An unexpected turn of events

We camped by the hilly road in a less steep section.

I was awakened a bit early (at least, earlier than I wanted, right after sunrise) by Lina. She said, with a gentle yet severe expression: "There is someone who wants a word with you." She pointed towards a set of oaks with a small rocky formation.

I asked if I could have the first breakfast before doing so, and by her look, it was a solid "No!" By her expression, I was sure she was not setting me up.

I walked for about two minutes to meet this mysterious visitor. Right behind the rocks, I found... uncle Cillidox.

He was smoking pipe-weed and wearing his usual green robe, glasses, boots. What Hin uses boots? Uncle Cillidox does. He was carrying his typical green dagger and green pouch. I always wonder how he can go around taking so little. This pouch's fabric was exquisite, way thinner than one would expect, and definitely not leather. Do they get those from green, magical sheep or bugs? His hat was fancier than usual - Darokinian I estimated. Uncle always brings new items from his legendary expeditions. And tales. I loved those while I was a kid... and still do!

He saw my expression of surprise and greeted me warmly: "Son!" and hugged me. He winked at me, "You haven't been putting waiting, have you? I will have a word with my sister if that is the case. You need to be in shape for what comes now."

"Uncle! How much I missed you! But how come you are here in the middle of nowhere, calling me fat, and how do you know Lina so well, and...?"

He interrupted me: "I'll answer all your questions, kiddo, but during the trip. Ah, that is not true, we'll use 'Teleport Without Error,' hahaha!"

"Go get your stuff and come with me. You'll have the opportunity to continue your romance with Lina later, I promise you. Boy, she surely blushed when I asked her to go get you for us to talk!", said he, nudging me on the shoulder.

So I went back to the camp and got my stuff.

Lina said, "Let's not make a big deal out of it, shall we?"

I quickly wrote a note and placed it on her hand.

Pandal's face was full of joy. "Fine, she doesn't like you anyway!" I thought.

I went to Cillidox, he grabbed my hand, and in a blink, we were in the middle of an old forest henge. It was a thick oak forest with no traces of snow - instead, the oaks were starting to show signs of spring. Had I travelled in time, not only in space? The stones were old and covered with green moss and lichen. A huge unknown tree stood in the middle.

"Kiddo, the world is going utterly crazy, and we have several bits of evidence. We are trying to make sense of it all, and I want you to be part of it. Therefore your training will start sooner than I had planned. Before the elves see us here, I want to introduce you to Darabisoz." Then he showed - as introducing a theatre play or a way ahead, using his whole hand - well... nothing.

Seeing me puzzled, he said, "Can you not see it, son?"

Seeing me even more puzzled, he said: "It lies under your very nose!"

"What joke is that, uncle?"

"Okay, let's be quick, for this is a secret place. I'll stop playing with your ignorance. You are an honourable, honest, kind-hearted person, yet not a very hard-working one, that's true... but I digress. You are worthy of the place that lies right ahead of you. Sit with your legs crossed, close your eyes and believe in it, feel it.", said Cillidox.

After some twenty minutes of trying to do so and getting more confidence coming from my uncle - and believing because he's the hero of my life - I saw it, even with my eyes closed: right ahead of us, within the giant tree majestic green gates. Inside of it, dense vegetation, not showing signs of a late winter trying to flourish into a new spring, but a fully-developed, thick, non-oak forest.

I then stood up, walked to the gate and opened it without effort.

"That's my boy!", said uncle.

We walked under this beautiful alien vegetation for about ten minutes before we saw a large pond with several bodies of water feeding it - including one creek that was along the narrow path we walked.

In the centre of that large pond, I could see what was by far the largest gem I had ever seen. Full of shards, vivid in colour and exact in shape. An unbelievable combination of what should be a rough green gem (beeing in the wild, sitting there in the water) with something handcrafted by the best gem worker in the world. What was that?

I could feel a unique, mesmerizing, seducing, almost sweet power emanating from it. With my newly-acquired senses, I could even hear it.

"Magnificent, isn't it, kiddo?"

"What is it, uncle? What is this place? And what alien bushes are those, with these exquisite white and light-pink flowers and sweet aroma?"

"This, son, is Darabisoz. This is our monastery, home of the Emerald Knights." Then he showed me his chest by pulling down part of his robe, revealing a tattoo that resembled the green, enormous, sharded crystal in the centre of the pond.


(OOC starts)
The great tattoo concept came from Chimpman from the Piazza. Thanks, Chimpman!   :-)
(OOC ends)

From Nob's Boots to seeing the spooky Koriszegy Keep

Well, I'm here to tell a tale, that's what this journey and this diary are about. Oh, and songs, I'll write songs about my travels as well.

So I'll tell you about the expedition from Nob's Boots all the way to... well, the first time I saw Koriszegy Keep to the southeast from a hilltop. Yes, from the very road we were on, lying right there.

Ready? It was... sort of boring.

You read right: that leg of our journey was not very exciting - except for Lina, of course. But more on that later.

I'll summarize it for you, dear diary: we went through a thicker oaks forest, two keeps, and one kingdom border.

Riverfork Woods (or Achelos Woods if you like) would have been more interesting in the fall or even spring.

At the keeps and the border, there was this vibe of uneasiness: papers were checked, taxes were paid. I can't blame them, doing what they do and being stationed where they are, close to Blight Swamp and the humanoid-infested mountains. In spite of the general discomfort, I could realize the guards of all three places know Lina and Pandal well.

The stench from Blight swamp, first to the east, then to the south, was more unbearable to me than anyone else in the caravan. Also, I kept my ears and eyes alert, but no attack came.

But hey, I owe you a story or two about Lina and my impressions on the infamous Koriszegy Keep.

From Thantabaar to Nob's Boots (or "It's working!")

As the sun rose, we set on our way from Thantabaar towards the Karameikos border. Soon it will be my first time in Long-legs lands! So cool!

It was a two-day, uneventful trip from Thantabaar to Nob's Boots. We camped where the forest to the northwest gets closer to the sea to the south. We had no problems during the night.

This leg of the journey was not too cold, but the wind chill caused by the sea wind made coats necessary. The good thing about being close to the sea - and having no hilly terrain there - the altitude did not bring extra cold.

The second day of this leg of the trip was misty, giving the sun and its side of the sky an alluring brass colour. Snow came, too late in the season, and very light.

Lina's hair, with those snow dots, became sort of salt-and-pepper, making her even more attractive. The times when our eyes crossed, I realized she thought the same about me. I know for a fact we're connecting, and it feels sublime!

When having dinner at the Inn in Nob's Boots with Lina - and Mr. Roughchest, yes... - I was told that the river mouth is beautiful to see, as is the bridge crossing it. I was curious and excited.

Also, I was hopeful that Pandal would leave Lina and me alone, but as usual, that never happened. I could tell without effort that he wanted me out as well, so the three of us kept chatting, and he tried consistently to outsmart me. I just stayed cool.

Next day, with sunrise, we departed from Nob's Boots towards Rollstone Keep, and I was excited to see the lovely river mouth and the pleasing bridge I was told about.