Kogu 26, SP~4,909

Different Day, Same Sea

Got a blink bat from Bobby. He said something’s going on south of the city. A number of farmers were killed, and in a pretty bad way. Brutal is what Bobby said, and savage. Their farms were completely destroyed. Houses and barns were smashed apart and crops burned.

Not good, but glad it’s far south of Naldrin. I told Bobby to stay put. He’s the kind of guy who’ll run off to help these folk and end up getting himself hurt.

Good news is, Bobby doesn’t want to lose his job. Bad news is, Bobby never listens to me.

Cold rain today and strong winds.

No sign of Donnessling.  Maybe tomorrow.

Kogu 25, SP~4,909

Ferren’s Ice Islands Sea

I’ve now counted eight Nossring on board. That’s a lot. A lot more than I’ve ever seen before, even in Naldrin City.

I managed to strike up a conversation with one of them. Wasn’t easy. I poured on the charm. I talked about how I love trees. It happens to be true, which always helps. I named a number of them. It was when I got started about the different kinds of animals that live in each that I got his attention. He seemed quite genuinely interested (I wasn’t prepared for that) and asked a lot of questions.  Good ones.  I was actually pleased that he was so eager to hear my stories.  I admit I went on a bit, which is not like me.  The whole conversation was, well, I enjoyed it.  It makes me think I may have to reconsider some of my ideas about the Nossring.

I did get some new information.  It turns out, they’re all a part of some contingent that’s being sent to Shawmancer Island to help out some of the locals.  I got the impression this was not the first time the Nossring sent some of their folk up north, and that’s a long trip. The Nossring Kingdom is at least three hundred miles south of Naldrin City, and Shawmancer Island is well north of our city.  These folks have come a ways.

Just before we parted he told me his name. Donnessling. Odd name, but they all have strange names, and a strange language, too, though they all seem fluent in Sessym. Of course it wouldn’t be the “common tongue” of the north if most folk couldn’t understand it.

Donnessling, I’ll see you again soon.

Kogu 23, SP~4,909

Ferren’s Ice Islands Sea

One thing I forgot to mention in yesterday’s page was the nossring on the ship. I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed them before. Worried I’m too distracted with this “teaching” assignment.

I never liked nossring. They show up now and again in Naldrin City.  Never often and always a keep-to-themselves bunch. I remember, years ago, I tried striking up a conversation with one of them in Naldrin City. He (she?) was sitting in one of the parks on the Top Tier of the City. Now there’s a story! The Top Tier (officially First Tier) is a very fancy place. Lots of money, lots of power, and some very interesting personalities.

Note to Self: Start an outline for this. Could get onto page one of the News!

So, this Nossring was looking at the trees. Seemed quite interested, which was not surprising. Everybody knows the Nossring love nature. I casually pointed out one of the birds in the tree he was looking at. I told him it was an axterfal. He didn’t say a word; didn’t even look at me. I’m not big on the courtesies. I like to know where someone stands. But I don’t like being ignored. His loss!

I’m not sure yet how many Nossring are on this voyage. So far I’ve seen five of them. Not sure what they’re up to, but one thing I know about the Nossring is they don’t like to travel. They just won’t leave their kingdom unless they’ve got a really good reason. Now I’m curious. I think I just decided to do a bit of sleuthing while we’re all stuck here on this ship. It could be a bit of fun, and hopefully break up the monotony of this endless trip.

Nobody told me that traveling by sea was going to be this boring!

Kogu 22, SP~4,909

Ferren’s Ice Islands Sea

I’ve been working on the “lessons” I’m going to be giving. The Council wants basic instructions on the history of the world, the Tamarran Continent, and something about current politics (including the war, of course). They also want me to give some general information about how we live life in the “civilized” parts of the Continent.

I have to say, I’m enjoying re-reading the story of the world. The big world, that is. The whole big thing, like all the other Fekxtah you see in the sky. Skeelit told me that these Shawmancer folk don’t even know what a Fekxtah is [Note to self: Skeelit’s a big name in dwaheely historians right now – find a way to get an interview with him on the record!] They think everything out there is just a planet, or a sun, or a moon, or just some kind of floating bunch of junk. They have no idea that these things are alive and are some of the oldest (and biggest) beings in the wide world. I don’t think they even know that the Fekxtah we live on, Ethem, is alive. They think it’s just a hunk of rock and water. This will be the fun stuff to teach, but it’s gonna be a tough audience.

Birthday was a dud. I thought I brought a present to give myself, but couldn’t find it. Must have left it at home. Bobby sent a blink bat, though, with a nice message. He’s a good brother. Hope he’s doing okay.

Kogu 17, SP~4,909

Ferren’s Ice Islands Sea

Been reading over some of the books I brought. Should be helpful. Have to keep in mind that my job is just to educate these people. Well, and make a damn good impression! It’s all about the friendly gesture kind of thing. Guild Master Gellin said, “Go and listen, but mainly ‘educate’ them, and maybe they’ll start to listen when we send a real ambassador.”

If they made me a real ambassador instead of an Educator, now that would be a real honor! Not sure I’d want it, though. A lot of listening. That I can do. Not so sure about all the politeness. Gotta practice that a bit. Hey, I’ve got time.

Tomorrow’s my birthday, happy me.

Kogu 15, SP~4,909

7 days out of Naldrin City, somewhere in the southern parts of Ferren’s Ice Islands Sea

It’s the fall, it’s raining, it’s cold, and here I am, a newly designated “Educator” and unofficial ambassador, on a ship heading to Shawmancer Island, 600 miles north of Naldrin City. North! Not the right direction this time of year, but I’m looking forward to a change of pace from reporting.

Bobby told me it was an honor – “Hey, they picked you over all those guys!” he said. But, I know him. He was just saying that to make me feel better about six months of travel.

Truth be told, Bobby was right. It is an honor, though not a big one. The Council of Drawnwyn wants to know more about Shawmancer Island and the folk who live there. But, I’m no fool, and I know the Council wants more than just that. We’re in the middle of a war, or maybe I should say a continuation of a war. The so-called Wars of Sorcery, though the real ones ended a long time ago. This one is just the Battle of Shawmancer Island, from my view point.

In any case, things are not going well. As much as the Six Guilds and the Council hate the sorcerers, they need some allies. Or maybe just a way out of the mess they made.

Yesterday was rain and fog, and a bit of sleet. Today was just sleet. Tomorrow, so the captain says, will be sleet and maybe some snow. One week on this boat and three more to go, or maybe a few more depending on how the ice flows flow.