapons in the Elven Quarter for a fight that has nothing to do with the Elves. I am afraid that in my effort to calm the situation I may have convinced the Kaldorians that I support the Marksmen more then them, while we have no part in this all at all. Probably this is why Mordred left at some point, believing this, which I find a sad thing because I really do like the man. Devante knows that we don?t support either side and respects this, maybe I should tell Mordred the same? or should I not bother and just let the whole matter settle in, hoping it will pass by and some day we can all sit at one table again, having a drink with friends?

*lets out a long sigh, glancing over Devante?s still sleeping figure, before writing her name down*

Gwen Irima.

Gwen Irima

Jan 12, 360/Dec 5,2006

Why did the wind only bring problems my way today?

Of course that woman visited again, that Tammy, together with that other troll, Tessah. An escalating situation was bound to happen with these two, even though I tried to be like my predecessor, calm? patient? unaffected? bah to hell with all that. I am not her! I am Gwen, and I will not tolerate people grabbing my breasts to explain something or badmouthing the man I love.
Of course they didn?t leave peacefully. They had to be knocked down and chased out.
Of course when I was working in the office later that evening, they sneaked up on me. Tammy said she wanted gold, but since I don?t keep gold in my office I suggested we would get that at the Rose. It was clear she was not after gold. She was just seeking revenge. Just didn?t get satisfied when I took off. I don?t fight well alone, but I can run well! (Just my luck that the Trinsic Guards were out today to do things in Ilshenar. I had to run all the way to New Paws, before I was able to shake them off)
Damn woman torn my shirt.
Twice even.
And last: of course this Tammy gathered all her friends and probably told them to stalk me, the marksmen that I found in New Paws and the other tavern guests.

*puts her pen down and investigates the scratch on her side. It was just a scratch, she had been extremely lucky*

One would think that that would be all the problems that the wind brought me today?

As I promised Natalie, one woman in love to another, I have spoken with Devante about Mordred. I hope the two can get past what happened, but I am not sure if Devante really heard my words? Same as with the rest we spoke about in the Chamber of Virtue (the only place where we could have a quiet not spied upon talk, just the two of us). The woman in me is supportive of whatever Devante does but also afraid of him getting hurt, the Silver Warrior in me is unsure of the way he is doing it and the elf in me is just confused about why?

Maybe I should talk to Commander Soulshadow.

Gwen Irima

Gwen Irima

Jan 24, 360/Dec 6, 2006

When I returned to the Trinsic Rose after spending the night with Devante at the Marskmen Command, I found them women again, sitting comfortably at the bar. These two must have had alcohol causing brain damage to them, because what part of getting asked to remove oneself from the tavern do they not understand? I guess they only returned to offer that miserable fake excuse of theirs. As if I would believe them. (a good thing I didn?t, because I?m sure that that lady that specifically asked my advise in regards to men, was somehow hired to lead me into an ambush)
Luckily I had reason to leave the Rose and did not have to deal with them for long as I had to travel to Jhelom for the Play about the virtue Valour: Geoffrey and the Dragon. All did a great performance, Taggart as Ignus the Dragon, Tabbitha as Marguerida and Athos as Geoffrey, and by the look on the faces of the audience I do believe they enjoyed it as much as we did. I also think the Play was too good an example of Valour, because there were hardly any questions asked about the Virtue and thus no discussion started.
I spoke also with the Commander of Kaldor as I had planned too. If I can do something, just anything? I would, even though knowing I?d risk a lot for it. But who knows, it may not be nessecary after all. ?Cheer up you grumpy old bastard.? The beginning of?? Maybe a joined effort to throw Yew out of the Duchy (something I will support with my bow) will change things.

Gwen Irima

Gwen Irima

Feb 23, 360/Dec 12, 2006

One can only guess that the presence of the Guardsmen from Yew has scared off the ladies Tessah and Tammy because to my surprise they weren?t at the Rose last night.

The lack of their presence gave me some time to speak with Jern. I worry for him. Has the visit to Eska?eldalie influenced him in some manner? He seems to me so? I don?t know how to describe it? so purposeless? I will continue to be friendly with him, maybe as a friend I can find some way to cheer him up, or give him purpose.

As troubles around the Swaggers inn women settled, other problems have risen. The Guardsmen have attacked elves and Trinsic and a strange crater has appeared in the middle of Trinsic, from which pours great evil. It was for the last of two problems that Lady Tabbitha arranged a meeting in Skara Brae.

During that meeting I was again forced to see a face of humanity that I never expected to see. The present people were actually saying that Trinsic lacks honor and it is because of that the crater has appeared. And why does Trinsic lack honor? For not being judgemental, for having open arms to anyone of any race. They said Trinsic is home to murderers, drow, brigands and all sorts of evil? I doubt the authorities of Trinsic are willingly welcoming this sort of people. Cal left as soon as the insulting of Trinsic began, maybe I should have too, but then I didn?t hear someone suggest that they would ?take away the duke?. All in all the meeting was partially a waste of time and my opinion of certain people has been changed a lot by it.

Coming back to the Elven Quarter was a blessing after that. Out of all this warring and fighting something good has come: the Marksmen and Kaldor have stopped fighting eachother for now, and will both fight against the Yewlings in order to protect Trinsic.

I hope they won?t start fighting again after this is over?

Gwen Irima.

Gwen Irima

Feb 47, 360/Dec 14, 2006

For hours and hours Gwen waited, lying in the bed she shared with him so often, till exhaustion from the fighting, the worrying and the waiting took over?

She was back on the frontlines in Trinsic, guarding Tabbitha as the woman was picking herself up from the floor, shaking her head dizzy from whatever blow she had received. Gwen still felt anger for things said during the meeting on Monday, but even more from the complaints about someone else arranging a meeting. Who did she think she was that she alone could arrange a meeting for the benefit of Trinsic, telling all others that would do an attempt themselves that they were abandoning Trinsic.

Trinsic does have honor. It?s guards, all the people that can bear arms, they would all do what they can to fight off whatever attacked them.

?I do hope some day you will think better of me...? Gwen turned away from Tabbitha and with that movement all the anger she had felt before vanished. She then threw herself back in the battle against Shadow wyrms, blood elementals, poison elementals and even the Blackrock elemental.

Yet she was overcome with a terrible feeling that she couldn?t describe. Something was wrong? Obviously, with monsters jumping out of a hole? no something different isn?t right.

Will you think better of me as well? His voice suddenly said softly in her ear.

At first her heart jumped with joy, but as she turned? no one was there. Dev ? Dev where are you? She began to walk away from the front, but monsters surrounded her, blocking her way. Panicking she started to shout his name? over and over again.

Echoes sounded in the room, the last fading remainder of her dream. Morning had come already. Again she said his name and felt the other side of the bed. It was cold.

__________________

Gwen Irima

Gwen rubbed her shoulder. It was sore from all the fighting done in Trinsic. What else could she do while waiting for more news from Devante?

Mar 15, 360/Dec 17, 2006

It is over. The continuous stream of monsters pouring from some dark hole in the middle of Trinsic has stopped flowing. The last of the shadow wyrms and elementals were sought, found and defeated. A deafening silence hit as the news came that Jordan Jurrel had sacrificed himself. From the rumors I understand that he somehow crystallized and while he was crystallizing the ground underneath our feet all over Sosaria shook violently.
Some people look happy, pleased with the victory that the Sacrifice has given. Others look sad, because of the loss Sosaria has suffered.
Me, I just feel empty. At least the fighting gave me something to focus on while waiting on his return. Now there is nothing. Perhaps it is a good idea to visit my brother in Heartwood for a couple of days.

Gwen Irima.

Gwen Irima

May 21, 360/Dec 30,2006

Devante is still missing and the emptiness of his absence becomes harder to bear with each passing day. The weather in Ilshenar where the bracelet I got him was found, has been too bad to do a proper search party, but I received news from Elise that it is clearing. Next week we shall do another attempt to find him again, together with other people. Adammair was so kind to offer his aid as well. I really do like him and I can see why VanQa has been so kind to him and his lady friend Alraune.
In the meantime I have been drowning myself in working at the Rose. Many people were there during the Christmas shift and again last night. I am very happy with that, even with all the commotion that Tammy and Tessah are causing. Yet I wonder what I should do when and if they indeed get banned from Duchy lands for a while, after all the Elven Quarter is within the Duchy border as well. I shall speak of it with Durinka when she arrives here in the coming days.
Reminder: Arrange an escort for Durinka for her journey to the Elven Quarter and send word to Tabbitha so I can arrange another escort for Durinka to travel to Tabbitha.

Gwen Irima

Gwen Irima

Sitting in one of the comfortable chairs in the Infirmary Gwen looked over Devante?s sleeping form before writing in her diary.

June 12, 360/ Jan 4, 2007

Praise to all the Valor of the Elves. Yesterday we finally went on the search for Devante and we found him! We found him!

Nightmares had plagued me since it was clear he was missing, that something had happened to him that kept him away from his marksmen and me. Nightmares of finding his scarred lifeless body in the wilderness of Ilshenar. Nightmares of him running off with some other girl. The most horrible things one can imagine.

The wait yesterday felt longer then it actually was, each hour crawling by as slowly as they can when you actually want them to go faster.

Many people came to help find Devante: Elise and other marksmen and women, Cal and other Kaldorians and even some duchy folks.

Our search led us to a gypsy camp where we discovered a man who I think was possessed by a deamon and who was guarding a passage. I felt great anger as I placed my foot on his throat, after he had been brought down, in an effort make him confess why he was blocking our way. I wonder how far my anger would have taken me? It seems that when matters concern Devante all emotions are set loose in ways I have never set them free.

The passage led us to an area where both the Castle of Lord Blackthorn can be found and an encampment of Savages. We decided to search in the Savage camp first since some believed that had he been inside the Castle it would be sure that we wouldn?t find him alive. Apperantly some of the search party had met the creatures inside before and I don?t think I?ll ever set a foot in there unless I really have too.

The decision to go to the Savage camp turned out to be the right one, because in the company of some strange sorcerers, or whatever they were, we found Devante. At first I found it hard to believe that the creature attacking us was him, but once defeated and freed from whatever hold someone had on him, I could finally put aside most of my worries. It was him all right.

After being pulled out of being in shock and being thoroughly examined by Ruadnit, Devante and I spoke a little. Then, as he appeared and felt incredibly tired, I crawled in the bed besides him to get some sleep. Didn?t want to leave him alone, or rather?I didn?t want to be alone.

He?s back, but I can?t help but wonder what the side effects of his ordeal are going to be.

Gwen Irima.

Gwen Irima

August 5, 360/ Jan 16, 2007

With Devante back, life continues, finally allowing me to discover and enjoy a regular daily life.

The war between Yew and Trinsic continues, yet lately I hardly notice any of it. Trinsic is getting a lot of support no matter the propaganda that the Yewlings are spreading.

Devante is doing well after his ordeal and has been forced to take it easy for a while. Elise has been ordered to take command of the Royal Marksmen. I know Elise is or wasn?t too comfortable with the idea, but I think she is doing a good job and will continue to do so. A part of me is jealous of her, so many people are ready to help her getting started, where as I struggle still. Running a guild is easier in theory then in practice.

Life at the Trinsic Rose just goes on. One day is busier then the other. Yesterday Alraune came to read Tarot cards for people and in less then two weeks time I will be arranging the second anniversary of the Trinsic Rose.

Lady Durinka is still waiting in the Elven Quarter for some news of Tabbitha, but I don?t think she?s gonna wait for much longer. When she left Eska?eldalie her sister was making progress and I can understand that she rather is with her then here just waiting. From what I understand she is not looking forward to this meeting with Tabbitha due the subject of the meeting being related to her blindness. I can imagine such makes the waiting even worse.

At the moment I have not much to tell, but it seems I feel more need to write in t his book when I am troubled by things then when things are peacefull.

Gwen Irima

Gwen Irima

August 54, 360/ Jan 20,2007

Time to write down some thoughts on recent events and conversations.

Earlier this week 4 of us have marked the borders of the Elven Quarter again. With the ungoing war and the treat of many active thugs we felt it was nessecary to make people more aware when they have reached the elvish part of Trinsic.

The other day when I was working with K-ci in Devante?s new home, someone was in front of the door. Thinking it was someone from the Marksmen I opened the door without checking first who was there. It turned out that Devante has a fan, the dangerous kind, the kind that apperantly wants to hurt him (and anyone that is dear to him), because when I opened the door, a green dressed mage stormed inside who said he wanted to eat Devante?s heart. After I made some comments of the things I would do if he dared hurting Devante he said he had a message for Devante. The message was Vas Ort Flam and before I knew it, K-ci was down and I had to run for cover. Thinking back of it I am sure this is not the last time we have had to deal with this person. He kept going on about what he needs to do to be remembered.

Learned a lesson from that: Look first, then open the door.

The Friday Tavernshift was unusually busy (probably because of the leaflets that were left behind here and there announcing the Rose was open) but aside from one incident it was a very good evening. At some point most of the guests rushed off after Claire had come to tell there were men attacking people at the main gate of Trinsic leaving me with only a few guests.

One of the remaining guests was a drow who had been speaking to me in Sindarin all evening. He asked me why I was not surprised to hear a drow speak one of the elvish languages. I answered him truthfully that nothing surprises me anymore now that I have been living in the Elven Quarter for a while.

What did surprise me is that the Drow and the Elves are sharing a similar kind of problem. He said that: ?most drow here are fluffy?. A fluffy drow is one that attempts to become so-called "good", which should be hunted down and flayed for insulting their race.
Like him i also believe that the Elves that I have seen that are from outside the guild, from outside the Elven Quarter, are also not what they should be.

i'Meneldalie

Lye duraser naa i'Meneldalie, tanya n'eldelie, imya tyara ri'avarien tyar, awruva ten' ai'er. Lye uma mani lye irma avaene awrien ai'er. Coia ulua im valina ar' malia ten' ai'er. Eller naa ai tanya ettula en'dagora, ar'lye avara dagor iire eller naa men. Nan'eller naa nat'or ten'man lye dagora hiraetha. Tharien i'men en' nat'or n'sanuva yassen rangwien. Eldalie caela an rinar, dethola tyaralle yassen nomin pelu sen. Mellonea, ar'gothea, rinuva.

(Our most important belief is the Elven Way, that no elf, by action or inaction, shall cause harm to another elf. We do as we will as long as no harm is done. Life is a balance between happiness for yourself and concern for others. There is rarely a point to any conflict, and we try to avoid battles if we can. There are things, however, that we can not avoid. Disruption of the balance is not to be taken lightly. Elven memories are long ones, choose your actions wisely around them. Friends, and enemies, are not forgotten.)

Perhaps the influence of men, of the human race, on the Drow race and the Elven race is so big that slowly our people are becoming like them?

Just thinking about this question makes me even more dedicated to the cause that I serve now that I am leading the elves of the Elven Quarter: To unite our people and remind them of who we truly are.

Gwen Irima

Ps. I just overheard the Lady Durinka speaking to Draxandru. She?s tired of waiting around for news of Tabbitha and will be returning to Eska?eldalie immediately. I better get ready to escort her safely back.

Gwen Irima

Oct 4, 360/ Jan 28, 2007

I am so incredibly embarrassed? What a way to meet with a new elf?

Yesterday I went with Brynhilde, Keina, Hugo and Joshua to find the location of a map that Captain Kaelyn gave us and where we were told to take out some very sickly rabbits.

We found several of these sick rabbits and it proved to be quite a chase to hunt them down. By the Valar, these rabbits area really unnaturally ill, for they are as fast as the arrows that I shoot !

Upon returning to Trinsic someone had apperantly brought some of the Rabbit meat and some of the vegetables that grew around the rabbit holes and from what I understand now Brynhilde was told to cook a stew with all that. I don?t remember exactly why, I guess I wanted to be polite, but I also took a bowl of the Rabbit stew.

The next thing I remember is sitting on the branches of one of the trees nearby the west gate, holding the tree for my life with one arm, eating a carrot with my free hand and on the branch with me Camarillon, an elf who had heard about us and was looking for me so he could join.

I don?t think I ever felt that embarrassed? But he took it with a smile and I don?t think he thought ill of me, especially because others as soon as I was out of the tree told me what happened.

The Rabbit meat had a different effect on anyone who ate of the Stew. Hugo was bouncing around like one of the rabbits, Keina had become a rude little girl, Brynhilde turned mean and I? I thought all the humans were out to kill the elves. Hence the hiding in a tree.

*Looking at the words she had just written down Gwen quietly muttered: Hiding in a tree?. Really, I would have thought I would find a better place to hide than that...*

Eating a healthy carrot (perhaps eating any sort of healthy vegetable?) cured all of us from this strange behaviour. I bet the others feel as embarrassed as I did. Not to mention sick from stomach cramps?

Gwen Irima

After she had turned in, Gwen had a dream, or a vision?, as she silently underwent the pain of the cramps. In her dream she saw herself, getting ready to fire an arrow? but as she followed her aim she must have seen something so shocking that it woke her immediately. After throwing up again, the cramps cleared, a sign that her body had gotten rid of the foul meat, but for a long time an incredible uncomfortable feeling kept her from sleeping. She wondered if she should write about her dream now in her diary, but what was there to write about?

Then she picked up her pencil and wrote something underneath her name in elvish.

?Amin caele kaimel?

Gwen Irima

__________________