ralph_dnd | diary

August 28 (Saturday)

Turok was sick when he woke up this morning. The townspeople seem to be recovering now that the freaky cleric is gone, so I hope Turok gets better soon. Things just aren't the same with him under the weather. It's too quiet.

Turok did manage enough strength to have it out with Prolix, though. That was fun to watch from a distance. Turok introduced Prolix to his ancestral sword and told Prolix that if he ever shot at Turok again, Prolix would become more intimately familiar with the edge of that sword. He also chewed Prolix out about the ruined shirt. (Sniffle. He didn't say anything about Uncle Viktor's armor!) It looked like Prolix was trying to cast a spell on Turok, but whatever it was didn't work. He did at least have the decency to mend the shirt later.

This afternoon and evening the town is throwing a big banquet in our honor. Neat! I've never been a celebrity before. (The folks back home do not properly appreciate the resolution of the rat problem, I'm sure.)

August 28, addendum

Wow, what a party!

They treated us to a fantastic banquet, with excellent wine that Turok seemed to like. (Yes, he was healthy enough to drink. One of these days he's got to show us some of that imperial wine he likes.) We asked for high chairs for Kyle and Prolix, and they managed something with pillows. Liandra seemed to be keeping an eye on Kyle all night; I wonder what was up with that. Prolix went off in search of a short woman to spend the night with, but I don't know if he was willing to settle for a halfling. I haven't seen any other gnomes here.

But back to the dinner. They made lots of wonderful speeches in our honor, and after the formal meal bunches of people wanted to meet us. And they gave us a huge pile of money! I've never seen so much money in one place in all my life! A huge silver challace filled to overflowing with silver coins and small gems. I can't wait to go shopping! We met the mayor's widow, Arianna Tungstan, who was overseeing the festivities.

When things started to wind down (very late), most of us ended up at the town's inn. (No sense camping in Colm's wagons now that the plague is gone, after all.) I don't know where Prolix ended up.

September 1 (Sunday)

We slept late. Ok, probably most of the town slept late, but there still weren't that many people around when we got up and had breakfast.

Turok was definitely feeling sick; I'm not sure if it was the plague or the wine. He got better this afternoon.

Kyle woke up green. Actually green -- I'm not using a figure of speech. And he wouldn't let Liandra take a close look at him. We all commented on his apparent over-drinking; this would have been more entertaining if Turok hadn't been outside somewhere throwing up. Kyle was back to normal in a couple hours, and I think only a few people saw him in his altered state. I offered to teach him about makeup, but he brushed me off.

Liandra spent most of the day visiting townsfolk and checking up on the ones who had been sickest. It looks like everyone is almost better. We're going to stick around for a few days; Colm wants to stock up on goods and Prolix found someone who can teach him some spells. I hope to find a mage too (I'd like a couple items), and Liandra said she'd enjoy going shopping with me. I'd like some nice silver jewelry, and it's time for some nice clothes. Maybe while we're out we can find something a little more lively in the clothing department for Liandra, too. She's a pretty girl, but she hides it all behind earth tones and stuff. Bo-ring!

September 2 (Monday)

Liandra and I went shopping today. We found some nice clothes and lots of nice jewelry. I bought a new set of dress clothes and commissioned a tailor to make me a shirt from the some of the silk I bought from Colm. I also bought some more ordinary clothes and another floppy hat.

As I expected, there is a lot of nice silver-work to be had in this town. I found some pretty hair clips with small silver flowers with sparkly centers (stones, but I don't know what), and bought a pair. I think I talked Liandra into getting a pair too; they would look great in her hair. She said she'd have to think about it. I also found a pretty braided arm-ring and some smaller pieces.

I also did some more boring shopping, and went looking for a sorceror who might have certain magic items for sale. No luck on that, unfortunately.

I've decided that it's time to look for a familiar, and now that the plague is gone I think it'll be safe to do that here. So tomorrow Liandra and I are going to go out into the nearby woods and do that. She says she can help me.

September 3 (Tuesday)

I have a familiar! Yay!

We went out into the woods a bit before dusk, because I wanted to find an owl and I figured they'd be sleeping in the day. We found a nice clearing where I could set up, and when it came time to begin the ritual Liandra and Slade backed off so they wouldn't frighten or confuse the owl.

I lit the incense and began chanting, and before long an owl appeared overhead. As he swooped down he started to talk to me telepathically -- I'd heard they could do that but it still took some getting used to.

He said: "I am Hrolf, mighty hunter of the night sky, at your service." He then flew in, dropped something at my feet, and landed on my forearm. "I brought you a chipmunk."

I was a little startled. "You don't like chipmunk? I can get you a rat!" No no, I said, it's ok -- it's just that, well, humans have slightly different dietary needs than owls. I'm not sure, but I'd swear that he was pouting! He cheered up when I pulled some dried meat from my pocket and gave it to him, though. I also said he shouldn't let a perfectly good chipmunk go to waste, so he sat down and ate that too. That seemed to make him happy.

Liandra did *not* laugh at me. I like Liandra.

After Hrolf ate, we "talked" for a little while and got to know each other better. He's a pretty neat owl! He told me about life in the mountains near this town, and about the *huge* bird that almost got him once but he found a small opening that it couldn't get through, and all sorts of stories.

I introduced Hrolf to some of the party members after we got back to town. Colm said something about getting sick of living with pets, but Hrolf said that when I wasn't looking Colm scritched his head and made cooing noises. Prolix said something about how *he* wouldn't want to get a shoulder full of owl poop and he wished me luck. Hmpf. Hrolf has better manners than that! (He did offer to aim for Prolix, but I suggested we avoid that for now.)

We found Turok in the tavern and we had a few drinks together. (Well, not Hrolf.) Turok said he's been having trouble explaining to the tailor what he wants. Poor guy. Maybe I can help him. He's looking for certain colors, and I'll bet we could mix up something with the aid of a spell to show the tailor what he means.

I'll leave my window open tonight so Hrolf can hunt if he wants to.