ralph_dnd | the long fidgetty vampire prep

May 5 (Thursday)

We have begun to discuss preparations for attacking Garrett. The oracle made it clear that we need to do this soon, so we have begun to search for magic that will help us. Seamus has made some inquiries for us already.

Kyle approached me somewhat hesitantly today. With his new cloak from the salamanders, he will not be using the cloak of resistance I made for him. He wanted to know if I would be offended if he sells it. As I have sold my own creations in the distant past, I said I don't mind. However, as his cloak and the one I wear are the same strength, I suggested that we trade instead. He can sell that one, and I'll keep my own work. He seemed happy with that.

For reasons I can't pin down, I do feel a little funny now about selling my own magic. When I did so back in Covanion (was that really only last fall?) I was a nobody; now I am apparently well-known. I don't know why that should make a difference, but it does -- as if people will expect more from my work or something. But more importantly, my increased ability is at least partly a gift of Agondre, and it feels wrong to sell that gift for profit.

May 6 (Friday)

Seamus was able to locate a magical bottle of breathing for us. This will help greatly in going into the parts of Garrett's keep that, according to Prolix, do not have air. We have Captain Jorvik to thank for the original suggestion, in fact.

He was also able to locate some healing wands for us, which is a help. This will help to free Liandra to do other things, and give Kyle an easy way to heal himself during a fight. And modah l'ka'asan even I am able to use them, and my ability to move around a combat is somewhat improved in the last few months.

I spoke with Brion tonight using our crystal ball. He said he has heard songs of us, even all the way in Shepford. I told him that we will be attacking Garrett again, and he was very concerned. That almost killed us last time, but this time we will be better prepared. And we are that much more desperate now; Agondre needs us to succeed.

I asked how Shepford is faring. He said the crops are not good, but that they are a little better than in neighboring towns thanks to the blessing for growth that Liandra said over the land in the fall. It's going to be a lean year, though, at least judging by the barley crop.

It seems strange to me that I currently have more wealth than my entire family had ever seen a year ago, and yet there is little I can do with that to feed the people of Shepford. I've thought about sending money, or perhaps sneaking in in the dead of night and leaving some for Brion to distribute, but I don't know if it would make any difference. They can't eat gold. And Shepford is just one of hundreds of towns like it in the empire. For all that I'm apparently "somebody" now, I'm still pretty powerless to do the things that really matter. We must succeed against Garrett this time, else we will never bring healing to the land.

May 7 (Saturday)

Today is the day that we were told Turok's new armor would be ready, and funds from Lord Marius arrived in Oakhame yesterday, so today we returned to Thoracis. Liandra led us there through the magical trees; I still marvel at the peaceful feel of that. She says it takes seconds, but it feels like minutes or even hours to me. Hrolf says I'm crazy and that if it were really hours we'd be hungry when we came out. I think Hrolf has been enjoying the plentiful game in Oakhame; it's amazing how much such a little guy can eat.

Turok's new armor looks impressive, and the fit was actually pretty good. It took the armorer less than an hour to make the final adjustments. While Turok was getting fitted I browsed a nearby trinkets shop, finding some lovely jewelry and a magical broach that absorbs the kind of missiles I can conjure. That will be helpful for one of us in the fight against Melisande, so I bought it.

Hrolf is trying to encourage me about that fight. Garrett and Melisande have beaten us once, and now we know more about them and vice versa. We will probably not surprise them, but by the same token we know some of their tricks now. And we are stronger than we were. And we now know that we must do this now; we are not grudgingly going along with Prolix's scheme but doing it for our own reasons. I think this time we will be able to prevail.

But I told Hrolf I still want him to stay behind while we do it. He's not happy about that, saying that his place is by my side. It is, but I'm sure that Melisande would just love to kill him for spite. And there's that airless space. I think he understands, deep down, that I'm right, but he doesn't want to admit it.

There is also another reason. If we fail, someone needs to tell the people who need to know. We've both felt the difference in our bond between merely being out of range and being truly separated. If I die (or worse), he'll know. I'm sure of it.

May 8 (Sunday)

Seamus was able to locate a wand of restoration for us. That's great! I mean, it's sad that we will probably need that in the fight with Garrett, as it's expensive and blood drain is sacry, but I'm glad to have it.

I spoke with Tobin today via the crystal ball. I think I startled him, poor thing; he seemed confused at first and I think he was talking to himself in his native language. I forgot that he hasn't seen us communicate in that way.

He said that the fighting around Cardior is bad, but it's not from the armies fighting each other. It's the monsters. It sounds like it is time for us to attempt more healing of Agondre. The time between these attempts is diminishing.

Tobin is working in a hospital, and it's clear he's making a real difference there. I think he might be the senior-most healer in his group. He's grown so much since we first met! I'm really proud of him.

May 9 (Monday)

Today we returned to Taelyn for Charlos' sword, tree-walking there and teleporting home as has become our norm. I invited Charlos to dwell in my body for the trips.

Today was the first time I have seen Charlos really smile. When he picked up his sword and could pick it up, it was as if the full light of Pelor was eminating from his face. He said that now he is ready to slay vampires, and particularly the one who has brought ruin to Agondre. Having seen his practice swings, I fully believe he will do just that.

May 11 (Wednesday)

Yesterday some of us went to Kozel'sk, where I was able to locate some rings into which I can place spells to be triggered. I set them up to counter Melisande's attempts to dispel our magics. She will not knock down our magic quite so easily this time as last.

While we were there Liandra and Kyle scoured markets for garlic. Back in Oakhame, we have been carving sturdy stakes of markorl. And we have managed to find some holy water as well. We have gathered everything we can and made our plans; tomorrow is the day we attack. At high noon, just in case they are tempted to flee.

I told Hrolf we'll be gone no more than an hour. He said "darn straight" and muttered something about a curfew.