Post by oak on Feb 2, 2014 19:04:23 GMT
I've spent a large portion of my training in the Temple of Thoth transcribing various texts, but writing my own thoughts is an entirely different matter. So when Prior Mansfield gave me this diary upon what we've celebrated as my sixteenth birthday, I stared blankly at the empty pages trying to contemplate that which I should write. After some contemplation, I decided to start with my earliest memories and proceed from there. So take this for what it is worth.
I have some general recollection of my father, to me he seemed a giant of a man. Tan and leather-rough skin, penetrating eyes and a warm smile. I was all of perhaps three years of age when he took me to the Temple and entrusted me to the care of the clergy. even so I know volumes more about that man than I do my mother. I strain to remember anything of her and all I can recollect is a feeming of warnth and a glow of love.
Prior Mansfield and the valiant Fahrus Dei (Paladin of Mancier) were my primary caregivers as I was raised in the Church and trained in the Divine Arts. Most of my childhood was spent indoors, learning to read, write and speak. The common tongue of Mankind offered so little challenge to me that my lessons soon incorporated a multitude of other languages spoken or recorded through out the Kingdom of Lomar. Elvish, Dwarvish, Halfling, Gnomish, Orcish; I was able to study them all with relative ease. I discerned an almost mathematical precision and commonality to the languages and soon I had my nose in the books of all manner of species that once lived in or around the region. My hunger for knowledge was insatiable.
Even so, the confines of the Temple felt as a restriction around my spirit. I desired to soar and take everything in. And so it was that in the midst of my fifth year of age that I noticed a young ladd, not much elder than myself. He was alone outside the Great Mage Tower, frightened and in tears. It was dark that night, barely a sliver of moon shone upon us. I approached him, offering a reassuring hug. Among the cries I could only discern the word Shale. But figured that he sought a return to family encamped in the vicinity of the lake by that name. I had also detected some manner of accent to his speech which I had guessed he had developed from the nomads who oft settled for periods near the lake. My knowledge of cryptography was fair to say the least and I was reasonably certain that I could help the young boy reach his destination.
It did not seem as if we had traveled long, though later I was told I had been missing from my wards for near a complete lunar cycle. The journey passed through my memory with images of brisk spring weather, bright sun shine and some rain. But there is also the feeling that for some period we were chased, or rather hunted by someone. I vaguely recall being nearly caught by a tall and scrawny figure in red robes. I kept the ladd behind me and the red clad figure seemed at first stalled by my presence, commenting to the boy about his whisp of a guardian being no match for his magic. There were also references to spirit and ghost, but that made no sense to me at the time. Sure I have always been pale and with silvery gray hair, but I was as solid as any other Human girl.
I remember him shooting bolts of pure energy from his fingertips, just as I recall being struck by that energy. Yet it was as illusion and caused me no discomfort, rather I felt somewhat invigorated. So much so that as he approached nearer and I saw the fire of hatred in his eyes, my fear turned to something else. Whether it be anger, rage, concern for my new friend; I know not. But i felt a release then saw a tremendous burst of energy strike the red robed villain, engulfing him. I thank the good Mancier that someone had intervened on our behalf, but i felt drained and soon fell to the ground in a feint. The nomadic peoples who surrounded me when I woke said that I was found unconscious with the boy standing watch over me. None others were in the vicinity, and no tracks led to of from our position other than ours and what may have been the red figure some distance away. The earth there was heavily scorched like a great and sudden fire burst upon that area, yet there was no sign of a body and no track leading away. The boy commented that I had somehow protected him, but he was frightened into keeping his eyes closed tight. We never did figure out who or what came at last to our aid. Though he did say I spoke in an unusual language, some words that he felt reassured him though he did not decipher the meaning. Perhaps I slipped into Elvish or Halfling, tongues that I always felt were calming, melodic and reassuring to me. When I offered a few phrases in each he simply shook his head in negative response. No matter, my vocabulary in both was rather extensive and it would take days to offer just a smattering of phrases I knew in each.
I felt clumsy as the nomads worked to restore my strength, in some ways I feel clumsy still. But within a few days one of their camp lead me to some nearby fishermen who in turn, and in exchange for some additional bait and a few pieces of silver coin, took me to a guardsman. The guardsman knew of my caring protector Fahrus Dei and had agreed to carry me on horseback to my home at the Temple. Reunited with my caregivers, I thanked the kind guardsman and awaited my punishment for leaving the Temple grounds for so long and with no notice to my elders (though I suppose in hindsight that asking for permission, I would have been denied). Yet Prior Mansfield and Fahrus both simply embraced me, and with warm soothing tears implored that I never again leave the grounds. Not until I was to reach my sixteenth year. And so I vowed, in deep earnest, to remain in their care until at least my sixteenth year.
That was roughly two months ago, as the exact date of my birthing is ever unknown. Yet as the three of us modestly celebrated my coming of age, I saw the sadness in their eyes that I was soon to be away from my family, perhaps in search of another family. That was as the two others spoke in regards to some supposed prophecy. But prophecies are oft false or with just the tiniest bit of truth within, so in accord to my teachings of Mancier, I hold such speak in minuscule regard.
But I begin to keep record of my journeys now within the pages of this book. Fahrus has told me that all which I record here will be displayed to he and the Prior within a special spell basin so that I will ever be able to stay in contact with my mentors. Be that truth or just a modest attempt to comfort me when I journey away I am uncertain. Neither option would surprise me, both equally valid (despite one option being somewhat untrue an allowance for comfort may be given, I suppose). Yet in my years of research and transcription I have not heard or read of such magic. Granted I have just begun to scrape the proverbial tip of magical knowledge.
At any matter, I now have begun to travel the roads and villages of the good Kingdom of Lomar. I still provide my service at the Temple, for it remains one of my chief duties to bless waters that it may be utilized in any manner of ceremony. But already I have found my way to the Royal City of Kalemon and taken some study within the great University of Segwam. Surprsing the instructors there at the ease of which I expand my list of known languages which now includes Goblinish, Gnollish, Sylvan and Draconic. I also seek to explore an even greater understanding of mathematics and engineering. But I fear that my time is running short at the University. Fahrus has summoned me to return to the Temple, as there is word of my father and his untimely passing from this realm. But there is also word that I have brothers and sisters through my fathers lineage. And so I leave my writing for a while to once again fight the traps and buckles of my plate armor and prepare for another journey. I only hope is that I may gather at least some of the many volumes within my personal library and take them along. Oh how wonderful it would be to share some of what I learned with new family members.
Until I write again...
I have some general recollection of my father, to me he seemed a giant of a man. Tan and leather-rough skin, penetrating eyes and a warm smile. I was all of perhaps three years of age when he took me to the Temple and entrusted me to the care of the clergy. even so I know volumes more about that man than I do my mother. I strain to remember anything of her and all I can recollect is a feeming of warnth and a glow of love.
Prior Mansfield and the valiant Fahrus Dei (Paladin of Mancier) were my primary caregivers as I was raised in the Church and trained in the Divine Arts. Most of my childhood was spent indoors, learning to read, write and speak. The common tongue of Mankind offered so little challenge to me that my lessons soon incorporated a multitude of other languages spoken or recorded through out the Kingdom of Lomar. Elvish, Dwarvish, Halfling, Gnomish, Orcish; I was able to study them all with relative ease. I discerned an almost mathematical precision and commonality to the languages and soon I had my nose in the books of all manner of species that once lived in or around the region. My hunger for knowledge was insatiable.
Even so, the confines of the Temple felt as a restriction around my spirit. I desired to soar and take everything in. And so it was that in the midst of my fifth year of age that I noticed a young ladd, not much elder than myself. He was alone outside the Great Mage Tower, frightened and in tears. It was dark that night, barely a sliver of moon shone upon us. I approached him, offering a reassuring hug. Among the cries I could only discern the word Shale. But figured that he sought a return to family encamped in the vicinity of the lake by that name. I had also detected some manner of accent to his speech which I had guessed he had developed from the nomads who oft settled for periods near the lake. My knowledge of cryptography was fair to say the least and I was reasonably certain that I could help the young boy reach his destination.
It did not seem as if we had traveled long, though later I was told I had been missing from my wards for near a complete lunar cycle. The journey passed through my memory with images of brisk spring weather, bright sun shine and some rain. But there is also the feeling that for some period we were chased, or rather hunted by someone. I vaguely recall being nearly caught by a tall and scrawny figure in red robes. I kept the ladd behind me and the red clad figure seemed at first stalled by my presence, commenting to the boy about his whisp of a guardian being no match for his magic. There were also references to spirit and ghost, but that made no sense to me at the time. Sure I have always been pale and with silvery gray hair, but I was as solid as any other Human girl.
I remember him shooting bolts of pure energy from his fingertips, just as I recall being struck by that energy. Yet it was as illusion and caused me no discomfort, rather I felt somewhat invigorated. So much so that as he approached nearer and I saw the fire of hatred in his eyes, my fear turned to something else. Whether it be anger, rage, concern for my new friend; I know not. But i felt a release then saw a tremendous burst of energy strike the red robed villain, engulfing him. I thank the good Mancier that someone had intervened on our behalf, but i felt drained and soon fell to the ground in a feint. The nomadic peoples who surrounded me when I woke said that I was found unconscious with the boy standing watch over me. None others were in the vicinity, and no tracks led to of from our position other than ours and what may have been the red figure some distance away. The earth there was heavily scorched like a great and sudden fire burst upon that area, yet there was no sign of a body and no track leading away. The boy commented that I had somehow protected him, but he was frightened into keeping his eyes closed tight. We never did figure out who or what came at last to our aid. Though he did say I spoke in an unusual language, some words that he felt reassured him though he did not decipher the meaning. Perhaps I slipped into Elvish or Halfling, tongues that I always felt were calming, melodic and reassuring to me. When I offered a few phrases in each he simply shook his head in negative response. No matter, my vocabulary in both was rather extensive and it would take days to offer just a smattering of phrases I knew in each.
I felt clumsy as the nomads worked to restore my strength, in some ways I feel clumsy still. But within a few days one of their camp lead me to some nearby fishermen who in turn, and in exchange for some additional bait and a few pieces of silver coin, took me to a guardsman. The guardsman knew of my caring protector Fahrus Dei and had agreed to carry me on horseback to my home at the Temple. Reunited with my caregivers, I thanked the kind guardsman and awaited my punishment for leaving the Temple grounds for so long and with no notice to my elders (though I suppose in hindsight that asking for permission, I would have been denied). Yet Prior Mansfield and Fahrus both simply embraced me, and with warm soothing tears implored that I never again leave the grounds. Not until I was to reach my sixteenth year. And so I vowed, in deep earnest, to remain in their care until at least my sixteenth year.
That was roughly two months ago, as the exact date of my birthing is ever unknown. Yet as the three of us modestly celebrated my coming of age, I saw the sadness in their eyes that I was soon to be away from my family, perhaps in search of another family. That was as the two others spoke in regards to some supposed prophecy. But prophecies are oft false or with just the tiniest bit of truth within, so in accord to my teachings of Mancier, I hold such speak in minuscule regard.
But I begin to keep record of my journeys now within the pages of this book. Fahrus has told me that all which I record here will be displayed to he and the Prior within a special spell basin so that I will ever be able to stay in contact with my mentors. Be that truth or just a modest attempt to comfort me when I journey away I am uncertain. Neither option would surprise me, both equally valid (despite one option being somewhat untrue an allowance for comfort may be given, I suppose). Yet in my years of research and transcription I have not heard or read of such magic. Granted I have just begun to scrape the proverbial tip of magical knowledge.
At any matter, I now have begun to travel the roads and villages of the good Kingdom of Lomar. I still provide my service at the Temple, for it remains one of my chief duties to bless waters that it may be utilized in any manner of ceremony. But already I have found my way to the Royal City of Kalemon and taken some study within the great University of Segwam. Surprsing the instructors there at the ease of which I expand my list of known languages which now includes Goblinish, Gnollish, Sylvan and Draconic. I also seek to explore an even greater understanding of mathematics and engineering. But I fear that my time is running short at the University. Fahrus has summoned me to return to the Temple, as there is word of my father and his untimely passing from this realm. But there is also word that I have brothers and sisters through my fathers lineage. And so I leave my writing for a while to once again fight the traps and buckles of my plate armor and prepare for another journey. I only hope is that I may gather at least some of the many volumes within my personal library and take them along. Oh how wonderful it would be to share some of what I learned with new family members.
Until I write again...
