Black Feather Blog
Artrilla's Journal 1
Tracy Borup
Apr 17, 2017
9th of Pharast 4717Episode 1 & 2
The coals were still hot as I packed up my cooking utensils and my bedroll. Breakfast had been quick, but filling, and I was ready to reach the Professor’s Hometown of Ravengro. I needed to be there by early afternoon so that I could pay my respects and help carry his body to it’s final resting place.
Luckily I had been in Whistledown celebrating the Annual Convocation when Kendra’s letter had been delivered. I’m not surprised the professor had planned ahead and given Kendra a list of places I might be and the times of year I would be there. Being a gnome I thought I was unpredictable, but the professor had learned so much about me and had even shown me how I did indeed follow certain patterns when I traveled. Darn him! How I would miss the way he could always surprise and perplex me.
As I walked I continued to fiddle with the coffin lifter I had made. It was a simple contraption that I’d fashioned out of wood, similar to crutches. But instead of going under my arms, they would sit atop my shoulders and end in two flat squares. I could then bear a portion of the weight as I walked along under the casket. It was ingenious and allowed me to represent all gnomes as the proud race that we are.
What a very long and most interesting day it has been! Kendra has graciously offered her home for myself and the four other pallbearers. It’s a right great thing she has because we have all decided to stay and finish an investigation the professor had begun. An investigation which may have led to his demise. There is a darkness and a mystery here, and we need to discover exactly what is threatening this town.
The companions I have chosen to align myself with are a varying group of amusing and fascinating individuals.
Little Min is the most befuddling creature. He dresses so oddly and speaks as a child might. I didn’t agree that the blubberous councilman who read the will was a “Meanie Weanie”. It was also loads of fun when the others joined in my prank to keep the trunk books away from him. Brilliant! I cannot wait to see his marvelous hair in action again!
Parod, the half orc, is a quiet brute so far. He seems to be quite ordinary, but his eyes did gleam when he held that book above Little Min’s head! I do sense a strong intelligence behind the eyes of the hulking giant however. Will he be an aide or a hindrance to our party?
Lyra’s beauty is matched by her strength. She is as graceful as the gazelles that roam the prairie lands. Her manner seems a little bland however and I worry that if this path we have chosen to follow gets too dangerous, she will sneak away back to the safety of dusty libraries and safe universities.
Marcus fascinates me. At first glance and listening to the way he whines, he appears to be just a lazy greedy human. But as we continued to visit after the service, I was astounded at the tale he retold about how he met the professor I believe he may be an even greater exaggerator of the truth than I! I am sure the 1,000 gold pieces is where his heart lies in continuing on with us. But, I believe he might pleasantly surprise us all.
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