Tis funny.. I thought I could just get drunk and it would numb my mind. But going to dome did not help. I left soon after arriving, after what.. three glasses of wine and a conversation with Mori. He was right that an Escort is just a fancy name for whore. But when he asked me what i charged to get on my knees I kept my temper in check... for once. I sense something about him. Violence? Im not sure but i wanted no confrontation with him. Calmly, I told him I do not do that. I have never used my body for sex. I limit my services as an Escort to dinner and that is even seldom that i do that. When the service was first started I decided I would not work unless I chose to and I mainly I run it only. I have never been a whore and I have no intentions of being one.

I told *name unknown* -just- for dinner."smirks" I knew that would steer him away from me.

I think Mori is under the misunderstanding that I am rich from using my body. That is not the case. I have businesses that all are doing quite well. The Boutique especially. And now with the only furniture business on the Isle its picking up quite a few more customers.

"trying to not think of her husband and what he may have been doing last night" I took a long walk through the bazaar and saw quite a lot of Alterio's servants last night. Its not like him to let that many have the night off. I wonder what is really going on over there. I cant and wont go check on my husband. Im sorry now that I even asked Anthony about that visitor. But i was angry at him and at his father. Should have counted to 10 before i wrote back to him....hmm better yet I think i should have counted to 100.

I wonder if he will be home today or will I receive another excuse from him. "sighs shaking her head" I miss him and wanted to go over there last night just to see for myself what was going on.

But instead I just took a long walk and came home.

I must go for now. Things to do at the Boutique this morning so i will be home this afternoon.

Journal Entry, 9 February, Vixen

"she shoves the journal over to the middle of the desk and leaves it open to dry as she gets dressed"

**Finding the strength to write for a short while, Tael quickly begins to scrible in his journal**

It seems I have been shifted, where to I dont know.. but the healer is with me still, though she doesnt seem as happy to be trying to help me as she did before.. perhaps its just because of how long I have had this illness. Not that I have any idea hoiw long I have had it anymore, I have lost track of how long illness has plagued me, things worsen and my mind is now playing tricks on me, day and night blend into one as the pain forces me to loose conciousness. While I am concious I have been told I usually ramble, the healer has been treating me now that I cant crawl away from her with fear of passing on this disease. She has been asking who these people I mention are, she already knows Azorah, though she has asked who lyrias is, who cambria is, who lia is.. slowly and painfully when i managed to grasp my conciousness fully i explained to her, and since then my thoughts have barely left lyri, my darling wife.. I miss her so badly, I do hope she is alright and has returned to the isle.. Bria.. my darling Bria, they she adopted me as her father honestly I now take the role with pleasure, I have heard she is going well with her studies at the guild, she has managed to surpass some of the older students.. how proud she will make me one day.. Lia.. lyri's darling little neice Lia.. I swear that child has a peice of my heart aswell.. I do hope she has recovered from whatever ailed her before I left.. and ofcourse Azorah, that damn dragoness knows more of my life than I do I swear, though I do love her aswell..

** he pauses as a muscle spasm hits slowly it passes and he continues to write**

Well the symptons get worse and there are more of them each day, I now weep blood instead of tears, and at times I even sweat blood, the healer is doing all she can to keep me strong but I have trouble keeping food down aswell, well I better rest once more and just concentrate on staying alive... soon I will recover.. I have to I have too many people in my life that care about me and that I care about, and I must find out why people seem to be so afraid of my brother

*lays the quill down and closes his eyes trying to battle the illness in his head aswell as in his body**

--Journal Entry, 9 February, Taeliesyn Wynterfire.

Dear Journal;
Well I moved into the cave and I am settled, let me catch you up. The cave itself is HUGE.

I had a bit of trouble finding the entrance, but following the directions, I made my way deep to the interior of the island, towards the southwest area at the base of the volcano. The entrance was a little difficult to see at first, due to the dense vegetation but I soon located it. The cave entrance intelf is a large fissure in an outcropping of rocks, sloping upwards and to the left as one enters. Then the slope drops slightly and opens up to a huge 'cathedral cavern' which is utterly beautiful in it's geology. The cave walls must have been formed by the volcano so many centuries ago, and it was more than likely (I dont know for sure, I'm not an engineer by any stretch of the imagination) probably part of the volcano's ancient cauldera from past erruptions.

The largest open space is where Mammon usually sits and where he sleeps. The cave walls are beautiful, but like most subterranean locales, they are usually in shadow. The rock is drapery like flowstone, dotted with a few crystalline formations and accented with columns at one end. There are a few stalagmites which seperate a small area, creating a 'private cove' a little too small for Mammon to fit. That is where my 'room' has been set up. There is little privacy, since the area is open but I must admit it was more than I had initially expected. I have a bed and my own chest for my things. Each of these things has been monogrammed with an 'X.' There is room possibly for a chair but little more than what is here already. I suppose if I really wanted a place completely closed off I could hang some draperies around the columns and create my own space but for the time being I think it's quite fine.

I must admit I was a little worried about where I would be sleeping and what accomodations I would find but I was most pleasantly surprised. He was considerate of my well being.

And so far the work is quite easy. I am told this isnt nearly all his holdings. There are a few pieces of silver which need almost daily attention. But really it isn't difficult. I do think that, for the most part, Mammon simply wanted someone to talk to. He does like to tell of his adventures and loves a good story. I have no quarrel with this, and spend a lot of time listening as I work. He is good company and not at all unpleasant or dirty as one might have imagined a dragon might be.

On another note, I was supposed to go to dinner with Eden Arcane and something went wrong. I was there at the appointed time, but he did not show up. I am concerned. I hope he is all right.

Well, more later.. I have work to attend to...
-Journal Entry, 9 February, Xanthia

Well, it's become difficult to be at ease of late. I received a letter from Jane recently, a somewhat cryptic letter in which she asked many questions of how I am doing here in my own, and how well I believe I could manage where her stay on the mainland to be extended. She spoke little of Paul, the elder or the younger, and simply stated that she hopes for the best, and the man's recovery is steady.

I have debated writing to Da. Jane referred to conditions back home not at all, so I can only assume she doesn't know anything. I certainly hope the damage is not too extensive. I can't imagine returning home to ruins. It would be devastating. Perhaps that's why I'm so reluctant to leave this isle, where things are trifles and amusement more oft than not. Power games to be played, though I do not partake myself. It is of little consequence. Home...there is consequence there. I hope everything is as alright as it can be.

Nathaniel is driving me to insanity. He is bored here, where there are no hunting parties, no court, few real politics, and most of the willing women are dirty and little respected. Not like the prostitutes at home, no...they were classy mistresses, well-respected. The ironies of court life. He's just sore because he caught something from one of them. It certainly serves him right as far as I'm concerned. He should know better than to join in such frolick with women who are not guaranteed and taken care of. Maichen men are more apt to partake in drink, and I wish he'd take to that alone and in moderation rather than both bad habits in excess.

I myself have taken to observation. Nothing critical. Truly, why be bothered with such analysis? I've found some that are interesting to talk to. Chastity, Faustus, Locklear, Neo, Xanthia...there are others. Some of what is said confounds me, but I intend to become learned in the nature of people at its worst. I suppose this is as good a place for such tutelage as any. While the same sort of nature thrives back home, it is exercised in a different manner here. I suppose I shall soon see, though I've gotten a rather generous taste of it...so soon after arriving too. Well, perhaps I'll attempt the experiment again and see if it yields similar results a second time.

The world is not insane. It is almost nauseatingly predictable at times. Which is why I watch so closely, for it is the unpredictable things, however small, that start every revolution. One must be pragmatic about these things, is all. It's not so hard, and it's got nothing to do with being above anything. And I find it amusing that so many are referred to as "commoners" by some, when very few people can ever truly be considered "common" by any stretch of the word.

Journal Entry, 9 February, Hestia fa'Carlin

*she sits alone in the dome, journal open on the bar, the dome empty save for Donk and herself*

Dearest Journal
These are lonely times. I do not know where everybody has gone, I do not know why they don't come to the dome. Has Donk offended the people so much that they don't wish to be in his company anymore? Is there some strange illness that has taken the isle by surprise and has only spared a few souls from catching it? These questions I do not know but I would think that if all on the isle were sick we would have heard something of it. The dome is so quiet lately its troublesome, it feels like there is danger some place although I do not know what.Every person that walks through the door is a welcome sight for my eyes, for these are lonely times and I hope that sometime soon laughter and happiness will again fill this place. For now I will share a drink with myself and wait for others to join me.

*sighs as she signs her name, leaving the book open to dry*

Journal Entry, 9 February, Rosalyn Lovine

Dear Journal,
Been quite some time since I've written, huh? Well, I invited Xanthia to dinner, sadly, I got sick. I have not been to the dome in days ,except for today, since I'm feeling better. I'll do everything in my power to make it up to her. I hope by the gods she isn't angry with me. Her letter seemed to say otherwise,she was actually worried about me. Hmmmm, one of the few people who actually seem to care a little for me, besides Chas. She's practically my best friend. I feel so differently about Xanthia every time we talk, like we are growing closer. Maybe I'm falling in love again. Only time will tell and I certainly don't want rush things. I think that's enough for today. Till next time.

Journal Entry, 11 February, Eden Arcane