Entry 35 –

Today I again saw Steele. I was hoping to see him, and try to get him to meet up with the others. As luck would have it, Reginald came right up! He was surprised to see Steele, of course, but managed to stay pretty composed. We decided to travel to Jiyyd since the bandits have been beaten back. Plus Braeth and Wilhelm had travelled up there and Steele really wanted to talk to both Wil and Reg.

The journey was pretty swift. Saw some orcs, but they were taken care of by other adventurers. The town of Jiyyd is pretty nice and simple, kinda like Norwick. The three of us decided to wait at the inn for Wilhelm and Braeth. "The Regal Whore Inn." Not the best of names if you ask Steele and I. We only had to wait a few minutes before the others arrived. Braeth handled seeing Steele very well, but Wilhelm… Wilhelm was immediately hostile, but I can't blame him. Basically, Wilhelm really thinks that Steele was behind Jade's disappearance. And he very well could have. Steele told his story which seems legit. I don't think he's lying. But there are some spots where he doesn't have any recollection. That troubles me. Knowing a Red Wizard is likely behind all of this, I'm willing to bet that Steele has been unwittingly used. And it'll crush him if he finds out it is so. Steele of course was pretty shocked to hear Wilhelm's accusations. Braeth and I did our best to give a quick summary of what was going on and why it's thought that Steele could have done such deeds. Braeth said he'd accept Steele's story for now, but will be watching him closely and if he finds out Steele has hurt Jade in any way, Braeth would be after him.

Men. So quick to act. Call it woman's intuition, but I suspect that Steele is as much of a victim here.

Braeth again mentioned about how there is no clear good and evil in the world. Only "shades of grey." It hurts me to hear him say such things. Where is my elven ranger that strives to serve the Greater Good? How could he say something that goes so against everything I believe in?

Steele left us, a bit depressed from the comments from his formal friends. I'll have to talk more with him later. I really do feel bad for him.

Braeth invited Reginald and I to go with him to explore a crypt near the town. There was a huge group of us gathered. Vashere, Reg, Braeth, Wilhelm, Laurick, and some others I don't know. Such a large number was a bit unwieldy, but we managed. The crypt was interesting to explore, and there were a bunch of undead. Then we saw some elementals. Huge ones. We tried to back track, but they blocked the exit. The earth elemental basically told us "Fight fire or die." So we fought the fire elementals and won. We all decided to leave, not wanting to risk further angering of whatever guards the crypt.

It seems that Reginald got bitten by a werewolf. He changed into one and attacked some people. Braeth made some jokes about it, while Reginald kept denying that he was a werewolf. But we all told him so and he finally accepted the fact. Then we were telling him he should lock himself up at night, and Wilhelm said to lock him up in the jail. While he said afterward that he meant it only as a joke, Reginald didn't like the idea and made himself invisable and ran off.

Oh well, just as some problems end, new ones come up. That's life for you.

Entry 36 –

I spoke with Karion today. He still hasn't gotten to talk to Braeth. Oh well. I confessed to Karion that I'm worried about Braeth. I don't like the new attitude he's gotten, this whole "shades of grey" bit. It worries me. Karion thought it was odd too.

Coin and Cera then approached me. Both seem to be much better. Cera's acting like herself again. Coin gave me some fairy dust so that I could get some of Misty's special brews. He says they make a person invisible, which sounds very useful. The two had invited me to help them out with some errands, but I wanted to see Braeth so I left them.

Braeth was with Wilhelm, Reginald, and a gypsy that I hadn't met before. The gypsy became very worried when Braeth joked about Reginald being a werewolf. It seems gypsies have great loathing for the beasts, which I would say is justified. Just as we were talking about werewolves, we suddenly heard some howling from the North Rawlinswood. Braeth headed south to see to the situation, as did Reginald, Smog and Suppei. I must say I was worried at one point because I could sense that Braeth was bitten by one of the werewolves, but he had eaten some belledona and should be better. Wilhelm also briefly went, I think he was hoping that if he shapeshifted into a wolf he'd be able to talk to the beasts. But he came back and announced he was heading north.

Kanen then came over to talk with me. As we talked, he noticed an old man staring at us. We approached him and he asked for Wilhelm, saying he had a message to deliver. The man was very odd, and in the back of my mind, I sensed Devon's handywork. Damn my woman intuition, I was right, but that's getting ahead of myself. We told the old man that Wilhelm headed north, and tried to get him to give us the message to pass on. He refused our offer, instead demanding to take us to Wilhelm. Braeth caught up to us and we all went to find Wil.

The old man stopped several times to stare at me, and my amulet in particular. His gaze made me feel very uncomfortable. He asked me why I wore the amulet, and I told him that it's for protection, and that my love gave it to me so that he could be protecting me even if he weren't around. The man seemed satisfied by my answer, but kept staring every now and then. At one point he called it foolish. That really angered me. I answered back that love is never foolish, to which he replied that I knew nothing of love. Something inside me exploded, and I started to yell back at him how I sure as hell know about love! Without my love for Braeth, and his love for me, I would be dead!

Finally, Wilhelm was found and we headed back to the Boarshead Inn. Reginald, Wilhelm, Braeth, and Kanen were there to listen to this old man's message. The man did a lot of strange theatrics at first, and then suddenly started talking quite normal. To make this long story short, the man was actually Devon, or at least the wizard speaking through another's body, and demanded that Wilhelm call off his "wolves" in exchange for Jade's life. Much bantering took place, and we kept demanding proof that she was alright. He never gave any real proof, but did change himself to look exactly like her, talk like her, and even spoke with her memories. I knew it wasn't anywhere's close to the real Jade though. I doubt she'd yell at me to stop fiddling with my amulet.

After the old man left us, we began to talk about Steele. Wilhelm still didn't trust the paladin. Steele walked in on us and was made very uncomfortable by our conversation and left. By Tyr, all these guys like to act before thinking, and it's hurting Steele's feelings to see his friends turn on him. Braeth and I chased after Steele, and we told him that we thought he was innocent, saying that it was obvious that if he had given the death threats, it was only because Devon was in control of his body.

After talking with Steele, Braeth got word that Vashere had been killed, he was last seen heading to the Goblin Stronghold. A group of us went after him to rescue his body.

Entry 37 –

Not much going on. I saw Coin and Cera again. Coin me an outfit he picked up in Peltarch, and warned me that Devon seemed to be very interested in me. I must say I'm a bit nervous with how he kept staring at me when we met.

What is his plan now? Why did he suddenly switch from wanting to kill her to using her as a hostage?

Also saw Andrio, who is a paladin I previously met. He seemed to be acting very odd, like his head was jumbled up. I chanted a prayer to Tyr for him and Andrio returned to normal. We chatted for a little bit, as I told him of the big battle with Vinessa and Selron and the demon that was their master. He was worried about his brother Sergio. I do hope the man is still alive.

Entry 38 -

When I stepped out of the inn today, I immediately felt Devon's eyes staring at me. I could also here him muttering, "Amulet girl," and "Foolish amulet," and other nonsense. I looked about first and didn't see him, but then noticed that he was moving around. I found his interest in me quite disturbing.

Finally, the old man approached me, saying he wanted to talk to me. This time though, he started to act a little different. He called himself Yohan. He said his master was not watching, so he could talk. He stared at my amulet, and said talked about his wife, who used to have an amulet that he gave her. Sadly, he told that Devon had killed her. I reminded Yohan very much of his wife, and he gave me her amulet. Braeth tried to ask Yohan where his master was, but all we learned was he lived in Thay. Makes sense, since Devon is a Red Wizard. The old man said his master returns, and indicated to me to be quiet about what he told.

Devon then demanded to speak with Wilhelm. Kanen mentioned that Wilhelm wished not to see him, and refused to take the old man to him. It seems Devon started to cause pain to the old man, hoping our hearts would soften. The old man turned to me and asked me to take him, but I knew not where Wilhelm was and told him so. I felt sorry for Yohan, being under control of such an evil person.

Braeth sent a message bird to Wilhelm and received one back stating to take the old man to the gypsy camp. Thus we did, and blindfolded the old man so that he could not see how to get there. Of course, if Devon is as powerful as things suggest, I think that was a futile attempt. May Tyr protect those gypsies.

Devon and Wilhelm talked, though I know my druid friend would rather not speak to the wizard at all. Devon said that he hasn't been bothered by Wilhelm's friends lately, and so would honor his deal of releasing Jade, and told Wilhelm that she'll be found, "where the water falls."

While those two talked, Braeth was talking to a fellow elf. He then made what I consider an idiotic mistake. Even after Devon mentioned that he could understand elvish better than Braeth, my love still kept talking and mentioned that the old man's name was Yohan. Devon immediately demanded how Braeth knew the old man's name. By Tyr, I wanted to slap Braeth so hard. Fortunately for him, he was quite a few feet away from me. Devon noticed me fiddle with my amulet again, and came over to yell at me about it. He then realized that that Yohan had most likely spoken to us and then decided to get rid of the old man and killed him.

"At least the old man is in peace now," everybody says. I do agree with that. But I think they missed the big picture here. Yohan was a link to Devon, and a link that the wizard obviously didn't fully control. We lost an advantage. Not to mention the fact that the old man asked me not to let it be known that he spoke to us. Braeth betrayed that trust on my behalf. I pray that the old man's spirit forgives us for our mistake.

At least Jade is returned, but I do not think this is the end. I told Braeth as much. We'll need to watch Jade and Wilhelm closely, for I think the wizard has more plans in store for them. And me as well. I still think he's interested in me. I wonder if I also remind Devon of Yohan's wife. Perhaps he did more with her than kill her.

Tyr protect me.

I also spoke with Covah today. The dwarf was glad to see I was doing okay, though he noticed I had a lot on my mind. I told him of what happened with Devon. I figured that it'd be good if another knows of the trouble and could perhaps watch out for us. He then told me that he was attacked by a beast in Peltarch that turned into Vahsere when defeated. Obvious sign of lycanthropcy. I'll have to make sure Vahsere gets some belladona if he hasn't already.