From the journal of Sir Deimos of Ironhold

Week two, month of the Wolf 1453
The war seems everlasting. We have been fighting almost constantly for a little over three years now. It seems as though childhood was a distant dream, or maybe a story told to me once long ago. The battle rages outside as it has for the past few months. It is night now and the orcs always fight harder at night. Some say it is because the darkness of the night speaks to the darkness in their soul. This brings the question to the mind; do orcs have souls? Are they too, considered God's Children? What happens to the soul when God's Children go to war?

Ishta, please forgive me for the slaughter that I have brought upon your Children. My soul weeps even as my heart rejoices in battle. The thrill of combat is an addiction of the soul. My addiction has grown strong over the past few years.

My father has told me that I will be in charge of the last ship to leave port. It is my duty to protect the last of the refugees and to deliver missives to the King of Gien and to the Cardinal Bishops in Harmonia. We will leave when it is obvious that the castle will fall soon as the information to be sent needs to be as accurate and up to date as possible. Father estimates two weeks at most before it becomes time to leave.


Week Four, month of the Wolf 1453
Sir Heart fell in battle ten days ago. He lives but barely, clinging to life in much the same manner as he clings to the ideals of the Church. Two days ago I began my ritual of fasting and prayer in preparation of the Knighting ceremony. I am to be Knighted for my performance on the battlefield.

Sir Heart and Sir Viscious agree that I am ready for Knighthood. Because this is a battlefield promotion, I will not have to go through the Knighthood Trials and I shall have senority in battle and on the field due to my three years of warring experience.

After fasting and praying for a full day and night, I was ritually bathed and blessed by the King's Bishop to wash away my past sins and to make me pure again. A rebirth if you will. Staying awake was much harder than I imagined it could ever be. Imagine standing watch for an hour after a full day of battle. Now multiply that by three years and then try to stay awake with nothing to do besides meditation and prayer. Good luck...

By Ishta's Grace I did manage to stay awake the entire time. I prayed a lot, mostly pleaing with Her to strengthen my will enough to stave off sleep. I meditated and daydreamed a lot. Mostly memories of my fallen brother Mathew and dreams that Tomas still survived and would show up at the head of a large army and lead us all to safety.

The Knighting Ceremony itself is sacred and I will not divulge any of it's secrets. I have been Knighted and will now be known as Sir Deimos.


Week Four, month of the Wolf 1453
Well now... The day after I was Knighted my Father placed in my hands the family sword, Adina. Before the King and Sirs Heart and Viscious, he made me the heir of Ironhold. I don't want to be the heir of Ironhold. That was Mathew's honor. I know he's dead. But Tomas may still be alive. I was given to the church. That is my life. I have no need nor want to take what should by right be my brother's. I pray that Tomas will appear and take this burden from me. Ishta, you continue to forge me in your smithy, please let it be for some grand purpose. Please don't let all of this be in vain! That burden I could not bear...

Sir Heart gave his last breath during the night. He was attended by Sir Viscious, the King, my Father, and Myself. The King's Bishop gave him the Last Rites.


Week One, appropriately enough, the month of the Fish 1453
Today we set sail. I watched the city until there was nothing to see but a collumn of smoke rising into the heavens. I weep for my Father, the King and Sir Viscious. They will die when the castle falls. It cannot take for then a few days at most. I pray that they die quickly in battle and do not suffer. They are fine men and the world will be a lesser place without them.

Among the passengers of our ship is a small woman named Areana. She is a scout or guard for the Merchant's Guild and hails from Gien. She barely stands to my chest and weighs less than an average twelve year old boy. However, she has the mouth of a common borne soldier and the attitude of a spoiled child. However, because she is a Guild member, given the responsibility of escorting two merchants, one of whom is sick, back to Gien, I must treat her with a minimum of respect.

The soldiers that I have under my command are the dregs of the army, near to useless in combat except as fodder to detract enemies from those more able to fight. Strange that they survived so long in a nation at war. Stranger still that they would be allowed to leave while other, better men must stay and die. There seems to be little or no justice left in the world. Ishta, how can you let this be? Why do the great men die while fools like these are allowed to live?


Week two, Month of the Fish 1453
We dropped anchor today in a small cove with a stream. I left the girl Areana in charge of the ship, stationed in the lookout's roost as she is the best archer that we have. I left her with one soldier, a dullard who will follow her orders without question.

I led the party inland and stood guard with the only other soldier who could use a missle weapon, a man named Garron who had a smallish crosbow. The other soldiers loaded barrels of water and carried them back to the ship. Garron pointed out a footprint in the mud in the stream. I'm no tracker, but even I could tell that the footprint was fresh. The stream moved swiftly and even as we watch sand began to fill it. The footprint was unshod and small, either a small woman or large child. We seperated and kept a vigilant watch.

I had a viscious suprise waiting for me when we returned to the boat. Areana was in the other boat and was beaching it even as we came out of the forest. Her story was that the two merchants under her charge, including the one who is so sick that she must be carried everywhere, had somehow left the ship, without a boat, and made their way to the beach. Of course, she had no cooberating evidence like footprints and no one else witnessed the event. Both merchants were on the ship when we returned to it and neither merchant was wet, which they would have been had they swam to shore and back.

I took the idiot girl off to the side and explained to her that the safety of everyone on the ship was my direct responsibilty. I explained that she had endangered everyone by running off for no reason. She tried arguing with me, stating that her responsibility was the two merchants, not anyone else. I informed her that in times of war, which we are in, abandonment of post, which is what she did, is a terminatable offense and by all rights I could have her executed for what she had done. She seemed much more angry than chastened.

I don't know how to deal with this. I don't want to kill her out of hand. She really does seem naive rather than stupid or lazy. Apparently, merchants don't train their soldiers. I cannot blame her for someone else's dereliction of duty. Whoever hired her should have seen to her training.

Another week or two and I'll be rid of her and back where things make sense. I can't wait.


Week one, month of the Dove 1453
We finally made landfall in Gien today around midmorning. The soldiers found themselves absorbed into the army of Gien, which was preparing to march into the rear of the orc army. Thank you Lady Ishta, for showing me that there is still justice left in the world.

The rest of us were given one night's stay in the King's Castle. During the day I made arrangements for my journey to Harmonia, procuring a horse and supplies from the church. The bishop recommended that I travel with a small caravan headed in the same direction that left on the morrow as it would be much safer than traveling alone through bandit infested roads. I agree and will meet with them at the merchant's guild in the morning.


Still week one
I should have known. Among those traveling in this little caravan are six merchant guards under the command of that girl, Areana. It seems that I cannot be rid of her. Also in the caravan are threee guards, members of the city watch transporting a prisoner in a box. One of the Guards is an old Seargent named Caston. Caston is in charge of the caravan and is the sole driver of the wearing bearing the prisoner.

Under Caston are a brother and sister. Kevin and Kiva are twins, and they are both blonde, with blue eyes, fair skin and a smattering of freckles for each of them. They are young too, about my age, and quiet. Kevin seems to be a but obsessive in checking his gear.

Also joining the group is one Lou Siffer. He is the King of Gein's blacksmith and chemist, whatever that is. Somewhat addle-brained, he as a minder, much as a small child or someone soft in the head would. His minder is officially called an apprentice and has his hands full dealing with Master Siffer.

The church has also added a couple of members to our group. One is a large young Knight fresh out of the Trials. His name Thomas Whitemane. He is the tenth generation of his family to serve in the Knighthood. That is quite an honor and a tremendus burden. He bears it well though, always cheerful and helpful with whatever needs to be done.

Bishop Reynolds is a chubby little man that keeps mostly to himself. I haven't learned much from him at all. There is also a mercenary in the group. He's a rough looking older gentleman who says that he is searching for his missing wife. I'll keep an eye on him for now. I don't trust him much. Forgot his name too.

The day started well enough but soon disinegrated into a mess. The lack of dicipline shown by everyone in the group outside of the Church is astounding. I understand that the cream of military prowess will be with the army, however these people wouldn't know military discipline if it ran them through the gut.

Caston is a Seargent because of time spent in service rather than any leadership qualities that he may have possesed. All three of the Guardsmen have kept their bright red uniforms on even after we have left the city, making nice bright targets for any bandit archers that may be in the future.

The Guardsmen are naive in the uniforms, but the merchants are much, much worse. They are merrily laughing and carrying on as if they hadn't a care in the world. Telling stories of drinking, whoring, and gambling until I have to restrain myself from dirtying my blade with them. Their "leader" couldn't care less. She just keeps to herself, like she hasn't a care in the world, just like her compatriots only quieter. Her men are drinking from flasks, at least one of them is noticeably drunk.

The King's Smith or whatever he is as much the empty-headed child that I feared he would be. He wanders off picking flowers while the caravan travels on without him. The mercenary has taken it upon himself to be the fool's watchdog, now he has two minders. That doesn't stop him from wandering off though. He's even worse than the girl.

This is inecuseable. I do not want to die because of these people's incompetence.

I spoke with Caston and pled with him to establish some form of discipline in our troop before we all die in the first ambush that we stumble into. He dumped it into my lap and said that he was too busy to deal with it. I almost ended his miserable life right there on the spot but Ishta flooded me with mercy and stayed my hand.

I did gather up all of the liquer and stowed it on the wagon. I let the merchant guards know that they will remain dry for the rest of the trip and that they will get their booze back once we reach our destination. Surprisingly enough, I received the most trouble from Lou Siffer! Bastard doesn't even drink alchohal and he wants to argue with me in front of everyone because I refuse to have drunks guarding my back. I should leave them all to their deaths. If there are bandits in the area, their incompetence would be an open invitation to attack. The fools.

Alas, I can't leave. The chest full of missives is too heavy and bulky to carry on a horse. I need the wagon. Hopefully, I can whoop these sorry excuses of troops into shape before we get attacked. Maybe it'd be better if we were attacked, then maybe then these people would pay better attention, or they'd be dead. Ether way would be an iprovement...


Week two, month of the Dove 1453
I have started sparring with some of my fellow traveler's each night before it gets too dark. Thomas is exactly what he appears to be. He's powerful and fast, but not as skilled as I'd hope. He would be a very dangerous opponent in a battlefield. His weapon of choice is a double bit ax. A big bulky thing that he swings with relative ease. It's too slow and bulky a weapon though. I can get past it fairly easily and land a telling blow.

The young Watchgirl Kiva has also decided to take me up on my offer of sparring partner and teacher. She is quick, but has very little training. With time she could be a quite accomplished swordswoman. Her sword is a matter of no small interest. Both Thomas and I agree that is looks suspiciously like a Paladine's Blade. Yet a Paladine's Blade can only be used by the Paladine who made it as their life's blood is used in the forging. I wonder if a close family member, a sibling or spawn could use a Paladine's Blade? There's a question to ask once we get to Harmonia.

The blade has magical powers, of that I'm sure. When my sword strikes it, frost gleams on my blade and the grip turns cold. She got in a lucky hit once and I had frost on my armour where the blow landed. I have given her a plain blade to pratice with. A prolonged duel with her other blade may cause my sword to shatter from the intense cold.

I enjoy sparring with Kiva, though she is a bit distracting. It's hard to concentrate on swordplay when your partner is as attractive as she is...


Still week two
We discovered an empty town today. There were minimal signs of violence, some disturbed furniture and the like. The only bodies were found burned and dropped into the town well. To many tracks in the area around town to find survivors. I shall be even more careful from now on.

On a brighter note, Lou Siffer was dumb enough to climb down into the well to examine the dead bodies. He came out retching and looking VERY unhappy. Highpoint of my day...


Still week two
We were attacked by bandits this evening. It was very exciting. Most of the members of our little caravan accounted themselves well. The only real injury happened to be Lou Siffer. Poor fool stuck his head out at the wrong time and got his chest laid open.
At least nobody has to take up his slack now that he's too injured to do anything...


Week Three, month of the Dove 1453
We arrived at Harmonia today. The Council of Bishops have ordered Thomas and I to investigate the dissapearances that have been happening to the north. Apparently, the town that we had discovered was the only one.
I have received an allowance to recruit others to help with the mission. I have decided to include Kiva and Kevin for help in combat and because I enjoy Kiva's company. Areana will come with us as a scout. She's not much, but she's a better option than anyone else that I can get. Lou Siffer and his two companions will join us. Siffer can speak the Elven language and the mercenary thounks that the people kidnapping the villigers may be the same people who took his wife.

I have secured horses, gear, and supplies for the trip. We leave in two days.


Still week Three
We have set out on our journey. Things are finally looking up. I am indisputably in charge, so now there is order and no lack of discipline. Without the bad example set by others, even Areana and Siffer are behaving well, at least for them.

We still spar every night and we all take turns standing watch except for Siffer, he can't be trusted. I'm having a much better time than I did before. Even my nightmares aren't as bad.


Week Four, Month of the Dove.
We were attacked last night by large man-sized bat-like creatures. We tore them up pretty good. Lou Siffer suffered a pretty deep chest wound and got his face mangled by the beast's claws. Kinda improved his looks I think.

Areana also got a pretty deep gash in her chest. Seems worse than it is because she's so small. Since I'm the acting medic here, I took care of her wounds. This required me to open her shirt, exposing her breasts. I can't seem to stop thinking about them. Especially when I see her nearby and her shirt gapes open at the neck. I wonder how they feel and I feel dirty for thinking about it, but excited too.

I wonder what Kiva's breast look like. That makes me feel horrible and dirty but horney as a stud horse with a hot mare. Than I feel guilty about it. Ishta help me... I'm a dirty, dirty man...


Week One, Moth of the Horse
And here we are riding our horses. Nothing has happened of note except that Kevin has been acting funny for the past coupld of days. He's been standoffish and quiet. When we spar, he seems to fight with anger and swings to hurt. Luckily he isn't skilled enough to hit me. He seems to get angrier the nicer I act towards him. I'm starting to think that maybe I should give him a good thrashing to settle him down.

I wonder if he's jealous of the time that Kiva and I spend togetehr. He is somewhat overprotective, but that's just silly. No one else seems to notice and Kiva either ignores it or tells him that he's being an ass.


Date and month unknown...
We have been poisoned and imprisoned by an old witch. First we gave battle to brigands chasing one of the local Duke's messenegers. The bandits managed to kill the messenger before we could engage them, but we made up for it by slaughtering all but one of them. That one escaped.

I took an arrow through my left wrist and another one in the same arm up by the shoulder. There was a small cabin nearby, the home of an old kindly looking woman. She bade us come inside and helped bandage the wounded, including myself.

She served us dinner and drink, gave us bandages and beds. I stood first watch but the poison that she had fed us hit and I lost consciousness before I could give an alarm.

I was shaken awake by my father in the chapel where I liked to sleep during the war. I dressed for battle in my battle-scarred scalemail armour, it used to be Michael's when he was younger. Father orders me to suit up, the orcs are attacking soon. I accept what is happening as only someone who has been dealing with flashbacks and nightmares before this can, as if everything was real. I doesn't stop and question things.

I met up with the king, my father, and Sir Blood. Along the way I glimpsed his brother getting onto a ship and making ready to cast off. I start questioning things at that point. I remeber getting into that boat. I could even see Areana leading the two merchants aboard.

I start questioning Father aboyut what was going on. I knew that my brother had died almost a year before when Caspian fell. My Father, short-tempered and frightened, told me to stop whining. He said that I was acting like a coward and a fool and dishonoring our family name. I shut my hole.

The King posted us at the castle's main gate. We knew that it couldn't withstand much more of the orc's battering ram. They would break through today.
We arranged ourselves and a semi-circle twenty yards inside the courtyard. I put three arrows between my finger and knocked a fourth. I didn't nother bringing more, I doubt that I'd get a chance to use all of the ones that I had.
The gate didn't break, it shattered. Wooden shrpanel wounded several men, I heard a piece whine past my head but I was too busy to pay much attention. My first three arrows hit spot on, killing three of the brutes right off the bat. My fourth arrow dissapeared into the crowd. I dropped the now useless bow pulled on my sheild and drew my sword just in time to meet the orcs' charge.

I fought with the grim confidence of one who knows that he is going to die. I slashed about me with my sword, severing arms, opening up throats and gaping wounds with every swipe. A short while into the battle, just when I was getting fully warmed up, I was grabbed from behind and pulled from my horse.

I landed hard and struggled to my hands and knees. Something kicked hard and I went flying into a wall that I don't remember being near. I grabbed my sword and staggered back up to my feet. For some reason all the orcs in the area near me were leaving. I soon found out why.

Striding towards me was an awesome specimen of orcdom. Standing fully thirteen feet tall, this bastard-child of a hill giant wore human leg greaves on his arms, a breastplate, and some kind of skull thing as a helmet. He carried a double bit axe one handed and towered over me.

I knew that I had no chance against this massive beast. Sir Heart's voice came into my head, a random memory from my early years of training. It said, Fight with Honor and you will win!

I decided to fight and die with honor. I made an obscene gesture at the beast with my swordhand that the orcs typically make at us during battle. He responded with a lazy slow looking swing of his ax. I tried pulling my hand back but couldn't move quick enough and watched in horror as my fingers and went flying away in a spray of blood and pain.


I threw my shield at the beast to buy me some time and drew my spare short sword. I dived forward and swung hard at his achilles's tendon. The sword bit but it didn't seem to faze the creature. I stabbed upward into it's groin but the cunning bastard had a metal codpiece that appeared to be made of someone's old stewing pot under his loincloth.

I swung my sword with all my might as he reached down for me. My blade bit deep into the back of his unwounded leg, severing his hamstring. He fell forward, to his knees, and I stabbed him in the kidney. The sword went in to the hilt. A quick slash opened his throat and I found myself lying on a dirt floor.

I got up and looked around. I was in a small room dug into dirt with a shabby looking door. The door was locked, so I kicked through it. I had on my cloths, but I ws missing my weapons and armour. I found myself in a long but extremely narrow hallway. Doors lined either wall. I found my companions behind different doors and set about freeing them. They appeared to be caught up in some sort of nightmare, even though most of them were standing with their eyes open.

They lost consciousness once they left the room and it took several minutes for them to recover. I wonder what they saw? Did they have to fight some sort of creature as I did? Were their dreams based on past experiences? Why was I the only one to wake up? Was it because they were defeated? If so, then why are they still alive? What was the purpose?

There were other people here besides my group. Weird travelers with tattoos and an elf. I freed them as well with the help of Areana. She is finally starting to prove her worth.

I feel kind of sorry for her in truth, she got her nose broken while helping me free Thomas from his room. For some reason, she blames me for her injury. It was her hesitation that allowed him to hit her.

We left by way of stairs and found a closet with most of our gear inside. The only thing missing was my father's sword. Smoke was starting to fill the stairway. It turns out that the old bat was a witch and she had two hellish hounds with her. These hounds stood waist high and had poisonous snakes for tails. They also had flames for eyes and flames crawling along their bodies.

Apparently the old witch had learned of our escape and set the house on fire. We fled the burning hut and fought her and her beasts. During the fight I killed both hounds with the help of Siffer, but was wounded in the fight.

The others kills the witch, fighting her even after she turned into a mansized bat-thing. The entire group fought with Honor and Courage. I'm starting to have some hope for them yet.

Kiva applied first aid to my wounds. Her hands were gentle and soft. She has a quiet beauty about her that grows the longer I am near her. I have feelings for this girl, but I know that her brother wouldn't agree. I don't even know if she'd agree.
I asked my father once how to know when you have found your mate. He told me not to worry about it. Someone would tell me he said. Either he would or the girl would. Either way I should just accept things. I wouldn't have much of a choice in the matter.

I wonder if Kiva would ever choose me?

On a different note, some of the Duke's soldiers arrived, just after the nick of time. They had enough horses for each of us. Their leader stated the the Duke's Seer had sent them for us. I wonder how he knew.

I write this in the comfort of an inn. My wounds have been tended to by physicians, I have bathed, and I have eaten my fill. I am content. Exhaustion weighs heavily upon me.

Later the same night
Kiva came to my bed this night past. Despite my wounds and our exhaustion, we made love. It was the most beautiful experience of my life. I will not talk more of it until later. I have to get back into bed. I hope that her feelings for me are as strong as my feelings for her... Thank you Ishta!