Session 7 Journal
14th of Forta, 1107
A lot has happened, so I should probably start writing it down.
I should start with the good things: I am engaged to be married to Oh-Kae Li of Dacafe. I’ve only spoken to her a few times, but I hope we end up liking each other. Part of me says it’s a bad idea to get engaged to someone you’ve just met, but I think this is just how things are done.
Something else worth celebrating is the emancipation of the Nimhish. While I was busy speaking to my neighbors, a̶n̶d̶ b̶u̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ h̶e̶a̶d̶s̶ w̶i̶t̶h̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶ P̶e̶n̶d̶e̶l̶ b̶r̶a̶t̶ Alice and Deneb were navigating the Flamewrought bureaucracy. The Nimhish are safe now, but we’re still going to take them home.
I’ve avoided writing it about it long enough. Pendel has blood on his hands.
During our confrontation with Wyserias, I attempted to shove him out of the castle and to his death. As soon as I took a step forward, Pendel grabbed my arm and told me to stop. Even though I listened to him, Wyserias still went through a window. And he took Annabel with him. In her honor, I’ll never strike down another boar. She bested me in life, and she shall continue to best me in death.
Shortly after this, our group changed hands yet again. We decided to follow Shrike, a black dragon. This proved to be a mistake; within ten minutes he murdered the Grand Duchess by using Archie. She was immediately succeeded by one of Pendel’s sisters, which is awfully convenient for him. While I no longer believe has plans for Oh-Kae, I still can’t trust him.
15th of Forta, 1107
This day kicked ass.
To start, we stopped by the Earldom of Decent. Apparently, it’s actually a democracy; Earldom is just a name to them. Decent had been taking in witch refugees who had been displaced by the ETE, and were running short on food. While this is obviously horrible, it was good news to me because Alice and I got to fight sharks and a zordfish. We were unstoppable! I’m not washing off the shark blood. I want people to know that I’ve been killing sharks.
And for the cherry on top, I got to show up Pendel when I got back!
Ark, who is a Guardian, not a “Nimhish,” revealed that my island is being ravaged by a corrupted dragon. My people have suspected that the dragons were responsible; knowing that it’s the fault of an anomalous dragon, rather than a dragon in complete control of its sense, is oddly comforting.
Shrike was not eager to accept this. In what I can only assume was a misguided attempt, Pendel tried to call him out for not caring about other dragons. I couldn’t stand this hypocrisy. My people have lived in horrible circumstances. As far as I know, the Sunset Sentinels were the only group that was willing to help.
After shouting about my hometown, the leaders of Decent decided to send aid to my island as well. In order to help them reach the island safely and avoid the ETE blockade, I loaned them our magic compass. There are now 2,000 soldiers en route to Calamity Isle. I know that they will keep my people safe.
A̶l̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶,̶ t̶h̶i̶s̶ m̶a̶y̶ n̶o̶t̶ h̶a̶v̶e̶ b̶e̶e̶n̶ a̶ g̶o̶o̶d̶ i̶d̶e̶a̶.̶ T̶h̶e̶ B̶a̶r̶o̶n̶y̶ o̶f̶ P̶e̶n̶d̶e̶l̶ i̶s̶ u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ i̶m̶m̶e̶d̶i̶a̶t̶e̶ t̶h̶r̶e̶a̶t̶.̶ D̶o̶n̶’̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶y̶ n̶e̶e̶d̶ p̶r̶o̶t̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ n̶o̶w̶?̶ M̶y̶ i̶s̶l̶a̶n̶d̶,̶ t̶o̶ m̶y̶ k̶n̶o̶w̶l̶e̶d̶g̶e̶ i̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ e̶v̶e̶n̶ u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ a̶t̶t̶a̶c̶k̶.̶ H̶a̶v̶e̶ I̶ j̶u̶s̶t̶ a̶n̶t̶a̶g̶o̶n̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ t̶h̶e̶ E̶T̶E̶?̶
That is all for today.
16th of Forta, 1107
I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.
Right out of the gate, our “”“Glorious Leader”"" immediately took us through the most dangerous route he could have. I think Alice and Deneb managed, but I felt miserable.
When we tried to camp for the night, we were quickly attacked by Bog Dogs. I still hadn’t washed off the shark’s blood, a̶n̶d̶ I̶ t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶ m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ h̶a̶v̶e̶ a̶t̶t̶r̶a̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ t̶h̶e̶m̶ because I thought it might have preserved my fighting spirit. It didn’t.
Alice, Deneb, and I were all heavily assaulted by the dogs. Pendel, of course, wasn’t touched. He helped, I guess, through his magic; but when push came to shove, he made sure that all three of us were between him and the Bog Dogs.
I’m going to bed. I hope I dream of killing sharks.
17th of Forta, 1107
We arrived at the Guardian’s Great Hall. It somehow took the entire today. I’m still miserable.
18th of Forta, 1107
Some good news, finally. We quickly got an audience with Freya, the speaker of the Guardians. Apparently, they already had plans to ally with the Usagi Taguel. Getting them to come to the defense of the Barony of Pendel was not difficult at all. With that handled, we can turn our attention to our other main goal: rescuing Deneb’s mother.
…I don’t know what we’re going to do about that. Apparently, Deneb has a plan. It’s probably best to just leave her to that, then.
Additionally, I think I need to talk to Oh-Kae’s little brother. I knew he wasn’t happy about me, but I though he was only mad about my actions. After all, I did make his sister cry for several hours. But apparently, his anger runs deeper than that. As in, “send a letter to a place nobody knows exists to call me a fuckhead” angry. Hopefully, I can talk him down from this. I don’t want Oh-Kae’s family to hate me.
Deneb 
. Alice managed to fix that Nimhish compass but Caper didn’t tell them the whole of its abilities… Should I? Feh, I’ll have to think on it because them knowing such things would distract from my plans. It wouldn’t lead to the kind of story I want to tell. Regardless, everyone seemed delighted with their magical items so Caper did a good job… I guess. Back to the recap: The Nomads were a nice enough people, but I think its a reflection of my magic, and of the nature of my travelers. My travelers are kindly and good natured and my magic augments and projects their innate qualities to others. Seeing and feeling the wholesomeness of my travelers, it would be difficult for many to be unkind to them. Grandfather Toan seemed nice and Rowan was definitely incredibly kind. No doubt their own innate goodness was influenced by my magic. With Koal’s help (and some coaching from Rowan) my travelers made a small profit, spent the night, and made it to the Border City of Wagyu.
I adore them.
