The third of Yule, 884

I prepared for a celebratory bath after Aurora's recovery. I was fairly certain she would be replaced with a more able, less power-hungry mage.

This put me in a mood most pleasant. I had one of Serenity's servants bring me a casque of wine to drink and a meal to eat. I would soak myself, fill my belly, and become drunk. A fine way to end a day on any occation.

I had been in the warm pool for a while, I can't recall how long, as I had drank too much wine and gorged myself with too much fine food. In my state of warm, numb bliss, I realized that there was someone else in my presence. He sat across from me in the pool, a grey rabbit of late middle age. I watched dumbly for a moment while he washed some blood out of his fur, not speaking.

I covered my indecency and sat up with some effort. It took me a moment to realize that he was blindfolded. He introduced himself as Jerrard and extended a hand. His voice was soft, but deep. I nodded and slipped my true name, giggling and covering my mouth. An excess of wine is never kind to my secrets, I admit.

He smiled and I asked if he could sit closer. He obliged and offered him the scant remains of my feast. He turned down the food but took the wine. As he grew closer I noticed that his pelt was patchy, the exposed skin smooth and thick as if he had been badly hurt a long time ago. I started to ask, but stopped. I quickly started asking him about where he came from and that was met with cold silence followed by a rather flat 'Triskellian'.

He thanked me for saving him earlier in the day and we conversed for a while. I was not very kind to his mistress during our dialouge, but he didn't seem to mind. He claimed how he was indebted to me, and would be willing to repay me in the future. I dimly recall asking him to repay me there immediately.

Too much wine is never kind to me.

Jerrard left, quiet but fuming. I hauled myself from the pool after he had left and retired to my room to sleep off the excesses of the night. It started as such a wonderfully triumphant evening and it fell into me being left ashamed and alone.

The Third of Yule, 884

I apologize for not updating sooner. I've been busy with my work instructing students. It's not the most pleasant work, as many of them lack understanding of very basic concepts, but it's better than what I did previously.

Speaking of such, today I will go into details about my past as a criminal.

For a time, things were simple. My work in Harrowgate went smoothly for a manner of months. As per Serenity's request, I traveled to Triskellian for business to meet Alacrity of Wind. She didn't show for our meeting, I became irate. I, quite angrily, sent one of my entourage to investigate.

When he returned, he announced that Serenity requested me to meet her at the bathhouse immediately.

There was no finery as per our formal meetings. No time to soak in the bath. Serenity was nervous. Alacrity had been apprehended by a group of free-swords whom she had crossed. Apparently she had been arrogant and clumsy and gone outside of Serenity's plans in a manner most extravagant.

She had used her position for personal gain. Somewhere along this she had double-cross and angered a group of self-styled vigilantes who exposed her illegal goings-on to the constabulary. The worst part is that Alacrity threatened Serenity with exposure of our conspiracy unless we freed her from prison and returned her to Sauldre immediately.

Serenity was having difficulties of her own keeping her reputation intact, as many of the city's elite knew that she and Alacrity were business partners. Passion had disappeared. This left me to take care of the task. To be entirely honest, I felt insulted. Alacrity had done nothing for me except bring me trouble. She had insulted me and lied to Serenity about me. I would have preferred to break into that prison and kill that harlot rather than rescue her.

I felt indebted to Serenity, however. I learned that my alliances come before my enemies, however. I wouldn't put myself before my duty.

Allowing Alacrity to escape was not an easy manner. The main barracks of the city stood above the prison. Thankfully, one of her entourage was a bat and one of my entourage was skilled in the arts of alchemy in addition to being a fine earth elementalists. This would provide us with an excellent diversion. Serenity had a few agents inside who would assist us.

The bat, the four most skilled mages I had brought with me, two other underlings of hers, and myself. We arrived separately, donned heavy dark cloaks, and made our way to where we would meet Serenity's agent. It took a bit of a fee, but he promised to leave a door open for us. My alchemist had prepared a petard for the situation, which was given to Alacrity's underling.

We made our way to the barracks and found our way inside as the bat took flight. It didn't take long. He didn't give us much time before he dropped the petard. We felt the wooden building shake as a dull thunder sounded. I was very worried that we would run into soldiers on our way in, a sentiment that a student of mine echoed.

There were a few, but they didn't last long. Against a small troupe of elementalists, conventional weapons mean nothing. With minimal effort metal breaks and clothing is lit aflame. It wasn't even worth it for me to cast any spells of any great power. We suffered minor wounds, but it was not enough to worry about. The blood was staunched and we moved down into the dungeons to where Alacrity was held.

She was in a state I found most pleasing. Rather than the overly proud veiled woman I had met before, she was a dirty, shivering mess. Her clothing was torn and she was bandaged in several places. It didn't seem like the sell-swords were overly kind to her. I personally broke her bonds, smiling behind my mask. She certainly wasn't happy to see me, but she didn't have a choice at this point. One of her underlings gave her a cloak and she stopped us from leaving immediately. One of her lieutenants had also been captured and she refused to go without him.

I had to fulfill her wants so I could please Serenity. I reluctantly obliged. We knocked another door from its hinges once we found him. He was a tall rabbit in dark green robes. The manner in which he was bound surprised me. Aurora had been covered in less. Not only was he shackled to the wall, his mouth was gagged and he was blindfolded. He stirred when we entered. He was let go and ungagged. When one of my men tried to take off his blindfold, the rabbit stopped him quickly. He claimed he could see fine, something which confused me greatly.

I wasn't too concerned with it at the time -- we needed to get out quickly. We went up to the first level of the basement and focused our effort on pulling the earth in the wall into a tunnel. Normally this would be slow, draining work for one of us, even I. It's quite a bit of earth to move. But when you have several elementalists of skill, it is an easy task. We filled the hole as we escaped through it, and made our way to the bath house.

When I felt that we were safe, I poured my ire out on Alacrity. She was furious, but held her tongue in bitter silence. I was fairly certain that if our rescue party would have been composed of her men she would have ordered my death in some alleyway.

Serenity met us in the dark damp halls of the bath house herself. She called Alacrity 'Aurora' -- her true name. I was very pleased to have turned my favor so excellently. To this day, it hasn't waned. I've been Serenity's most trusted companion since.

The Fourteenth of Hunters, 884

I used some of my funds to purchase a rouncy from one of the townsfolk. It certainly wasn't a high quality animal, but it would get me to Harrowgate faster than my own two feet would. I loaded her up with my gear and set off.

My trip was mostly uneventful. The Via Salutis was clear save for occasional patrols and other travelers. I was not too concerned with the road however, but what lie at the end of it. The machinations of Serenity of waters had begun in the other cardinal cities, but not mine. I regretted allowing my own selfish plans to get in the way. I hated McCraigen and I wanted him dead, but now that I had finished him off, I realized that the cost was much too high. I had gotten very badly hurt in the process and let my peers down. I feared being on the receiving end of Serenity's rage mostly.

I would have dressed in a fashion befitting my arrival, but the clothing I had worn to meet the other three months prior had mostly been ruined. The steel mask and gauntlets were marred with a dull reddish-brown patina, the silk and linen were stained with seawater, and the leathers were ruined. All I had was the ill-fitting peasant dress, worn riding gloves, and my cracking boots. I was also filthy from the dust in the road and the grime that had built up in my fur. I couldn't afford to spend anymore time. I donned the rusty mask anyways and found my way to my destination.

Despite my state, the individuals who met me at the door were extremely excited to see me once I produced Serenity's letter. They drew me a bath, gave me a hot meal, helped me dry off, brushed my pelt, and gave me something more substantial to wear. They asked me some questions about my absence throughout while they spoiled me with a well-needed grooming. For a little while at least, I thought everything would be going well. That is, until she showed up.

She asked me if I should be doing my job instead of lounging about. I turned, and Alacrity of wind was in the room, leaning against one of the walls. She had managed to sneak into my room when I was left alone for a moment. I asked her what she was doing so far from her station, and she asked me what had taken me so long. She wasn't being gentle or kind with the way she phrased her responses. I rose to my feet and began returning her insults with anger. When she slapped my midriff hard and began saying pithy things about my body, I couldn't restrain myself any longer. She was much faster than I, and clawed me across the stomach. I grabbed her by the throat, pinned her against one of the walls, and drew my fist back to ruin the delicate features behind her purple veil.

I heard Serenity of Waters cry out a short phrase and something bit into my side, knocking me over. It was an intense, piercing cold that sapped the strength from my body. I toppled on to the floor and shivered. Serenity was standing above me, her eyes furious. Alacrity was sobbing and clutching Serenity's robe, rubbing her neck with one hand and claiming that I had attacked her for no reason. All I wanted at that moment was to harm that liar. Serenity made her leave the room. She helped me up, gave me a blanket from the bed, and told me how to recover from the effects of her spell. She talked to me coldly and without emotion as the chill left my body. Something niggled in the back of my head as she did so.

It wasn't until much later I figured out that she had slid into and shifted around my thoughts to assemble the truest version of events and to make sure I wasn't lying. Serenity of Waters didn't have much reason to trust me at the time, I admit.

She let me sleep off the effects of the magic. I woke up a few hours later. She had forced Alacrity of Wind to leave, she told me. She saw already that we would have difficulty working together. I was a bit worried about this. I wondered if I was going to be replaced already. She calmly explained to me my station once again, and left me to do my work.

I wondered if she was having difficulties with The Passion of Flames as well. It seemed we were going to fail before we even got anywhere.

The Tenth of Hunter's, 884

I woke up in a soft bed with the warmth and noise of a fire present. My senses were blurry and dull, not only from recently waking up. The room was silent otherwise. I tried to move but my body said otherwise with an incredible rush of pain. I cried out and went limp again.

A rabbit, an elderly gentleman, came to the bedside. He asked me a few questions to see if I was alright. His voice seemed distant. It was at this time I realized that I felt drunk. I tried to get up again and the old rabbit pushed me back down into the bed. I was very weak and couldn't resist his actions. He explained to me that he had given me something to help me rest. I was badly hurt and I needed to sleep. I complained weakly and made an attempt to inform him of my situation, but the bed was oh so comfortable and it hurt so much to move. I slipped into unconsciousness again.

I dreamt. Serenity of Waters was there. She was not pleased. I was not doing my duties in Harrowgate. It had been almost two months and I was not present to handle my responsibilities. At that moment I saw the calm face of Serenity turn into something that I had not seen before or since. She had become the fury of the storm. Her anger was intense and overpowering. The realm of dreams did not help this, as she loomed over me, the world of sleep growing dark and frightening. Her words were careful and restrained, yet were insulting nonetheless. I would not fail Serenity again.

Knocking at the door woke me up. I felt better and no longer intoxicated. My body was incredibly sore however, so I didn't move. I pulled the covered about my head and listened as the pounding continued. I heard the door open. They were men. Their voices were angry and they sounded tired. They asked the rabbit some questions about a woman wandering the countryside. I tensed up a bit. These were the wolves that were after me. I didn't dare move. I was going to die here.

The rabbit answered their questions one by one in great detail, lying magnificently with no mis-steps. He was incredibly polite and turned the men away quickly. He barred the door and leaned close to me.

He talked slowly and quietly, explaining to me the laws of hospitality. The cardinal law, he explained, as to allow no harm to come to his guest. He had been burning acrid herbs over the last few days to fill his house with a sharp scent. He was very clever. He correctly figured that I was running from someone, and did his best to follow the rules of hospitality.

I explained to him my position, being fairly truthful with him. He was not at all pleased with my act of killing a man, but I assume he knew as much from his conversation with the wolves. It would not be an intelligent thing to lie to someone and clever as this man, especially in the sore and drugged state that I was.

He said that he'd nurse me to health, allow me to use his bed, keep me fed, and provide me with a simple dress under the condition that I leave as soon as I was able and did not bring trouble into his town again. I decided to do one better for the man who saved my life. I helped him as best I could with my magic. Rather than having him draw water for us, I conjured it. I practiced lighting fires in his hearth, both with sorcery and with flint and steel. The latter was more successful.

A few weeks went by, and I had mended rather well. When I was able I left his care. Not before leaving him several golden aureal, however. It was the least I could do. This man saved my life. He refused my money but instead asked a favor. His son was exiled from the village long ago for what the other villages claimed was witchcraft. If I were to meet a blind rabbit named L'pine in my travels, I was to tell him to return home. I made the promise and left him with a fair amount of money anyways.

The fifth of Hunter's, 884

The day was coming fast. Perhaps it was my cloudy consciousness or the danger of the situation, but the day came quickly. My wits were returning to me as I weakly guided my Palfrey to somewhere safe. I reaked of McCraigen's blood. I needed to remedy this quickly. I didn't know how far inland I was and I was fairly certain there were no large bodies of water nearby. So, I cheated. As I rode I cleansed myself by conjuring water. I was, and still not am, adept at this task. It was awkward and making me lose speed. So, I did the opposite. I caused the blood soaking my clothing to desicate through magic. The miasma of the blood's scent weakened greatly. It would do for now.

There were several things I learned from the events surrounding McCraigen's death. The most important of which was to not do anything like this ever again.

I learned that I needed to learn how to navigate better. I was very lucky, as I was heading towards the coast. I am fairly certain that if I continued to travel inland I would have been captured. However, the wind was coming off the ocean towards the land. This assured that my persuers knew where I was.

I drove my palfrey to the sea and dismounted, upon whence I hastily made an attempt to cleanse the remaining blood from my clothing and fur. I imagine I looked pretty ridiculous flopping around in the water like that. If I'd have been further north I'd have to stave the whalers off with a little magic. The blood was not coming out easily, but I couldn't continue to clean my clothes and wait for McCraigen's vengence to catch up with me.

I stayed close to the coast, hoping that the salt of the ocean would cover my own scent. I was rather pessimistic about this however. The wind was not in my favor.

I rode until I and my mount were exhausted. I decided that it would be in my favor to discard the greater part of my clothing, despite the embarasment this could bring. I had ways of dealing with people staring at me and giving me rude comments. I had little ability to deal with a sword in my belly. I didn't bother with a fire due to the lack of fuel, my own inability to cast the spell with any competency, and that whole business of being spotted by the wolves who wanted me dead. From now on, I thought, always travel with extra blankets.

This continued for a week or so. I was lucky. Once again, my own internal stores kept me from growing too weak. My hunger was intense of course. I wasn't far off from eating my own boots if it wasn't for the fact that the salt all but ruined them. I managed to find mostly potable water often enough to keep my thirst from being overwelming. A lady of my breeding was never meant to deal with this sort of hardship.

I gave into temptation soon enough however. The pain in my side had not gotten any better and my mount was not going to last much longer without propper rest. I had little idea where I was, but I needed to find a place to rest. I pushed inland hard. It wasn't soon after my Palfrey collapsed. I couldn't leave her here; Peghi had saved my life twice now. She shuddered and looked at me with her amber eyes before going slack and still. I was suddenly very cold and it was very quiet.

Even though I could move earth with ease, it did not help. Some part of me deep in the back of my mind was screaming at me to keep moving. "You are still being followed!" it bellowed. I didn't care. I ached, I was cold, I was tired, I was hungry. Now this. My companion was dead. I expended my will making sure she would not be unearthed by any number of scavengers and continued to walk inland encumbered by my posessions.

Night had fallen hours before and I was exhausted. My body felt heavy and slow. Every movement made me ache and the pain in my side had only gotten worse. I followed a distant light that became a cluster of distant lights and finally a small cluster of houses. It was hard to press on as I got closer. My body seemed to be made of clay; wet, heavy, and soft. I wanted little more than to fall over and die at that moment. However, it was that same voice from before that screamed shrilly at me to keep moving. I would reach those lights and I would see another sunrise.

I reached one of the lights and then darkness overtook me.

The thirty-first of Thunder, 884

I would make him pay. First for seeing me as some vulgar item to be owned, second to make him pay for the losses my family suffered. A fair amount of the blame for that rested on my shoulders, but I still blame him for the death of the house Ciat. That fop McCraigen would suffer grievously for his sins against me.

In my approach to Harrowgate, I changed my course to head south towards the Ouistonsee Ocean -- the McCraigen holdings were in the narrow parcel of workable land between the rockier northern coast and the Repense holdings of the forest. I rented a room in the town that was the cardinal city of his holdings. I began the task of gathering information about my prey.

The people who served under him seemed happy and healthy, despite bearing several marks of hardship in the past. His small city seemed prosperous for what it was. It was a pity I was going to remove the keystone from all these people's lives.

I was very pleased to find out that he hadn't been fairing well over the last few years. Rumors circulated about his poor health. It seemed he had a habit of slumming and the curse of disease had fallen upon him. I saw this as doubly good for me. That vermin was getting what he deserved and if I had been married, I would have likely been cursed as well. One close to contagion only gets ill in time. I considered letting him die at the hands of the sickness that would slowly eat away at his body and mind, but I decided that paying him a visit personally would be the best choice.

A month went by and I began to grow impatient. Part of it grew from my dislike of waiting for things, especially something I want. Part of it was the nagging sensation of my duties towards Serenity of Waters. Part of it grew from the monotonous and unappetizing diet of nothing but fish. I loathe fish. I couldn't stand it any longer, so I decided to act.

McCraigen visited a house of ill-repute less than a mile away from my lodgings every week at the same time. He tended to travel the streets with a group of his friends whom would occupy themselves in a nearby pub or even follow him inside. This was common knowledge in the city, so figuring out his usual haunts wasn't difficult. If he traveled with a small group of cocky rich boys like rumors said, I wouldn't have any trouble exacting my revenge.

The easiest way to dealing with him would be in an alleyway. The packed earth streets and squat stone buildings would provide me much raw material to work my sorcery on, but I decided I would make his end significant. My magic was too good for vermin such as him.

An hour before he was to arrive to romp with his favorite whore, I made my way to her first. I had made preparations to leave quickly, as being near a body after its violent end never bodes well. The establishment was perhaps the most nicely furnished in town. The furnishings certainly weren't fit for one of gentle upbringing such as myself, but to one whom did not know better, it passed for a suitable facsimile of wealth. At first glance, it seemed to be a faux-elegant bar with extravagant prices for the most vulgar of wine. The only tip-off was the lack of male staff. There was, however, a rather surly looking gentleman who obviously kept the peace.

The woman who was the madam gave me an odd look when I entered. I found this very humorous. She is perhaps the strangest person I have ever seen. It was painfully apparent she had come into wealth through means other than being born into it. To start, she was enormously fat. She was about half as tall as I was, but at least as big around. Her dress was of an overly baroque style that might be fashionable if it didn't make her resemble an overstuffed sofa. Her fingers and thick neck were heavy with cheap jewelry, and the talc she used to make her plain brown pelt lighter was coming off on the fabric of her dress. She wore a high wig that was rather coarse looking and likely infested with lice. More than anything, she resembled a mockery of the noble class. If this clown was what McCraigen came to for her trade in carnal goods, I know that my noble line could have been married of to any other family and been better off for it.

Fighting an urge to point and mock the Madam, I calmly asked for some time alone with one of her women. Once again, I was given the strangest look. The surly looking fellow also joined in. Perhaps I wasn't subtle enough. I asked again, smiling and sliding the obese rat an Aureal. Her eyes gleamed greedily and she bowed as best she could. I pointed out the petite bat who I knew was his favorite. Now she gave me a horrified glance. I smiled at the tiny woman. Her face didn't change. The rat looked up at me; however the well-being of her employee was not the problem. Her voice was awful -- she made attempts to sound as though she was from Triskellian, but her local accent came through. Apparently this girl was reserved for a special patron. I gave her another Aureal and stated that I too was a patron, and very loose with her money as well. I shrugged and sighed, rolling another golden coin in my fingers.

She was terribly greedy and thus easy to convince. I wrapped my arm around the slender bat and let her guide me to her room. Upon entering, she looked at me with terror in her eyes and asked me what I planned to do with her. I laughed. "Not what you think." I said to her. This didn't help her nerves, so I gave a very simple and clean version of what I had planned. This scared her even more, but I promised her that I would be very helpful to her if she was willing to help me. I offered to help her escape and would give her some money to start life somewhere else. The life of a prostitute is one that few people choose willingly. Her face lit up and she agreed.

Lucinda, as I learned her name was, and I formulated a plan. She would tell the madam that I had made my way into other rooms to sample other girls when she came to tell me that my time was up. I would be hiding under the bed. When McCraigen was distracted, I would take my revenge. Lucinda and I would escape together and make our way to Harrowgate. Time passed, and the madam came to extract me. Lucinda played her part wonderfully. The madam collected her dues and waddled out to find me.

The door opened soon, fine leather boots standing in their frame. Even though it had been well over a year, I immediately recognized McCraigen's reedy voice. Fury rose up in me, but I waited. I couldn't act now... I had to catch him when he was entirely defenseless. It didn't take him long. In a matter of minutes his clothing was on a pile that was just out of my field of vision. I could hear him going through the beginning motions of what he came here for... it was repulsive to sit through, but I slowly wriggled out from under the slats of the bed, trying not to think about what that horrible man was doing with Lucinda.

I rose to my full height quickly, staring down at him. He immediately stopped, a horrified look crossing his face. He stammered out my name quietly, and that was the last thing I heard him say. I backhanded him hard and sent him sprawling off the other side of the mattress. Before he could right himself my fist caught him in the center of his face. The other one came down, cracking and bloodying his muzzle. Lucinda was screaming and I was roaring in rage, blood pounding in my ears. I hit him again and again, his face crumpling under my pounding fists. The door slammed open. The floor was sopping around the gurgling pulpy mass that was the head of Ennis McCraigen. He was so terribly fragile.

Something hit me hard on the back of the head and I stumbled and slipped. I was very disorientated for a moment, but quickly realized what was going on. The surly fellow from downstairs was here to deal with problems, as he was paid to do so. I turned around, taking a solid hit to the side of my body. I felt something crack deep in my chest but I kept moving despite the tear of pain that quickly ran down my side. I barreled into him, knocking him off his feet. I grabbed the light mace he was using and destroyed the head with a simple spell. My head was pounding and I was dizzy from the effort. I felt the need to sleep call me, but I couldn't. Not now. Lucinda was still screaming.

I pulled myself off the hired help and told him to stay down with a heavy foot to the chest. I stumbled out of the room and down the stairs, my vision blurring and tilting. The rest of the event is far too cloudy and dream-like for me to recall properly.

I became conscious of my surroundings around daybreak. I was on the back of my palfrey heading north. My head felt cloudy and my side ached painfully; each breath sending a red-hot stitch up ribs. I felt the back of my head with my hand and brought it up to look at it. Much to my horror, my fur was sopping with thick black blood half way up my forearm. It took me a moment to realize that this wasn't my blood, but rather McCraigen's. By the light... there was so much of it. I needed to wash this off, but most importantly, I needed to keep moving. His men couldn't have been too far behind me, and after the orgy of rage and the resulting injuries I suffered I knew I wasn't up to the task of defending myself from his knights. I hoped I was downwind at least. McCraigen's wolves would find me in no time if they had the thick scent of his blood to guide them.

The Fourteenth of Thunder, 884

I apologize for the length of time between the writing of this chapter and the last. It has been almost two months since I have had the chance to add another entry to my memoirs. I've had to return to Harrowgate on personal business with Sharris. I can't say I disliked the trip. Quite the opposite, save for a sore rear-end due to being on the back of a destrier for several hours a day and long boring talks with various individuals who think my fine countenance would look better on a pike. I've gotten a chance to enjoy the city I consider home more than any other. Nowhere else do people speak as they do here, and something about that familiarity is comforting. I've noticed my accent thickening since I've returned home as well. The food here is wonderful; much better than I remember. It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I managed an entire cumal haggis myself last night. I gather that I missed the cuisine from this area a bit too much for my own good.

That aside, I have a story to tell.

As per Serenity's summons, I arrived in Triskellian as quickly as the caravan would take me. As soon as I could I dug deep into my coffers and quickly assembled something suitable for the meeting I would have with the three other cardinal elementalists. I hid the lower portion of my face in a manner not unlike Serenity did during our meetings. Whereas she wore a delicate silken veil to disguise herself, I opted for something else more fitting to my aesthetics. I found a skilled metal smith and he crafted me a wondrous mask in merely a week's time. It was fine, brightly-polished steel that covered the lower half of my face. Skilled tailors crafted me a wonderful ensemble of fine linen, silk, and leathers in a matter of days. As an afterthought, I acquired two gauntlets from the artisan who made my mask. Over this, my heavy wool traveling cloak was worn. These items cost me a staggering amount of wealth, but I considered this an event that required them.

The night I was to meet my counterparts, I slipped out of the room I was renting and quietly made my way through the narrow and dark alleyways into the crumbling unlit streets of the old city, following a map I was given by a lesser agent a few days before. It led to a small and entirely harmless-looking (but very run down) building. I thought to myself that this squalid hovel couldn't be the headquarters of a brotherhood of sorcerers that has lasted for generations. My faith in Serenity was tested, I'll admit. I couldn't leave, not now. I knew that a few men had spied me moving through the streets. One doesn't easily leave the old city after attracting the attention of scoundrels like those.

Thankfully events went as well as they could have. I didn't get lost. Serenity wasn't lying to me. A few knocks and the utterance of a few words got me in the door and not a moment too soon. There's a certain creeping, oily feeling the old city leaves on your pelt at night and one of any virtue makes effort to rinse themselves clean of it as soon as possible.

I was led to a modestly furnished room. Conversation stopped when I was led in and all eyes turned toward me. At the head of a table sat Serenity, dressed in blue and black silks and gold finery. There were two other women sitting to both sides of her, one a grey cat and the other a red fox. Like her, they had covered their faces.

The cat wore a purple veil and had her long blue hair pulled high above her head and bound in strips of leather. She was lithe and thin -- almost painfully so. She looked sharp to the touch practically. Much of this came from the way she held herself. Her body was squeezed into a black leather corset and long black gloves of some fine material. Her thighs were wrapped in a similar fabric. Around her waist she wore a thick sash with a long loincloth that reached down to her feet.

The Vixen's face was masked with a veil of red beads that fell from a circlet she was wearing. Her shoulders sported long, dangerous looking bronze shoulder-pads that held up a woolen cape. Her chest was wrapped tightly in red satin, which didn't do much for her modesty... then again, the rest of her outfit didn't either. Most of her body was bare, save for the fabric on her chest and the loincloth she had covering her pelvis. Her long auburn hair hung loose down to the middle of her back.

Serenity introduced me to the duo, Alacrity and Passion respectively. The meeting was very simple and straight-forward. There was no beating around the bush; there was no unnecessary justification of what we were doing. We wanted to live as queens, and we were willing to displace a few individuals in order to achieve this. Serenity assured us that we were equals in this treachery; that she would not attempt to rule over us three and that we were to hold up our end of the bargin and not claim that we were just following her commands. We were in this together. Four separate souls bound into quintessence and purity of action.

We bed down in separate rectories to keep our true faces secret that night. The accommodations were painfully Spartan but much better than making an attempt to make it home without bloodshed in the streets. I would much rather sleep in any bed than to waste my talents on some street thugs.

When I awoke the next morning, I found myself in my own bed. Once again, I wondered if the experiences of the night before were some strange dream. Then I saw the small locked box near my bed. I checked my pendant. Threaded on the chain was a little steel key. Inside the box was a letter from Serenity discussing my actions over the next year and several aureals to aide my work in Harrowgate.

I had the rest of my savings drafted into bank certificates to be claimed in Harrowgate and I set off to meet my contacts in that city.

However, I did have some personal issues to attend to on the way there.

The thirteenth of Flower, 884

A week had passed since I had taken on the mantle of Might of the Earth and I wanted to return to Triskellian. My money was quite low by this point and the title I had accepted had given me nothing except for the odd pendant. I still had my own room but I hadn't visited the baths in a few days and my belly was uncomfortably hollow as I was only eating one small meal a day. Serenity of Waters' promises seemed hollow by this point. I made plans to leave with a small merchant caravan the next morning.

That night when I slept I was contacted by Serenity. She entered my dreams somehow and I talked with her about my duties as Might of the Earth. She would meet me in Triskellian a month from now and introduce me to Alacrity of Wind and to Passion of Flame. She explained how the dreams would instruct me and how her agents, I'd know them by the emblem of the guild, would assist me as needed.

Serenity of Waters explained the importance of our alliance. Serenity had slowly and carefully gained the support of a small order of magicians in Triskellian. She, like myself, had shown herself very skilled in manipulating the spirits of nature. However she was equally skilled into looking into the hearts of others. Even without magic, she could see what motivated and moved people. She wanted to use this to her advantage and she slowly turned the order under her control. The order, which was at its peak a minor player in the city, could be turned into a force to be reckoned with. Very few individuals knew of it outside of the current members and those the guild was recruiting.

I was to be head of operations in the Bisclavret lands. I would be given the supplies I needed as long as I followed Serenity of Waters' orders and made sure to recruit and instruct those with an aptitude towards my art. I could live like a queen and slowly spread my reach out, planting the agents under my control in various locations and using them to topple the existing power structure when everything was in place. Such was Serenity of Waters' plan. We, the four cardinal high sorceresses, would live as the Wizard-Kings of legend did. It was a risky gamble that would certainly get us all horribly killed if anyone found out. But who suspects an institution of education? No one thinks that scholars can topple kings.

I left with the merchant caravan the next morning, a broad smile on my face and treachery in my heart.

The thirteenth of Flower, 884

This 'Serenity of Waters' had arranged to meet me in the same bathhouse that her associate contacted me in. As soon as I had arrived, Valtin escorted me through the winding steam-filled hallways until we arrived in a part of the bath-house I had never seen before. This was a bit of a surprise to me, as I was a frequent customer to these baths.

It took me a moment to catch my breath once I entered the bath. While the room was of a modest size, every inch was decorated in the most glorious fashion. Blue and green silk hung from the walls and ceiling. Detailed mosaics decorated the walls and floor. A heavy but pleasant smelling incense filled the room, making me feel light headed and sluggish. This was no ordinary bath -- no, on the contrary, this was some secret and splendid private retreat not meant to be viewed by any eyes except by those of the highest classes of nobility.

Sitting in the pool was the woman who must have been Serenity of Waters. She was a beautiful otter, lithe and thin like the rest of her race. However a certain 'I don't know what' about her features was rather exotic. Her long, silvery blue hair obscured some of her face and body, the ends floating in the water. She wore nothing but several delicate golden chains around her body and a blue silken veil that covered most of her face. Hanging from her neck was that strange symbol, the blue crescent and the purple oval. She looked up at me, her crystal clear blue eyes staring right into mine.

She asked that I disrobe and join her in the pool, and I obliged. I turned to give Valtin my clothing, but the weasel had seemingly disappeared. The events surrounding this 'Serenity of Waters' was growing stranger and more dreamlike by the minute. Serenity and I talked for some time; I can't recall the exact details still. She offered me influence and power. I could remain just another mage and eventually give up my high standards of living once my money ran low, or I could work along side her. She had fantastic, world altering plans. I would join her conspiracy and follow her plans, and I would be given the glorious wealth she had here.

I agreed of course. Serenity of Waters pulled one of the golden chains off of her body and slid it around my neck. From it dangled that symbol. She told me that I was now the Might of the Hills, Grand High Sorceress of Earth. She would contact me in the future. I felt something slide into my mind, like a knife that pierces flesh. I panicked and tried to defend myself from this invasion; but my body, sluggish and unresponsive from the incense, instead toppled backwards and I lost consciousness.

I awoke, I'm not sure after how much time, in the bath where I had originally met Valtin. I awoke suddenly, as if from a dream. I looked around me. The bath was as it was normally. People were all around, chatting and gossiping about current events. I asked a nearby patron if he had seen anything strange or if I had been carried in by anyone. He looked me over incredulously but politely responded that nothing out of the ordinary had happened since he had arrived. I had been sitting here sleeping since before he had come in.

I asked the other patrons, but they all said the same thing -- that I had been dozing in the pool since they had arrived. I shook my head and dried off. I was beginning to think the entire sequence of events involving Serenity of Waters a fantasy until I felt the golden pendant against my breast. I was the Might of the Hills.

The twelfth of Flower, 884

A broken woman, I retreated to Harrowgate. Before then I had spurned my birthright, but now that it was gone I felt hollow. A deep emptiness settled into my heart. I was reclusive for a few weeks, watching the modest amount of money I had brought with me run low. I would either need to find employment or return to Triskellian in the next week or so.

As if by fate, I received a letter from a woman who called herself 'Serenity of Waters'. The tone was informal and friendly. Disturbingly, this person knew very intimate details of who I was and where I had come from. She knew about my family, my upbringing, my teachers; practically everything. The letter, despite it's warm overtones, was frightening.

The letter made allusions to a meeting -- I could meet with a representative of this 'Serenity of Waters' if I so chose. For what purpose exactly was not explained in any clear matter. However I needed something to move on. If I stayed focused on recent events, I would find myself poor and having to cut back on the things I took for granted. I would likely have to start sleeping on floors and taking care of my body's need irregularly. I was quite used to beds, frequent baths, and satisfying meals.

I decided to take up the offer provided by this strange woman. I went to the town's public baths and waited. Whilst soaking in one of the pools, an attractive and lithe weasel swam over to me. He smiled and gossiped with me in a manner that was not uncommon in the baths. He wore a gold necklace of incredible quality with an odd pendant dangling from it. It was a circular bauble, gold inlaid with a crescent of lapis and an ovoid of amethyst to round out the rest of the circle. The blue stone was punctuated with a small dot of gold showing through. I looked down at it curiously and he asked for my name, holding my hand gently. I don't know why I let him get so close to me. Perhaps it was my state of mind or the ephemeral, dream-like feeling of the meeting.

I asked him his, but he insisted that I give him mine first. Immediately I tensed up and was on guard, thinking this an assassin from my father to finish me off. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as my eyes darted around the pool, trying to see if anyone else was present. No, the cavernous room was empty -- not even a bath attendant was handy. Part of me panicked, awaiting him to snap forward and tear out my throat with his sharp teeth or slide a hidden dagger into my belly.

The weasel retreated a bit, looking insulted. He laughed a bit and smiled warmly, 'I'm not here to harm you, Mistress Ciat' he said. I still remained tense. I loudly barked a question, asking him if he was from this 'Serenity of Waters' -- I didn't finish. He lept upon me so quickly I did not see him until he was inches from my muzzle, one of his fingers pressed against my lips to silence me. He nodded slowly, quietly releasing a 'Shhh...'. I still was stiff and afraid, and it took me a moment to react and push him away from me.

We dried off and talked quietly. People and attendants began to filter into the room immediately but in no great hurry -- somehow this man had managed to divert traffic of all kinds away from one of the busiest parts of the city for a few minutes. It wasn't very long before the attendant took our towels and returned our freshly laundered clothing.

The young weasel, who was named 'Valtin', was dressed in glorious blue silken robes. I thought that he must have been a nobleman of some sort, because no one else could afford such things. On the robe he displayed that same strange symbol that was on his pendant. We retreated to a place of his choosing and began to talk.

He told me briefly about his mistress -- the woman under the title of 'Serenity of Waters'. She wanted to contact me because of my background and my abilities with magic. She had a proposition for me. I could meet this woman and she would explain everything she could give to me for my services. Or, I could return to making a living as is.

I accepted and prepared to meet this 'Serenity of Waters'.

The seventh of Flower, 884

I had grown tired of my father's attempts to bring me home so I thought I'd do him a favor. I would return home under my own volition and solve the issue there. I set out in midsummer with a group of merchants under contract to protect them with my magic. I was very fortunate. The trip was entirely uneventful. The greatest service that I had to do was to sit in a wagon and discuss politics, books, and food with the driver to save him from boredom.

We arrived in Harrowgate and I rested for a few days before heading east again to return home. To this day, I am not certain that it was a bad idea to see my father or not. My father had grown increasingly bitter over the intervening year. My eldest brother, Camrin, had been killed not less than a month before my arrival. The house still bore the marks of his funeral. War claimed him like it claimed my father's leg. An ambush by Doloreaux savages slew him and most of the men under his command during a routine border patrol. Ryen was all my father had now.

Seeing my once-proud father broken and morose was almost too much for me. A rather large portion of my heart hated him for wanting to use me like a gambling chip, but I couldn't help but pity him. I remember him being so proud and strong. Now he was a bitter man who was withering away from a combination of loss and sickness. I wanted to apologize and cry and embrace him and tell him everything was going to be alright. I would have married that wolf if just to see him smile again.

He told me quite flatly that he had no daughter. He told me that his daughter had been killed by bandits or died in the wilderness or ran off because she could not handle her responsibilities as one of noble blood. I cried and begged him for forgiveness. He stared deep into my eyes in a way I will never forget. He coldly repeated himself and asked for his bodyguard to remove me from the manor house. I didn't resist. While even at that time I was strong, my body felt limp and useless. I was led outside the gate, tears welling up in my eyes. I collapsed as soon as I was let go. I doubled up and cried there for hours, wanting to die. My father's bitterness had consumed him and it was my fault.

It only got worse when I went into town. I had never walked among those who were responsible for my father's wealth, but they knew me. Most of the people who lived there had at least heard of me. I heard their whispers and saw them pointing. I heard them mock my corpulence in disgust and anger, as they only had enough to survive. Besides myself, everyone else bore the thin frame of hard times. A few of them had the courage to be openly insulting to me. I was given a room in the inn through hospitality, but I insisted upon paying. I needed some form of penance. I cried myself to sleep that night.

It didn't occur to me until the next morning that Ryen had been missing from the household. It could have been any number of things. He might have been furthering his education. He might have been searching for me. I don't know. I still don't. I've returned home since these events. The manor is empty and cold. Soon after my father stripped me of any title I had he succumbed to the sickness that was ravaging his body. The land and the people who worked it were absorbed by the nearby Blaireu house, as no heir could be found.

I hope that somewhere out there Ryen is still alive and well. I like to think that he's using his compassionate heart and wisdom to help and guide others. It's a foolish hope however. I am fairly certain that I am the last of the Ciat bloodline. I've never head any rumors of a violet-haired raccoon such as myself. It's almost too much to bear sometimes. It's part of the reason I strive so hard to be remembered.

The Sixth of Flower, 884

My first year in Triskellian was both wonderful and difficult. I was in the center of culture and commerce of the known world and I was independently wealthy. I did what anyone in my situation would do; I went on a hedonistic binge of epic proportions. I slept in the softest beds, wore the finest silks, and ate the rarest and finest foods. I spent my days lazing about beyond anything I ever experienced living in the manor house. I had no self-restraint whatsoever until the sobering realization that I was almost out of money hit me.

I had perhaps a few dozen Aureals left. It was certainly a large sum of money, but not compared to what I started with. Luckily I had a room leased for the better part of a year and a large wardrobe of fine clothing. I had social connections and my reputation as a magician had traveled. It was not difficult to find work, certainly.

My money was spent much more slowly and carefully from then on. My only great expense is that I enrolled myself into the Dunwasser College for further instruction of my art. Being an independent woman highly skilled in magic and possessing coin certainly raised suspicisions, but they admitted me nonetheless. There I learned the basics of Kyndranigar's works, Thaugmaturgy.

I could write an entire codex about the differences between the sly subtleties of Thaugmaturgy and the devastating bluntness of Elementalism, but I know that such things are better left to those more educated in the art of the Shadow Mage. I've only dabbled in Thaugmaturgy. While I appreciate what it can do, I've only dabbled in it. I would have continued my studies but my past came back to haunt me. It seems my father and the man I was to marry figured out that I wasn't in Harrowgate.

While my body's impressive size has been a boon in many situations, it is near impossible to disguise who I am. I'm a full three hands taller than most men and weigh far in excess than all but giants. To say that I was built like a Phelan cumal, while insulting, would not be too far from the truth. I would suggest to the reader if she is ever in my presence to not remind me of that analogy if one enjoys breathing.

Three young men full of bravado came searching for me. I know that they had been instructed to bring me back unharmed, but my instincts told me that they were more than willing to take a cut in pay if it meant not having to deal with an angry mage on the trip home. While I was fairly certain I could overpower the three of them with a combination of my magic and might they had caught me unprepared for such things. I was coming home from supper, leaving me more sluggish than I would be normally. Quickness is something that I have never been known for, and a belly full of roasted meat and wine just exacerbated the problem.

I took the easy way out. A creative application of my magic and an adjacent stone wall turned the narrow alley to my advantage. One of them was crushed instantly, another pinned, and the other sent reeling in terror. I bound his paws into the stone cobbles with my sorcery and proceeded to interrogate him. Apparently they thought I was just some spoiled princess and had no idea I was a sorceress. My magic reduced their weapons into useless clumps of iron and I released the survivors with a warning to all others who would try and haul me back home.

Sadly, they didn't listen. My father and my promised husband must have been quite sore over the loss over the considerable sum of money that I had invested into myself. I don't understand how throwing more money in my direction was going to rectify the problem. Every group of foolish young men that were there to escort me home were flush with silver and gold. Between that and the simple jobs I had copying manuscripts and casting simple spells, my wealth increased quickly. Despite the excitement provided by frequent skirmishes and avoiding the constabulary afterward I quickly grew tired of my life being in danger and I decided to stop the problem at its source.

The Fifth of Flower, 884

When I had escaped my old life, I was only 15 years old. I had more than enough money to live a modest life for a few years. However I had a bit of a problem. While I was an accomplished sorceress already I could be ambushed and killed (or worse) quite easily. I was a few days travel via my palfrey from Harrowgate. It was a large city and I could blend in easily in the right places. It was also in the middle of the Bisclavret holdings.

Saying that it would be foolish to escape into the heart of my enemy is a bit of an understatement.

It was the easier path however... so I went the other way. My father, seeing me only as a spoiled brat, would immediately choose what he thought I would do. I can understand how he would think I would just fall into the arms of a town that had soft beds and abundant food.

I did my best to stay off the main road. It was easy enough for my mount -- she could eat her fill of grass and other plants. She was used to sleeping in the open air. It was much harder for me. I was not used to the hardships of nature. While I could temporarily bend one of the elements to my will with devastating effectiveness, any long term expenditure was impossible.

I did find the occasional household or village, but they rarely had anything to spare and were distrustful of me. It's understandable. Imagine that a huge woman in expensive but disheveled clothing shows up at your doorstop in the middle of the night begging for a meal and a room.

I learned to use my dull instincts and senses in the wild. My magic provided me with ample clean water and the ability to create crude shelters, but it was still hard. It's a bit embarasing to admit, but I've never had any luck with fire magic. Even getting a candle to light is something that leaves me exausted and sweat-soaked. Food was difficult to come by at best. I knew that my people were natural fishermen. I decided to try my luck at it. More often than not it left me with soaking clothing, frustration at my clumsy reflexes, and most importantly an empty stomach. As the weeks stretched on I grew mad with hunger. I ate so infrequently I would often forget when my last meal was. I was quite convinced that I was going to die in the wilderness and I swore to the heavens I would trade all the money I had for one filling meal.

Thankfully I reached Triskellian. I was not quite sure how long I had been out in the wilderness by that point. It must have been a considerable length of time because my clothing had become quite tattered and loose on my frame. I like to think that some divine hand made sure my wedding was in the spring and I was so amply padded with fat, otherwise I would have easily frozen and starved to death.

My first order of business was a meal that didn't consist of raw riverfish, a bath, and some new clothing. As much enthusiasm as I have for a nice hearty meal, not before and not since have I been so happy to sit down for supper. Even though it has been years since my escape, bile still rises in my gullet when fish is served. I reason that my time eating it raw from rivers, even infrequently, has caused this strange reaction. It's a pity really. I hear that the fat grey tuna off the coast of Thannon are quite delicious, It's a pitty I can't stomach fish at all.

I must cut this entry short, sadly. I'm to teach a class on the theories of elemental spirits at the Dunwasser College. I'll return to writing tomorrow morning, perhaps.

The fourth of Flower, 884

I've decided to transcribe my travels to a diary. I've thought about the adventures that I've gone on and the wonders I have seen and what a dis-service it would be to the world if I didn't pass this on somehow.

Of course, one must ask where to begin. While I am not but 23 summers old, I have experienced quite a bit. The greater part of Calabria I've seen, barring the domain of pagan Doloreaux. I have little interest in such places save for rumors I've heard of knowledge buried with their dead.

But I digress. I'm not here to talk about what might be, but what has happened.

My name is Farran Ciat. I am a sorceress; a practitioner of the elemental magic of earth. It has been my art for over ten years now. I've dabbled into other schools, but none are quite so efficent as mine. It's something I hold as a point of pride and I am more than willing to showcase my skills towards those who doubt my prowess with unkind prejudice.

I was born durring the middle of Harvest. My birth was difficult and painful. My mother traded her life for mine, rest her soul. I am eternally grateful for her sacrifice despite the fact that I have never looked into her eyes. I was told by my older brother Ryen that certain features of mine remind him of her. I like to think that she has lived on through me in some way.

My father was a military man. I can't say I'm too terribly fond of him, but I do respect him for following his path with such zeal. My primary caretakers were my beloved Ryen and the house-staff. I won't deny it -- they spoiled me. I got almost everything I wanted as a child and if it wasn't for Ryen's patience and conviction that matched his compassion, I'd probably lack any self-restraint entirely.

Even as a child, my force of will was that of a leader. I knew what I wanted and I had no reason to change for their whims. Ryen could often explain why certain things would need to be done when others would just demand them from me. He taught me quite a lot and I miss him dearly. But, more on that later. I have so much to tell I keep getting ahead of myself. My rather unusual build and strong will was not easy to handle, and I have some regrets that I was such a brat.

Eventually, my father could no longer fight. He was crippled at the hands of some Doloreaux pig. This soured his moods horribly and made my life turn towards hardship. He was an insufferable tyrant. Father wanted me to be a propper princess for him to marry off to some foolish nobleman to increase his holdings. He and my brothers tried, but I was not about to bend to their whims. I was put through such suffering. I was starved and told to submit for months on end. My father's will broke before mine, thankfully. Otherwise I'd be a sheltered and uneducated child-maker for some rich idiot.

My dear Ryen suggested to my father that I should be formed into an appealing bride by other means. Thus began my studies into the workings of nature. Ryen convinced me that this was a good path. My, how correct he was. I studied under some of the most tallented tutors in the entire holdings of the Bisclavret, slowly learning all that there was to know about the fundaments of creation and how to manipulate them.

In a short time, I was a rather talented and accomplished sorceress. I had discovered my hunger for knowledge and my true calling. I had in my hands a weapon that none could take from me. With the force of my will alone I could change the very laws of nature. This was, and still is, incredibly exhilarating. Every time I bend reality to my whims, I feel my spirit rise from deep within my breast. This is true power. The curse of nobility is nothing. The crude and ineffective show of 'strength' swordsmen have is nothing. These things pale in comparison to what I, one woman, can do. Knowledge is the true power.

I'm rambling again. I apologize, dear reader. I tend to get a bit carried away when talking about such things. I'm rather passionate about certain topics.

My Father had set up an arranged marriage of course. I was to marry some foppish wolf. I met him once. The only pleasure I had from the experience was seeing him be so terrified of my presence. While I am rather large in both stature and girth next to most folk, I was a giant next to him and he was 5 years my elder. He seemed so terribly fragile. I will admit that if I had married him, I would likely live a life of the greatest luxuries now. Sometimes I wonder what I might have turned out like. I laugh sometimes when I think that I probably would have killed him with my passion during the night after the wedding. He was so terribly fragile looking.

I had other plans however. I was not about to marry someone so weak. While I could have bent him into little more than a slave, I did not want to spend my time rotting in some manor now that I knew my true calling. En-route to my delivery, I escaped. My brother Ryen was right -- sorcery is very useful. I secured a fair portion of my dowry and decided to make the most out of myself.

As I write this, I can see the sun peering over the horizon. I believe I have spent too much time today flaunting my ego. I will return to writing when inspiration comes around again. I'm to meet with Sharris for lunch today, and I'll not miss that.