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Crisp parchment bound by a freshly crafted leather cover died yellow and red, the scroll work not yet finished but is recognizable as a rising sun.

I awoke before the sun today still feeling weak, but not as I had before my slumber. The thoughts in my mind have me reeling, I learn of Tyrael's death and that Kel'tira now guides us. Tyrael's memory shall live on in all of us I am certain of that, and I'm sure he died the way he would have wanted, with weapon in hand facing his opponent. My heart breaks for Karamia and her loss...I hope she knows that I as well as the others will be here for her. I have every faith that Kel can do the job she's been appointed to, she will do well. She knows that it will take a unified Fellowship to best our enemies and not an individual.

I want so badly to leave to continue my training, but I am told that I am not ready to depart just yet by both the healers and my body. I am concerned that I am not able to remember what happened to me. I have dreams but I am unable to recall what of. Perhaps in time as my strength returns, the fog will clear from my mind. I grow weaker again, I must eat and rest so that I may return to my training as soon as possible.

(the writing is rather frantic)
I did it, I have left. I asked the healer to bring me some food and water. He did and when he left I snuck out. I clutch my side at the as it is stil not completley healed. I head to hearthglenn to find Aran and plead him to train me. I am sorry Kel, but this must be done. No more must you worry about your weak husband. I will be strong... for YOU!

(there is a drop of blood on the lower right of the page)
Bah, the injury has not fully healed and I bleed out again. As I lean against this tree in the plaguelands I can see the smoke from Hearthglenn. Yes, soon I will be strong! I will have power! I will not be weak!

A red journal, bound by a piece of golden rope. There is a name printed on the front, Aseria Sunblade

Sadness.

Pain.

Anger.

Three emotions all tied to one thing....Lia died around four nights ago....reason why I haven't been writting is because of this. Hours before her death, she was about to turn in, I watched as she had got up slowly only to break into a serious coughing fit. She had raised a cloth to her mouth while she coughed, I rushed over, screaming for a healer, to aid her. She seemd to have wiped her mouth before clutching the cloth tightly in her hand. After putting her arm around my shoulders, I tried to take the cloth from her so she can support herself on me. Her grip was like iron, so I ignored it for then.

While the healer was getting his things, I lead her up to her bedroom, where she tripped, her grip on the cloth faltered, and fell. When I looked at it, the cloth that was usualy white, was now drenched in crimson blood. Lia looked ashamed as she had dropped the cloth, but I didn't show any signs that I had seen it, and took her the rest of the way to her room, though there was a hard lump in my throat that didn't seem to want to budge.

Mother and my little sister, Tema, arrived a few moments after the healer. After a look over, the healer asked me to take Tema out of the room and put her to bed, his eyes sad as he had then looked over to my mother. My mother obviously had got the message and told me to do what I was asked. Worried sick, I took Tema to her room where I tucked her in, and then she asked the question that I had feared she'd asked.

Is Lia going to die?

I almost burst into tears, but no, I was not going to be weak, so I stroked her head and said that the next morning she might have to go on a long journey, and that she would have loved her with all her heart. Tema being young, didn't understood what I would have meant, that I was thankful for as I watched her fall asleep. I felt stupid for saying that, because the feeling that Lia was going to pass to the other side that night was strong, and it made my stomach churn in horrible ways.

I walked back to Lia's room, where I heard my mother crying, Lia speaking in a very weak voice, and the Healer adding to her words. It was obvious that they were explaining what the inevitable was. I had sat out side and listened for a few moments before Lia told them to be quiet. Then I heard her call to me to come in, which didn't surprise me, she was the best hunter I have ever seen.

Slowly, I walked into the room, she had asked Mother and the healer to leave us for a moment so we could talk. When they did, she explained to me what will be happening when she had passed away. I wanted to tell her to shut up, that it was not going to happen, but the words could never get out because I knew deep in my heart that it will only do more harm than good. She told me that I needed to take care of the family for her, that I would do anything and everything in my power to make sure that they stayed safe. She even made me swear an oath, a oath I accepted, before she drifted into sleep. A sleep I felt she was not going to wake up from in the morning.

I stayed by her beside all night, watching her sleep peacefully. My cheeks and eyes were wet with tears, tears I thought I would never shed. She seemd to be doing ok until I saw her smile, it was happy and peaceful, and then I noticed that her breathing had stopped. Panicing, I rushed to her side and placed my fingers against her neck to check for a pulse. One beat...second beat...then nothing, she had passed, and she was never coming back.

(Tears mark this page, but it seemed she kept writting)

Ugh...if the fellowship could see me now, they wouldn't see the crazed Pyromancer that I usualy am, but even the insane can cry over someone that they loved and knew ever since they were born. I promise to keep my sisters legacy close at heart, I will follow and searve the fellowship will all my being, I will do my very best to make sure that what ever threatens it burns at the stake under my flaming and angry wrath. It was the Alliance that put her in this dump, she had fought with honnor, I guess that is why she smiled at her last moments, she had done her bit, and had passed the flame to her little sister....Me

Now i'm thinking of Mia and that damn nutter back then, when the nutter went nuts. Doesn't help. Not one bit.

Perhaps I'll talk with Kel sometime, she if I can offer her any assistance.

A small leather bound journal, the cover scratched and worn, some of the edging browned from dried blood, a small sheet of paper is folded and tucked within it's pages...

Yesterday afternoon...

The commissions and contracts here are lucrative, and fill my purse and pouches. And yet I feel alone out here.

I know I am not truely alone, for I have my brothers and sisters of the Rising Sun Fellowship to aid me if I should need them. Yet, I feel alone.

As an agent of the Horde, I have aided our allies the Forsaken and now the trolls here. And my weapons have worked and fought for my own people...yet I am alone in my duties.

Perhaps I am just feeling the solitude out here...no hustle or bustle like in Silvermoon. No Karamia.

My mind is changing every day. I feel the influences of Karamia and Kel'Tira in my decisions I make each moment. I keep reflecting on how being in the Fellowship has changed my life. How I am fortunate to have big brothers such as Malathir and Nicias to go to if I need advice. Or my big sisters An'giel and Wynddsong to lean on when I weary. And most of all, Kel'Tira and Karamia. They have listened to my worries, and heard my sorrows...the Fellowship is my family. (...the family I never had.)

There is bickering, yes, but there is that in all families. We have all come together in a common trust or goal...what was it I read in the guild charter? Honor, Loyalty, Valor, and Compassion. Lofty goals for a hodge-podge of people from many walks of life, talents, and skills.

I was nothing but a simple thief, yet they took me in. Did they see something in me, did they see these ideals in me, and accept me? I think not, but I find myself wanting to be more and more like them, to fight for the Horde, to help the Sin'dorei grow great again, and grow strong.

I find myself wanting to do the honorable thing, to be loyal to my brothers and sisters of the Fellowship, to have that personal bravery in all that I do, and most of all to be compassionate, I am finding all these qualities growing in me slowly, but surely.

I am not alone, not really. I have brothers and sisters in arms with my guild. I am a part of something wonderful and strong in the lands of Azeroth. I am a part of the Rising Sun Fellowship! The dawning of a partnership of friends! Beware Azeroth, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with soon!

I better get back to work. (I wonder if I will see Karamia tonight?)

The once-white cover is now black, and wear and tear of has left its mark on the thick book. Pieces of paper and other small mementos peep out of the pages, and a piece of soap on a rope hangs from the binding as a bookmark. The entire tome smells of sea-salt and a soft, lilac perfume.

Kel'tira Sunblaze

The healers guess at an infection. They will not let me see him. I miss him.

Mia is in Northrend, according to Sydric.

I spoke with Myro'Endis... he is quite the character. I wonder if we can do something for his cough? Either way... He has agreed to aid us, in return for something of Viragona's when we do away with her for good, and for a future, unspecified, favor, with the promise that I can deny any certain favor if it would harm us, or go against the Fellowship's code.

I feel bad for Cyaer... Part of it is my fault, I suppose, for surprising him like I did, but... It needed to be done. I cannot, will not, leave the Fellowship in a state such as it was after Tyrael died. I do not think anyone will disagree with my decision, that Mia and Cyaer will lead after me.

Honestly? An'giel could lead, except that she has been nowhere to be found. Nic is capable, even if he does not believe that right now, and if I died... I do not think he would be able to lead if I died. Mia is capable, I know that much, and Cyaer has a good head on his shoulders, between the two of them, they balance each other out, and would do a good job in the event that something happened to me.

I do not like this, the whole keeping my emotions in check, thing. I always have, I suppose, and I have done a fairly good job of it, too, up until recently. I have taken to wearing the pendant Mia gave me all the time now, not just at nights when I sleep. I spoke with another healer early this morning, while I could not sleep. Not one of my people, but a Tauren.

Once again, I am told it is simply too early to tell for sure. The sunwalker I spoke with seemed fairly certain I am not, and attributed the behavioral and emotional changes to stress, fear, and sleepless nights.

Who knows? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, I suppose I will keep busy. Everyone seems to be spooked, myself included, by Viragona's reappearance. I fear I will be in a bad place with Sydric, and perhaps Sel, because I chose to allow Myro'Endis to make a deal with me, but I do feel it was for the best, and I am confident I will be able to remain with a hold on the outcome.

(The next entry is scrawled, Kel's handwriting hasty and scribbled, tears staining the page)

Gone.

He is gone.

They do not know where he is.

The idiots assure me they are searching for him.

He disappeared.

They think he left on his own.

No one else was there, they tell me.

Light... Oh Nic... Where are you? Where have you gone? What have you done...?

I love you. Always. Always. Always.

Come back to me.

Please.

Please... I cannot do this without you.

I -need- you.

Love...

Nicias...

Please.

Loremaster wasn't enough. Neither was Ironman.

Now you guys are on to this.

You're all flipping crazy.

(haha i am unsure if that is a compliment or not, but it is fun not crazy I assure you. If you want to join in you are more then welcome :). Also please post in our main forum, as this is the IC journal forums.)

Journal of Karamia Dawnstrike

To say I have been overwhelmed with joy would be an understatement. And yet is does not even come close to expressing how I feel about Cyaer. He humbles me with his gentle devotion. He makes me want to be better, calmer, grounded in my faith and sure of my ability to be strong. Only time will tell if this will work.

Myro is so ill I do not even know if he will survive helping us to find Viragona and put an end to her. His coughing worries me, and yet he refuses aid for it. The deal he made with Kel'Tira is ambiguous enough I wonder at its validity. I remind him of the Fellowship ideals of our willingness to help each other. He scoffs and sneers at me as if I were a child asking questions he cannot or will not answer. What is he hiding?

The code we live by and for is important to me and to every member of the Fellowship. If Myro is not part of us how can he help? And yet I see the logic behind it. If Vira does not know he exists how can she prepare against him? Yet it is a slim and shallow hope we base our trust on. I pray it is enough.

I truly wish we had a way to know what she is doing. And if the dreams we have are related to her. I do not know what the relic is she carries. Where it is from or what it does exactly. But I know she gets some power from it. And I fear she is using it against us.

I need to speak to Aranthil and see if he has anything of Vira's for us to give to Myro. Claiming he can trace her through such a device is mind bogling. I wonder if he speaks true?

Nicias looked behind him as he leaned heavily against the tree. His breath came out in wheezes as he troubled for air. His lung was beginning to fill again with his life blood, he could feel it. As he looked at the blood dripping down his side to the ground, he increased his pace. The undead were not far behind, and he was unable to fight. He grabbed his side and ignored the pain, increasing his speed.

He turned back again and saw them this time. Two undead creatures, human like in appearance. They had once most likely served the alliance, but now they served a new master. They made loud groaning noises as they followed the bloody path. Nicias just looked at them and scowled. He was begining to think that leaving the healers was perhaps...not the brightest idea.

"No, I must not think that! That is a thought of weakness! and I am STRONG!"

Nicias drew his large sword and stood his ground then

"Weaklings run, the strong stay and fight." He said aloud to himself

As the undead pair saw him they broke out into a run, smelling living flesh. His grip tightened. As the first one neared he raised his sword and waited. It took two more steps and then with a massive strike from his well toned muscles, he cleaved the creature in half. He grinned. As he kicked the body off of his weapon the second undead was upon him. He had no time to strike the beast with his sword, so he did the second next best thing. Aiming for the creatures forehead, he delivered a bone shattering punch. He heard the undead's skull crack at his powerful strike and it fell backwards to the floor. It began to rise, almost unaffected by its now destroyed skull. Nicias quickly jumped upon the beast then, burying his sword in the creatures brain. He twisted the blade and the creature flinched. A second later, it was not moving. Nicias smiled, pleased that he could still fight even while injured. But that did not last long, as soon Nicias was coughing violently. Crimson red blood exited his mouth as he coughed, covering his hand. He looked down at his still bleeding side.

"I am a wreck!" Nicias said, slightly chuckling "I must find Aran soon.."

Nicias continued his walk then, leaving the two corpses as well as a trail of his own blood in his wake.

a few minutes later, something came upon the undead corpses, it ignored them. The creature looked down at the ground and sniffed. It licked up the blood and looked around. It knew the injured creature was nearby, and it hungered. It raised its large muzzle into the air as it let out a howl. It would find its prey soon.

A small leather bound journal, the cover scratched and worn, some of the edging browned from dried blood, a small sheet of paper is folded and tucked within it's pages...

The workouts at the training dummies are doing me good. I have never felt so on top of my game. I long to try my skills against a real adversary, such as Viragona. My good friend and trainer has shown me some nice little tricks that may help me in a true combat with a mage or warlock. The little hedge wizards I find in the wilderness barely stand up to a full frontal assault of my weapons, let alone any tricks needed to vanquish them.

I had a talk with Kel'tira that left me...upset. She asked me to co-master the guild with Karamia if anything should happen to her. I wasn't listening, wha...where were you going? What's happening? She calmed my confusion by explaining she wasn't going anywhere, but for the sake of the guild, she wanted to have her successors picked if anything were to happen to her. I was still shaky - I love Kel, I respect her, and admire her abilities to lead the guild...and then it truly hit me. She wanted me to help lead the guild!

I have written in this journal several times how being a part of the Rising Sun Fellowship has changed me, helped me to grow...to be what I am today. Someone I have come to like and have confidence in, not some self edifying terrorist. I told her I would be honored to aid the guild in anyway that I could, and thanked her for her trust in me, us, in leading the guild if anything should happen to her.

On another note, I ran into Myros and my Karamia talking in the Royal Exchange quarter. Myros tends to keep to himself his little secrets, and such, and Karamia was asking about the deal the Fellowship/Kel'tira had made with him. He tended to skirt the issue, and said little, again, talking in circles. I have to admire him for that, I've had training in such things (when out doing a contract if you get caught it's talk in circles or die, sometimes) So I kept it to myself.

He had several commissions to complete out in the Ghostlands, and I offered to assist him. Mia said she had seen Braendei by the engineering area, and might be able to assist too. So the three of us went out to the Ghostlands. We were able to help him complete several commissions, and even a contract or two.

And this was a good thing! I felt tired and went to sleep thinking of the guild and helping it to be a force to be recognized.

A small leather bound journal, the cover scratched and worn, some of the edging browned from dried blood, a small sheet of paper is folded and tucked within it's pages...

I wanted to save an entry for my beloved, Karamia. She is no less than what I had dreamed and thought of her. She doesn't see her true worth I think, and I believe I have Tyrael to thank for that. The bastard.

I will tell her again and again, and I hope eventually she will come to see just what a beautiful Sin'dorei woman she is, inside and out. I do not hold her to a pedestal, I see the woman she is and could be, where I think she does not hold that kind of confidence in herself.

I hope she will see what I see when I look at her; feel what I feel when I hold her in my arms; and love me as I love her with my kisses and caresses. She is Karamia...my Karamia. And that is enough for me.

Nicias continued down the path. He knew he was close, perhaps maybe 20 more minutes at the swift walking pace. He was pleased with himself and happy to almost be finally there. He stopped for a minute to catch his breath but he still heard footsteps.
Nicias turned quickly then, all his senses alert. Behind him he saw a rather large creature. It's blood shot eyes showed it was feral. Nicias groaned, this would not be an easy fight with an injury.

"What the hell is a feral worgen doing here!"

He groaned through gritted teeth through the pain in his lungs. His breath was coming in in wheezes. Nicias Tightened his grip on his sword. For a few seconds they both stared at each other.

The worgen was the first to act. It let out a howl as it dropped to all fours and charged, its toungue hung out the side of its mouth. Nicias raised his sword and took a sideways stance. He looked into the eyes of the creature, they were cold and wild. He tightened his grip as the beast neared. Soon it was upon him and he let loose a powerful strike.

The worgen was expecting this and quickly rolled right. Nicias' sword hit the ground, but he reacted quickly. He did a quick spin, slicing his blade across into the worgen as it lept at him.
The strike sliced open the worgen's chest, but it seemed not to care as it fell atop Nicias. The worgen slashed his might claw towards Nicas' head, but he quickly moved his head to avoid that powerful claw. Nicias arched his back and brought his knees in. He put both feet on the abdomen of that feral creature and with all his strength, kicked it off of him. The worgen leaned forward with its snout, attempting to bite into Nicias' face. the jaws missed him by a hair. The worgen flew backwards through the air, but managed to land on its feet. Nicias slowly rose, just in time to meet the charging worgen. Nicias quickly rolled out of the way as the worgen charged paast him.

He rose again and stared at the feral beast. Their gaze locked yet again. Nicias spit on the ground and grinned.
"Let us finish this!" He yelled at the beast. The worgen grunted, seeming to agree with that statement. Nicias tightened his grip as he charged. The beast let out a howl and charged as well, running on all fours, tongue out. Nicias sensed the strike before it happened. He raised his sword and as the monster's paw came down, he removed it with a powerful parry. The blade drank in the blood of the beast, coving itself in the blood. The worgen did no care, but continued in. It met Nicas' head with a powerful headbutt. Nicias was knocked back a few feet. His head was ringing then.

He thought he heard the thundering of hooves. The worgen moved in towards nicias, lifting him up with his one remaining hand. The creature let out a roar close to Nicias' face, but he could not hear it over the ringing. He heard the hooves again, closer. The creature stared at Nicias for a second. It opened its jaws and quickly moved in to finish him.
It all happened so fast then. There was a loud crunching sound as a massive mace made contact with the worgen's head. Nicias fell painfully hard to the ground and he began coughing up blood. The ringing was still in his ears as he looked up at his savior. The elf had white hair, a caring face, and armor of the paladin order.

"I finally found you Aranthil." He said with a smile. Aranthil replied, but he could not hear him over the ringing. He coughed again and more blood came out. Aran spoke again, but the words did not reach him as the dark tendrils of unconsciousness took him then.

The woman with the brown hair was sitting on a rock writing in a journal. Behind her was a small waterway, its burbling waters mixing with the rattle of the wind through the leaves to create rustic but soothing music. Her face was pensive and her body tense as she carefully wrote each word. She paused often, lifting her face from the page and looking out over the landscape.

She turned to her bag and after a moment of rummaging through it, produced a small object wrapped in cloth. She unwrapped the cloth to reveal a runestone. She stared at it for a long moment before reaching a decision and turned back to write the in journal.

She finished writing and blew softly on the page to dry the ink before she closed the book and slid it into her bag and carefully laid the stone on top. Rising from her stone seat, she shouldered the bag and headed back towards civilization.

It was time to go.

***

(New entry in a plain brown leather journal)

There are just two of us now, and while they are not certain which one they will send, the choice is clear. I will go. I am the one without a spouse and there is no one waiting for me. The money I earn does not go to support anyone and should I not come back, no one will be worse off. I told him today and while he did protest, he understood my logic. I will tell our superiors later today when I report back to them.

A woman without a past has very little to lose or betray; both are valuable assets, if the term may be forgiven for its use in this case. In fog of my amnesia, I failed to understand how easy I would be to exploit. How willingly I walked forward onto that grey path, hazy as light and darkness filter through and mingle into some ambivalent soup. I am here now; my footsteps secure in a perpetual fog, my path set and not wavering. In that twilight of darkness and dawn, I am anything but ambivalent… a funny term considering…

Are my name, age, chosen birthday lies because I have had to make them up as I went along? I duck questions about where I grew up and change the subject when the questions get too detailed. I have avoided getting too close to so many and there have been a few that I regret not taking the initiative to reach out for. If I had, I may not be sitting here wondering 'what if?' and may actually have someone worried about where I was going. Even with the Fellowship I have walked along the edge and it is painfully evident when I work with them I am peripheral.

At the moment, I do not know where I am heading or what I will be doing once I get there—that information will come once I am on my way to… where ever. It is a little disconcerting, not knowing where I am going or what I will be doing.

I am leaving the stone with the Fellowship. I cannot take it with me. If I am caught, I do not want my mission to be inadvertently (and wrongfully) traced back to them. They have nothing to do with this life and path; if this is what I am meant to walk, then it is best that I move on. That is a choice that I find myself hopeful not to make.

The time for reminiscing what little I can is over. It is time to go.

(This is unsigned.)

A small leather bound journal, the cover scratched and worn, some of the edging browned from dried blood, a small sheet of paper is folded and tucked within it's pages...

The sun is setting behind the hills to the west of Jintha'alor, and I find that I cannot tell the difference between my employers and the targets of my contracts. The shadows are deep across the ruins, and I shall move silently through them, killing as I go. I want to finish this before the light is gone.

Karamia and I explored the Scarlet Monastery this afternoon. The loot there was excellent, and improved my current gear immensely. Though two thoughts came out of the experience.

One thing bothered me throughout the search...it wounded my soul to hear the cries of pain from my Karamia as she fought the Scarlet Brotherhood found here. At times, she was surrounded as they cut and slashed at her, pounding on her with their maces, or hitting her with arcane and holy magicks. It infuriated me, and I would charge several at a time, swinging my weapons with accuracy, and slay them, moving onto the next pair. I thought my contributions minor to all the carnage she wrought, but she would exalt my skills as we rested between forays.

Secondly, she also allayed some of my fears for her, with the possible reappearance of Viragona. She is a remarkable fighting machine, I have a much deeper respect and admiration of Mia's prowess in battle.

When we finished, I held her close, and kissed her passionately. Unfortunately she had somewhere else to be, and I needed to fulfill my obligations in the Hinterlands.

My desire was to return to Silvermoon City, pour her a long hot bath, remove her armor, and allow her to soak away some of those aches and pains. Then to allow her to lay out on the bed, as I massaged her tired muscles, and scratched her back to relax her and let her truly rest. I would procur a delightful meal for the two of us, and perhaps a bottle of fine wine to sip on as we both ate and chatted.

Some days, you can't get what you want, and on others, you get what you need. Today, was still exceptional, I was able to fight beside my beautiful Karamia. And spend a little time with her, and even taste her lips.

The light is fading quickly, and I must continue my work. My final thought is of Karamia. Good night, my love, may the Light watch over you and protect you. I love you and need you in my life. You make life worth living....(the entry ends abruptly)

(The journal is small and the writing is neat)

I came across Nicias while on a simple patrol. It seems he had a confrontation with a feral worgen. I came at the perfect time as it seemed his doom was imminent. His injuries were bad I know not why he came. I have healed him fully now and he is still resting. When he wakes I shall ask what it is he came to me for, as he said he "found me" before going into unconsciousness.

My repenting goes well. I am here helping train the others in the skills of combat. Hearthglenn is a calm peaceful place, and I very much like it. Perhaps soon I will return to the city and help the fellowship. There is wind that....Vira has returned. If she has I will handle it personally. I will not allow her evil to harm innocents. She must be stopped!

A blue tome with gold embroiding. It appears fairly new.

I have had the most wonderful day. I have graduated from Mage Basics and am allowed to adventure on my own. On top of that I have been given a place among the members of the Rising Sun Fellowship. I have not met many of the members yet, but I was given the honor of meeting the Fellowship's leader, Kel'tira Sunblaze. She seems quite kind and for the first time since the death of my brother, I feel as if I actually belong. I have sent letters to my sisters, Arallina and Lunarii, to tell them of my accomplishments. After much debating I have decided against sending one to Tradissa, we have not spoken since the fight. Well, the hour is late and I must rest. I am done for now.

An simple book with various leaves and plant stems sticking out from it's pages

The Fire Festival has started and I met up with several members of the Rising Sun Fellowship this evening. There is one among them that intrigues me - Myroendis. Talking with him throughout the evening, I have found that he is a mage, that has some sort of condition that resulted from a magic mishap. I am concerned for his health, one does not cough and cough up blood like that for long without dying. The two young Sin'dorei women I met were delightful, and feel I may have given them the wrong first impression. I bought several rounds of mead, and I found the mead much stronger than I am used to, I got drunk.

As we departed and went our separate ways, I mentioned that I was a healer of some skill if they needed one. And then I found myself alone in Silvermoon. As I walked through the Grand Bazaar area, I took a notice from the orcish warchief - Hillsbrad. Hmmm...that would be a change from the depressing Ghostlands. I took my first quest, and found myself giving out quests. Most entertaining.

The once-white cover is now black, and wear and tear of has left its mark on the thick book. Pieces of paper and other small mementos peep out of the pages, and a piece of soap on a rope hangs from the binding as a bookmark. The entire tome smells of sea-salt and a soft, lilac perfume.

Kel'tira Sunblaze


(This entry is drenched in tears, even the shape of the words seems to show hopelessness.)

Why is it that the first, real, harsh words between Nicias and I are the ones burned into my mind?

What has gotten into him? The man I saw today is not the man I fell in love with. Maybe I was unnecessarily harsh. Aranthil did warn me something was wrong with him, mentally. But that... Nothing could have prepared me for the conversation I had with Nicias.

And his eyes... His eyes were... Dead. Damn...

I want my husband back. I want the patient, thorough, strong, friendly man I fell in love with back. All I want is to touch him, hold him close to me, kiss him. I want my Nic back. I want my lover, not this cold, power-hungry, distant echo of him.

(The next pages are written as dialog, a strange, third person narrative used, perhaps to help Kel distance herself from the words burned into her mind.)

“Nic!”

Niciäs stops swinging at the dummy and turns to Kel, "Kel?!"

Kel'tira stares at Nic, "Oh, love..."

Niciäs looks into Kel's eyes. His own eyes seem darker, more void. "What is it love?"

“How? Light, Nic! Never disappear like that again!”

“I...I had too”

“I have been looking for you... What do you mean you had to?”

“I needed to. Aran is strong! I needed him to teach me!”

“Nicias... look at me.”

Niciäs looks at Kel. His face seems confused as if he does not think he did anything wrong. Kel'tira places a gentle hand on Nic's cheek, "You scared me. I did not know - No one knew where you were. You are perfectly strong enough for me. Love, what are you trying to prove?"

“I....I am not strong enough!” Niciäs slowly moves Kel's hand away. "I am weak! I need more! I need to be stronger! For you! I...I cannot be weak!”

Kel'tira drops her hand to her side, hurt showing in her eyes, "You are strong enough for me. I love you, and will always worry about you, no matter what. Love... You are stronger than I can ever dream of being. Without you..."

“Exactly! Without me! I do not want that! I will never leave you, I will grow strong so I cannot die! I will become strong for you! So I can live for you!”

Kel'tira chokes back a sob, speaking in a cracked voice, "What has changed!? Nic... Light, love!" This is not truly you!

Niciäs stares at Kel. His eyes are dark, the life in them seems almost gone, “This is me!I do this for YOU!”

Kel'tira chokes back a curse, "Your eyes..."

“My eyes?”

“They are...” Kel frownsNiciäs looks at Kel confused, and Kel'tira curses, offering Nic the polished metal of her shield as a mirror.

"They are just a little darker there is nothing wrong."

Kel'tira curses, "Damn it, Nic! That is not normal!

((1/3))

Niciäs glares at Kel, “There is nothing wrong The only thing wrong is that I am not strong, That is IT!

Kel'tira bows her head slightly, moving as if to reach for him, only to pull her hand back, "You are strong. I know it. I see it every time I look at you. Please, love... I want you back."

Niciäs twitches. A small black root like tendril under his skin can be seen poking out beyond the wrappings, it looks like a tree root. "I am here now love, I do not see what you mean."

Kel'tira shakes her head, examining Nic thoroughly, "Something is wrong. I do not know what, but this is not -you-. I can tell that much."

"I am fine"

Kel'tira reaches slowly for Nic's face, her hand stopping inches from his skin, "Fine. Tell me what has happened, then, at least give me that much satisfaction? That I can hear your tale?"

"What tale? I left the healers and came here."

Kel'tira falls silent, tears running down her face as her hand drops back to her side and she turns away slightly.

"Kel? What is wrong?"

"Everything."

Niciäs steps closer, his eyes are still unchanged, “Everything?”

"Yes, dammit."

"Well what do you mean everything"

Kel'tira gestures hopelessly, still crying, "This! Nightmares! Viragona! Nothing has gone right in a long while, Nicias."

"Do not worry about Vira my love, soon I will be more powerful than her and I will end her!"

"How can I not when I dream her evil, Light-forsaken dreams about killing you every night?"

Niciäs looks slightly taken aback, “It is alright love.” Niciäs embraces Kel, wrapping his arms around her shoulders

Kel'tira slumps, head down, eyes half closed, "Every night... Every night, Nic..."

"I am sorry love, but do not worry, you won't kill me, you love me and I you. We would never do that"

Kel'tira turns to press her face against Nic's shoulder, "I know... it all seemed so real, and the last time... I almost believed I wanted to..."

Niciäs runs a hand through Kel's hair, “It will be over soon love. I will slay her"

"Love... for my sake, stay away from her. Please. If she can enslave a paladin like Aranthil..."

"I will be stronger than him though! I will be stronger than her!"

Kel'tira wraps her arms around Nic's form, sobbing, "Love..."

"I will be able to stop her, for us! So that we may love each other in peace"

"I do not give a damn about Viragona. I do not want to lose you."

"You will not. I will stop her like squishing a bug! Oh love I will stop everything from harming you."

Kel'tira steps back from Nic, taking his head in her hands, "Love... I am afraid it will not be that simple. At least--"

Niciäs smiles, his eyes still that same dark and almost lifeless. "Do not worry, I will stop her love."

"I want to come with you."

Niciäs shakes his head no, "I will not have you in harm's way. Aran says he will go with me, that we will stop her together"

Kel'tira struggles to speak calmly, "You tell me you will not put me in harm's way, yet you ask me to let you go to what may well be your death!? No! Nicias Sunblaze, I will not stand idle and watch you throw yourself off of that cliff!"

"Cliff? Love! I will be strong enough."

"You underestimate her!"

"I will have Aran with me. We will crush her!"

"She is not the same person we killed once."

"It matters little! she is still weak!"

((2/3))

"It matters much! She was never weak, and even less so, now! You were not there when we killed her! How would you know? You have not walked these past days with the weight of her magic riding on your mind! How would you know!?"

Niciäs glares at Kel

"If not for Myro'Endis, Kalrei would be dead right now, because of Viragona! You do not understand what you go up against!"

"Love. I will be fine"

"No."

Niciäs draws his sword, “I will finish her like this target!” Niciäs quickly slices the dummy cleanly in half, "I am stronger! I slowly grow stronger!"

"You do not understand! There is a difference between killing a warlock and killing a dummy."

"I do not know what, but the sword feels lighter and my movements faster! Hmph."

Kel'tira steps further back, something bordering on wary fear in her gaze, "If she can work this much havoc on the Fellowship from afar, what can she do at closer range? Had you considered that?"

"She is still weak! I will be stronger than her!"

Niciäs holds out his fist in as if crushing a bug. His right arm also has the black root like veins running up it, and Kel'tira reaches to grab it, tracing the black lines up his arm, "What the Fel is that!?"

Niciäs quickly withdraws his arm, "It is nothing do not worry love"

"That is not nothing, Nicias!"

"It is nothing! I am fine! I have never felt more alive! I have never felt stronger!"

"Something is wrong, Nicias. I do not know what. Something is clearly, entirely wrong."

"I fail to see how"

Kel'tira shakes her head, her voice barely a whisper, "Your eyes. Your arm. Your mood. This is not the same man I fell in love with."

"I am unchanged love, I am only stronger now!"

"No... no, I do not think you are unchanged. I am sorry, Nic, but I am scared. This is not who you are."

"Love I am me!"

"Prove it."

"I do all this for you! because I love you! Is that not proof?!"

"You are going about it all wrong! You are already strong..."

"I was not"

"You were!"

"But now I am, I am growing stronger! I would never be able to move this fast a while ago! I would never be able to swing my blade with this much strength as before!"

"But why? Honestly, why? Why leave the healers before you were ready? Why leave without telling me? why cause me so much fear...?"

"I was healed enough, they over worried, and I did not mean to not tell you love, I meant to send a letter. I just was tired of laying there on the floor doing nothing. Now I am doing something, I am growing stronger"

"I was not arguing with that. "

"Well, then I see no problem"

"That is the problem. What is wrong with your eyes? Your arm? You know something, don't you?"

"I am fine. I am stronger even!"

"No... No, I do not think that is all that has changed."

"Well that is all that has changed"

Kel'tira sobs, "Nicias, this is not normal! I do not understand how you can fail to see it! Something is wrong with you yet!"

Niciäs turns to face the cut in half practice dummy, “I have only changed for the better

Kel'tira turns away, clenching her fists, "The man I see is not the one I married. You are not the person I fell in love with."

Niciäs turns to face Kel, a look of shock on his face, “What do you mean! Do...do you not love me?! I do this for you! It is all for you!"

Kel'tira does not turn to look at him as she walks away, "I did not say I do not love you. I always will. This is simply not who you are. You do not sound like yourself."

Niciäs glares angrily at Kel, “I do this for you! I work hard for you! I become strong for YOU! Yet you turn from me?! Fine leave me! I have training to do!

Kel'tira weeps brokenly, "When you resolve this issue, I will be waiting with open arms. I love you, Nicias... I love you..."

Niciäs turns back to his dummy, ignoring her.

(There is a blank page, and a sketch of Nicias, eyes hollow and face cold, “This is not you... Wake up, love...”)

Why have I written that again? To distance myself? To push it away as having happened to someone else? Perhaps. I just want to cry... I want to feel Nic's arms around me... I wish I could take back what I said, I wish he did not scare me...

I want this all to be over.

I want it to be done.

I want to have reason to be happy again.

I want this painful, dark time to pass.

I want to smile and laugh again.

((3/3))