Day 29

Effie

We got a pay rise today. Yay, money! Two behests from the king - explore Dolsam Gulch, or find out information about Axilla Cinderwood. I was still feeling guilty for doubting the king, and couldn't face going back to the gulch, so information it is.

It's not fighting - but it's work that matters. The Cinderwood is an unnatural forest where the trees are forever burning. Good thing I was happy to find information. Wouldn't have been great to barge right in without knowing what we'd be faced with.

Natasha

I'm concerned about Effie. Seems like she's lost her drive.

Still, Arnold and Sian aren't bad company. They've been far less angsty than I was fearing. We headed to Dolsam Gulch to explore today, and found it full of scorpions. I also spied the boss - a Dire Cobra.

Back home, the most unexpected thing - Ashley asked me out! He's one of Effie's friends. We met the other day after I helped his Aunt Elma move a sofa. Didn't expect it at all! I said yes - I didn't think. I'm going to have to cancel. Can't get distracted.

Day 30

Sian

Another pay rise today. Padarak must be doing well.

I went back to Dolsam Gulch today - this time with Tabatha. She found some elementite. I killed some scorpions. Not too tiring, not too bad. Tabatha's more cautious than Natasha, but she's certainly no coward. I felt safe around her.

Arnold

I spent the day in the city (oh, yeah, Padarak became a city today!), collecting information on Axilla Cinderwood. What Effie found out yesterday made us think we could do with as much intel as possible, so Natasha and I joined Effie in the hunt for facts.

And Lulu, of all people, knew a lot! The place is full of Mandrakes, apparently. Makes sense, for a forest. Anyway, I finally plucked up the courage to ask the question.

"Do you, um, still like me?" I asked.

"Of course I like you, Arnold," she said.

"I mean like as in ..." I stammered. "We were together for a bit, weren't we?"

"Oh, okay," said Lulu. "I didn't know if you even remembered that."

"Of course I remember it," I said.

"It's just you never mentioned it," she said. "When I arrived here, you acted like nothing had happened."

"I thought that's what you were doing!" I laughed. "Okay, so. Do you want to ...?"

"Arnold, said Lulu. "You've changed so much. We both have. We've got other stuff going on now."

"Oh," I said. "Okay."

"Maybe later we could get back together," said Lulu. "I'm not saying never."

"Let's just say never," I said. "I've seen how that Almos guy follows Tabatha around like a stalker. I don't want to be him. Maybe let's just be friends."

"I like being your friend," said Lulu.

We hugged, and at the end, I felt better than ever. I don't need my girlfriend back. I've got my friend back.

Day 31

Tabatha

My mates Otto and Randal have turned up from back home. It's nice to be able to get away from Almos. He's driving me out of my mind. I feel like everyone thinks of him as part of me - like I'm partly defined by him. I need to shake that.

Went back to Dolsam Gulch with Sian today. She's happy company. Unambitious, perhaps, but she pulls her weight. Our job was to prepare the way - the others would follow and take care of the boss.

Effie

Dolsam Gulch is so full of scorpions! I had to take care of so many of them, even with all four of the others helping.

Arnold got to the boss first. I felt a bit smug that I didn't feel envious.

And then Arnold fell - the Dire Cobra took him out.

And I stepped up. I took care of the Cobra, single-handedly. Natasha arrived just after.

So finally, when I calm down and just do the job, that's when I get a great kill to my name. They treated me like a hero back home. I'm so happy.

Day 32

Tabatha

There's a new shop in town - Max's Item Shop. Surely all shops sell items? This place sells potions - great for adventuring.

Quiet day today, finding out information on Panclare Brightwood. It's on the other side of Terun Westway, and - now I know - it's got Ice Goblins in it. This doesn't feel like adventuring, but it meant I got to spend more time with Otto and Randal. I'd forgotten how funny Randal is! I laughed until I ached at one point.

Natasha

I cancelled my date with Ashley, and now he's refusing to talk to me. Fine. I wasn't interested anyway. I've got a new longsword, I've got stuff to do.

Explored Axilla Cinderwood today. Took out a bunch of Mandrakes, and now I'm on level 11. Nice.

Sian and Arnold came too, and both found elementite. Sian said she found a Lava Mu - these monsters are definitely getting tougher.

Day 33

Sian

Marlene and Currie moved in today! Marlene's an old friend of mine and Arnold's. Good getting back up to three again. She keeps Arnold settled. Currie is Marlene's brother, and he's an old friend of Effie's.

So Effie and I spent the day in the city to get reacquainted with our old friends. We put the time to good use - learning more about Panclare Brightwood. It sounds tough in there.

Arnold

Another day at Axilla Cinderwood. Sian was right about Lava Mus - I fought two of them today. Tabatha was there too, and found the dungeon boss. Very productive day.

Back home, I told Marlene about Lulu, that we were just friends now. Marlene put things in a really nice perspective for me. She's so clever. I told her she should offer to become an adventurer, but she likes her home comforts too much. She's desperate for a library. I borrowed some books from Lulu for Marlene to read.

Day 34

Effie

Big day for exploration today. Sian and I went to check out the Glisera Oasis - a single spot of green in an expanse of dunes. Some really tricky monsters there - Gigantoads (exactly what it sounds like) and Sahagins (these turtle things that walk on land and carry spears).

I found some elementite, lovely. Back home, Currie and I played some board games. I know it sounds boring, but it was really fun. It's nice to have more people around.

Tabatha

I went to Panclare Brightwood today. It's great that we had so much information on the place already - would've been tough otherwise.

Arnold and Natasha came too. We battled Mandrakes and Ice Goblins. Really good stuff.

Oh, and Otto's writing a novel! Randal told me, and I have to keep it secret, because Otto's really shy about it. I bet he'd be a really good writer. Wonder if I can get him to show me what he's done?

Day 35

Sian

Yesterday, Marlene pretended she could tell my future by reading my palm. She said I'd win a great victory today.

I thought it'd be great to prove her right. Arnold and I went to Panclare Brightwood to take out the boss - a Goblin Priest. I was really determined, and got there first. I killed the Goblin Priest, and rushed home excitedly to tell Marlene.

Tabatha

Two behests from the king today, asking us to hunt down two dungeon bosses.

I went to Axilla Cinderwood with Natasha and Effie. We got through the Pallum Dei Caverns, the Goblins' Den and the Dolsam Gulch quickly, and started exploring the wood.

Thankfully, we knew of a Fountain of Restoration there, so the Lava Mus didn't take their toll on me.

I found the boss - Cerberus, with a Small Scorpion for protection. I defeated them both.

When I got back, Otto admitted that he was writing a book. He let me read the first page. It's about a Clavat warrior commissioned by the king. So flattered!