Dearest Journal,
It is time for me to write again, I haven't been neglecting you, there has just been some terrible occurances on the island and I didn't have the words to say what happened until now. *sighs* Sir Carrazzi and M'lord Calkane are both dead, Alterio by Ben's hands and Ben by Vixen's hand. I cannot blame her for doing so, I hope she makes it through this, it was a terrible loss for her and his children. Bah, It was a loss for the island as well, no matter how I disliked some of his ways or how often he made me angry in the short time I knew him, I know this island will never be the same without him. In one night so many lives were changed, and none for the better it seems. The Elder Carrazi came to the island for a day or so and now it seems as if he has gone again, I tell you the man looked just like him, it was a bit spooky, he even made fun of Attrei's pantaloons, it was a bit touching I suppose.It seems things here on the island will go to being as close as possible to the way they were, I hope they do. I dislike death more than I dislike violence, I hope that death stays far away from this island for a long time. *takes a sip of wine and looks over what she wrote* I suppose that I have written enough for now journal, we will meet again..

Journal Entry, 17 December, Rosalyn Lovine

:: She pulls out her journal as she lays on her bed, again on the Island. She shakes her head slightly and begins to write::

I came back here, expecting something close to what I left... but the 'Dome is all too quiet, Vixen seems...not herself, and I learn the news that Alterio and Ben are both dead? Alterio killed by Ben and Ben by Vix. What in the world has happened while I was gone. I grieve both losses though I know not the nature of what had happened...I wasn't here, none of my business. Though they, at one time, were friends to me.

I truly hope that is all that was bad that had happened...I truly don't know what to think of it all. Well aside from that...I'm glad to be back, in this nice warm climate. I had been traveling on the Mainland for a while now, and just couldn't get used to the cold temperatures. I just have to get used to the changes that have occured while I was away. But that is nothing really, I'm just happy to be home. My time for wandering around is over....for a while anyways. Knowing myself, in a few months time I'll be off wandering once again, only to come back.

Until Next Time,
Lina (Metallium), Journal Entry, 17 December.

I figure it's best I kept a journal, not sure why but it may help me keep thoughts straight. I am not sure how I escaped the mainland nor how I was blessed with my savious Lucenth. The dragon was just there ... in that terrible night. I know that he knows more of this tragedy that he tells.

Gods, how could this happen? They were only actors for god's sake! And they were MY family! I have lost everything but miself. I still have miself and I hope it's a good think. I found miself on this island, I hope it's not the place I will be broken.

I have found a brother here, a man called Attrei. He's been nice to me and I have wrote him a song, for him and his beloved. It's a poor reward but all I could do. I am the Raven, dark skin dark eyes, dark hair. Sometimes I scare miself but that doesn't break my convictions.

I am the one the believes in the power of the verse and in the power of love and forgiveness. Am I fighting the wind here? It's not a good start but I will carry on. Me and Lucenth. Me and Attrei maybe. I have faith.

Journal Entry, 18 December, Raven Nightwind.

*Sits quietly on her chaise overlooking the ocean, a bottle of rye sitting unopened upon the ground next to her*

How things change. One moment your world is turning at its normal pace, and the next its as though some celistial tornado has picked it up and sent it spinning into an unknown oblivion.

M'lord Black, and Alterio are dead.

I shall spare the grave details as i care not to relive them, as visiting the dome has me doing that already.

Most seem to grieve the loss of Alterio, I most assuradly do as well. Though sometimes i wonder why few seem to openly grieve for Ben as much. Oh, i do know they miss him, though to listen to the words in the dome tis as though Alt's name is spoken much more. Is it because he owned the place? Did that gain him more respect then that of Ben? Was all his money an influence? ...Bah, ye see what owning the dome and having more gold then one could spend in a lifetime did to save him...NOTHING!!! He couldnt buy his way out of the inevidable, Death comes to us all and all the money and power in the world cant stop it. *glances at what she has written, and sighs*

It does seem as though from what i've written that I did nae care for him, doesnt it. Or at least that i cared for ben more...though that is nae the case. I guess i just feel that no matter how horrid a thing Bed did, by ending Alterio's life, there must have been a reason..I do nae condone death matches..No one is a winner weather they survive or not, tis a pointless thing...However i was nae there, and do nae know the circumstances of why it was even begun. All I know is i cared quite a bit for both of them. I had more dealings with M'lord Carazzi, then Ben, however i specifically remember times when Ben was kind to me, spoke with me, and even defended me once. I shall miss that.

Alterio, well...He was ever so kind to me in the beginning, as time progressed he became a bit more crass, as most men do, and at times i would have loved to raise my hand and smack that pompus face of his, but...all in all i had a soft spot for him, if never again, he left me with one memory i shall never forget, the one that i will carry with me the rest of my days.....*pauses to remember the ship of fools, being nearly blind, and alterio pulling her out of harms way, and consoling her untill it was over*

I wonder if he ever knew,just how much that ment to me..

Alas they are both gone now, and we must all be content to live with their memories, Mabye they shall both find some solance in death, the gods to take mercy upon them, and allow them the peace they both so deserve.

On another note, i have nae seen Ana is sometime. Tis as though after giving me the book she has all but dissapeared. I still wish desperatly to convince her of our relation, as being the only family i have, it would make me feel as though i finally had a place to belong.

Another bit of news of late, seems that M'lord Eyas and I have taken a bit of new step in our friendship. Tis a bit more then a friendship now. Though i'm nae sure how to classify it. We spoke a few eves ago, privately in the dome, and both admitted to having mayhap more "feelings" for each then just as friends. Oh, ye should have heard me..blundering on with him..i swear i have never admitted to a man that i cared for him in such a mannor before hearing him first...then again, i have never cared for a man in such a mannor period. He does fluster me beyond all belief at times, I pride myself upon my wit, and yet that infuriating little elf seems to be able to send me to the depths of embarassment with but only a few words, or a look. *chuckles at the thought* I can nae believe tis anything more then fate...though he swears he nae believes in such...that gave us this ability to constantly annoy each other (eyas feels i can be a bit flighty at times to say the least) and yet still wish to pursue these.."feelings". Tis odd but i shall nae question it much as of yet. I will just be content to be with him when i can.

I am still having these horrid chills of late...Ros and Eyas seem most concerned with them...and i dare say i am as well, for i do nae know why they are happening. Seems ever since Anna has mysteriously dissapeared i have been aflicted with them, though i nae think they have any bearing upon that. Eyas offered to go with me to find mayhap a shop that could help "cure" me of them, however what can one cure if one does nae know the origin. I do wish however that he would nae tell ros when they happen so much. He lives with me so tends to know of their frequency more then she...and he insists upon telling her every chance he gets...it really worries her.

*glances outside and realizes just how late it is, and decides to take a warm bath before heading out to the dome, carefully placing her journal upon her bed to dry. Settling herself into the hot bath water, and chuckling softly as she see's the cake of soap with teethmarks in it.*

Journal Entry, 18 December, Lady Charquin Clemont.

::sits is a booth at the pleasuredome writing in his journal::

I fear what is going to happen next. Will everyone leave the Isle? I do not want that to happen! I have strived hard for my house and belongings. Not to mention made a few good friends... All because of Ben. Damn him! If he wouldn't have murdered thos people, Alterio wouldn't have died. Then nobody would leave to go see his family on the mainland. BAH!!! I do not know for certain this will happen.. call it a bad feeling.. *sighs heavily* Why can't things be normal again?

::closes his journal and looks about the dome::

Journal Entry, 18 December, Lord Neo.

(The next two entries were within hours of each other by the same author.)

:::After having fallen asleep for a short time on the beach, and waking up in the guestroom at Neo's beachhouse, she wanders to the dome for some coffee, then makes her way back to the Manor, quietly to her Suite, sitting on the chaise she pulls out her journal and begins to write:::

So much loss, so much. I dont even know where to begin. Some dont seem affected by whats happened. Though, I know somehow, they are. Who isnt?

Its so hard being here at the Manor. Uncle Alterio is gone. Its not the same, perhaps, had Paul lived, it wouldnt seem so empty. So...devoid.

I can only hope everything in Achethe worked out. I keep looking for the messenger. How happy I would be to lean down and whisper into Lia's ear that her Da is alright, that he is alive. It would ease so much hurt..so much hurt.

:::she glances at the bedroom, where she has kept Lia, then sets about writing again:::

I miss Ben, I miss Alterio. So many people just dont seem to understand that not only did I lose an Uncle, but, I lost a Brother too. Though, it isnt good to mourn him in public, I do mourn him. He was as much a part of my family as any other. Life here just wont be the same without them. How could it be? It cant. With Lia int he state she's in, so many have begged.."Sleep, just for a little while."..how can I? This child is so much my own. I cant sleep, not willingly. Not until I literally drop will I sleep. I have faith in her..I know she is strong enough to pull out of this stupor that shes in. I just want to be awake to see it. I want to hear her when she speaks.

:::sighing, she leaves the entry unsigned, and rises, walking into her bedroom, changing into a sleeping gown, and gently slides into bed next to the still Lia. Whispering softly as she snuggles against the child.."I wish youd come out of this daze, lovey, and wake up." softly, she caresses the child's hair, and cheeks, again singing softly to her the elven lullaby, hoping, any minute now, to see her eyelids flutter open. For many, many hours she remains awake, until she just cant anylonger, having been awake for the better part of three days, and drifts into an uneasy sleep. Ocassionally, in her dreams, the sight of her Uncle and Ben upon the arena floor invade. Those who know her, know the sights of death are not new to her, but, the sudden, and quick loss of both the men are simply too much. Now, dealing with the child who's lost within herself, she is just too exhausted to continue her vigil. Her arms, never once leave Lia, constantly cuddling the child to her.::::

(2)
::::waking, a while later from her sleep, with a start, she sits bolt upright in the bed, cold sweat forming on her brow. Shakily, she rises, wrapping a light robe around herself, making her way to the chaise to sit in the early morning's light, the warmth::::

Dear Khlamar...what a vivid dream. I dont know where I was. I dont even know exactly what happened. Wherever I was, it was cold, dark, nearly pitch, except for this one tiny beacon of light. And the voice....Ben's voice. How softly it called out "Just remember, no matter what, I love you, Lyrias. Take care of Lia, keep her safe, and all the children. Be strong, for them, for me."...then it faded.

I cant keep this up. Its wearing me thin. So terribly thin. I have to take better care of myself. I dont want to appear some shade of death when Lia wakes. I dont want to scare her.

Despite the much needed sleep, I am utterly awake now. That dream brought me out of my slumber. Lia...she still lies in my bed. She'll wake up, I know she will. Shes too strong to not wake. I know that somewhere in the fog she's in, she knows Im here. I know she can hear the lullaby I sing to her. I just hope it helps her, brings her comfort through all of this. I hope she follows the sound of my voice back to this reality, not the one she's in now.

~Lyrias~

:::Quietly, still in her robe, she rises, going downstairs to the kitchen, having the cook prepare her a bowl of broth, for Lia, and some biscuits for herself, she waits, sipping a cup of hot, fresh coffee. Then, silently, she makes her way back to her room, propping Lia up, carefully feeding the lost child the broth, before settling on the chaise and eating herself. Throughout it all, she just cant shake the dream. The dream of her brother, one she misses terribly. Though, now, she has a renewed sense of vigor, and purpose....the children. For a long while, after she's eaten, she remains on the chaise, simply waiting, sitting in the sun's light, watching out the window at all those preparing for Yule, wandering the bazaar.::::::

Journal Entry, 18 December, Lyrias Dreams.