A/N: And here's the next chapter. Again, sorry for the wait. I was shirking my duties at the Renaissance Festival. Ehehe.


Day 113, Hour 9

Good morning, Mr. Journal! We're almost ready to be off now! We've just finished breakfast and bought a crossbow for Ajantis from old Bentley. Maybe it'll encourage him not to rush in with his sword right away every sodding time we get into a fight.

Unfortunately, Viconia won't be coming with us. She's found the Friendly Arm a lot more friendly ever since Kivan and Branwen left earlier this morning, and she's decided to stay here a while. Says she's had her fill of tromping around in the "accursed sunlight" or whatever. Can't say I blame her. I mean, she's been looking for somewhere what'll accept her and give her a chance all this time, and I think she's found it here in the Friendly Arm. Honestly, if I were a drow, I wouldn't be running around in the sunlight all day if I had the choice, neither. She probably likes running around in the sunlight just about as much as I like running around in the dead of night when I can't see for shite. I really hope it works out for her, Mr. Journal. The Friendly Arm is a nice place. I think she'll like it here.

As for me, I'll be right glad when we leave. That sodding half-orc has been shooting glares over at our table all morning, and it's making me right uncomfortable.


Day 113, Hour 22

Gods, Mr. Journal, but I'd hoped we'd be farther down the coast by now, but we've just now reached the cliffs of the Candlekeep Coastway, and it's too dark to keep moving on. I've said it before, and I'll say it again – I really don't like camping out this close to where Gorion fell. It reopens all sorts of painful wounds what have just now barely scarred over. Still, I'll be visiting his grave tonight all the same. It wouldn't feel right not to. Not when we're so close to it. Soon as I'm done writing, Immy and me are heading off.

So, we left the Friendly Arm in the late morning, after saying a quick goodbye to Viconia, who, like I mentioned earlier, decided she were staying behind. I swear, as we walked down the road away from the inn, Rasaad looked for all the world like a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. I asked him about it, and he admitted, right sheepishly at that, that he were just real relieved we weren't traveling with Viconia no more. I knew they didn't get along, conflicts of religion and all, but I never realized she'd made him that uneasy. Gods, but I wish I knew a bit more about gods, Mr. Journal. This would probably make a lot more sense if I knew exactly why Shar and Selune had such a beef with each other. Oh, but my old teachers would be right disappointed if they knew how much of the learning what they drilled into my head I've forgotten.

Anyway, the trip here were mostly uneventful, just the usual walk along the Coastway and all. It's a journey I've taken three times now, though the first is one I'd certainly like to forget. The weather's been nice and clear all day, and Immy and me spent most of the trip reminiscing about good memories we had from our time at Candlekeep. They're almost enough to make a girl forget about the bad ones. Almost.

There's not much more to tell, Mr. Journal, and honestly, I'd like to keep this short. The sooner I finish, the sooner Immy and me can get going.


Day 114, Hour 6

Gods, but I am tired, Mr. Journal. Too much happened last night, and I barely got any sleep. Let's see. I left off right before going to visit Gorion's grave.

Well, Yeslick noticed Immy and me slipping out of camp, wanted to know where we were going. I'd forgotten that he and Ajantis weren't with us the last time we stopped around here. Once we told him, he insisted on going with us. Said that our act of remembrance were a noble one, but it weren't safe to be going off into the woods alone at night. I mean, it weren't that far from camp, Mr. Journal, but he weren't wrong. And, well, honestly, I were glad for the extra company. Immy and me, we both told Yeslick a lot about Gorion on our way there, and it just felt like we were keeping his memory alive by it, you know? Everyone should know what a great man he were, and what a great dad he were to us.

Immy picked some flowers on the way and we laid them on the grave together. It were a real solemn moment, and all. I told him all about what's happened so far, and all the things we've done and the great friends we've made. I'd like to think he could hear me, wherever he is now. But, pretty soon, it were the wee hours, and we had to go back to camp.

Once we hit the cliffs though, we saw a figure there, silhouetted against the night sky, and it weren't no one we knew, neither. When we got closer, it looked to be a nobleman. I called out to him, and he were a bit shocked. Okay, well a lot shocked. Nearly jumped straight out of his silk tights, he did. Hadn't known anyone else was out here and all. When we asked what he were all the way out here for, he told us he'd come to throw himself off the cliff. He...he wanted to die, Mr. Journal. Well, I've had enough of death. I'd just come back from staring it in the face, and I weren't about to abide no more. So I just sat down by the cliff and started talking to the guy. Asked him about his life, his friends, his family, anything I could think of. He were right tense at first, and I could barely get anything out of him. But, after a while, he ended up sitting down next to me and having a proper conversation. Turns out he'd been having some troubles at home, but after talking about all the other stuff he had going on, he realized just how much he had to live for. He ended up thanking me for stopping him, and heading back toward Beregost. I'm...glad. There's been too much sodding death recently. Preventing even one person from dying...that's something right worth doing, Mr. Journal.

We finally made it back to camp, long after Rasaad and Ajantis had already gone to sleep. But there were no rest for us, Mr. Journal. Not one hour after the three of us had returned and bedded down, we were ambushed by a horde of gibberlings! Nasty little creatures, those. I'm glad they didn't wait a bit longer to attack, though. At least it were soon enough after we'd gone to sleep that I were still in that half-awake, half-asleep state and noticed them coming. I don't want to think about what would have happened if they'd caught us completely unawares. We were all so tired, I guess, that we'd just straight up forgotten to set a watch! We're not like to do that again in a long time, let me tell you.

The gibberlings weren't much of a problem. They went down right easy. I mean, they were only gibberlings, after all. But they did keep me up just long enough that I didn't get near enough sleep, and that makes for a very cranky Linn, Mr. Journal. Can you tell how cranky I am about this? Because the answer is very. Even worse, Immy is cooking this morning. She's probably going to burn everything again and that will do nothing for my mood.

At least there's a bit of a silver lining, and that's in what lies ahead. We're going south along the cliffs from here as soon as we're done eating breakfast, into lands what none of us have ever seen before. We'll have new adventures and new experiences, and it will be amazing. Not even all the sleep deprivation in the world can ruin that. Anyways, I'll write you later, Mr. Journal. Hopefully, I'll be in a right better mood when next we meet.


Day 114, Hour 23

We've been traveling south along the edge of these cliffs all day, Mr. Journal. It's been a right scenic walk, it has. It were bright and sunny near all day, and looking out past the cliffs you could see the ocean, going all the way to the horizon and meeting up with the sky. The waves, you could hear them crashing against the rocks way, way below. And there were so many sea birds, flying overhead. I kept looking for a path down to the base of the cliffs as we walked, but didn't see any. I do so want to find another beach, Mr. Journal. The one in Ulgoth's Beard were ever so enjoyable.

When the sun were right overhead, we found a rocky outcropping a bit farther away from the cliff's edge, all surrounded by trees, what had flat bits what made for perfect natural seating. We decided to stop there for lunch, and had a grand time. One of the sea birds swooped down and tried to steal my bread, but aside from that, it were just peachy. After the meal, me and Immy went over to the cliff's edge and sat down, all dangling our feet over the side, and looked out at the sea. We started talking about what might be out there, so far out across the water that we couldn't even see it. We'd both heard tales of the New World before, a distant land what folks call Maztica. But, for every tale some traveler back at Candlekeep told of it, hundreds more things were left to the imagination. So, me and Immy, we took turns wondering out loud what it must be like. Immy thinks there must be all sorts of funny animals there what no one here in Faerun's ever seen before. I think there've got to be people there, too, just like us, what wonder and dream and build great cities. I do so wonder what those cities look like, Mr. Journal, I really do.

While me and Immy were relaxing, Rasaad were meditating and Ajantis and Yeslick were getting themselves all worked up in a sparring match. The two of them seem to have become real great friends recently, Mr. Journal. Yeslick were helping Ajantis practice, teaching the boy everything he knows. Immy and me even got up and went over there to watch the end of their little training session. Gods, but Yeslick can move fast for a dwarf. He dodged all Ajantis's blows, just like lightning. Ajantis couldn't land a single hit on him, though his reaction time is getting better. I'm glad Yeslick's helping him out, Mr. Journal.

The afternoon portion of our journey were much like the morning one, except we were attacked by wolves right around sunset. Right ruined the picturesque beauty of it all, it did. I mean, we all made it out with nary a scratch, but it were still sodding stressful, Mr. Journal. Those beasts, they're all fangs and fury. One slip-up and the next thing you know they've taken a good chunk out of your leg. Not a fun time, to be sure. But, the wolves got no chunks this time around, so I suppose it's all good.

Anyways, we've set up camp for the night, a good fifty feet or so away from the cliff's edge. There are so many stars out here, Mr. Journal, without the lights of the city or the branches of so many trees to obscure them. I remember reading in Candlekeep that some of the stars up there make pictures what tell stories. I tried so hard to see them, but I couldn't. There were just too many stars.

I suppose I should sleep for now, Mr. Journal. Everyone else is already asleep, save Yeslick, who's got first watch. I've got third, so I'd best rest while I can. See you in the morning.


Day 115, Hour 7

It's not near as clear as it were yesterday, Mr. Journal. It's morning, but the sky is dark and gray, even though the sun should be up by now. It looks like there's a storm brewing, and I don't like it one bit. I'm in the mood for the sun and the sea right now, and this weather looks like it's not going to cooperate. Sodding inconsiderate of it, if you ask me. Rasaad's on breakfast duty this morning. I wonder if I could get a chance to talk to him a bit if I offered to help. I...I think I will offer to help, Mr. Journal. Write you later.


A/N: And there's where we stop for now~ Tune in next time as our heroes get into some coastal hijinks! Toodles!