"Tavern Journal Entry" | Maki
Well. Here I am.
I promised Simab, I’d write every day, but I haven’t really had a good time to write since he gave me this journal and I entered MiddleMarch. What a cool, weird place.
Hmm, what are some things I want to remember about today?
Well, yesterday, when I entered MiddleMarch, I said goodbye to Raevyn, Lloyd, Simab and Elayne. They’re going on a vacation to Ahklefleebdloodle, Maire Glaise and Akihide while Xkoll is away. And it makes me SO MAD that they aren’t sneaking me with them! I know Xkoll gave special instructions for me to go to MiddleMarch and stay with Donindor, but I’ve always wanted to go to Ahklefleebdloodle and Akihide! I could almost hate them, but I can’t, because they gave me presents (bribes) before we parted.
Lloyd gave me a copy of Ashnuw’s Word Finder and told me to read the whole thing by the time I returned so that I could write some decent poetry. So far I’m on page 365. My favorite word thus far is “abdominous.” It means having a fat stomach.
Raevyn gave me some really nice leather vambraces. He said they were so that I could practice shooting. Wish he’d given me a bow too. He said I’d have to buy that myself. He’s such a loser sometimes.
The vambraces are a bit too big for me. Double loser, he doesn’t even know my size. I have to see a leather smith about tightening them.
Elayne gave me a whole pouch, which kind of surprised me. I think she thinks she’s my mom, which is funny because I’m probably going to still look like a kid when she’s a granny. But it’s kinda sweet I guess. She put a lot of tea in it. A lot. Plus three of her sugary energy potions/experiments. Plus a handkerchief of food and little silver knife with a deer on it. She said the knife was from Alte Rynn and it belonged rightly to me. I confess, I did hug her. She wiped down her dress after I let go.
Then Simab gave me this journal. He kinda smiled sheepishly when he did and said that it came from Akihide. He pointed to the charm of a mermaid on the ribbon. It was all wrapped up in some really rich, colorful fabric too. When I sniffed it, it smelled like candy and the ocean and spices. He ruffled my hair and said he’d miss me and I needed to keep writing. We did our secret handshake. Whenever I’d stop on the road after that, I’d sniff the journal.
Xkoll already gave me his gifts when he left the swamp. He gave me his teleport heal and told me to be very careful. The he gave me a letter to give to Donindor and then a ring. It looks like it’s a blue moon exploding or something like that. He said he had found it on a chain around my neck back on Alte Rynn…back when my life started here. He said he had waited ‘til now to give it to me and now it was mine. I asked him why now and he said it was because I was getting older. I must have rolled my eyes or made a weird face because he bopped me on the head. Then rested his hand on my face—all rough and leathery and warm--blessed me, and…and then he was off.
And now I’m all by myself. I got to Donindor’s camp alright…I mean…I did have to blow up a fallen tree that was in my way. And that was exhausting. But other than that, I really liked the trip to Donindor’s camp. The trees here are so tall and straight and the flowers are small and happy colors. It’s nothing like the swamp at all.
Oh yeah. I met this creepy weird guy from Ina Tathen on the wagon trip up. He talked to spirits and I tried to tell him that was a bad idea and it was his life, but he should stop and get his act together. He was a mercenary and didn’t really feel like giving up his line of work. He started asking questions about me and Xkoll, but I did a great job of hiding everything from him. He has NO clue who I am. <3
There was yummy food at the tavern. I got to sleep.
And then I met the freakin’ queen of Akihide and a girl from Kokka! The queen is named Acid Sugar (what a name) and the girl’s name was…I think it’s Sukoshi? I’m not sure about Kokka spelling.
There’s so many different people here. Getting to meet someone from Akihide kinda helped make up for not going I guess. Acid Sugar has candy on her gun. I am totally going to make my own someday. Either that, or get one from her. Being friends with a queen has its perks.
Sukoshi was really nice for someone from Kokka and pretty too…but she’s hiding stuff. Definitely. And I think she could be in some sort of trouble. She had to go away and leave the camp soon after that and I would have followed her, but I’m not supposed to get into trouble. I’m here to stay safe. Besides, I think she’s a Rogue, so she can handle herself.
Then there was this new creature I’d never heard of before. He’s called a “Fenwomple.” And he knows all sorts of interesting things about Ashnuw. Like this place called the “Wilderness” and these people that can go into the Borax Uldek without dying. I wonder if he knows anything about Pura or the Sanctum…
It sounds like there’s some crazy things that go on here…which is totally fitting somehow. The thought of having a nice peaceful vacation in Middlemarch eating food, sightseeing and sleeping in is starting to fade. Acid Sugar and Sukoshi said something about a bear and a chest and missing items that might be sold on black market. I made a joke with then about making a “Save Ashnuw Fund” so we can all buy important items back from the black market. Hahaha. I wonder if we’re kinda friends? I don’t know, being someone’s friend is a big deal, especially if they are humans. I guess they’re more like…allies for now. Or bros. But girl bros.
I found a tree to sleep in because the Tavern was too expensive. Its neat seeing people from other countries, but I want time to myself to just sleep and write and talk to my tree.
Speaking of which. That’s all I want to remember for now. I’m still really tired.
~Maki
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