From ToEE

The Paths of Life Extracts from the Journal of Zakhiya, Elvish Mystic.

Day 18,000

Father James has asked me to ensure that Brother Vladimir doesn't get himself into too much trouble as he is determined to go off adventuring. I don't know why he needs to go into the wider world to adventure. There are more adventures in the mind than one can imagine. I don't know why I am being asked to baby sit a human when I had just about figured out the solution to the amazing puzzle, but one cannot disobey direct orders from their superiors.

I followed Brother Vladimir to a nearby village and watched him recruit two half orcs. I was surprised at his gumption, but I keep forgetting that humans are such impulsive creatures. He booked himself into a nearby inn and then approached a nervous and fanactical Paladin. An exotic ranger (she could almost be an elf but doesn't have the correct impassive facial expressions and fine ears) was sitting nearby trying to appear aloof, but looking as if she had sat in some sewerage. A charcoaled Druid also appeared, picking bits of burnt twig out of her hair. Brother Vladimir also has found a lost sister. I grieve for her communion with the elven race, but our elders must have their reasons. She appears to be another Druid, perhaps I can consult with her on the wonderfulness of the whole.

Day 18,001

Brother Vladimir has found some unspecified evil in a village near by. Strangely enough the rest of his party address me as the leader. Brother Vladimir doesn't seem to have a problem with this, generally following my lead. Just as we were approaching this village called Hommlet we saw some smoke off in the distance. We asked a nearby farmer's wife what had happened and she told us of a goblin raid the night before. Needless to say the male members of the party were willing to rush off and kill all the goblins. We thanked the goodwife and continued on to the next farm to chat to a farmer who had lost a valuable signet ring in the raid, as well as half of his barn. He was quite surprised that we were willing to wander over to their lair and smite them.

I led the party to their lair with the assistance of Jamari as tracker and then inside Ilona showed her true skill. I was most surprised by the end of it that we escaped unhurt and with three prisoners and a sizable portion of loot. Maybe Vladimir has the right idea after all.

Day 18,008

We have smote much evil in the past few days. Many comrades have falled by the way and many more have been greviously injured. I did not expect that I would see so many companions disappear. Thankfully St Cuthbert has been caring for me and I have remained unharmed. I am clearly unsuited to combat and the rest of the party has recognised this and used my skills in the most effective way possible. We have been to a ruined moathouse where denizens of evil (horrid undead) were lurking and have rid it of evil for the time being. We met a small terrified gnome who was about to be eaten by an ogre who, after we rescued him, asked us to go to his cousin's halls in the Gnarly forest and ensure that he was well. The gnome had heard rumours that his cousin had been driven out of his home by evil denizens. We returned to Hommlet to prepare to go to to the halls and investigate. Unfortunately I was called to St Cuthbert's temple in the morning and could not join the rest of the party going off until some time later. When I did I discovered that a small Halfling had already been injured greviously. I joined the party and we stormed the halls. Many gnolls were present and we smote them. Unfortunately several other members of the party were greviously injured and we won't be adventuring with them for a week or so while they recover. I hope St Cuthbert looks after them.

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