If my last discovery was alarming, then you can imagine my surprise to wake up “today” and find that I have slept for almost two and a half years! How can this have happened?

I would not have first guessed the amount of time that has passed, but I talked to the inn keeper. He informed me that I have slept so long they had to move me to the side. The bear-skin rug that I first used as my bed was needed for other customers. I was rolled to the side, and have been sleeping soundly lo these many months.

My bill would have been more than I could pay, but some kind stranger has paid for my stay before I even awoke.

I feel somewhat stiff, but otherwise am none the worse for the long nap. I wonder. Did the Shimmer Stout that I “borrowed” for that dwarf (and took a little sip of) play tricks on me? Was I drugged? I have heard children’s stories that warn of similar pranks.

I think I have learned something from this experience. Never trust a dwarf when it comes to alcoholic beverages.

In any case, I am still a bit confused. I think that I will sit down and clear my head. Maybe I will feel better tomorrow!

Trivance, older and wiser

I made an amazing discovery today! Although, even the use of the word “today” is misleading. Perhaps I should start from the beginning.

I awoke from my sleep much as I had every day in the past. However, I began to notice some strange things. The people that I see around the inn are not the same ones I remember seeing just before I went to my bed. It is not just that one person is new, but EVERYONE is new.

I went to talk to the Inn Keeper and asked a few questions about the local infestation of animals that I have been helping thin out. My discussion disclosed that the beasts are back in numbers that don’t reflect the work I did before I went to bed.

Both of these discoveries led me to an astonishing revelation. I have been asleep for multiple days. It seems that when you go to bed in this country, you may stay there for some time. You may wake up again in a few minutes, or you may slumber for weeks.

I do not understand how this can be. I must seek further knowledge on this matter. However, I am a warrier. Therefore, I will relieve the headache caused by this discovery the way I always handle all problems. I kill things!

Trivance, of the throbbing headache

I continued my tasks for the locals here in Kharanos. I feel that they are starting to accept that fact that a small female can make a good warrier. They were certainly skeptical at first.

I continue to work on thinning the wildlife in the area. Boars, bears, and leopards are food for my blade. However, I have noticed that dwarves tend to be a drunken lot. On fellow asked me to fetch him some ale called “Evershine”. And if that wasn’t enough, some other dwarves wanted me to “borrow” a cask of another ale from the local inn. If anyone had asked me to return a mug, I would have packed up and moved on again.

Again, dwarves are an odd lot. I was asked by one fellow to take some ammunition to another group waiting up in the mountains. When I got it to them, they simply used the new supply for target practice! Add to this the fact that the group was drunk, and you can believe that I was out of there quickly.

Alas, the day ended on a sad note. I was tasked by some fellow gnomes to retrieve parts for their latest invention. They believe that they can reverse the condition of the leper gnomes with the contraption. I approached Gnomeregan for the first time. It was incredible to see the condition of the gnomes there.

Most of them are just wandering around with a crazed look in their eye. Should they spot you, they attack without warning. They even use some of our wonderful inventions against us. It is so sad.

I had to kill a few of the lepers. I managed to get a few parts. However, my heart was just not in this task. I will finish another day. For now, I will head back to the inn and take a rest. It is just too depressing to see a once-proud race brought down to this.

I have achieved a training level of 8. My heart is too heavy to do more.

Trivance, guardian of the Old Gnomish Ways

My grandmother passed away a few years back. She had a good long life and was getting a bit senile in her old age. When she died, we put her in a pine box and buried her in the community graveyard.

I had always thought that a warrier’s life would be a brilliant, but brief, time of fun and adventure. The first time that you let your guard down, you will end up in the graveyard beside granny.

Some philosophers have opined that the world has changed in the past few years. They believe that we are entering a time when the laws of nature have been twisted in new ways. They must be right!

I was getting very worn out fighting Wendigos. They just kept coming at me. I had finished off two very tough ones when another attacked. I did not have time to rest. I had used my last healing potion. I was in trouble.

I fought bravely. I had worn the creature down to his last leg. In doing so, I had extended myself beyond anything I had ever done before. And then it happened. The foul beast gave a swipe at my body and I lost all ability to move. I fell to the ground like a child’s rag doll.

For a moment, all I could think about was, “So this is what it is like to die”. But then it occurred to me. “Why am I still thinking?” A fog had seemed to come over my mind. When it was clear, I found that I was in a graveyard. I had passed this graveyard on the outskirts of Kharanos! I put a hand in front of my face. My “body” was translucent. I was able to see the gravestones through my arm.

I noticed a glowing, white-clad spirit in front of me. I approached with a great caution. As she noticed me, the spirit asked me what I wanted of her. I choked out some nonsensical reply. As I listened to the spirit, she explained to me that I could go to the place where my body fell, or I could have it brought back to me here.

Surely, I must be dreaming! On the other hand, how would I know the difference between a dream and life-after-death. I think that I must have been so shocked I just left the spirit standing in the graveyard. When next I came to my senses, I was floating along the ground in the general direction of the Grizzled Den.

I decided that I might as well try out the advice given to me by the shining spirit. I worked my way through the cave to where I had bravely fought the beasts. I noticed that the Wendigos did not even seem to notice me as I passed by. It was as if they were not able to see me.

I continued on, until, as I rounded a big rock in the cave, I came to a shocked standstill. There was my body lying on the ground. I could not, until this moment, believe that I had really left my body. As I approached the inert corpse, I began to feel a tug. I started as a small pull. The closer I came to my body, the stronger the pull.

I felt that, if I would only let it happen, my spirit would pulled back into my body. So I gave in. I let the pull take me. Immediately, I heard a sound like a bubble popping. I blinked my eyes and realized something: I had eyes again. The first thing that struck me was how colorful the world was. I had not realized it until now, but my spirit did not see the world as anything more than a shadow of itself.

At this point, I did not have the chance to do any more thinking. I had to fight off another Wendigo. It seems that I was now flesh and bones again.

What a strange world we live in. Perhaps I will live to be a great warrier after all. I cannot yet tell what other wonders await me in my adventures. But today, I have been awakened to wonder!

Trivance, the warrier who should be in a grave now

A good nap refreshes the soul! I awoke with a fresh exuberance for adventure. I continued thinning the population of Frostmane Trolls. While doing so, I managed to snag some lost equipment for one of the locals. It looks like you could keep track of your tool box! Some people.

After I killed a large number of trolls, I was asked to go back into their major stronghold and retrieve a journal. I was not happy to have to clear the same area twice in a row. A warrier’s work is never done.

Having completed these worthy tasks, I expected to be given some meaningful work. I was mistaken. My next job was to deliver a steaming mug of stout drink. I managed to get the still-hot stout to a dwarf in Anvilmar. Would you believe that he then asked me to return the empty mug? I decided right then and there that it was time to leave this area for the larger world.

I packed my bags and started on my cold, snowy march. I had heard about a small town, just a short hike away, called Kharanos. I had managed to snag a new mallet and a better shield from the trolls, so I decided to do some mace practice while on my way.

I entered a tunnel that links the Coldridge Valley to the rest of Dun Morogh. You would think that the local officials would keep such a busy thoroughfare free of hinderances. I was so mistaken! I had to dispatch many a trogg as I continued my chosen path.

It was on this trip that I began to suffer my first trouble with over-loading. The backpack that my parents had saved so long to get me was already full! How could I collect so much junk? I began to sift through the pack. I couldn’t get rid of the boar tusks, they are worth good money. The healing potion might be needed in a fight. How can I throw away my old shield. I could sell it and get a few copper.

This is ridiculous. I could hold more equipment if I just had more luggage to store it in. I have heard of a guild that welcomes new adventurers. I managed to contact one of the members, a young lady named Lyyra. I requested admission into the guild and was immediately welcomed with open arms. It was great to feel wanted.

One of the other guild members seemed to have some extra luggage. A mage called Tufall sent me four bags and sacks in the mail. I should be getting those tomorrow. Thank goodness!

After taking care of that business, I finally arrived at Kharanos. The place is not much bigger than Anvilmar. However, the people are friendly and there seems to be a reasonable entourage of gnomes. I quickly found some folks that needed odd jobs done and began to make my living here. Mostly I have been thinning the wildlife: bears, craig boars, and snow leapords.

My final quest for the evening was a tough one. I was asked to gather some Wendigo furs by killing them in a cave called the Grizzled Den. This task was tough because there were so many of these nasty creatures. They look like a small abominable snowman. With horns! They tend to blow a lot of cold air at you. And their breath! I thought dad had “morning breath”. These creatures are foul.

I managed to finally get enough furs. There was another incident that occurred during this evening that I will talk about in my next entry. For now, it is enough to say that I completed the task, am now ranked as a level 7 warrier, and took a well deserved rest in the local inn.

I am beginning to feel like I am earning my way in the world.
Trivance, newest member of the Ironfist Rangers

Mom and dad have provided a great home for a young gnome. It isn’t easy growing up amongst dwarves. Most of them are pretty ugly to a little person like me. It wouldn’t be so bad, but they are not that tall either!

Anyway, I have reached the proper age to start an apprenticeship. I don’t want to stay at home and raise a family. I have always been a good fighter. Heck, I even beat up most of the boys at school. I have decided to become a warrier.

My parents gave me all the supplies that they could muster and a couple of copper pieces. They sent me to the Coldridge Valley of Dun Morogh. It is here that I will start my journey toward adulthood.

I began my training with the local warrier stiff. If you ask me, he is a bit beyond his prime. He made some rude comments about my red hair and flashy earrings. He even complained about have to train “girls” now. I will show him! But first I must learn what I can from his tutelage.

My first tasks were very easy. I was responsible for thinning out the wolf population in the valley. The wolves seem to be suffering from brain freeze. None of them even notice you unless you attack them. After killing a large number of wolves. I proceeded to do the same with some pesky troggs. I guess my work at home has made me stronger than I thought. I never even broke a sweat, nor sustained much damage, while completing my tasks.

I finished out my first day by delivering some mail to the locals. It seems that even a warrier has to do mundane tasks! I must have been more tired than I thought: I was finishing off some small boars and otherwise running through the woods. I must have fallen asleep while running! I awoke to find myself way up one of the hills and with a face full of snow.

I guess I will call it a day. I have achieved a training level of 4. I will sleep in Anvilmar tonight and resume training tomorrow. I anticipate some long and arduous days ahead.

Trivance, the apprentice warrier