The clouds rolled in after I went to my rest after finishing my last entry, (while I slept the whole night away) and they spent quite a while releasing their loads on the whole city yesterday. I faced something of a dilemma: I had to deliver the money to the Guild. In doing so, I had no desire to walk the city without being as protected as possible. But if I wore my armor, there was the chance of getting it damp. So I spent quite a bit of that morning inspecting the oilskin of my cloak, making sure it was completely waterproof. It required a few patches, but no worries. I then kitted up and headed downstairs.

Where I was accosted immediately by a newcomer to the city--one Da’Vane. I remember none of the questions he asked me, because they came fast and thick as soon as he laid eyes on me. His enthusiasm is staggering. He seems to have great desire to be a hero. I found that somewhat puzzling, in a way difficult to state. Treble entered at that time, and he looks a new man. I saw his face clearly for the first time, as he was not wearing his usual cloak for once. He’s also cut his hair and grown a goatee, and sports a new scar across his face. It seems that shortly after I spoke to him on the 53^rd, Tao assigned him another solo quest to Thornvale. It’s changed him, not all the way, but quite a bit.

Da’Vane had questions for Treble, and started grilling him while I noticed Kywyn coming inside and having a seat. Da’Vane bridged the subject of magic, which got Kywyn’s attention. He had quite a bit to say, little of it pleasant, to Da’Vane, about what he perceives as a misuse of magic that most people exhibit. As Kywyn was leaving, he pulled out a pair of tarot cards, confusing Da’Vane as to what they may have meant. Treble hissed that he needed to speak with me in private, but he and Da’Vane followed Kywyn when he left the inn to speak of something. Da’Vane reentered, saying that he “wanted answers.” I told him that Kywyn and Treble are the wrong people to ask for answers, due to their personalities. I prepared to depart for the Guild, and Da’Vane decided to tag along. On our way there, we met with the man whom I ran into briefly when I emerged from the slums. Da’Vane recognized him from the Guild, it seems, and I then remembered seeing him there as well. We continued on to the Guild as the rain became heavier. When there, I left the money in Daron’s office with a note, then came downstairs, said a brief hello to Cassius, and demonstrated my form for Da’Vane. I came back into the hall to speak with Cassius, who told me of a situation that arose with Hermy: he slew a nobleman in a duel, and is feeling most distraught because of it. Cassius told me the nobleman’s son orchestrated the whole incident, purposefully arranging his father’s death. Both of us were sickened by it; Cassius spoke of ways to bring retribution upon the youth.

I went into the stables and contemplated for some time, then left the Guild and headed back toward the inn. I ran into Treble in the market, and went with him to discuss whatever it was he wanted to discuss earlier. We went to an alley and he told me that Tao had ordered him to undertake the mission just after I’d finished speaking with him. She sent him into Thornvale seeking a book. When he returned with it, Tao was most pleased, saying something about the salvation of Garic’s, and also promising him she would tell what it read once it was translated. He told me a little about his past: how his mother was stabbed to death when he was five, his father pushed him away, and his older sister was, in his words, stolen from him by her bard husband. I wanted to speak more with him, but at that point I realized the time and headed for the inn, where I changed out of my armor and into my casual dress. I’d wanted to enjoy the rain like I hadn’t yet, before it was gone. Da’Vane tried to engage me in conversation, but I told him I wanted to spend some time thinking. As I went into the market again, I met NaShae--they’re back from the expedition. Da’Vane had mentioned speaking with her earlier that day, but I hadn’t seen her yet. All the party is well, it seems, and glad to be back. We spoke briefly; she was tired, and I wanted to go to the Church to think some more.

I went there and passed the rest of the night smelling the rain and meditating. The drizzle stopped shortly before dawn, although I barely noted it in my state. When I returned to the waking world, a woman’s voice spoke to me about the scent of the park after the rain. I stood to look at her, and beheld a beautiful acolyte of the Church--long, dark brown hair, laughing, arching brows, brown eyes, and a soft, liberal mouth--Her name is Ard‘Nas. She helps keep the grounds on the park looking beautiful, saying that people sometimes call her and hers “park rangers.” Somehow, she instantly knew me for a paladin, saying that we’re easy to spot. This surprised me, and also wizened me to the fact that I may need to be a little more careful in my attempts to avoid attracting attention. At that point, a dwarven woman emerged from the Church and approached us, saying something to the effect that it was highly unlikely that one of her acolytes would fail to recognize a paladin. She also said that a good way to spot paladins is that “every female novice begins fawning over them as soon as they cross the threshold,” sending Ard’Nas to her duties around the park. The dwarf woman’s name is Mistress Gottrisdottir, and she seems to hold a high position in the Church. She spoke to me of the upcoming spring festival, and I decided that I would aid in it. Before I could ask her for more details, the girl returned, saying that there was a message for the mistress in the temple, which left us to talk some more. We introduced ourselves and talked about the spring festival--I’ll be escorting her, if she can manage to come to the festival with her duties, and I have time while helping with the wagons. I received a shock when Kywyn entered the park and approached us, looking for the mistress. He’s close to the last person I’d expect to see near the Church, which I told him. He told me something about “needing a distraction.” He then left. Ard’Nas and I then talked, stolling through the park some. I told her of Lilac Ford, a little about my past. She told me how she lived in the slums until coming to the Church, and that her parents live there still, but will accept no charity. I mentioned my run-in with the thing in the sewers. I wanted to hear more of the Church, because it seems I still have a lot to learn, but she had to get back to her work. She told me that I might be able to come visit her later this evening, which I intend to do after a bit.

I started back to the inn, but decided to spend some time just watching people mill around there before going inside. When there, I got myself a meal. Speaking to the man who served me, it came out that Weehawk, the halfing I hadn’t realized I hadn’t seen around for so long, was dead. A dwarf guard came to the inn and informed one of the staff that he’d been murdered, and that in a few days he would come drink to his memory. As I came up to my room, a dwarf I’ve seen but never spoken to, Ivan, who was also part of the goblin expedition, approached me, saying that he’d overheard a little. He was a friend of Weehawk’s. I elaborated him, and we shortly parted. He will be missed.

I came upstairs to write and rest up some, and now I’m heading out to

Someone just slipped a note under my door. It’s from Treble. Seems he’s organizing a quest of some sort of his own. I very well may go on it, if time permits. I seem to have many responsibilities all at once.

And now I’m going downstairs.