I am not one to dwell on what might have been. The gift, or curse of regret has never visited me strongly.

When I found myself washed up on the shore of this strange island, I could not sit and bemoan my fate. Even with only my Tiger Fang Knuckle and bow, I resolved to make the best of this new situation, even should it be brutal and short. I saw a dragon fly above me, and new my immediate peril to be very real.

Fleeing the beach for a rise where I could see more of my surroundings, I beheld a boat out on the ocean. Using every bit of my sight, I beheld what appeared to be a small wedding ceremony, which by my observations later proved to be the union of the mysterious Lady Xanthia and her new husband Eden. After the ceremony, I trailed the party to the local tavern, the Pleasuredome. Being without money and dressed yet in my sea-salt ridden clothes, I expected to be turned away.

I was surprised when I was greeted by the bartender, a monstrous horned beast out of my nightmares! In a gruff voice, he spoke to me, welcoming me to the place, but I instead melted into shadows to observe the goings-on and learn more of this land.

The tiny party was joyful over the ceremony, and their warm love has led me to believe that there are at least some who walk the path of Light here. The lady Xanthia even offered me some of the wedding cake, which both cheered me for her kind offer (of course, I thanked her properly for it) and chastened me for my sloppy stealth skills. I must work on it in the future...but I have learned much. Perhaps I must do more investigating in the shops below and these strange Guildhalls, for I will need allies if I hope to survive here...
-Journal Entry 29 June, Piper Barrett

*In a tattered, battered old journal, a page is turned and a small entry is written*

"The newcomers, it's true what the Sandpaper says, they're coming in droves.." *looks down at the discarded, crumpled copy she picked up in the alley of the Bazaar* "..and they're not just coming in by ship or dragon. No, I saw one drift ashore, riding in a wave. I was in the dunes, and he looked so tired, so lifeless at first, as so many have arrived, but I could see his chest rise and fall.. I wanted to try to help but the Auxiliary Guard were out.. they always mock and taunt me because.." *glances away from the page and huddles closer to the cave wall in response to footsteps outside* "..I'm defective. I gather that they plucked him from the wet sand and showed him to the registrar's. Unlike what they did to me, throwing broken shells at me to chase me away, and when I hid, looking for me, that one guard, Lawrence, trying to sell me to the dockmaster into 'servicing the sailors'.

But I've stayed out of sight as often as I can, and I'm surviving. I wouldn't have back in the homeland.

"Last night when out searching for food, I could hear the sounds of laughter and merriment inside that..place, the place I dare not enter. I did peek inside the back door, Donk is always very nice, he hasn't tried to mock me or beat me, and he even leaves me some of the more edible leftovers at the back door sometimes..Donk has a kind heart.. but I saw him again, the beached one, just for a fleeting moment. It seemed that he was trying to make himself invisible..as invisible as I wish I could be.

"I hope he finds life here to be kind and prosperous, unlike what I've found. Maybe one day things will change.."

-Audrina
-Journal Entry 29 June, Audrina

Sat Jun 29 03:38:55 2002 172.142.103.144 It has been three days since my initial arrival on this island, three days which may have been wasted. I can't help but ask myself, "Why am I here?"

Why am I here? Knowledge. I am here to continue my craft, and hopefully advance in my skill in. I have already found this island's library, though it is lacking in books that would be of benefit to me. There is nothing much else for me here...or so I tell myself.

A home. Another thing I've searched for. Will I find one here? Doubtful. Though I have a strange premonition that I might just find life comfortable here...that my search for a home might end here. So I will stay. How much longer? Of that I am uncertain. I have visited the main attraction of this island, a "Pleasuredome" every evening. Twice I found it empty, though when some of the colonists did arrive for a drink, it became quite...bothersome. Two colonists have attempted to speak to me. I suppose that's to be expected, but it is still somewhat annoying. Both seemed fond of conversation...there doesn't seem to be anyone who just revels in silence.

There is nothing more to write, so it is here I stop my writing. Until next time,

~Tobias
-Journal Entry 29 June, Tobias

I set pen to paper this morn, something I fear I've not done in overly long. I apologize, old friend...I've simply not been of a heart to write. Even now, a voice at the back of my mind scream out to me the pointlessness of this very writing...

*The Elf sighs.*

I suppose that I've not much reason to write, after all...I should be getting back to prose and poems, at any rate. When I've something to write and the hear to write it, then you shall have some new, wet ink in you. Until then, slán go fóill...

Sylver
-Journal Entry 30 June, Sylver

Xanthia Journal Sun Jun 30 19:43:05 2002 12.217.14.155 Dear Journal;

Just a moment before Eden gets home and we... well.. go back to being a married couple. Yes, we married. I am happier than I have ever been.

The ceremony was beautiful. He spoke to me from his heart and promised to love me for all of his life. And I did the same. I have made a decision. I will not out live him, should it come to that. I dont wish to be without him. Unless there is an issue of children and who would care for them should both parents die, I will be united with him always, even in death.

I love him. He was so tender with me and so loving. I could never love another. Oh I think I hear the door.. It must be him.... I will write more later perhaps..

Xanthia
-Journal Entry 30 June, Xanthia