— sessions thirteen and fourteen.

Eventually, I knew our travels would bring us to Lonelywood, but I had not prepared myself for what I would encounter upon seeking out Rafil's family before leaving.
 
Unsure of where to find them, I asked around the village and was pointed toward where the Fischers resided. Three years ago, I would have been shocked and surprised by their living conditions — a one-room dwelling for three people, five if I were to include Rafil and his sister and six with their mother — but I have grown used to how things are here and thank Helm every day for the comforts I have been given in life.
 
My heart shattered into a million pieces upon telling Tannin and his children, Rashell and Gabri, that Gweneth had died and Rafil was alive but broken. It did not help that the children mistook me for their mother. This is something I find curious and hope to learn more about in the future.
 
They were all shaken and broken by the news, Gabri taking it harder upon hearing what happened to his sister and ran out of the house. Thankfully, Myalee and Eliodiel came with me, so I was not alone, and quickly thinking on her feet, Myalee went after him. Standing there, I felt powerless as I felt the suffocating grief filling the home, and I also felt something breaking and shattering within Rashell, with darkness promptly replacing it. Sensing this, I tried to soothe whatever brokenness I felt. Then I felt the same radiance within them that dwells within me, Alinar, and Rafil.
 
I understood the heaviness of the emotions she must have felt, the realization of the horrors of the world and the cruel, ugly place it could be. If I could be that spark of light, of hope, that would keep her from completely shattering. I would do anything ( even taking the burden of the darkness growing within her ) to keep her light shining, even if it is a lonely ember, because it will become spectacular in time. Before leaving, I left the family with some gold in hopes of relieving some strain upon them and promised to keep in contact.
 
With all my traveling, time tends to get away from me, but I will ensure that I keep in contact. At least update them on Rafil's status and let them know they are not alone in this world.
 
Yesterday, we arrived in Lonelywood, and in a fashion I can only describe as his own, Verrick spontaneously got a tattoo based on something he saw in his dreams. Looking upon it, I recognized the beginnings of a summoning ritual. Upon telling this to him, he did not seem bothered by it as it was what his Parton wished of him, and he would happily oblige. I cannot imagine anything good coming from his Patron turning him into a walking, talking spell book and telling Verrick would fall upon deaf ears, I fear.
 
Venturing into the woods to take care of a moose problem, I heard a woman's screams, and thinking I was rescuing someone, I uncovered a banshee and immediately got into a fight. It was a rough battle, everyone going down around me, but with the grace given to me by Helm, we were able to defeat the creature. I have made a mental note not to dig up randomly within the forest, especially when hearing someone screaming.
 
Continuing our venture in the woods, we found a white moose that could talk. We learned that it had been granted intelligence and was killing those who had taken the forest for themselves as they did not live in harmony with nature. Knowing there would be no peaceful solution to this fight, we defeated the moose but not without our injuries and near casualties.
 
Before leaving Lonelywood, I made sure to buy some scrimshaw to bring back home as gifts.
 
Due to Verrick's trail swiftly approaching, we could not tarry long and began the journey back to Bryn Shander. In doing so, we had to stop by Termalaine, which continued our search for Torga and her caravan as she seemed to be harboring the murderer who committed the crimes Verrick was being accused of. While Rhodri provided a distraction by selling and talking with the Dwarven woman, Myalee and I went to obtain a search warrant. With many of the locals knowing the paladin, we were able to get the warrant from the new Speaker, but it was for naught as by the time we arrived with it, a fight was already underway between our party members that had remained and those of Torga's caravan.
 
After a chase and attempting to command the man, we were able to corner him. I thought we were going to detain him and bring him to justice in Bryn Shander, but it seemed that Verrick had his own plans and killed the man, who promptly turned to ice, leaving us unable to ask him questions or bring him in to clear Verrick's name.