Jarek Farvald
Jarek is a Shadow Sorcerer.
Jarek is played by Steve Miller.
The Journal Entry’s title
Begin writing your story here...
Farvald by Name
I can't even remember all the things that have happened since I last wrote. There's been little opportunity and, to be honest, I haven't much felt like it. The immediate threat of civil war has a way of occupying your attention. But today, more than ever, I really need to sort my thoughts. Writing helps.
First, the definitely good news: we have prevented the civil war. Despite lots of over-lapping plans to trigger one, the Wihesmart failed. We killed one of their leaders this morning, putting an end to their plans in Tecard. There are more of them out there, but we can probably take our time in dealing with them - the urgent danger has passed.
I should have mentioned: we're in Tecard now and have been for some time. We got in with some minor noble, who then gave us the chance to enter the upper city, where all the really powerful nobles live. Along with the archduke, who we're meeting tomorrow thanks to my new good friend, Lord Istemi Bereket.
Istemi helped us kill the druid, Nyazi. There's some sort of grove in the rock this city is built on, which Nyazi was using as a base to run the Wihesmart plans from. It turns out they are some sort of backward druidic cult who hate progress. In a lot of ways, they'd fit right in back home. Well, maybe not 'home', but you know what I mean.
Anyway, I think it might be Dessa's grove now. She sort of bonded with it, as well as found a ring which somehow connects her to the Plane of Earth. I'm not entirely comfortable about that, but it is undeniably a powerful tool. Speaking of which, I have found something called a Mantle of Spell-Turning. Thanks to Aysin's predictably childish approach to basically everything, I can confirm it does indeed seem to turn spells. Unfortunately, it does not entirely block spells, so I'm probably going to need a new hat.
The final bit of definitely good news is that me, Aysin and Istemi all got together for the first time. We talked. Things are complicated. Good, but weird. Between us, a lot can be achieved. Mostly behind the scenes for now, like some shadowy council. Council of Shadows has a good sound to it, but the others will probably think it stupid. Whatever we are - if we can find more of us, we should.
More mixed news is that Tecard is a very confusing place and not at all the fortress of stability I'd hoped. There are some good people here and they could steer things in the right direction, but there are also plenty of rich idiots who're only really interested in themselves. Kapok are even more useless here than everywhere else we've been, which raises the worrying possibility that Lady Kyrie may actually be one of their most responsible members.
That's a bit unfair, though. While understanding the massive flaws in her view of the world may be a ditch to broad for her intellect to safely leap, she clearly has the right intentions, even if she is a highborn strumpet. More than can be said for many people, especially those born to great privilege. Note: I found out that 'privilege' literally means 'private law'. And apparently people are okay with that.
Where was I? Oh yes: we're meeting the archduke tomorrow, so we should know which side of things he falls into soon. Based on him wanting to declare war on what is basically a mountainful of dwarves, my hopes aren't very high. Then again, Istemi seems to respect him and I don't get the impression he's a man who tolerates fools, regardless of rank.
I think Aysin staying with him is the right decision. I'll miss them both, but they've a lot to be getting on with and it is best done from here. At least for the moment.
Which is where the news stops being mixed and instead turns sour. If the Acarian army attack Vilknier, it will likely be a bloodbath, regardless of who wins. A week ago, I'd have said that was a tragedy that must be stopped at all costs. Now, it just needs to not be allowed to get in the way of what comes next.
We need to get back on the road soon. I think maybe to Mustoir, since we're so nearby anyway. I need to ask the mages there some questions. But generally I think we need to keep moving, travel around and see what we can learn. The pit in the mountains seems like a priority. Possibly the rift in the Dabaxonite mines, near Haldyr's family. Hopefully Lady Kyrie won't go mental and run off in the nude, this time.
Beyond that? I have no idea. Tonight has been the strangest of my life and I still have a lot to process. I have half an idea of what to look for and less than that of where to look for it. Maybe we should keep an ear out for any ordinary people suddenly being promoted to positions of influence or authority? Look for people trying to rally others to a cause? I don't know.
Anyway, I should probably get some rest. Apparently I need to believe in myself more, but that certainly isn't happening while I'm battered and scorched.
Everything Interesting Happens in the Dark
We dealt with the fish. Not a whole lot of talking took place in the end, but Dessa did nearly get eaten by some sort of giant underwater pea pod. We found another one of those stones - the weird Wihesmart ones - which seemed to be powering whatever the thing was.
Either way, problem solved and while we didn't get paid, we did get some leads. We're still following them up, but we're found out a LOT in the few days since getting back. Not least of all that everyone in Sturmin is greedy as sin.
First, someone is trying to start a war. Iron prices are going up because large shipments are being secretly diverted to some kind of weapons manufacturing network. We snuck into one of the factories and found some stones and a lot of money the others made me put back. But we did find out they've been paying wizards to set up alarms to protect a book of secret connections in the guilds. The goods then get turned into weapons, which looked unpleasantly familiar.
Haldeyr discovered all this stuff is getting shipped down south somewhere. We don't know exactly where or what the plan for them is, but it is definitely happening.
When we told the Order of Kapok about the Wihesmart part of all this, everyone went very stony-faced and a smutty lady called Clarisse suddenly turned up in the basement. It turns out Kyrie has been feeding the Order info on us and they have some sort of teleportation network. I'd be angry about it, but nobles are apparently like children - without anyone keeping an eye on them, they just do whatever comes into their heads.
But the Order is very worried about the Wihesmart and wants it all keeping very quiet. Nobody seems quite sure what they are, whether they're the old druids making a return or some sort of group who think they're continuing their work. We don't even know what their name means, which is something we should probably try and find out. I've noticed people tend to label themselves, so there might be a clue there. Maybe Dessa knows more about how druid circles name themselves? I must remember to ask her when she isn't busy enchanting Kyrie's axe.
I've mostly been reading. I've learned lots of interesting things. Earthquakes are the world's bones grinding together, sort of. Offenland used to have shamans instead of priests. Darstad appeared over a relatively short time. Narland dwarves are actually native to the Fire Peaks. All sorts, and there are so many more books left that I haven't even seen! I don't have enough time to study them all, so need to pick carefully. I do like the dark and the quiet while I'm down there, but I'm also itching to make something happen. Not sure what, but something that churns the soil a bit to see what comes up.
We have also managed to get an in-road with the local underworld, the Verborgen. I think they're being played by the Wihesmart, as part of whatever this planned war is. A lady called Melisa wants to be friends with me (which seems to be driving Kyrie crazy with frustration?) and has given us some leads. She reminds me slightly of Aysin, although without the fun tricks.
I have finaly met Ingerishko. I think he's... an ally? Not hostile, at least. I like him and there is so much I can learn from him, although he mostly seems to teach through riddles and clues. I think he's some sort of fey prince or fallen angel or something. Not evil. Not good. Or rather, he has a moral compass but it doesn't make sense on our map. I'm not sure how the others will feel about him, but to be honest I'm not sure they need to know more than absolutely necessary anyway. At least he knows what is going on - even if we don't - which makes him a better ally than anyone else we've met so far.
Mostly though, we are trying to work out who is trying to start a war and why. That's a whole separate entry in itself though, and I need to go and break into the Goldsmith's guild.
Fishing in Sturmin
I've finally got some paper! I need to practice my writing and keeping a journal seems as good a way as any.
We left Livadin nearly a week ago. I sort of miss it. It's been as close to home as I've had in the last year. If I'm honest, it was a better one than my real home - more to do, more to see, less... I think the word is 'provincial'. I feel a bit guilty thinking that way about everyone in Trond, but based on what I've learned, it is true.
Offenland is seen as a bit of a joke here and if I ignore the fact I find that a bit hurtful, I can see why. We don't DO anything. The whole place is stuck 100 years in the past. We can blame the soil or claim it's because we're so focused on looking after each other, and both of these are true to a point. But really, it's also a lack of ambition. The rest of the federation could definitely do with being more caring, but our sense of community has held us back for... what? We are poor, backwards, and are not respected. Individuals need to be able to achieve things that move the community forward. That doesn't happen back home.
The lords make sure nobody goes without, but that has just means what we have has stayed the same. The church teaches gratitude, but little to be grateful for. At some point, I want to visit the Council and explain to them what has happened. If they understood, maybe they'd make some changes. The dwarves built walls that lasted thousands of years. The Acarians apparently have a city built on a rock. Narland is one big building site. Lassans spend all their time living in luxury. We have sheep and potatoes and stupid little churches where we pray to not be any less poor this year than we were the last. The only god to ever help me isn't one I've ever prayed to.
But we don't need to do what the others have done. We don't need more armies with no-one to fight or armoured nobles who attend council meetings and gossip between themselves. We could have places for people to learn, inventors and writers and engineers and wizards. And yes, some soldiers, because if we can't protect ourselves then we need the Acarians to do it for us. Sooner or later their bards will go looking in the villages and I've seen what happens to their non-Acarian 'recruits'.
Speaking of bards, we met another one on the way to Sturmin. I hope we scared him enough that he won't be a problem. I don't like killing people, but I will if it is what is needed to protect others. But I'd rather give a second chance where possible, unless they're on the list.
Anyway, we arrived in Sturmin two days ago and it turns out someone is playing silly buggers with the price of iron, which Kyrie's boss has asked us to look into. Somehow that has resulted in us needing to deal with a plague of fish in one of the rivers here. After that though, I think we might try our hand at trading or as private guards. In Acaria they have politicians and officers. Getting involved with them let us make things a bit better. In Narland, they have guilds and merchants instead, so I think that is our best bet in making a name for ourselves and fixing whatever is going on here.
Also, I want to look out for more people like me, so we can make things better. And Aysin. She's doing a good job and I hope it isn't too long before we can go back to see her. But more commoners having more of a role in things can only be a good thing for the federation. Some of the nobles and officers might mean well, but they've got too much to lose if things change much.
First though, we have some fish to talk to.
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