Last night was quite an outing to say the least. I don't even know why I went, I scarcely knew the other people...I suppose that damn curiosity tugged at my psyche once again. It all began in the Pleasuredome...

A fat man dropped through this portal from above, tried to explain something, but then got replaced by this skinny, rude fellow. He told us we had to retrieve this mirror box from three evil-sounding sisters. He also said it was the only favorable way of retrieving this girl named Mairin, the daughter of another man named Alterio. Alterio, throughout the entire adventure seemed edgy and jumpy, as one would expect from one who had his daughter ripped from him. After this brief dialogue, Lord Neo, Alterio, Jane, Valin (a dragon), and I climbed up through the portal, where we met with the fat man, the skinny idiot, and this other aged elven wizard, who was a much more cordial character. He told us we had to go to this bar named the Black Pearl...a brothel. It had been a long while since I went to one of those, and it was only to find some people who needed a beating. Anyways, we all stepped through another portal and came out right in front of the Black Pearl...

We met this friend of Alterio's named Captain Myth in the Black Pearl, who proved to be quite needed later. We looked in the bar for these three sisters, but somehow we knew they would be hiding somewhere else. I spotted a door behind the bar, and Neo and I distracted some people to Alterio could try to slip in, but was caught by this bouncer. Alterio and Neo had to pay a heap of gold for us to get back there...

In the back, there was a series of rooms. Alterio looked in one, and found two women with a dwarf...and almost got sick. Neo looked in another and found an orc with an ogre...and did get sick. The riot was when the orc asked Neo if he wanted to join them, and Alterio tried to push Neo in with them. Anyways, we then ascended to the upstairs, where after searching two rooms, Neo opened the last door and got struck with a lightning trap. Alterio and I charged in over Neo and met the three sisters, who were plainly Drow. A thrilling battle ensued, with Neo and Jane getting hit hard. It looked bleak for a moment, but then Valin, who was originally too big to get in the bar, ripped the roof off and wreaked havoc. Ben, seemingly Mairin's uncle and a bard Dan then joined, and we vanquished two of them. The third turned invisible and ran off. I saw her with my infravision, but tripped when I swung awkwardly at her. We then found the mirror box, and tried to open it, but to no avail. Alterio then put this pebble on top of it and the pebble fell into it as if it was water...a light

Inside the box, was a strange occurence...we were all there, but they all looked like me...and it seemed that all they saw was reflections of them selves. It also seemed that Alterio looked like Mairin, and Mairin looked like Alterio. We saw this house burning, and I followed Ben into it...there we saw another Mairin, except that it had a drow head...seemingly Mumphra's. Ben tried to attack it in rage, but there was some type of mental attack on us two. Ben tried to cast a spell to save from the house caving in on us, but to no avail...then, in perfect timing, Dan was playing a bardic song of enticement, and everyone gathered to him, and everyone returned to normal appearance. We then all fell asleep, and woke up on Myth's boat, sailing back to Crystal Shores...strange outing indeed...

--Journal Entry, 14 October, Valyndor Lyndrae

*lets out a pained cry and slumps onto her tiny bed simply amazed at what goes on...She wonders why it happens that all the pain in the world feels it must unpack it's bulk in her heart but it seems a favorite game to play with her...The issue with the parents it long overplayed it seems it shant work out that Lia'll ever have strong parents, the few she sort of has bicker at each other about her and leave decisions up in the air, and it pains her more than anything to watch them argue..The daemons and images that wound her in nightmares have been left unspoken for save to Lyrias where she knows it means something, but she's given up being tended as she's watched the grownups yel themselves hoarse and get absolutely no where. Not seeing Mia or Alkane for moons now seems to be killing her just as much as losing Torlin. Torlin's loss brings with it pain she cannot even begin to fathom nor recover from...Worrying for Alterio's children's well being she's kept herself quit and removed and when she asked to be held and cared for by someone who had time it erupted in hubbub between the two grownups she loves more than anything in the world, Lyrias and Alterio...Now the rumors of Alkane and Mia's disappearance, return, disappearance, return make her cry for no reason in the middle of the day. She can live perhaps without parents as long as there are adults in the dome, yes, she can try to move on pass the loss of her brother, she can understand how things don't go well between Lyrias and Alterio, she can ignore her nightmares, and spend her time in the dome quietly, but she -cannot- survive nor will she attempt to cope if her only friends are taken away as if they've no will of their own .Especially Alkane who means just as much to her as Torlin did...Pulling Lyrias and ALterio's blanket around her she cries quietly and wishes for things to heal themselves..*

--Journal Entry, 14 October, Thirlia

~crossing her ankles, she swings her feet, sitting in her kitchen, feeling better than she has in a good two months or better. Her mistakes rectified, fixed...everything immediate in her personal world is well at the moment, however other dangers may lurk in the future. She's disregarding them just for now, to bask~

She's back! Mairin...Gods, how relieved and pleased and just so happy I was to see her there, lying next to me, warm and real and sleeping peacefully. Vixen was wrong...no one died. Well, unless the two Daughters of Cryptia count, but they certainly deserved to die, considering they stole our box and were trying to slaughter us for it. But that's done, and Mairin's back, and I'm only a little stiff and groggy from yesterday. This world can be a wonderful place when it chooses to be.

Some confusion lurks on the horizon. Two questions yet to be answered. "Yes or no?"

Jane Maichen

~she ponders, then grins again, practically glowing with the joy of having saved dear Mai~

--Journal Entry, 14 October, Jane Maichen

*The mermaid, having survived the Typhoon, surfaces for the first time in months. As soon as her head's above water, a breeze slaps a wet parchment on her face, plastering it right to her features.*

"Mmphh!"

*Peeling it off, she sees wet squiggles of ink, but she's used to reading wet paper. She dives in the shipwrecks and seeks little trinkets, and her years in the water have gotten her many a journal, where she's taught herself to read the common language she hears on the beaches. Squinting, she reads the poem out loud, maybe to the seagulls that bob on the waves around her*

"Redemption"

Time wasted, you say? It's all how you look at it
Time spent together, time spent apart
Time's lined your face and you 'misspent it' on me?
They say I'm the shallow at heart..

Proving yourself to me was something you strived for
A constant seduction, all breasts and all legs
You never realized, though, did you, my ideal type of girl?..
One that would never beg.

All I wish for is one who will listen to me
Sometimes turn the other cheek, but stay by my side
Not confronting me at every turn
I should give up on seeking a bride.

My children are my reason for living
The source of my joy and the whole of my soul
No woman should dare compete with or shun them
Or like you, they'll be left in the cold.

*She squints but try as she might, just can't make out the signature. Waiting for the next gusty breeze, she releases it and lets it fly, maybe back to its author*

--Journal Entry, 14 October, Lorell

:::holds the letter Vixen left for her, a frown creasing her brow as she is mixed with so many emotions at the letter, trying to sort it all out,she sits with her journal, to write:::

What has happened? The children gone? The little ones I have watched grow up? *shakes her head softly* What must they be feeling right now? I cant imagine. I suppose Vixen's had all she can take. Im sure Alterio has. I just dont know anymore. I think its best if the two of them go their seperate ways. They cant seem to get along any more, and it seems its harder than ever for them to be civil to one another. Best to go now before the children are hurt more than they need to be.

I just....I cant imagine the Isle without the children. Not hearing Mia in the dome...nor Alkane asking for his marshmewwos and miwk. What about Lia? I absolutely cannot imagine what this has done to her. I pray to Khlamar that they are all fine. Theyre strong children, each and every one of them. But, not seeing Mairin was hard enough. Not hearing her and her Father talking...*sighs*....It just wont be the same without the children here. I didnt even get to say goodbye. I didnt get to hug them.

This will simply be unbearable.

~Lyrias~

:::with a heaviness in her heart, she sprinkles a bit of sand over the pages to allow them to dry. Standing, she hides her journal, oblivious to the fact that Mairin is indeed back, and that the children have not left the Isle. The thought of losing Lia, whom she did form a special bond with, is bad enough. But, the loss of all three children is nearly more than she herself can bear. She contemplates a trip to the dome, though, she knows this late, there will be no one there, simply to see if it still exists. Grabbing her hooded cloak, still wearing ensembles of entirely black color, she thinks it best to go, even just for the walk and the fresh air:::

--Journal Entry, 15 October, Lyrias Dreams

"sighs shaking her head as she looks at the paper, she tosses it aside and pulls the journal over as she picks up a quill"

It seems the paper is turning into nothing but gossip and hearsay, even the supposed news section. :::They "suspect" my lack of care for Mairin contributed to the demise of the relationship::???

That is just to funny. I wonder how much Alterio paid them to print that garbage. Ah yes lets see Im to look after her when i had 4 littler children that needed more attention... and one of those was a baby.. Ones that couldnt dress, bathe or take care of themselves. I really dont remember Alterio worrying so much about Mairin when he disappeared for days with no word to anyone as to where he was. But come to find out he was with one whore or another hidden away some where. He came and went when, where and anytime he chose without confiding in anyone. The children and I left wondering where he was. CHildren asking where their dad was. People at Dome asking about Alterio. The only answer I could think to tell them::::he was sleeping.

Although, I had suspected what he was doing, I never said anything. And after he would return home finally... within a few days I would find out what I had suspected was right. He seems to forget the whores on the dock talk about how much he pays them for services. Plus all the receipts he keeps for the paid services.

Ah yes Im the bad one here. Im the wrong one here. If it lets Alterio sleep better at night blaming me for all this then fine. Plus all the times i sent him notes apologizing to him for whatever reason he cooked up to be pissed off. Notes that went unanswered or when he did take the time to answer then... they were sarcastic and hateful with unbased accusations of things I wasnt even doing.

I replied to the paper about that article BUT i doubt it will get in the paper. Alterio seems to run everything on this Island. He knows about things even -before- they happen. IF he tells them not to print what i said then it wont be printed.

And as far as the quest to retrive Mairin... the ones on the Island that have their eyes open and have any common sense at all should understand after all that I have been put through lately plus the death of my baby just a few short days ago.. I think they know and understand why i didnt go. For one thing I was ill that night. I hadnt been able to eat or sleep since my child died. If Im wrong in not going to help retrieve Mairin then I guess a few people are just to insensitive to understand how I feel.

Now it seems Alterio wants the children separated. I did not make that decision. I wasnt asked by him what I thought of that. All these years Ive let him make the decisions and I abided by them. I didnt want to argue and fight with him all the time. And i learned that if i disagreed with him on anything it turned into a huge argument. And reason for him to take off for days at a time again.

NO im not saying he does not love his children. He does love them. But when he goes into a blind rage and decides to hide away with a whore, he doesnt take them into consideration. Doesnt even take the time to go to them and make up an excuse that he has to leave for a few days to -work-, he just runs out of the house without a word. Leaving me to make excuses to them when they ask where their father is and when will he be home.

Yes, I think its past the time we went our separate ways, before we kill each other. And even though i told him to not look in my direction, or talk to me ..for the childrens sake we at least need to part as friends. The children have been through enough since coming to the island. And yes, Im sure I will get the offer to be at least friends, thrown back in my face. But i think for our childrens sake he should give it consideration.

Im moving on with my life as he is. And there are gentlemen on the Island as i found out last night. Someone that just wants to sit and talk. And doesnt talk -at- my breasts during a conversation. Or oogle other women's breasts while we are talking. He actually pays no attention to the nude dancers.. I found that a little strange after all this time with Alterio who couldnt finish a sentence without looking at another womans breasts or hitting on them, while i had to watch.

We have a picnic on the beach planned. I wonder if he will show up for it. I guess Im to use to the dinner dates Alterio and I planned and the meal getting dumped out cuse he didnt come home. But when he did, he made the excuse he was working. Funny though, I dont remember him selling cheap whores perfume or lipstick. But he always smelled of cheap perfume and had lipstick on him in places I wont even mention. That is when he didnt remember to stop before he got home to bathe. But also, there are some marks on a body you just cant wash away no matter how long you scrub at them. Such as bite marks, nail scratches and such.

--Journal Entry, 15 October, Vixen Blade

*She sits up in bed, awake, refreshed, her exhaustion sated, soothed away by the warmth of fresh sheets and a father's constant love. She pushes silky strands of freshly washed chameleon tresses over one fine linen-clad shoulder, opening her diary with cautious, white hands, lifting the quill with a certain hesitance*

Dear Diary,

Something very peculiar has happened to me. I really don't remember exactly what it was. Details slide from my grasp like mist across glass. I do get the impression that what it was was quite unpleasant. Trying to think on it causes my stomach to quake and my hands to tremble and my heart to pound. I do gain comfort, though, by the certainty that father was there, at times, and I was never truly without him. He never left me.

I remember before it happened. I remember Jane, as Father coming for me at the Grove, explaining to me of Father and Mumphra, and what I must do. Father was frightening me, then. He was acting so strange. And when I saw him, tied and trying to dissuade me from my task, speaking as he would not speak to me ever, I knew I must do as I was asked to help him. And so I oddly had no fear when I stared down into the scalding depths of the volcano, and felt no need to cry out as the heat licked my skin. I don't recall the pain...I simply recall sliding into darkness...then whiteness. Then things are blurry.

I've been told I've been away for some time. Where exactly I was no one has yet explained to me. It isn't so important. I have Father back, I think. However word has reached me from Felina that the small babe, Marissa, has perished, and that Lady Vixen has gone from the Manor. Oh, that poor innocent baby...none will tell me how she passed. It tears at my heart to think she has gone forever, without ever having had chance to live. Father and Lady Vixen must be so sad.

Felina seems odd of late, though I've only seen her once, and briefly. Indeed, only a few moments ago. She seemed genuinely glad to see me, but reluctant to be near or speak to me. I wish she would not act so queerly when things are so uncertain and puzzling. I just wish everything could be alright, and yet I see through my window that there are dark clouds swirling.

*closing the book, she rises as a servant enters to help her dress*

--Journal Entry, 15 October, Mairin Carazzi

I am so proud that my summarization of the events of Mairin's rescue got published in the Sandpaper. It shows that even newcomers are embraced here, something that didn't happen in my old realm. Anyways, things have been good lately, I have a date planned with someone tomorrow night. I hope she shows up...I'm spending some good hours in the kitchen preparing some good food for this picnic on the beach. Hopefully, she'll like everything, and I won't screw up. I really hope I got that recipe right from my mother for that spice bread...

Well, she liked the spice bread. Thank the gods I got that right. And she liked everything else, as well. She had to leave abruptly after a while, but we had a nice talk, got to learn a lot about what she's gone through. I hope I see her in the Pleasuredome later...she's supposed to meet me there when she returns.

I bought the space of beach that I had the picnic on, and I'm constructing a very large house there, funded by the spoils from the outing and a royalty from the Sandpaper.

It's going to be so extravagant...I seem to be moving up here rather rapidly. I hope everything continues to progress as well as it has already. So far, this place is such a paradise, I already am getting a huge home, the people are kind, and I have a prospective significant other. Hope that works out...it's sometimes hard to shrug my old arrogant self. When I was on the boat traveling here, I vowed to start my life over, to change the way I see things, embrace things, and my personality as well. So far, I have been a good man and a gentleman..and that's what this lady seems to enjoy.

Well, I met her there, she came back as promised. We spent some quality time together at the bar, sipping wine and giggling to each other at some of the goings on. She and I are really starting to click...once again, it seems promising. Sometimes, I miss being the arrogant prick I used to be...even though I wasn't really respected, it was so much fun. But I suppose this way is better...I certainly feel better about myself. Thus far, all is well. Anyways, I'm growing tired, I'll write in this thing next chance.

--Journal Entry, 15 October, Valyndor Lyndrae