(G51 - OR 08/05/09)
DAY 104
In the small hours of the morning, we went to our various tasks. Myself and Nobby healed
the half-orc, called Shlump and learned a little about his story. Mathmos and Shifty looted
the corpses.
(A little about Shlump : He seems like a nice fellow, but certainly not the sharpest tool
in the box. His mother was a ranger, but was raped by an orc. She raised him in her ways
and he is a follower of Myleeki. He was trying to go north when he was captured by the pirates.)
As I escorted Shlump across to the Wyvern to lay him down in a nice clean bed, I saw that
they had stripped all the corpses naked and lain them out like a row of dead rabbits.
'Detect Magic on that lot!', Mathmos and Shifty demanded of Nobby. Shifty has been paranoid that
something valuable had been lost on the body of the Lady Lotusdragon before she was tossed
overboard and is anxious not to repeat the 'error'.
There was lots of jewellery on the bodies, but none of it magical. Shifty did find a ring through
the tip of a half-orc's penis and with a few cuts of his dagger he took off the whole shaft!
He then, bizarrely, ran around with the whole thing on a stick, waving it above his head and shouting,
much to the distress of the passengers.
'Why are you doing that?', I asked him.
'Why not?', he called back.
Why not indeed.
A globule of blood and Silvanus-knows what hit Falah in the face. Shifty gave her some gold by
way of apology. Most strange, but it isn't the first time
I eventually got to bed for some much needed rest.
Later that day, we all discussed what to do with the pirate vessel that some joker had now christened
the 'Cockless Half-orc'. The captain wanted nothing to do with it, Mathmos (who seems to be fitting in
nicely) said it should be towed, but I thought it should be sailed by a prize crew.
I persuaded everyone to let me attempt to sail it, so with Solomon as acting captain, me, Nobby, Falah
(later replaced by Erris), Zalazar, Targy and Tolo as its crew we got under way. Shlump is to stay
on the Half-orc too, so me and Nobby can watch over his recovery.
That evening, we anchored the ships side by side and lashed them together. There was some discussion
between myself, Shifty and Mathmos about the Half-orc regarding how the money would be divided up if
we ever managed to get to a port to sell it. Things got a little heated though and it was dropped.
During my watch, as I looked out across the dark sea, my mind drifted onto my raft of problems and to
vent my frustrations I called forth lightning bolts high in the sky. I felt much better for it although
I may have alarmed Nobby and Eriss who share the watch with me.
DAY 105
Another hot day, but with a fair wind. Endure Elements spells cast all round by myself, Nobby and others
to help relieve the crew.
I felt marvellous that morning, rolling around on the breeze as an eagle, I felt as if I was really connected
with nature, the cool clean air on my feathers and the scent of the sea in my nose
How easy it would be to simply choose a wind and let it blow me far away from the problems of my meagre
human existence.
~
Perhaps this is one of the things that Tunare warned me about?
I remember he lessons well. Looking back, I realise what a gamble she took with me. When we first met, she was
at the lyceum, by invitation of Master Fannier, himself a druid, to give a series of lectures on the High
Forest. Being such a keen student of nature, of course I was anxious to meet her. Something clicked between
us and as we became friends over the months of her visit and on her return I pleaded with her to take me
with her.
It was not so impossible, during our four years at the lyceum we must do a year of external learning. Either
at a court, or a lord's keep, or another lyceum in another city, purely to broaden our learning.
Students rarely went to the High Forest, but it was not unheard of and perhaps because Master Fannier
had himself done this many years ago he agreed to let me go.
My year in the High Forest was like a year in heaven. I learned so much, about nature, but also about myself.
Tunare showed me the ways of the druids, that portion at least that can be shown to non-druids and I became
fascinated by their tenants.
I asked her, 'How does one become a druid?'
'You are tested.', she simply replied.
I pleaded with her to allow me to take the test but she said it was not easy and could even be fatal. She would
talk to the elders but she thought it unlikely I would be allowed to even take the earlier tests that led up
to the final secret initiation ceremony.
I was unhappy but accepted the situation and continued my studies.
As the months went by though, Tunare admitted to me that during her prayers she had received visions that lead
her to believe that my future did indeed lead down the same path as hers and she consented to prepare me for
the life of a druid. I was overjoyed and re-applied myself to my studies with great zeal.
I was not a good pupil, I fear, and was forever going off on my own, following a family of badgers or somesuch
when I should have been studying ancient texts. Each time Tunare would, with the infinite patience of the elves
find me and re-apply me to my studies.
How can I know how much behind the scenes diplomacy Tunare was doing in my favour? I will never know I suspect,
but I was given my opportunity and much to the surprise of the elder druids I was accepted by nature.
Tunare had been right about me.
As she began the task of teaching me their ancient language and rituals she also gave me some warnings.
'There will come a time.', she said, 'When the affairs of men and even elves will seem cheap and tawdry to you. You
will be in command of the wind, the sea, all the elements. You will be able to turn into the shape of any animal
that you desire. You will be nature's servant, but, in turn, with all of her powers at your service. You will
feel the draw of nature, pulling you away from the life you once knew.'
'What should I do?', I asked.
'That is your decision.', she replied, 'Nature cannot decide for you, but Silvanus knows, the forest is full of
druids who are at fully at one with nature. Alone, no more than powerful hermits, they have cut themselves off
from the machinations of men, elves, politics and religion.'
'You are still here, Tunare.', I pointed out.
'That is the path I chose', she said with a smile, 'To spread understanding and respect for nature throughout the
realms of men. I knew long ago this was my calling.'
I now find myself at the crossroads that Tunare spoke off. I could just... fly away...I can feel the pull of
nature now. Forget the books, forget the science. Just go to her, be at one with nature and find ultimate
spirituality.
Leave behind the bickering, the fighting, the jealousy and bitterness of failed love.
And yet, my head turns, I fly back down to the ship. Back to that stinking, sweltering vessel with all its
problems and conflict. Mr Badgerington licks my hand as I turn back into a human. He understands my suffering,
I am sure, and wants to help me. And if I go, certainly he will come with me.
I smile and pet his fur.
Molly, such a kind girl, brings me a cup of fresh water and I thank her.
'No school today, I apologise dear girl.', I say, 'I must be part of the crew again.'
She does not seem overly upset.
~
After a tiring day in the sun, I went back on watch again, with Nobby and Eriss but I stand alone on the prow.
My thoughts turn to Lavinia again and I am filled with anger. I cast a spell that shot stars into the sky.
Eris came over to talk to me and we had a long conversation about magic and power. At first she was nervous
about my angry displays of magic but when I explained things to her she smiled and offered her take on things.
In her own way, she is dealing with her powers of sorcery.
She is simply giving in to them, letting things take their own path, letting the arcane powers that course
through her little gnomish body take control.
I think I saw a little bit of the true Eriss as the mad flames lit up in her eyes, but by the time I got to
bed I'd forgotten about it. It's just little Eriss right?
In a way, talking to her helped. She has decided that her choice is to make no choice, to let the power chose
for her. I know I can't do that. My father has bred too much responsibility into me.
DAY 106
Early this morning I had a very odd conversation with Mathmos. I have transcribed some of it here.
Mathmos : 'You're a druid right?'
Rollo : Er, yes
M : But a noble too?
R : Well, not really, I'm the forth son of a Baron
M : Noble right. So how do those two go together? It doesn't add up.
R : I don't understand you.
M : This story of yours. I just don't see it.
R : (anger rising) What story? It's my life. Who have you been talking to?
M : All right! Don't mess yourself. I just don't get it. Your stories full of holes.
R : No it isn't. If it doesn't make sense to you, it's because your are evidently an idiot!
M : Hey! No need to resort to personal attacks!
R (wanders off muttering he'll resort to physical attacks in a minute)
Also, at breakfast we were all treated to a grand display of affection for Nobby from Urol. He presented
her with the most ghastly necklace I've ever seen. Something he'd made from the husk of a spider.
Nobby took it in good grace but everyone but Urol could see she was uncomfortable.
He mooned over her until it was time for use to leave for the Half-Orc.
Anyway, apart from that, today started as normal, with the Wyvern and Half-Orc raising anchor and making sail.
We, the Half-Orc, were about 600 feet behind the Wyvern so we didn't see what was going on until it
was all but over.
How could it have happened? There was another ship alongside the Wyvern, full of men armed with cross bows
and mounted with at least two ballista.
I could see Shifty and Mathmos being lead off the Wyvern with their hands bound behind there backs.
They'd surrendered the ship without a struggle? What trickery was this?
I sent Molly to wake Shlump and called to Nobby and Eris. We needed a plan.
