DethPike's Journal -

>

Nigel and I have rescued a young boy named Jimmy from a cave in in the woods. Bugbears tried to hinder the rescue -were unsuccessful in their endeavor - boy is safe. Turned out to be the son of a soldier in the army of a man named "Bryce" whom is in charge of a town/settlement named "Ambition" - invited me to come to town, will accept offer shortly - sent Nigel ahead to recon in search of Salazar. Dog who led us to the boy is named Winston - smarter than average canine. Will investigate further as opportunity permits.

Bruise on shin healing from last encounter with S - nuisance must be contained before its hijinx can once again ensue. May not even have passed this way. Little bastard turned my staff into cotton candy Must find Salazar before its "amusement" can no longer be contained.

<

end entry

// I see an influence from Rorschach here. I like it.

DethPike's Journal -

>>>

Arrived in the city recently to find a man named Donalian whom I'd met previously and another gentleman engaged with several demons - attempted to assist. More training will be needed before facing these beasts 1 on 1. The woman Nicha was evidently abducted from the scene - Donalian and the other gentleman and myself head to the city of Old Forlorn to retrieve her. After some arguing she insists she's there of her own free will, Donalian leaves and a blue gentleman ressembling a Jin arrives - investigate further - possible associate of Salazar? - the three of us were thus banished to a temple of some kind by Nicha's supposed assailant Asmodeus - the power level of this individual could be extreme - investigate further - returned to Old Forlorn to more insistance from Nicha that she was there of her own free will - seeing no further way to retrieve her I made my exit with the promise to assist further if my skills were needed.

Continued training in the desert with assistance from the woman Jinx and a dwarf we met in the area. Fire Giants were pitiful before our combined might. Must seek high level items before another encounter with Asmodeus or his partner/assistant/lackey - a woman who accompanied him in Old Forlorn. Red and black clothing, did not catch her name.

Continuing search for Salazar amidst latest events seems of secondary concern.

<<<<

DethPike's Journal -

>>>

Met with Peiter of the Illuminados - concern over Desecration Gates and Magoth - everytime a mage sneezes around here everyone assumes the Society is involved. Must find way to make known that member issues are not necessarily guild issues. Explained same - Magoth acts on his own. Peiter seeks Society "protection" from assailant/assailants(?) Declined - flies in face of what Society is here for. Unless it's crawling out of the volcano or threatening the world the Society doesn't care. Can't get involved in personal/guild gripes or greivances or politics. Explained same to Peiter. Society is here to help EVERYONE, not one side over another. Hearing disturbing rumors concerning Halaster's fate and the whereabouts of Don's wife Sasha - will investigate further and help where able/if needed.

Confrontation with Grazz't proved successful but at great price. Tonia performed brilliantly. Have begun looking at numerous avenues to rescue Ian and Starshine from the Rift which is now seemingly sealed, cutting them off from conventional rescue... IF that is where they indeed are. Will seek help from remaining Archmagi, Olorin, and Monroe in determining course of action concerning missing friends. Sure they're fine - tough elves. Still, they can't appreciate Hell as much as Silverleaf... will work diligently to effect rescue.

Latest news from Irae'da is good. Bae'avin seeks to return. Irae'da upset that I didn't pop in and say hello when we were in "town" recently - explained on mission and exposure of family not option at this time. Miss them. Suspect that I will have a surprise visit more sooner than later.

<<<

end entry

DethPike's Journal -

>>>

"Recent conversation with Irae'da seems to have brought her "down from the ledge". Don't know when I've seen her in more pain - Bae'avin's birth or Bae'avin's words? Bae'avin admires and looks up to her mother perhaps to a degree unhealthy for one so inexperienced. Sees only Irae'da's poise, confidence, and power and thus wants to be just like her - fails to see the darkness within the woman that she struggles with constantly to keep in check. Bae'avin wishes to be drow but has no idea what it is that she truly asks for or what that means. Will speak to Ian - perhaps he can help. Irae'da will not speak to her until I do for fear of hurting the girl - never thought I'd see the day. Also not eating. Gaunt, even for her - her physical appearance displeases her despite her obvious beauty - too tall to be drow, too dark to be human - attempt by her to alter it by not eating? Will have tactful conversation on the topic with Bae'avin. Her friends also - maybe they can get her to eat or casually suggest the idea. Wants to be powerful and so starves herself - irrational teenager. Not surprised. Concerned. A battle of wits for which she is unarmed yet she simply may not care. Could prove to be most stubborn opponent yet. Will pack a lunch when I speak to her. Something she likes."

<<<

- end entry

DethPike's Journal -

>>>

The "Lich" plaguing Forlorn City with attacks made an attempt to assault Don and myself last evening. Don saw it coming luckily - only warning we got. It's quiet - appears seemingly from nowhere. As previously it vanished when defeated. Lich? Someone's puppet? It seems not to mind being destroyed, knowing it will only return later. Testing us? Will put the Society on high alert - considering blank page action against creature but want to know more about it, what it wants. will suggest any members approached by the creature gleen as much information as possible from it but also will insist they use caution. If threatened, shoot first. Not taking chances with this thing. Will meet with all Society members I come across and suggest same.

Professor Boople Bobbletoes is newest member and exceptional scientist. Assisted spectacularly with birth of Master Ki and Devour's twins last evening. Suggest any information on "Lich" be given to Bobbletoes for analysis. Capture of creature seems exceedingly unlikely - vanishes when defeated and can do so at will. Suggest cautious communication if at all possible.

<<<

End Entry

DethPike's Journal -

>>>

Recent information obtained from shadowy individuals confirms Vidal is on the move on the surface. Offered assistance to Starshine in Silverleaf, the apparent first strike point, but was politely refused. The Society stands ready to assist them anyway if needs be. Still awaiting word from a miss "Lotus" to complete transaction for the information. The information was good, although they double sold it to me and the elves at the same time - clever. Still, it was good intel - these people may be useful again some day. Offered my services as well from time to time. Could be good people to know.

New arrival of two drows in town has Bae'avin on edge. These could be spies for her grandmother who I can only imagine has been none too thrilled with her daughter's choice of living arrangements or her "abomination" of a daughter. By law all are welcome in the city, which I find myself reluctantly in charge of until a suitable replacement/candidate can be found. I therefore cannot have them removed for no reason, even though I do not trust them or believe their convenient sob story one little bit - they could too easily be spies for House Hun'ett. It has been suggested to me to simply have them "disappear" in the interest of city security. Reluctant to do so - I chair Forlorn City, not Desecrations Gates. The militia and golems are on high alert to watch them as is Bae'avin herself. Confident that the girl can handle them without any help, but I will leave nothing to chance. Irae'da is unaware of them as of yet. I have not informed her for fear that she might burn down the city in order to destroy them. My wife is decidedly not as understanding as I am, especially in matters concerning her daughter.

Tonia's golems are magnificent - they stand ready to assist in the defense of the city. Ian wishes to speak to Tor. Met with the man breifly and informed him of Ian's desire to meet... his response being "Yes, Tor likes meat". My understanding is that the brute gets hit in the head alot. I assume he is stumbling towards Silverleaf in a drunken stupor and I hope that the rangers do not mow him down with arrows on his way in. What Ian wants with him, I cannot even guess.

The city stands ready to repel invaders and also to aid Silverleaf if needed. Have heard nothing from Halasters camp. Unlikely that the demons have gotten him, he's tough albeit a bit unstable I feel. Had previously warned him of the impending danger. Can only hope that he destroys a few should they arrive on his doorstep.

Bae'avin is angry at me over my disposition concerning the new drows. Feels they should not be breathing. I'll do my best to live with knowing that I'm not yet a tyrant.

<<<

End Entry

DethPike's Journal

>>>

As I read through this journal I'm simultaneously impressed and mortified. Clearly Irae'da must have kept it to allay suspicion if it was ever found. That must be it. The alternative is too horrible to think of - she's not crazy, she was just hurt and alone.

Looking over her notes and speaking to her make me appreciate the woman even more, if it were possible. Seems she did alot for the city, she just used my face to do it. As far as judgement calls go, this probably wasn't her best. But I understand her rationale behind it... she couldn't bear to tell Bae'avin what had really happened - it'd all be too real then. Ironic - she had started this whole thing FOR Bae'avin and the girl hates her utterly. It's all here in the notes - pretty much everyday for the passed two years the girl has told her she hates her guts right to her face, unbeknownst to her.

This journal must've been with her for awhile... the back of it is full of crayon doodles of Hugo. Bae'avin must've gotten ahold of it when she was little. It'd be cute almost if I didn't know the venom and hate she now had for her mother.

15 years is a long time, but first thing's first. Irae'da's two worst fears have come to reality - Bae'avin knows what she did, and we've been found by her "family". A man named Cosmos informed her/me that he came face to face with who Scarlett claims is calling herself Sabaiira.... Sabaiira Hun'ett is one of Irae'da's sisters, and she apparently wants my daughter dead. Like friggin fish - Nigel and I will scour the countryside and hunt this woman down. Having been barred from the tower and relieved of the Chairmanship of Forlorn City is no big deal - I can't miss something I never had - and it gives me time to find this Sabaiira. Irae'da says that a little while ago the elves Ian and Starshine offered to look after Bae'avin - Ian told me to keep away from her until this thing is sorted out - my own daughter, who does this guy think he is? - however, in light of Sabaiira's arrival this is fortuitous. I know they'll be looking after her.

Regretably, being barred from the tower and Irae'da's labs is going to keep me from solving Scarlett's problem. Irony can be ironic sometimes. She pulls my stone carcass out of the bay to help her, which results in my being placed in a position where it'll be rather hard to do so. Still, I'll give it my best shot.

The people of the city that Irae'da has come to love and call friends all look at me with raised eyebrows. I don't blame them - it's hard to swallow. Still, it sounds like she did alot of good... she helped form a Society, helped safeguard secrets that she won't even tell ME not that I'd even want to know, assisted in defeating a demigod, and even more recently personally went to the aid of the elves when Silverleaf Falls was under siege - the elves that now fear and distrust her/us.

I'll worry about that later - right now a killer is on the loose and she's got my daughter in her crosshairs. I'll be having none of that.

<<<

End entry