Withering steepled paths cross at the crooked bend.
Will this dismay ever find means to an end?
Hidden lurking shrouds of unknown, peek out into sight.
Does honesty shower sins throughout The Cruel Night?

Tell me Lord Blithe, can you cast that miraclous spell?
I wouldn't have known; you know, Lady Agony all that well.
Ironically speaking isn't that what they call insight?
Chambers of light bound, heard within The Cruel Night.

Manic laughter spread with treachery laden muse.
Can we bless the lands of trepidation inorder to use?
Pain center filled with bouts of lustful light.
Can you hear the sounds creeping into The Cruel Night?

Flattery on the contrary, get you no where.
Can all be seen within the calypso stare?
Harmony can be heard playing on the subservial fright.
Won't you beckon out against The Cruel Night?

--Journal Entry, 6 December, Anonymous

::sits down, crying but trying to control herself as she takes her journal out::

Dear Journal;
Well I did something stupid today. 1st I went shopping and tried on this... dress. It was kinda pretty... not too low cut, but the side was slit to the thigh. It fit nicely so I bought it. I went in to the dome and tried it on... and well, the reaction was quite painful. Alterio called me a whore.

I am at the end of my rope and losing my grip. Apparently I am too stupid or simple or inept to manage this. All my attempts at trying to be what I thought would be helpful have failed. I learned the dance Attrei does, and privately so.. no public lessons or dancing at all, so I could hopefully please him. I have not worn anything skimpy, and have tried to be moral, with few exceptions. And I bought this dress ... for him. Well my intentions were naively misplaced. And for this, now I am a whore.

With all that I am I love him. I would be whatever he wanted me to be. But obviously that is not what is needed and I am not what is needed here. If he wishes, I will get somebody to help me pack up the office and I will leave quietly.

Apparently after the next 2 days are up, I have nothing left to keep me here.

::sighs softly, waiting for the ink to dry before closing the book. Changing clothes, she takes the offending dress to the incinerator and burns it. She inquires about some boxes for her belongings, asking for some to be brought up & leaving instruction on when she will need them and then goes back to her room. Locking the door behind her, she settles in to her bed to cry herself to sleep::

--Journal Entry, 6 December, Xanthia

Well it has been quite some time since I last wrote, but I have been quite busy over the last few days.

First things first, Attrei is back. I was glad and relieved to see him in the dome after his return, and when asked why he was gone, he stated that he was simply lost. Well I can only hope he doesn't get lost again...my mind wanders when I'm worried. often at the worst times, and that doesn't make stealing any easier. All cloaks and masks aside, though...I really hope nothing happens to him on his next trip to the mainland, I only recently discovered I even had a brother, and I have had enough of people dying after they get close to me...On another note about Attrei, upon his return, he also offended a few people in the dome because he announced that he had bedded Lyrias. I know Lyr and my brother better than that, so I awaited the truth. He explained it had only been a dream, and it was so vivid, he thought it was real. Lyr has forgiven him, and just last eve I heard Mags forgive him...somewhat...I swear, Attrei is going to get me or himself killed one of these days with his dreams...

Rosalyn seems to be happier and even more relieved than I since his return...lately she seems to be a bit preoccupied with her thoughts, and I can't blame her...though I wonder what it is that has consumed her thoughts such. *looks up from his parchment and speaks with Rosalyn for a bit, then resumes writing*

Well it seems I have my answer...Attrei wants Ros to make the next step in their relation ship, and she does not know what to do....well I wish I could help her, but, as I told her, I haven't had that much luck or experience with things such as love, or even any from of a relationship...hey, it's not exactly easy when you're constantly traveling and on the run...but such is my life.

Char seems to have been doing fine...she has been rearranging furniture at the house. I might want to ask he about paying her a rent for my stay, as it would seem I have nowhere else to go. I'm no longer taking residence at Mags, as I have found that she does nae trust me...I decided that if she does not trust me, I'll not burden her with worrying about whether her possessions are safe.

Oh...I should probably mention that Morte has found his way to the isle...It's nice to see that he survived the incident that brought me to the isle as well....I wonder thought, what it is he truly seeks....

Neo has hired me to do a bit of thieving from Gyanis to get back the gold for the slave he bought from him (An overpriced slave, I might add), which I'm glad for...I tried a test a few eves ago by picking Gyanis' pockets, and found him grasping my hand, and calling for the marshal. To catch me...he must've been quite lucky...then again I have been tired all week, and was especially fatigued that night. I have been practicing my maneuvers and scouting out his shop for a few days now, Neo and I figure that if it's anywhere he keeps his gold, it has to be there, as research into the registry has shown he has no home built, and I don't think him foolish enough to leave it at a camp site somewhere...I have considered if he lives at someone else's home, and have come to the conclusion that if he is living at someone else's home, that will be the next place to scout out...if I have the chance of getting in. Now, I await Neo's answer in when we shall begin the first step....Gyanis' shop doesn't seem like to difficult of a job...though I know better than to underestimate my opponents. Now I have Attrei's help, since he would like to "get" Gyanis as well...this should be quite an interesting job...

--Journal Entry, 7 December, Eyas

:: sits at the small table in her room tears run down her cheeks as she takes up her quill and begins to write::

Dear Diary,
It seems once more I have angered my master It has been so long since I have written I have been so busy with the new bakery and the masters shop and the up keep at Lady Mags and tending the animals.

But at least when I am busy I do not generally get my self in trouble. But last eve Lady Mags saw me smiling at my Friend Attrei and she became ever so upset she said some mean and crule things.

I try to keep hidden my feelings and not show emotion as I have been trained but it seems to grow harder with each passing year I ran from the dome in tears and now I have caused my Master to Hobble me with these dreaded chains once more.

It is not the chains but the silence My Master has not spoken a word to me he came to my room this morn and took down the hobbles and locked them about my ankles and not a word did he say.

I know not how to how to explain to my Master how Lady Mags words hurt me and more so embarrased me before Attrei I can not explain the feelings that race thru me when I see Attrei enter the dome nor the saddness I feel when i must leave.

Lady Rosalyn is my friend and so is Attrei and that is the way it shall be that is the way It must be..........

I went to the dome this eve and My Master was there and still he speaks not I await his declaration as to in what way I will be punished for my rudness of last eve for I am sure the hobbling will not be all for I left with out permission as well as ignoring Lady Mags words..

--Journal Entry, 7 December, Jasmin Rose

CAPTAIN'S LOG: ENTRY 86
Ahh, it has been a long while since I wrote here in my log. My crew has been through the worst of troubles lately...

About 3 weeks ago, the Demonshadow was caught in an unusual hurricane. My crew would not have normally worried, but this storm was different. As we tried to pull out of the center of the storm, the massive whirlpool sucked us in. We felt as if it was the end....all our work, all our riches, about to be literally washed away. I do not know how long I was unconscious...all I know is that we are on an island that I have never seen before.

The navigator of my crew has been spending the last few days searching our maps for this island, but alas, no luck. I do not believe that this island is part of the known, normal world. I decided to explore the coast a few days ago, and was surprised to find a large town full of inhabitants. I have conversed with them for a few days already, and have learned that I was truly right....this island is not on any map.

What surprises me most is that an old friend is here on the island...Eyas. I can still remember the last time I saw him... I was in a prison cell across from him. This silver-haired thief helped me escape the clutches of the King's Royal Guard...

I feel as if I have spoken too much. I do not think my heart is ready to explain my past in writing...but I must prepare it...For when I die, my log must still exist, to warn those like me. I do not regret my past mistakes, but I would not want to see anyone else follow them...

--Journal Entry, 7 December, Morte Geist

"goes home long enough to bathe and change clothes and go back to work, cursing and grumbling all the way home, she stops in front of her home and thinks of going over to the manor and smacking the hell out of that thieving whore before bathing then decides to wait as she goes to her own home and sits down to write while the maid gets the bath ready"

What a hellish day! God damn Syphilis calls me a bitch then runs the hell out before i can get my hands on her. "snarls "she may run now but she cant keep running forever. If she is on this island I will find her. And Alterio, I cant believe that bastard can stand to be around her. From what i hear he would be better off to pleasure himself.

That way..well he pays healers for that but why the hell should the whole island have to be subjected to maybe catching it. And i cant even way what else i was thinking..."makes a mental note to order a 2x4 or maybe a 4x6 would be even more useful to him..and have it delivered to Alterio, smirks to herself"

Anyways Im 10000gp richer thanks to a bet Alterio made and i accepted it. I -only- bet on sure things. He should know that by now. I have proved to him several times that Im not dumb. Men just dont listen then they wonder how the hell they get into a mess they dont want involved in.

Thia made such an ass out of herself last night. THen whinned and cried about it. Well she didnt listen when I told her either. She knows how Alterio is. Yes he has his whores but she sure as hell wont get his attention by acting like one or dressing like one. OR is she acting hmmm?

Well im sure he made himself quite clear to her last night. Unless she is so dumb she ignores it. Hell everyone in dome heard what he told her.

Tried to go home twice last night and a messenger arrived asking me to come back to Dome. Which Val and I did both times, trying to get dressed on the way. It was worth it though just to see what was going on. The messenger said I had to see it, well he was right. Dont think Val appreciated being interrupted though, but he went and didnt argue with me. And we did finally make it home for a few hours til I had to go to the Boutique to do bookwork. But im sure he isnt to mad at me for having to go back.

"looks up and nods to the maid acknowledging the bath is ready and clothes laid out on the bed"

Well I think thats all for now. Im tired and hope a soak in the tub will wake me up so I can go -back- to work, without having had any sleep all night.

--Journal Entry, 7 December, Vixen