I... I cannot yet fathom what all has happened, I am not even sure it is all true. We entered the temple and were attacked almost immediately, but that is not the part that is baffling, the others claim that Pavel has slain Claudia and she has borne a child. Claudia was not full in the belly to produce such a child, and now Pavel is gone, I mean not as wartorn corpse but as if he never existed, all that is left is his robes and belongings. Claudia is without marking or evidence of any battle, yet there is this child, a child that she clutches to her breast reactively protective like a mother. This place is heavily laden with traps and we have paid heavy prices for not being able to be aware of them and to bypass them without harm. My head is still spinning, Pavel is gone. What is going on? I fear I am going mad, I have been hearing a voice in my head, the voice of supposedly my blade, but the blade, it...it hasn't spoken before this swamp. Thoughts leap into my head that make no sense, yet sometimes they do make sense, I try to explain my thoughts and that seems to help but everyone keeps giving me puzzled looks. Pavel has lead us to this temple, that here is were the evil is that I have been borne to fight, that perhaps even my blade was borne to fight, Pavel's last steps were here, and here I know my path lies. He has not failed to direct me yet again but what now, how is it that Mystra guides me now by a blade that has found conciousness, if the words of the others is true, that Pavel had given his existance so that Claudia may live was that his sign that I should now look to Claudia for guidance for my footsteps so that I am doing what Mystra has charted for my doing? We are now squaring against things I've not even heard of, not in the scariest of stories, things that have come from the depths of history, abominations of gods and demons and worse. History itself almost seems to be rewriting itself, things that were only once long ago are now here and now, things that seemed true only days ago seem less meaningful than ancient texts that have been long forgotten. Schulan has a former wife and now a concubine that want to face each other to mortal death, or are they one in the same looking to be reunited, two halves wanting to be whole again? Schulan has been the only constant in this whole mess, his involvement has been included from the moment we entered Kurth, probably sooner. Is he trying to reunite all the former powers of Jurgal and his reward is to become a stag headed lich himeself, the creature he and the rest of the CTS managed to destroy?

(Please note this posting is based upon the timeframe of just before encountering the big BIG building in the swamp)
Poor Alonya, I am beginning to think we have been put on a fool's errand, I don't doubt that some witch named Morgret lives in or nearby this muckmess, but now the the once powerful and feared Company of Light and Darkness has been dispatched to place that is leagues away from Kurth, Maskyr's Eye or any other sign of culture, and for what reason, to save a single life, the life of a daughter of a local hero? I recall the horrors of Manyoak, how many daughters of how many nobles, merchants and peasants are now lying dead atop thier parents at the hands of evil. So who have we saved, some nutball crypt student? Pavel has been my source of direction, I do not always know which tree I should walk past but I know when I am on the right path. There seems to be no path now, does this mean I am at the end of my journey? What of Animosus and Claudia, Ani and I have held pretty strong differences of opinion, would he leave me for worm food, would he keep Claudia from reviving my body, would Claudia revive me if I fell, or did Slyl have a special place in her heart? Dammit, why didn't she tell me she had interest in him, just because I smell like a boy right now, just because I talk shop with the men, a little girl talk would be nice right about now. Listen to me, I'm being just as petty as everyone else. Please Pavel, find us a path by morning.

I am gravely concerned about Animosus's choices, not about the direct choice of Slyl's trustworthiness, but about the potential threat that Slyl may be if by some Merkulian or Banite magics, his knowledge of how unravelled we currently are becomes knowledge of our foes, or worse, he becomes an undead servant that we would have to deal with directly. I've held back a few key pieces of information regarding Slyl on principle of given word, his.... lineage and....skills, that although may not weigh well in his favor with Animosus certainly should hold sway in choice, if there is living return of our once thought to be mute, I will explain and ask his forgiveness. I will also recommend that if the choice regarding Slyl's fate is that Tymora has cast her lots and his time is done, that his body be burned, so that it cannot to be used by those that may now be wresting control of the undead from more compassionate hands. I think if the mind and memories of Slyl, Vasht or whoever he truely was, would be quite torn over causing one of us demise. Ani's steel of conviction is admirable, that is certain, but I would trust the wisdom of an old man if I could believe that ANY of us were thinking straight. I'm having conversations with my weapon, and it, at least since we've been in this swamp for too long, has apparently grown a mind of its own. If it is defacto a blade of sentience, its objectives may be moderately aligned with my own but its tact is paled to mine like mine would be to Davani's.

These last few days have been arduous, my feet must smell like a bloated dead rat. Thankfully we were able to rest on dry ground. What would drive someone to WANT to live here now is beyond me. I can only imagine how beautiful this place once was but Calimport would not be Calimport if it were covered in ice even if every single building were the same. I think the swamp gas is getting to us. Animosus discarding a gempouch in the middle of a swamp? Odd? Yes. Surprisingly? Not particularly but still odd. I think he's just out of his mind with Slyl's actions of late and I suspect he would be irritated with himself for not making better use of whatever it contained. Now if Slyl were to reaquire that pouch to give Ani a second chance at making better use of its contents perhaps Animosus could view that as an olive branch, I would back Slyl on that one. We've trekked through this muck for a long time, too long, we know that this hut is SUPPOSED to be out here somewhere, and now Slyl's pointed out these footprints, Animosus suddenly feeling that "somethings up" then just as quickly discards his intuition. Call it women's intuitioin but I think we've missed our turn and with now six men in our group you think they're gonna stop and ask for directions? Not like there's any signposts or anyone around to ask, but it feels like we are about to over shoot our mark. Just when you think you are thinking straight you end up starting to think you're not thinking straight.Talking swords, okay now this is freaking me out, calm yourself Kelestri, okay I've heard that some swords can talk, I've also heard that this Morgret is a powerful witch. And now I'm really rather concerned that the swamp gas is getting to ME. The sword is calling me out like we've each had too many at the alehouse, okay, I'm gonna take the blade out, slowly, carefully. Stick it blade side down just a little bit into the soft earth, and back away from it and see if it will hold a rationale discussion. If its the blade talking, then party or not, me and this thing are gonna come to terms. However if its this Morgret, I suspect she'll try to poof in or something else like that and take it.

Finally some time in the forge to work the metals and magic. I have a very full list and fortunately the ancient dwarven texts we returned have provided much goodwill so that I can use materials without providing payment upfront, payments will still need to be made, but the value of our deeds holds great impact. I find it interesting that some customers will tell you what they want to accomplish and let you provide them their best tool while others tell you what they want to accomplish then tell you to make them a tool that is not the best tool to achieve what they want to accomplish. I believe I will have to provide what I feel is the correct item and let the results convince those customers that I made the right decision. Life around Kurth has returned, more or less, to normal. The rumors of orcish invasions are no longer heard at every street corner, market prices seem to have stabilized and it feels good to not have to rest your hand on a blade hilt just to walk to the bindery for a stewed rabbit recipe. I found this lovely red silk blouse with gold thread embroidery at the market yesterday, it was a little pricey but I think it will be perfect for the upcoming banquet that is to be held in our honour. I delivered some of my craft work today, Animosus looked really puzzled at me when I presented him what I felt was the correct tool. He was very tolerant and polite so I guess civil service held him well, but he still looked pretty dismayed. It took him a few tries to get the feel for the balance point but seemed impressed with the results once he made contact. I also delivered the matched kukris to Mauros. Angolie consigned them and paid promptly as an apparent thank you to Mauros after I endured his rather long winded story of how Mauros saved his life. Mauros, it seems, was a slave and must have been accustomed to addressing everyone as a superior, he was extremely polite and thankful. It was kind of weird hearing him talk, he had that same distant tone that a couple of our servants had back home. Tomorrow I will finish working on, and maybe even deliver Slyl's blade and Lief's blade. I hesitated putting an activation word on Slyl's blade considering we all thought he was mute the first several days we knew him but it seemed to be the right choice now that we know he can speak. I am saddened that I cannot gift Pavel with an item crafted by my own skills though I suspect he would try to convince me that he would not be allowed to accept if I had tried, he has been my rock and would make a fine and devoted husband for nearly any woman.

Black Lake had many foul rumors amongst the few that could remember hearing stories of it, those rumors were well founded. It was a location that proved to be a guardian house that served a purpose that now I wish were still intact. Having made past its waters our, or at least mine and Pavel's path, has become so clear to me now. The beauty of the forge, the perfect fire, the twining of metals and magic, it has become so clear now. I recall hearing many times of "The weave". It is a rather ironic yet aptly described relationship of the metals and the magic, how the two are separate unto themselves. Each are like different types of threads, but when brought together in the right manner, like woven cloth which is stronger and completely different than just a balled up mass of different threads. My life's focus has been altered, altered by a goddess herself. While I still retain identification with Gond and the base creation of items the knowledge and understanding of how magic and metals flow and react to each other, with each other. This is a gift directly from Mystra. The ability to see the flaws in fires, the ability to control to an infinitely more precise manner the variances of a fire until it is totally harmonized, it is virtually indescribable. We have found a portal that makes our return journey to Kurth less than a days travel. We return with great news for Kurth and all of the Vast, the Banite threat of bloodmetal does not exist. There is much more work to be done. I do not know if all of Pavel's visions hold impact on my life from here, but they most certainly did up to now. I have had Animosus dispatch a special courier to remedy a difficult dilemma for me, it is a short term solution for a very long term problem that life has chosen for me. For now I am eager to use my skills, new insight and ability to craft items that will become my lessons on the refinement of my understanding of magic. Very shortly after our return we learn from Haliembrar and Animosus that priestess of Shar have been covertly operating with misconduct within Kurth. Their hands are tied, as officers of the government they cannot interfere, doctrine clearly states this but an independent agent of another religion is not bound from action. Evan has spoken and is ready to prove charges of misconduct after we have gained entry. He has lawful right and I believe his intentions to be unselfish, I will aid his cause.

The decision has been made, the offer extended, and Kuldermog refused. I cannot say that I blame him for while we did prove ourselves to be worthy adversaries, we did not prove to be a substantial asset in locating Grimmarfang. I have begun nicking trees, kicking over stones and deliberately breaking small branches to increase the likelihood that his and our paths would cross again. We continue to travel northward but with little direction towards our goal. As I march and wonder how does one hide an entire mountain, we happen into an area that blurs the surroundings and plays tricks on our eyes. We head to an elevated bluff for a better look and before we know it all of the surroundings change and we are suddenly being attacked in some kind of cemetery by some rotting corpse things that looked like they have been already dead for some time. Mithnu and some others are saying that we were teleported and now we need to regain our bearings or find a way to teleport back. With a bit of leveraged negotiation we gain access to a nearby castle which is being rebuilt by scores of animated skeletons. From the moment we stepped into this castle I knew that I had supported a plan that would have had fatal results, I tried desperately to recant my support and we narrowly averted disaster by making a hasty retreat. Fortunately some good did come of this error, Slyl found some books, books that contained extremely important information and a glimmer of divine decree that addressed the only shortcoming I've ever had with Gond. We tried to establish our new location, I'm not quite sure why Mithnu didn't pick Skippy to turn into a cloud to float up and get our bearings, but it was a pretty neat sensation. We were making our way back towards the area where we teleported when we ran into to some orcs, they momentarily froze when I barked out Kuldermog's name but battle ensued nonetheless. During the fight we stumbled upon, quite literally, a rocky spire that had a stone throne overlooking a magnificent valley, this throne was surmised to be Shaundical's Chair and even more of a surprise was another unseen ledge that led us into a mountain that did not appear to even be there, Grimmarfang at last! We did not travel long before battle found us again, this time the familiar feel of that bizarre brain tingling alerted me we were in the presence of Iythuzach's brother and I belted out our password loud enough that the halls echoed for several seconds after my voice ended. Thank the gods I practiced that trigger word because the fight was looking pretty grim up to that point. We moved deeper into the bowels of Grimmarfang until the tunnel emptied out into a huge cavern that contained what must be Black Lake.