::Sitting at the bar with his wine, he begins to write a new journal entry::

My the time has flown by. Just makes you think of how fleeting life is. Oh well, might as well get started.

Too many things have happened since my last writing... I think I'll start further back. Laural and I, before we were wed, we adopted Nikoli, great boy with starng powers... much greater than my own that I learned in my time as town guard on the mainland... such fun times. Gods I miss everyone back there.

::Sets his quill down to take a drink of wine and dip it in some ink::

Then we were wed. I love her so much, but I hope we renew our vows with a priest that is good, not evil... being married in "the unholy light of ezeel" just doesn't cut it for me. Oh well, I guess you have to take what you get... and I have the best in Laural. I love her so much.

::Dips his quill again::

Here she is now. The beauty of an unbroken sunrise, the gentleness of flower and the grace of a butterfly... can I ask for anymore? If I did, I'd be greedy, and I like what I have.

::Taps his quill thinking::

ALterio has been great, although I think he fights with his family a bit much. He just can't seem to get through his head people want to be happy. Placing his mother in the volcano must have been tough too. And the sudden influx of children? Well, I'll get to that in another journal. I grow tired, and I tink I've said enough for now. I'll write again soon.

Love always Laural

Mordred, Journal Entry, Eve of dawning of Month Two

I am to partake, tomarrow evening in an event that has me nervous to say the least. I think not to write down the actual events to take place. All I wish to say is that this "experiment", as Jane likes to call it, is almost crazy. I only pray that it does not go bad, and hope that there is actually someone to hear the prayer.

Some that will be in on this experiment, doubt the existance of such. I, myself, am not sure. I am usually indiffrent to such, but I feel such beliefs may be needed.

Aside from that, I feel almost respected by Sir Carazzi now. That means alot for I respect the man greatly. He had asked me my opinion about a certain thing. I was shocked to say the least, for I know there are people older, wiser and more intelligent than I.

I am begining to feel more confident about myself now. One thing has come to bother me now though...

I thought I had given up on love, but tonight, I found that to be untrue. I found myself the only one alone at the 'dome. n the past, I would have thought something as such trivial. I immersed myself in my music, so I could take my mind off of it. I feel, even just writing it down, sounds pathetic. I have very few men show interest in me. As always, I let such petty problems go, not wanting to deal with them. So, I forget it by playing until my hands cramp, but that is how I deal. That is the only way I know how. It grows late and my lids grow heavy. Until tomarrow night. Goodnight.

-Journal Entry 1 May, Lina

*Looks out upon the waters and scrawls a few lines in her tattered journal*

Too much idle time on my hands. As Lily's appearances are less and less from the estrangement from Alterio, and I have no desire to return to the mainland, I've more to do than lie in the sun and blacken my already-olive skin.

I've lost the ruddy, rough complexion of long days training in the cold, and the sun has kissed me, but what do I care of this? I refuse to accept that these days spent in the sun have dulled my skills. I've worked too hard, too long, honing myself.

I wish not to laze about. Time to regroup, time to think. I cannot be a Knight in an order that has no presence on the Isle. And I have no desire to return to the Mainland. Why would I? That's a vast wasteland, and this Isle has potential.

Alterio..cousin Alterio..hardly a Knight, more of a philandering twit. One I will not ask to join my Order. For there are no "honorable discharges" and no forgivenness if one falters in my Order, while answering to me. I have no desire to kill my cousin when I know he will fail. He always fails. But there are some here who might be a cut above the rest. True Knights.

Time to begin the process of forming my own Order. I've done it before and can do it again. It's past time. I am getting no younger, and this Isle holds exactly what I need to be whole: People to intimidate, power to usurp, unfit to dirty my blade upon. Oh, it's well past time.

I'll send someone along to this Volcano tonight..one that no one is aware is in my employ, to have him report back and tell me what I'm up against.

*Closes her book and begins making plans in her mind*

Journal Entry 1 May, Knight Aemelia Trione

I have been witness to a few more things today. It began when I over heard a few elves talking to Alex. They warned him that he was being sought for death, but not reallt sure of that themselves. They talked of gathering all the elves upon the Island and standing up to Sir Carazzi. Alex pleaded with them to stay out of the matter. I still worry about what I heard there... I talked to Black who says not to worry, but that is my nature...

The next thing was Alex's death, by his own hands and none other invloved in it. people blame Sir Carazzi, who had moved miss Alianna back to his manor. Why blame someone for worring over their baby sister. It makes no sense to me, but then again I do not know the whole story. Miss Alianna is devestated over the loss of her love. I feel sorry for her, really.

I can not begin to imagine what she is going through, to have your love kill themselves in front of you...dieing in your arms. Black was there to console her, of course. He had told me about his feelings for her. But yet it still hurts to see them together. I only want him to be happy, no matter of my feelings. I will not stand in the way of anyones happiness. That is not my way. I indirectly told him how I feel... so I know he knows. After that I felt a great weight lift off my shoulders.

And lastly, I witnessed a very heated argument between Sir Carazzi and Axalon. Axalon blames him for the whole thing, though he was not there when Alex took his own life. Then he turned on the rest of us, after Sir Carazzi retired to his office. Mainly agruing with Black and Vixen.

I fear if anything comes out of that over heard conversation that Axalon would be nmore than happy to lend a hand. But as I voiced my opinion, Black told me not to worry. I am tring not to. But if I hear anything else of it I will go to Sir Carazzi personally with the information I know.I did not today, not wanting to upset him more than he already was.

I was given a job to do earlier today. I was asked to write of the quest last night for the papaer. I had already begun to write it for my journal and happily agreed. I was almost done anyway, so I finished it and turned it in as told. I enjoy keeping busy to take my mind off of other problems. Though I advised Black earlier today that that was not the best way to do so. I spoke from plenty of experince. Well, it is late and I need a bit of sleep. Goodnight.

--Journal Entry, 2 May, Lina Metallium.

~she turns her wedding rings around and around on her finger. her thoughts on Alex. on everthing that has happened. the image of him killing himself running through her mind over and over. she was supposed to be staying at the Carazzi Manor, but she walked the floors to the point of almost wearing them out. and she was afraid of waking everyone. all she could think of was getting to their home. the feeling so strong, she almost ran all the way there. she stepped inside to her home. looking around with sad, sad tired eyes. she moves around quietly. making her way to his study. half expecting him to be there. to look up from his journal and say .. "I am here. Come my angel. Come tell me about that bad dream." he was not there. tears flowing cheeks, she sits behind his desk, feeling close to him here. she wipes her eyes with her sleeve gently. as she pulls out her journal and begins to write~

Alex ... what have I done to you? The pain I feel right now, at this moment. I hurt you so bad. And why .. I ask myself that. Because I thought my leaving would help you. All the prejudice would leave you alone. And you, sweet Alex, you would be happy. There would be no more worries for you. But I was wrong. Seeing you, drive that dagger into heart. Oh gawds what have I done? It may as well been by my hands. I did to you Alex. Ibrought into my life. Into what ~I~ thought, was wonderful. With wonderful friends. All I gave you in return was prejudice. My gift from family. I am so very sorry Alex.

I should have stood up to them. To their words. It is my fault. All this is my fault. I destroyed someone truly wonderful and all because I was weak. Not a true Carazzi that is for sure. Because if I was, you would still be here right now. And my leaving would have never happened.

~stops, wiping at her eyes. she begins again~

At times like these, I always turned to my mother. She would always help me to be strong. But now, I d not even have her. But then, if she was here all I would be right now to her, was just a disappointment. I am not even proud of myself right now. So how could she be? How could you be Alex? Why? That is the one question that keeps going through my mind. Why? Because I could not keep my family happy? Because I could not keep my friends happy?

It should not have mattered. I should been able to shut it out, like Axalon told us to do. But I could not, Alex. I tried so hard, but I could not. Why? I keep asking myself that. Why? All because I had this urge for them to be proud of me? To be happy for me? It should not have mattered. It should never have mattered. And now, it is too late. I am so, so very Alex. I hope you can forgive me. Goodbye Alex .....

~crls up in his chair, pulling her knees up to herself crying~

Journal Entry, Early hours of 3 May, the Widow Giovanni.

::Swills his rye and stands at the balcony of his study, soft ocean breezes making the trees rustle and he relaxes best he can, leaning on the rail, hands clasped before him, watching the waves. He goes inside after a long time just staring at the waters then writes.::

Weather's absolutely beautiful today. Egrets are nesting about 40 yards away, it's their time to procreate. I wonder if they do that solely for procreation or do they enjoy it as recreation? Hmm. Should keep an eye on that, now I'm curious.

Glad my sister didn't procreate with the now-dead elf. He hid behind this false facade of kindness and "goodness." Yet he was nothing but a coward. You "Wave" to your wife when she's brought in right before you, don't even un-ass your chair and go to her? Goddamned wimp..frightened of me. Why? I am merely a man. What's the worst I would've done to him, taken him outside and pounded him? I wouldn't have killed him. I promised Torlin that I personally would not do that.

::His quiet time is interrupted as his brother, Captain Anthony Carazzi, enters the Manor. "Up here" he calls, to let Anthony and the staff know where he is.::

So I kept my promise. What kind of real man would kill himself before the woman he so indeed 'loved'..leaving her with that imagery? Selfish bastard. Wish I COULD bring his wretched arse back just so I could kill him AGAIN. Indeed. Bah.

::Welcomes Anthony and tells him he'll be finished in a moment::

Well, besides my sister now becoming quite a wealthy girl now, and free from her burden of that simpleton, I'm going to see to it that Alex is interred in the volcano. Perhaps his "Sweet and Gentle Nature" will quell the volcano and we can finish our task from our last outing there. So Jane can see if her Uncle can indeed be restored and reanimated. Quite a scary thought, that this isle would possess that type of magic..but something gnaws at me, to find out if this is possible or not..That is, if Jane is even talking to me. I upset her last night and she left. I've not gone to her rooms to see if she's there, because part of me fears she isn't and the other part would likely pick a quarrel with her admonishing her to never leave like that again, and another part of me would likely compel me to make her mine..truly mine..and I will not impose upon the girl like that, not until we are wed. And even then I will treat her like the Goddess I believe her to be..not sullying her with my urges as frequently as I'd like. I am not a barbarian..but would rather present my best face to her..

::Growls as Anthony grows impatient and he puts the quill down. "Alright, glad you're here, but you needn't kill the elf..he did himself in. Aye, he saved you the trouble. Thanks for coming down to dispose of him though, and helping me keep the promise to Torlin..for there is no blood on my hands". He and Anthony then converse at length, and settle in for a visit.::

--Journal Entry 3 May, Sir Carazzi