I had the strangest dream the other night. I dreamt that a little lost sheep came and followed me around. It was the nicest little sheepie, and it followed my crook whereever I took it. I dreamed that it followed me to the bank, to withdraw the clan funds, and then followed me to the casino, to gamble it away.
I dreamt that Kira put a Red Quill signpost in town square, and in response, a tribute clan was formed. That gave me quite a chuckle. I dreamt Malkor wore a bikini. That Txara and Drenn got married.
I shouldn't have drank that sour sheep milk before going to bed.
posted by Shepherd Godsseeker at 18:26 | 0 comments

Soldi, the 24th day of Spring, 543

The Nox Sorora Chapterhouse is almost complete! Hopefully, the finishing touches will be put on under the next constellation. Soon, the Sisterhood will show the town that we are as valuable of an addition to the community as the Monks and Thoomcare, and we will soon be joined by the Knights and the Castle Alliance in having a place to gather. It is wonderful that simple townsfolk can, with hard work and dedication, produce a permanent result from their efforts. Donate your logs and stones, and you will surely be blessed by the Goddess.

 

Almost had a little run-in with one of those brainless Zos that "guard" the town. How dare that lugnut give me the eye, when he can't even keep slugs out of the town, much less greater threats! I should have given him what for!

 

I shook my fist at him to let him know I wasn't to be messed with. I keep Vagile on her toes, you know! Fortunately Mehan convinced me to give the chump a break. They exchanged a look that seemed to say, "He would have whupped ya" and "Thanks for saving my butt, Mehan"

 

I took part in an orga camp raid today. I had to leave before it was completed, but I actually walked away on foot!
It seems there was trouble brewing this time, even without the help of the orga. Now, I was in the outer camp when this occured, so treat it as hearsay. But apparently two Mystics, Zorton and Malkor, had a little disagreement over who would attempt to get the magic stone from the orga magician. The Puddlebean Ornithological Society (a fine and upstanding clan) were eager to get it, with Zorton's help, because Malkor already has three, or so folks were saying. But the Pogue Mahone (a clan infested with rapscallions and jackanapes, for the most part) seemed curiously upset that there was a challenge to Malkor's right to get yet another powerful item. They stormed out past us as we headed in. The word around the camp was that Malkor was in cahoots with the Rude Mahones, and had recently requested an audience with Tenebrion in order to trade the stones he's been hoarding. Preposterous, I said, for Malkor's merely upset at the suggestion that anyone but himself receive a magical item! But the Darkhorse Clan was very upset at him, calling him traitorous, and all of the usual words that the Darkhorsesasses usually resort to when they can't think of words with more than four letters. Now here's an ethical challenge for me- a rivalry between Malkor and the Darkhorse Clan! I don't know WHO I want to win! I suggest that we resolve the situation by sealing both the Darkhorse Clan and Malkor and his supporters into leaden chests, toss them all into the ocean, and whomever surfaces first is the winner.

I really have a knack for cracking myself up. I really kill me! I was out hunting with Nuvali, Michael Aridfox, and Xantcha, when we came across this tree. Nuvali pointed to the cacao pods hanging from it. Xantcha said, "Shepherd, why don't you shimmy up there and get some of them?" to which I replied, "Shimmy shimmy cacao pod, shimmy shimmy po-od!" Man, I had me in tears! I'm such a card.
posted by Shepherd Godsseeker at 23:09 | 2 comments

Day 57 of Winter, 543

For those of you who were not aware, Red Quill's Clan Lord, Aeaea, disappeared about five signs of the zodiac ago. Those in my clan with a prejudice against my faith (who would otherwise be pinnacles of knowledge, and who rise far above the common folk even with that flaw) suspected that the Nox Sorora had something to do with his disappearance. Tonight, the goodwill and benevolence of the Nox Sorora towards the Red Quill was soundly proved, as the Matre Naamah returned to us our long-lost Clan Lord.

That night, there was a leakage of the ethereal plane into Puddleby. Strange blue ethereal worms invaded town, along with astral drakes and powerful undine spirits. The townsfolk made quick work them, I am told, though the continued leakage of aether into our plane is a matter for great concern.

The Matre, being wise in the ways of planar travel, saw in this weakness an opportunity. She called me and my clan to Theives' Island, where she said she would exploit the "weakening" (as she called it) caused by Tenebrion and the townsfolk to bring our Clan Lord's spirit to his body. She told me that my clan's care and respect for Aeaea would be what drew his spirit back to its home plane.

The Red Quill gathered on Theives' Island along with many members of the Nox Sorora. Scholars resent were Xantcha, Michael Aridfox, Kira, Weezoh, Forey, Lunaria, Sleipnir, and myself. Later we were to be joined by Zyzyz, Vagile, Solome, Healery, Astrid, and of course Aeaea- a total of fourteen Scholars! I have never seen so many in one place! The faithful included Sister Luna, Sister Anaeka, Topaz, Thalion, Honored Sister Lilit, and Matre Naamah. Dr. Tessa Malthus came along as well, presumably because of a desire to aid in resuscitation.

Naamah told us a tale of how Aeaea came to her to ask a favor, desperate to contact his close friend Honored Sister Lorian, who was lost to us many years ago.

This is not a common request, she said, because of the danger involved. Indeed, the dangers of the Ethereal Plane are but a puppet show compared to the horrors of the Void.

 

 

 

However, in the manner of many a kind-hearted wizard of yore, his tale of friendship lost touched her heart, and she agreed to his wishes against her better judgement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was Michael Aridfox's perception of a threat to his Clan Lord that made him betray his Matre and call to the Red Quill for help, thus unveiling a trip Aeaea intended to make in secrecy.

 

 

 

I was concerned for the safety of the Matre. I tried to appeal to the Knight's sense of honor, and asked for a vow that the Red Quill would not harm any member of the Nox Sorora. My request was denied, but the Matre assured me that the Goddess would protect her.

 

 

My clanmates started to get antsy, and acted very rude towards one of such holiness. Matre Naamah reminded us all that she was only acting to bring Aeaea back due to the pleadings of the clan, my appeals to her sense of diplomacy, Indigo's frantic efforts to find her friend in the Void, and the love of his sister, Zyzyz.

 

 

We headed to Phloxis' hut, where Michael Aridfox lives, and where Aeaea's body was buried. As Zyzyz, Vagile, and Healery arrived, Luna undid the spell of protection she had cast over the hut floor, and I rolled back the ornate rug. The Matre then bade us dig.

 

We uncovered his body!

 

Aeaea lay there, a lifeless husk. His body had been preserved by Naamah's power but he was not in it. Naamah began the rite that would bring him back. She asked for Red Quill blood.

The blood would form a conduit, she said. I volunteered immediately, along with Xantcha, Zyzyz, and Sleipnir. The Matre pulled out a black blade in a sheath- it was the Nox Calamus! I have never in my five years on this island seen any member of the Nox Sorora, nor anyone else, weild the Nox Calamus so casually. It is a powerful artifact, and it posesses a spirit of its own, a spirit so powerful that most who attempt to wield the blade suffer dire consequences. Even the Honored Sisters cannot hold it without concentration. Those who are killed by it are lucky, a far worse fate is to lose yourself to it.

As she drew the blade, her arm began to bleed. Lilit poured her spirit into the Matre as the Matre began to lightly cut those who had volunteered their blood. The blade is invoked by the blood, and the blood must have some connection to the lost soul, if it is to be used as a shunt from the Void to our plane.

Naamah plunged the blade into Aeaea's chest. When she removed it, his body came to life! Immediately, my clanmates gathered around to soothe Aeaea, and to welcome him back from his trip. All that remained was to ensure that Aeaea brought nothing back with him, which the Matre accomplished with a glance into his eyes.

Her work done, the Matre and her party left the hut. However, as soon as the Red Quill began to filter out, we were attacked by Kojiro! He slew many a member of my clan. Only by joining forces were the Nox Sorora and the Red Quill able to survive the onslaught. The Matre used this lesson to point out that the Red Quill and the Nox Sorora share many enemies, and that the forces who seek Truth must always band together against ignorance and fear.

After a quick clan portrait, we headed back to town for an ale and root beer keg party. Of course, the celebration quickly accelerated into a Lizard Beach Party, but that, my friends, is another tale.

 

 

posted by Shepherd Godsseeker at 00:08 | 3 comments

Another Day of Red Quill Glory

Lundi, Day 45 of Winter, 543

I left the library in the morning and ran right into Xantcha, the object of my affections. She was bored, and desperate to get out of town. Zyzyz ambled by and suggested that Xantcha go in the library and yell for her stepson. She did so, but realized that Michael Aridfox doesn't study in that library! Zyzyz covered her gaffe by yelling an apology into the library, for disturbing them.
While Xan searched for Michael, I bid a good morning to my two friends Slyph and Althea in town square. Slyph asked how I was and I explained to her that Xantcha had given me permission to woo her. I am wooing. I am the wooer. I woo. She is the wooee. She is wooed. Slyph kindly explained that the way to a woman's heart was to be rough with her. That is, she said, how she liked it. When Xantcha arrived, I tried to take her advice, but then Xantcha was too unconscious to be wooed.

Before I knew it, there were Red Quillers all around! Try and guess which ones by the colors of their belts and shoes. That sylvan there is practically an honorary Quill, he merely sufferes from the misfortune of having chosen Puddleby's second wisest and respectful clan.

A bunch of us went on a hunt to Kizmia's Island, but you don't need to see any pictures of how successful we were.

Back in town (not because anyone was too dead and had to be chained there from KI), we went back to gloating and strutting like the best clan in town should. All of the sudden, I was hainted! A ghostly form approached me and began saying a name... Parintachin. A former Red Quill, long dead, returning as a ghost and deciding to haint a Red Quiller! My clanmates were very happy to see the fellow, but I myself was less amused.
The ghost soon took halfling form and the clan gathered in Agratis to learn of where his spirit had wandered. If you were an old friend of Parintachin's, contact one of the quillers for the full dish.

No karma cannon this time. It's best done while you're sitting still, and we were quite busy, what with conquering Kizmia's Island and all. It's so wonderful to see the Red Quill back in action again! People were starting to envy the PM and not us!
Honest to Goddess, there is not a RQ member who I wouldn't enjoy seeing more of. Wait, what am I thinking? The whole town says that!

posted by Shepherd Godsseeker at 16:05 | 0 comments

What a week for the Red Quill, Number One Clan in the Lands! First off, there was a verbal altercation in town square when I strutted about in my Red Quill clan uniform. Y'see, the Darkhorse clan, a clan of hooligans and ne'erdowells, dresses in our uniform in a vain attempt to imitate us and thus gain some of our status and glory. They think, however, that because they chose a RED cloak before we did that that makes our clan the Some-other-color Quills. In the sketch to the right, two members of the DorkHorse clan were making evident their deep-rooted jealousy, while the Soulguider and I sat content in the knowledge that no rag-tag band of jackanapes could ever come close to the glory and wisdom that is the Red Quill.

I'm willing to defend this assertion with my knuckles if neccessary. Y'see, during an attempt to rescue fallen exiles in the Ethereal Plane, I got into a fisticuff with a member of our arch rival, the Dwarven Militia. Ledward Vicious may be one of the most tolerable and amusing members of that clan that once threatened to kill us all, however, I'll tolerate no disparaging of the name of the clan I shall always remain devoted to.

Then, lo and behold, there was an impromptu Red Quill meeting! Over the course of half a day, we were blessed by the presence of Babajaga, Sleipnir, Weezoh, Kira, Phineas, and Healery! We headed to noids with Red-Quill-wannabe Slyph to do battle- and whattayaknow, we cleared the Arachnoid Cavern! All by ourselves! Slyph, of course, helped a bit, but she's got the healing skills of a drunken mystic. Babajaga bricked, Sleipnir keeled stuph, Weezoh gave us Atkus, and Kira, Slyph, and I heeled stuph. Phineas, I guess, just pauped.

Of course, you get that many Red Quillers together and there's bound to be trouble. First, we delivered a devastating six-good-karma bomb to Perkusi. Then, with a "ready aim fire!", we gave Darnok six bad'uns. Sleipnir gave us away by boasting on the sunstone, but Darnok later approached me and /thanked me for the bomb. He knew somehow that it was Slyph's idea. I thanked him for being such a good sport. What a class act.

Then another crushing 6 GK to Lanna! And Olmy! That'll teach them to be so nice! Of course, there was one exile who we were itchin' to bad-karma bomb. The gods answered our prayers, and he logged on. He got seven BK! He probably didn't notice, I guess, because that's about what I'm guessing he gets every time he logs on. Just before we reloaded, he fled back into the library. So we had to spend that karma on Healery, good of course.

All in all, a very successful week for Clan #1. It's been too long since we were in the spotlight as the clan everybody is jealous of. Sometimes we seem like a gaggle of codgers on the porch grousin' about what things were like back in the day. However, this clan is very much alive (even if our Clan Lord isn't- gulp!) and we are beginning to revive the Greatest Clan In All of Puddleby.
posted by Shepherd Godsseeker at 23:03 | 5 comments