Shadows and Light ~ Kara's Diary

Mithaw · 13-08-08, 11:43 PM

Page 1

It seems like so long ago now that I was just a simple rebellious noble's daughter that couldn't stand her lot in life. It has been over a year since I ran away and now I stand upon the forecastle of a ship that carries me to the shores of Britannia, to the new beginning that awaits me there. I have such lofty and aloof goals...to seek out the Order of Paladins in Trinsic and join their number.

Me.
A Paladin.

To my knowledge, there was only a handful of people who have ever come close to mimicing the examples set by the Avatar and he travelled with them all. to try and follow in their footsteps seems like an impossible task at the moment...something that I should feel utterly insane for even attempting. How is it the spoiled daughter of a Noble could ever amount to something as grandious as a paladin?

Doubt be damned though, I am going to try. Either I will be found wanting inby the virtues, or I will manage to achieve even some of the goals I have set. One thing is for sure though...I feel free now. Enough that, even if I am found wanting...I can still claim that I have travelled and seen sights that will no doubt leave me in wonder.

Anyway, enough of such thoughts...this is meant to be a new beginning for me and that includes leaving behind whatever doubts I might have had when father decided that I should take a pilgramage to the main land. While so far, the journey doesn't appear so terrible and the deep blue ocean is relatively still...I cannot but help miss home. I'm not sure if it's because it is what I'm familiar with, or it is because I'm so far from the valorian mountain ranges. I can't help but feel some trepidation at having left the shores of Jhelom behind for the first time and now, I am journeying into the deep unknown - further than I had ever travelled before.

For a young woman that has never left her home Island before, this is both a grand adventure and utterly terrifying at the same time. It is not helped by the fact that all I have by means of equipment is a valorian blade I was given by my father. In retrospect, the dress that I picked out is not nearly as covering as I'd like to be. Perhaps it is just the fact I'm surrounded by leering, unwashed sailors. They know to keep their distance, though I would feel a good deal more reassured if I had a suit of armour, or at least some leathers as protection.

Just makes me uncomfortable. I doubt being so far from what is familiar is helping either.

Either way, I shall write more later on....the mainland is in sight.

Mithaw · 18-08-08, 03:37 AM

Page 2

Dirty unclean bandits!

They tried to hijack our ship as it made land near to Trinsic. If it hadn't been for the swift actions of the crew in casting off again, I do believe we would all be prisoners right now, or worse. The Captain suggested that we head for the port at New Haven to rearm and repair what little damage we took from those curs trying to board us....not a bad plan as it would give me the chance to invest in some decent armour...all I have at the moment is this dress and it is not exactly the most hardy of materials.

I've been musing over some designs while I've been stuck aboard the ship and I think I've decided on a suit of leather first. Plate would be ideal, though frankly, I don't think I have the gold for a full suit. Along with those musings, I also took up practice with a bow that I was given by one of the crew. It is a rickety old bow and it doesn't feel right not being up front..

My valorian blood curdles at the thought of not being involved in a battle with a sword and shield; Honourably in other words. I know the bow is a nessicary tool and I'll use it from time to time...but it doesn't mean I have to do so without a grudge. Whoever decided that melee combat was a world for a man is in for a very rude awakening.

Also, the Captain suggested that I try and make a few contacts within the port city of New haven...it is supposed to be a fairly bustling little trade port, with a fair range of supplies and adepts of most professions present. I'm thinking...that we should stay for a little while and also give me the chance to brush up a little on my swordplay. Father's teachings were thorough...though I would still hate to be caught unprepared.

The crow's nest reported sighting land, I had best go and prepare...we aren't too far from the docks if land is in sight.

Mithaw · 21-08-08, 04:38 AM

Page 3

Fortune struck!

While I was able to secure a suit of battered ring-mail and a shield to use, we also managed to start repairs on the ship...while I have no doubts that it will be repaired eventually, it is still an expense that I do not need on my meagre purse. The Captain was the first to admit that we would be here for anywhere up to a tenday, while the carpenters saw to our beleaguered vessel.

At first glance, perhaps not so fortunate right?

Well, after speaking with the local armsman at the established fort here, I was sent out on an errand to put some of the skeletons that still haunt old haven to rest. Not glorious work, that's for sure...though it needs to be done. My good fortune came when I happened upon a fair-graced woman by the name of Minerva....she was apparantly some kind of leather worker, because she gave me a suit of fine red leather armour to replace the battered ring-mail I had been using. Who was I to complain?

This leather was in fine taste and masterfully worked to boot. At the very least, I will be protected until I can get my hands on a proper suit of full plate mail. The warrior blood raging in my veins demands no less than the very best when it comes to knightly combat.

What is doubly interesting is that I was given a book of runes as well. I'm not entirely sure where they all lead yet, or whether I'll be able to course the magic stored within them to life....we will see though.

It is a shame that the moon has since moved out of alignment, as it would have been so much simpler to take a moongate to Trinsic instead of a ship. Thiough, deep down, I think I'm enjoying my naval experiences, rocky as they are.

Oh well. Time for more writing later, I have skeletons to chase away.

Mithaw · 22-08-08, 02:47 AM

Page 4

Magical trists

So,

After numerous attempts to try and summon the magical energy trapped within the rune stone and open a gate towards wherever-the-abyss it was..I gave up.

And walked.

As it turned out, our ship was repaired on the eve of last night and just awaited our return from dallying about the fields of both Old and New Haven, before the Captain would weigh anchor and cast off again. Now with this leather armour and the arms we acquired during our short stay, I feel far more confident in slaying any bandits we might happen to meet along the shores of Trinsic. I did manage to find a competant pigeon master though and as such, I am preparing to send a letter back home to my father, just to keep him informed of my progress thus far.

I also saw to it that a sealed missive was despatched ahead of my arrival in Trinsic, so that His Grace in rule of the land will know of my arrival before the fact. I will admit some trepidation at meeting Royalty...perhaps it is also to do with the fact that this man has control over part of my future. If all does not go well, what would become of my desire to become a paladin?

All I can do is wait and hope that he is a charitable man.

That and fight the urge to try that runestone again. It would be downright rude to disappear from my own vessel, Especially with no way back

Oh well, the view from the ship is quite enthralling enough...that will just have to keep me content for the journey back to the mainland.

At the bottom of this page, a little doodle of a runestone exists, along with the uncompleted sentence..

Santium Viat-

Damnit.

The sooner I'm off this ship, the better.

Mithaw · 26-08-08, 09:03 PM

page 5

Trinsic

I've finally arrived in the city of Honour and met with lord Kai Silverhand, a paladin in the Order and Iljian, a surgeon with the city that has something of a curious lisp. At the time I met the both of them, Kai was being bandaged after taking on an elder dragon alone. No matter how many times I try to say that, I just cannot fathom anyone standing up to a creature of myth such as a dragon on their own.

Either the good Lord Kai is prone to bouts of over-exaggeration, or he really is that skilled with a blade. For now, I have my quiet doubts, but then...I've never even seen a dragon before, I've only read of them in the safety of a library where everything seems so mythical.

Sadly, Duke Irvyn appears to be absent on business for a while, so I've been occupying myself with spelunking and meeting the other citizens of the Duchy. So I went out adventuring instead. I'm not...actually sure where I ended up, I think it was a place known as Deceit? I think that was it, for as soon as I stepped down into the darkened abyss of the dungeon, I was assailed by ettins with no end.

I managed to get away, but it's still quite disconcerting to realise the extent of the infestations in these places...it goes beyond anything I've ever seen before.

The sheer thrill was unbelievable.

I'll have to go again.

Mithaw · 07-09-08, 11:22 AM

Page 6

The Duke

I finally met the Duke after he had returned from his business. Following that, he granted me an audience to discuss my aims within the Duchy and to see if I was suitable to join the Order of Honour. It should be noted here that the Duke did indeed approve my entrance into the Order and I am now a proper squire to the Lord Kai Silverhand. I consider this to be a great start to my desire to learn more of the virtues, for if I cannot here, then where could I possibly look?

In addition to becoming part of the nobility and the Order, I was granted a uniform to wear. I have to say that it is one of the most impressive suits of armour I have ever seen. From what I've been able to tell, the armour itself was forged from Valorite and then purposefully painted in the colour of the Duchy. It took a little while to find a suit that actually fitted my modest figure, but all turned out well in the end. Keeping the armour repaired might pose a problem, though I hope that by the time it becomes an issue that either someone from the Duchy will be able to help, or one of my father's blacksmiths will have arrived.

All is well so far, although I do need to see about training some more...my swordplay is not what it should be in order to properly serve the Duchy and protect the Duke. Hmm..perhaps I can see about organising a sparring match with some of the other aspirants on 'paladin Isle' as the citizens call it.

I do still miss Jerrick sometimes...that our parents split us up ; Jerrick with some posting as a guard somewhere and me with this pilgrimage. sometimes it does make me wonder if it wouldn't have been better to stay hidden away and try for a new life. I guess now, we will never know. Unless I happen across someone that can go and magically change history or something.

Yeah, right. Maybe I'll go shake the Avatar's hand while I'm at it