What a day I had today. I arrived on Mistone, odd little continent it be. Port Hempstead be an odd place to get off. No where near anything, so I leave for this town called Hlint, seems thats were everyone goes once off the boat. So, I get there, and the first thing I see is this odd little elf, seemly covered in black sot and white hair. Seems the lad was drunk, cause he was ramblin' on about Banana's and askin silly questions about 'coins in pockets'. Had a bit of a chat with him, but then left him for more entertaining things.

So what I find is this lass in the local pub. She seemed a sweet sort, and was nice enough to buy be a few drinks. Said if I got her drunk she'd dance around in her bloomers. HA! Too bad her ale was watered down. At any rate she invites me on some kinda hunt in the woods slaying beasties and ogres. What a blast it was. Hadn't had that much fun since I got into that bar fight in Vandery in 1407 when I was working for a spice merchant outta Dunslow and used a bench for a battering ram.

Oh, I ran into this Islander in Hlint too. Seems like some kinda smithy. I paid him to hammer out a sword for me that was a bit more on the intimidating side. All in all Hlint seems like a good enough place for now. Seems like there are plenty a fights to get into and enough fine lasses to get this old pirate by. Well till next time.

S.D.

Who: Shiff Dragonheart

What: One Master Swordsman, or someone who knows a lot about swords and how to fight wit'em

Why: Hoping to learn as much as I can about sword fightin.

When: As soon as possible, but not all at once.

Where: In Hlint... Where else?

If there is anyone interested in earning some extra True or some other valuable stuff that knows how to raise hell with a Blade send a reply care of the Post Master in town. He knows where to find me. I'm open to negotation as to payment type, but I'm a bit strapped for coin at the moment so understand if I can't pay right away. I just arrived on Mistone and Merchants don't pay much for guarding their ships.

Shiff,
"That Damned Mercenary"

P.S. I prefer to meet at the Tavern, in case I need an ale to swallow me pride when I hear the price

I can offer at least 700 True for the services of said Swordsman at the moment. Gimme a break, pirates and Mercenaries are not in great demand on the mainland, and its not easy finding work.


S.D.

P.S. I've checked with the Post Master and he hasn't had anyone approach him about my offer. Its OK people... I don't bite.

I don't smell bad either.

It's been almost three weeks since I nailed that ad on the wall at the Wild Surge, but today I got a response from some lad named Pyyran. When I met his he seemed alright, looked like a smart lad, but he was not what I expected. He was... not that strong lookin'.... looked like one a them pansy nobles that think they're all that. What can I do, ya can't pick yer teacher eh? He is doin it for free though...

That dastardly Blue Buttocks. He wants me to go run errands for him... Oh... yeah sure... infront of everyone he's like, "Ok, lets see if you can dodge things and hit me.." But as soon as everyone is gone he's tellin me to find him Fire Agates... ALONE... Ya know where Fire Agate comes from? The Spirit Dunes. Theres more beasties in that ¤¤¤¤ place than in the Pranzis Circus and I know.... I've been to both. This pansy better have something worth learn after all this or he's not gonna have any head...

Eh, guess its what ah get for puttin out an ad instead ah looking for a teacher meself. Oh well... no to figure out how to get them stones without dyin...

S.D. Out.

I finely found them silly stones Pyyran wanted. Wasn't easy, almost got killed, but it was worth it, I guess. I hadn't had an ale in a while and I wasn't feelin to good, but I found a group going toward the Desert and I tagged along. I convinced into leading me to where these stones where, since I woulda been wandering the desert fer days. Anyway when we got there, some horde a ogres er what not was hording the stones, so we killed'em. Then I minded meself a piece a the stone like I was told. Hopefully Pyyran will have something worth while for me tah do when I find'em again. He's supposed to be schoolin me in sword swingin, only thing I learned so far was how to throw knives and dodge... Seems kinda odd fer a swordsman tah do, but 'ey, beggers can't be choosers right? Oh well. Hopefully I'll learn somethin...

S.D, "Mercenary Pain in the A--"

I never saw such a commotion before. I was walking through the woods just wandering about and I find this large group of adventurers just sitting around by the swamps. I tried to give him them stones but I musta done something wrong cause he wouldn't take'em. Any way he invites me to join this huge band and we go into the mountains fighting these huge stone beasts and giants. It was immensely cold up on them hills, but we managed. Seemed odd though...
Well we go out there, up on them hills and beat down some beasties. Learned a lot actually. Never seen rock beasts before but they sure are tough. My sword just bounced off. --NOTE TO SELF: GET A NEW SWORD-- Well when we got back to Hlint I went off to tinker with some armor I found, but I hope to join another group on there adventurers.
S.D

Had another interesting couple a days. I ended up with another group a' adventurers that I found in Krandor. Went into some crypt fer a little girl and had myself a ball. Never knew the undead could be so much fun. We did so much its hard to remember what. With the help of a magician, who I think was a priest, we took on a horde of Ogres, and even some Trolls. Unfortunately we also had some bad luck. Over the course of the entire adventure I perished four times. And I must say I hope I don't have to experience that again.
Speaking ah dying, we had a rather interesting encounter up in the Mountains. First, we leave Hlint tah find this half-lion, half-man critter called Aziz looking fer some help. Well two hunters in our group starts chirpin wit it and it starts followin us. Now I don't know what that thing was, but he was weird. He didn't talk at all, he just mae noises like animals. Well he came with us to hunt some giants up in the mountains which didn't go to well (well all died). Didn't see him after that...
Seeing how I had just recently perished in a rather pathetic fashion (running away), when I managed to get back up there, I found a the rest of me group huddled around a fire with this HUGE wolf nearby... Being me I was kinda wondering why they hadn't killed it, but it was just sitting there looking at us. Then all of a sudden it starts speakin' in growls and barks to two hunters we had in our group and I'm all confused... They're speakin dog to the wolf and I'm just lost... Well eventually one of them hunters says this wolf named Snowmane wants tah learn about the Soul Mother. I'm thinking, "Who in their right mind wants tah know about her? She's mean and makes ya disappear..." Anyway we all head out to go to get the graves of a bunch ah us that died and We get tah mine first. Then all of a sudden the wolf starts sniffin' me... I think he liked the smell ah me feet... Then we go slay some giants in order to get around to them other graves and everyone is all fine in dandy. Then the wolf says I'm am amateur fighter... Oh.... That made me day...
Anyway we get back to this cold little mountain town and the wolf starts smellin us again and I'm all mad cause I just got made fun of by a Wolf... Then all of a sudden everyone starts laughin at me... I'm all mad, this wolf starts barking at me... then all of a sudden one ah dah hunters says to me, "Snowmane likes ya Shiff. He thinks you'll be a great hunter some day." SO now I'm sitting there with a grin on me face and and Snowmane disappears back into the mountains woods... Turned out me dyin four times wasn't so bad...
Well I go tah leave and wind up in Fort Llast when all of a sudden I find out me whole crew is a waitin tah get into some warehouse to buy gear, so I tag along and find some nice Chain mail fer meself, a new blade and a nice pair a rings. I think I drove the owner nuts cause I kept trying to barter the price down with some a me old gear... Well thats it fer me latest adventure... Maybe next time I'll get tah talk to the critters...

What an odd day. I don't know how I did it but, for a while, I was in charge of a small group of people looking for some sort of adventure. I thought it would be simple: take a small group of wet noses out tah bash things, get meself some gold, and have a ball. It ends up wit me having no idea where tah go, everyone gettin rowdy, and two paladins (of all people) showing up tah take over. So much fer me bein a leader... Might explain why I was never Captain out at sea....
Anyway... That was only the beginning of it. We eventually end up in the Hammerbound Peaks Ogre Bashin and such. Well, I've had more successful ventures going up against Orc Pirates off of Roldem... I think we lost two people to the Ogres? Well, that still isn't the whole of it. We end up going into this cave called the Dungeon of the Eye. Sounds like the name of some kind of novel I read once in the Temples in Pranzis... Weird place, full of these huking beasts made ah stone... Well when we are all set tah leave and start walking out... I get jumped by some kinda Ganger... I think someone called it a Doppleganger? I walk up tah the thing thinkin its some guy that got lost then all of a sudden it poofs into this GIANT Orc and starts smashing my head it. I turn and run (and I am not ashamed tah say it) back to the group, and we all eventually kick its hind quarters... It was weird... we had NO idea what was going on...
The rest of the day was fairly straight forward. We went up to this mountain village called Lyn and had some ale and a snow ball fight. Hmm.... still haven't seen that Pyyran though... I need tah get more training in....
S.D

It's official, I hate elves. You wouldn't believe, but I was chased through Hlint and around a house by a freakin' ranger-type that was trying tah smack me wit a stick. Not only that, but Hawk, a annoyin little elf priest in purple armor, blasts him wit all this magic and such so I can't even fight back. them long ears...

Ok, maybe I don't hate elves, but them two sher are annoying. On the other hand, I'm starting tah learn some things. Pyyran (I wonder where he's disappeared to) needed me tah get him Fire Agates fer whatevah reason. Lemme tell ya, it wasn't easy. On the other hand, since I got'em, I been trying tah learn how tah cuts'em into nice shapes. Now I don't have a clue what tah do wittem after I cuttem, but I did notice something. Firstly, dem cuttin tools are wicked sharp. I just dropped one on me leg cuttin a purple stone and it nearly bleed me. It hurt. Secondly, ya needs some finesse tah get them stones tah come out right. Ya can't just hack at them, or they turn tah dust real fast. Also, ya need tah relax the hand when cuttin, cause holdin the knife too hard messes ya up and ya can't feel if the gem is gonna crack er not. Hmmm.... If this be Pyyran's way a teachin me how tah fight... He be barmier then a wormless Canter, whatever that means. I need tah find him... Need tah get rid of dese stone baf'fore I mess'em up.

I met an interesting lass in Port Hempstead. She said her name was Peanut, which fit her well enough. I'd ah thought she was but a little lass by the age of four if I didn't know she were a Half-ah-ling. Funny little folk, they be. This one rather funny herself. She kept sayin she was a tree, when she can't even see over a bush. Anyway, I finds out she be the student ah some lassy named Lillian, apparently she be some kind ah warrior too. Then I finds out she be a master swordsman swordswoman, since there apparently is such a thing. Then can yah believe dis? I ask tah know about her teacher, and she demands I call her a tree. A TREE! She not even be four foot high and she makin' me call her a tree. I did though, can't let me sense ah humor get in dah way ah learnin how tah fight. I wonder what Pyyran would say though... Maybe I can learn somethin from each ah dem.... Hope dey don't mind.

What a day. After a long night of gem cuttin and smashin, I get this letter from Pyrran. He says he wants tah meet me in Vandery, at the Arena they gots there. So when I show up, he finally says we gonna do some combat trainin, no more a them stupid tasks and runnin in cirlces. So, whats the first thing he does? Tells me tah try and hittem. I'll tell ya that went well, never been hit so hard before. He beats the tar outta me.... and I didn't even know there was tar tah beat out... Well, after he picks me up of the floor and I rest up a bit, we start to REALLY train, cause I think he just wanted tah knock me head in first... Anyway, so what he tells me tah do is try hittin him ahgain, so I do. Now Pyyran aint got no blade draw or nothing, so I'm thinking he's nuts tah have be try smackinem wit me sword, but that guy musta had iron bracers on cause hes blocking me sword wit his arms. Never seen that done before. So I try tah hittem, swing wit all me might, tryin tah loose his jaw and such. But he just keeps blockin away. Eventually I hittem three times and he says tah stop. Then he starts talking tah me about being a Striker. Now I ain't never heard of a Striker bahfore, but apparently its what them labelin types call a Great Swordsman (Ah! I made a pun). A Great Greatswordsman... Anyway... Then he starts tellin me about Cole Norseman. Now him i heard ah. My Father used tah tell me tales ah him beatin in the heads a demons fer fun. Now I donno if that be true, but if it is... Anyway, I gonna try and be as good as him. I got tah get Pyyran tah tell me more about them Strikers though. If I'm gonna be the next Great-Swordsman I gotta learn everything.
Well, I did learn some stuff from him today. After he was tired a me trying tah knock him out, he had me pick on a dummy (a wooden one). He just said tah keep hittin it, so I did, as he watched. At first I was wonderin what the heck he was doin, but then he starts tellin me things I'm doin wrong. Like, apparently I lunge when I'm swingin me sword around, and he said I need tah be more balanced. If I aint balance, he said, I can't control my weapon and be as affective. He also said I gots to keep me arms closer to me body, so as no tah leave meself open to attack. I'm gonna have to work on it, but its going to take a while. Hopefully I can find Pyyran again, and get some more learnin in.
S.D

What a day... again... I ran into a group of people out in the woods, one ah which was me mate Gruff and his friend Zergon along with some notables like Rhynn, Ferrit and Tegan, apparently tracking a Drow seen around Hlint (I think I saw Tath among them but I can't rightly remember). Since I knew of only a few Drow that don't try tah knife me, I figured taggin along would lead to some worth while practice. Well, cutting to the chase, we end up in the Brech Mountains. After fightin off some Golems, which I must admit have gotten easier tah deal with lately. Seems them big lummoxes can't move to well, and now that I am more balanced wit me fightin, I can take advantage of their size and hack at'em. Now i can't say I'd have the same success again, but at the time them Golems were on the wrong end of my blade. After smitin them all. We climb up the peaks, and guess what we find... Yeti... They were no match fer us though. Never seen a yeti before.
Anyway, one of the group ends up finding a tunnel leading into some kind of Itthilid chamber, atleast thats what someone called it, filled with Drow... Odd place... Ended up trippin over a trap on the way down... Everyone got mad at me but I didn't get hurt. Anyway, we end up havin tah bash almost all the Drow.. I tried tah talk sense into them, tellin'em tah just tell us what we want, but they prefered tah die... Oh well, I just got tah show them Drow that us humans can kick arse too. In the end we find this huge brain in this pool with a Squiddy standing around in it, along with the ripped up bodies of three towns folk. Seemed them Drow were feedin the brain the folks brains... Weird... Anyway Rhynn made everyone leave... except me... I don't listen much... But I did manage to help her fend off a tentacle trying to get her... In the end I threw a bag of gem dust at the Brain, and the cave starts to rumble. Was an interesting night. I set off to Vandery to practice at the Arena... Need tah keep up with the trainin so I don't ferget anythin

I met a fairly tough gal outside of Haven the other day... Seemed real uptight, but she was rather fine lookin, if I dare say. To bad she's so confrontational. Would make one hell of a wife, bein such a fighter as she is. Had quite a mouth on her too. brainy lasses. They always try tah outwit me as soon as I open me mouth, but oh well. Perhaps I can bring her around. Yeah, thats it. What a headache that would be.

Training with Pyyran has gotten a bit tougher. I'm starting tah get the whole Balance business, and I've been hittin the mark more often now. Pyyran still can kick me arse, but I been gettin better. I can't quite stop Pyrran from taken advantage ah me chargin at him yet, but I'm gettin better. I finally managed tah figure out how tah properly hold me sword. I noticed how I hold the hilt and pommel affects how I swing. I figured out how to balance it though, so it feels right in me hands. Pyyran was proud too, he's happy tah know I know what I'm doin now. I still lack something though... I can't tell what though... Maybe its focus? A goal? Some kinda special... past? I dont know... But whatever it is... I need tah figger it out... There has tah be somethin more then just masterin a weapon... Any fool can spend his life being one wit his sword, but then what? You spend whats left trainin others how to do what you spent yer life tryin tah do alone. So they surpass you, and now yer useless. I won't let that happen tah me. I wanna be remembered as a hero tah SOMEONE... Hell, I'd be happy dyin fer Kinai er Valmara... Even Tath... Atleast I died fer somethin worthwhile... I can't be thinkin about this... Tegan would be mad at me fer talkin like I be worthless, but I need tah find me purpose beyond knockin heads...

I be focusin on me trainin fer know... Gotta keep it up. Pyyran may not be dah best blade in dah world, but he knows his Stuff...

• 1... If you don't know, ask. If you need help, ask. Never be too proud to request help.
• 2... Know your enemy; knowledge will keep you alive. Location, strength, numbers, weaknesses.
• 3... Never rush headlong into danger - a Striker is little better suited to taking an enemy charge than a mage.
• 4... A Striker flanks, and cuts down the enemy. A Striker is like an archer who gets much closer, and hits much harder.

As long as I be rememberin that... Maybe I'll figger out what I'm supposed tah do... But I ain't got time fer thinkin now. Got lots a trainin tah do still before I can claim tah be the best...

And then I need tah prove it..

Believe it or not, I have come to find something I thought I would never find on the dismull shores of Mistone. I have found probably the most nicest people in the world in Valmara Dormin. She's about six foot high, musclular, and (even though she will not admit it) cute. Now for the life of me, I cannot recall where it was I first met her, and I also cannot remember what it was that brought about these feelings but for the past few days, nay weeks, I find it hard not to think about her. Now me being me, I never thought I would fall for any one person, seeing as I am, or was, a pirate, but this lass just bowls me over. She always seems to want to help me, always seems to want to talk to me, and is was the only person I've met since running into the walls of Hlint that actually wanted to know more about me. The other day we sitting in the Inn in Hempstead putting down a few ales, and she asks me why I stopped being a pirate. So I tell her how I hood-winked a Sun Elf and stole his ship, only to sail to Hurm and sell it, and how that got me into the business of Hi-jacking the ships of nasty, dishonest merchant vessel captains and selling the cargo, and of course how that got me chased across the sea by pirates that the Sun Elf was friends with, and how all that caused me to run headlong into Hlint. Still have a bruise from all that. But what struck me as the oddest was that she always smiles when I am around. As if I flipped on the happy switch when I look into her eyes. The funny thing is, is that the more I am with her, the more I tend to think about her. Like just the other day I was traveling with Val, Talia, and some crazy Elf monk named Finnigan or something outside of Hlint (which has gotten very dangerous), and I had to run back to Fort Llast for something. Well when I get back Val is standing in this cute Gold and Green dress talking to Talia. Now as long as I have know Val she has never worn a dress, but there she was. Unfortunately at the time I was mad at her, so I kept my mouth shut and did not tell her how nice I thought she looked, but when she ran into Hlint close to tears I had to go talk to her. She is so nice and all, I have to be heartless not to be nice to her too. I just hope she likes me too. Me and her make a great team, us both being Swords people. She knocks them down like she was the Norseman, and I cannot say that I do not love watching her beat the arses of BugBears with her "Big Honking Sword." She even helped me name my sword. Well, in a way. I cannot say that Vicious is that much better of a name for a sword then "Big Honking Sword," but it least it is one word. Would be funny if me and her got hitched, any kids that might come of that would be born swinging a Great sword. Today got me thinking about some other stuff though, which was odd, since I like thinking about Val. I meet these two Halfling in Vehl the other day, just walking through. They go by the names Ariel and Cederic, who I have affectionately named Blossom and Twiggy respectively. They a decent pair. The girl seems to be in charge though. She seems to go somewheres, and Twiggy just nods his head and follows after her. I swear Blossom could want to go visit the Soul Mother for tea and Twiggy would still follow her. But enough about them. We went up to Black Ice Isle in the north, and I had to make sure those two didn't die. Made me feel important, having to take care of something. Val would never let me do that. She is to strong to let little old Shiff do all the fighting for her. But these two did not have a chance without me. We did quite a bit of mining while we were there. Found Sapphires and Alexandrites in a cave. Sad part though happened when Ariel fell behind and so Kobolds got her. I felt so bad. I told her I would not let anything happen to her and I failed. Almost cried I did, holding her broken little body in me arms. She would call me Mr. Shiff when she talked to me, only one to ever do that. She is like a daughter, being she is so small. Whenever we go out to hunt I cannot stop worrying about her getting hurt. Make me wonder how I would feel if Val fell in battle with me. I do not think I could take it.

Training it seems has gotten mixed into all this mess. I meet Pyyran at the Arena in Vehl only once a week now. He cannot teach me much more since he does not use a Great Sword like I do. But I try to practice my stance and such for a little while each day. Maybe Val would want to help me. She seems to know at least as much as me, and training with her could teach her too. Almost forgot to say how me and her did up our armor this week. Spent a whole day in the Hempstead Crafting Hall trying out new pieces of armor, trying to make ourselves a nice unique piece of mail. I even had to put on Val's huge suit of armor to teach her how. Was nice though. Whenever I can be with her I feel like I spent that time well. Like there is no way I did anything wrong. I hope she feels the same way. I did not get to see her today, and I felt bad. I hope I get to see her again soon. Be safe Val. And save some Gobolins for me.