Cullen's Journal

[Cullen]

***Cullen's journal is kept hidden in a secret hiding place. All events and opinions documented are OOC information unless you were present IC when they took place etc. etc. so on and so forth.***

*****

2nd day of the ninth month.

It seemed a lifetime ago that my family had left. I'd missed Yew's green forests, the muggy smell when it was wet. I'd had enough of moving from village to village whilst my father plied his trade as a physician. Never staying anywhere too long, never becoming too familiar for fear that some imaginary secret would catch up with us.

Maybe my mother and father just had the wanderlust, but for me, my place was back home, in the greenery of Yew.

*****

I stepped from the undergrowth where I had been watching proceedings, unnoticed from afar and made myself comfortable, leaning against a tree until the guardsmen's fun was over.

I asked to speak with an officer so I could join them in the militia and was shown to a woman Waywatcher, Annwyn, who asked my motives for joining, before entering me into the lists and equipping me with my Trainee's garb and kit.

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She then showed me around the 'Keep. Pointing out landmarks and buildings of interest, including the Waywatcher Tower after I had expressed my interest in serving with her in the squad. We were just heading out on patrol when the Captain called me back. Apparently a Sergeant, Madsen, had excused himself into the offices so he could 'polish his bolts' and the Captain wished me to disturb him.

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Fortunately, for I did not know what to expect, the offices were empty, though a window had been left ajar. It seemed that the Sergeant had left to do his 'polishing' in private.

I returned to deliver my report to the Captain and was introduced to a miss Louisa who would seem to be our paymaster and also an obviously experienced guard by the name of Daven, who handed me keys to the dormitory so that I could claim a bunk.

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The Waywatcher and I then continued on our patrol, taking in the crypts before making our way cross country to the Abbey so that I could lighten my pack.

The illness had weakened me, though my strength returned day by day. I would have to work hard to improve it as I would my skill with a blade but that will all come in time, now that I am home.

[Cullen]

4th day of the ninth month.

My first few days back in Yew and in it's militia had been uneventful. I'd busied myself picking up duties and spent my time trying to remember faces and names and trying to make a good impression and staying out of trouble. That changed quite a lot this evening.

I started the day chopping wood to build up my strength and to supply the workshop, then I wandered into the Keep to take part in a training. 'Milling'. Fighting hard and fast but being controlled. I knew I wasn't in a fit condition yet to take on any of the guards, even the females and was put on the seat of my pants a few times.

With the training complete and me bloody, bruised and sore the Captain ordered me to lead an unarmoured patrol into the lich infested ruins to the south and return with 5,000 coins. I looked along the line at these veteran guardsmen hopeful one would volunteer to write the report and wondered why the Captain had chosen me to lead them.

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We headed deep into the forests to the south of the Keep and cleansed the area of liches, ogres, harpies and anything else that crossed our path before returning with more than enough gold than was required.

The Captain seemed a little displeased that we'd returned with 8,000 rather than 5,000 coins and a Besieger, Fraser, tried to make off with the excess. The Captain made him return it and ordered me to share out the profits. I gave 2,000 coins to the Waywatchers and gave the other guardsmen 250 coins each for their efforts, leaving a little over 300 for the 2 Besiegers to share seeing as they tried to claim it all for themselves originally.

That was a mistake. One I will learn from. Whether I was trying to impress the Waywatchers present I'm not sure but the red haired Besiegers planted nightshade in my pack and proceeded to give me my latest beating of the evening for slighting them... And for having contraband in my pack.

Struggling to carry my own weight another Trainee, Calla, was ordered by the Captain to help me back onto my feet and see to my wounds. She seems a very nice and pleasant woman. She tended to the most needy of my wounds and helped me back to the Abbey where I have been lodging since my return home.

I think I have made my first friend.. And perhaps my first enemies too.

[Cullen]

6th day of the ninth month.

It was late when I woke. I groaned as I stirred, my entire body aching from the beatings I took last evening. I tugged on my armour and headed a little shakily into Stonekeep.

Calla was the only other guardsman about. She asked how I was doing and gave my a bundle containing some food and fresh bandies. She asked if I was fit for duty just as another Trainee, Markus arrived and we headed off to the graveyard to find out.

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With the graveyard clear we headed back into Stonekeep where a senior guard, Gotrek was waiting to take us on a patrol to the dungeon Despise.

We showed him how well (or not) Trainees can fight. He seemed mildly impressed before dismissing us to force march back to Stonekeep once more.

[Cullen]

7th day of the ninth month.

I awoke, everything still ached from the beating I took a few nights ago. My ribs not so much so but my face was still swollen and sore, even though the salve Calla had kindly given me a few days earlier seemed to be working.

I trudged from my rented room in the Abbey down into Stonekeep still trying to get my bearings. I ran into an Ironarm and two Waywatchers, one I recognised as Annwyn, as I entered the Keep and I enquired after where to collect my wages. I was directed down the road to where miss Louisa, the Captain and Sergeant Madsen where gathered.

I was made to answer various security questions before the Captain handed over my payslip, such as; place of birth, mother's maiden name, favourite bagball team and my twenty three digit serial number. I answered the questions to the best of my ability, forgetting just one digit of my serial number. Though I really do need to take a firmer interest in the local bagball teams.

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After getting my wages I spent a little while in the tavern with the other guardsmen. Calla being as kind as ever asked after my health and bought me a pie as I'd not eaten that much and the Besieger, Fraser came over to let me know that I was in fact lucky to still have a head after accusing him of stealing some of the coins we'd recovered from the lich ruins a few days back. I told him that I count my blessings for such luck daily, though I'd rather have someone else's head at the moment due to the pain my own was giving me.

The Besieger seemed satisfied and appeared to draw a line under what had happened. I hope his commanding officer feels the same.

I felt a little restless in the tavern so after I'd finished my pie, Calla agreed to join me on a patrol to the Abbey. There wasn't much to report. A lone skeleton roaming the woods and people speaking of strange animals and treasures in the feudal lands of Tokuno, though that is old news. All was well with the monks at the Abbey and with the few adventurers we encountered also.

[Cullen]

10th day of the ninth month.

I reported for duty in time to take part in the closing stages of Daven's battle training. A maze had been constructed with piles of cloth situated around it. We had to battle it out to see who had most cloth dyed by the end of the allotted time.

Although the senior ranks had to remove their armour it was still a hard challenge for me, up against archers and shieldbearers, with me still learning with my blade and in a weakened state. But I thought I did alright.

The Besieger Lieutenant was in attendance but he paid me little heed, thankfully and after the training was completed and the maze deconstructed, Calla and I headed off to clear the graveyard. It wasn't long before another Besieger, Tripps called for us to join him on a patrol. Calla's shift was at an end so she headed off to bed while I headed out on patrol to Ilshenar.

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My wounds from the beating I took at the hands of the Besiegers are all but healed and it seems that they have little time for bearing grudges against a Trainee. I just need to regain my speed and strength and get better with a blade. It's coming. But it is painfully slow.

I haven't seen too many Waywatchers around the last day or so. I guess that's the point though. I can't wait to lose this iron armour and spend my time silently watching over our woodlands.

[Louisa Dart]

150 Copper awarded.

[Cullen]

14th day of the ninth month.

If my first few days in the militia had hit me like a hammer then last Friday was as if being swept up in a whirlwind.

I'm still settling into life as a Trainee. Being careful to be respectful to superiors, keeping out of the way of Besiegers and trying to remember names to faces. One name and face has been easy to call to mind in fact it has been dominating my thoughts almost everyday since I returned to Yew.

Calla. She called on me at the Abbey so we could walk to the Keep and report for duty together. She joined me for a little breakfast before we set out. Cookies appeared to take her fancy. I shall have to remember that. As we set out we were approached by a suspicious gentlemen who turned out to be a shade peddler. We made numerous attempts to handle the situation peacefully but the man resisted all attempts before lashing out at me. Along with another Trainee who had happened by the Abbey we brought our assailant down, even though he's had time to send word to Vesper for help.

We were about to take the peddler, known as Isorn into custody when a Rookie guard who's name Calla tell's me is Havenshawk arrived on the scene and seemed to dismiss our efforts, siding with the Vesperian and the criminal, letting them withdraw to Vesper rather than being brought to justice for their crimes. He seemed too friendly and knowledgable about this Isorn and the Vesperian Luke. I think it will be best to mind this Rookie Guard well in the future.

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After this incident Calla and I were sent to patrol the road and assault the orc fort. Even still learning our trade as guardsmen as we are we fared very well against the orcs forcing their warband to retreat from the fort before pulling back ourselves and taking a few quiet moments rest in the forest. We laid back against a fallen tree, panting still from our efforts against the orcs. I stole as many sideways glances at Calla as I dared, not all of them as stealthy as I would have hoped but when our eyes met she offered her kind smile in return.

We headed back to Stonekeep and dared to have a drink in the tavern with no-one else on duty. Again I found myself gazing at this kind hearted and thoughtful girl whom had become my first real friend in the militia.. No. More than that. I also caught her gazing back. I also dared to hope the kindness she showed me was a little more than what she offered everyone else. As our hands touched and then entwined absently as we talked those hopes soared further.

No words were spoken as I walked Calla home to her cousins house. We spent a long moment saying goodnight on her doorstep before I raced back to the Abbey. Again no words were spoken, though we did say goodnight.

[Cullen]

16th day of the ninth month.

The weekend passed slowly. Duties kept Calla and I apart and they seemed a little more mundane for that. Monday more than made up for the slow weekend as I entered the King's Deer after doing some chores at the Abbey to see Calla waiting for me away from the bar. I said my hellos to the Captain and gathered guardsmen and collected my payslip from miss Louisa before joining Calla at the table with an ale and some wine.

As we talked we seemed to raise a few eyebrows at the bar. The Captain commented that we should get a room. While that would not have been disagreable, for me at least, I don't think our conversation was anything out of place for the tavern, or anywhere else for that matter. Perhaps it was just simple teasing.

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Calla and I did take our leave after a while though. I had a gift for her, to thank her for her kindness towards me and I had also promised to show her a quaint little tavern in Skara Brae that I had visited previously with my family. My family. My thoughts wander to them often, but not with the pangs of parting that I initially endured upon my leaving them to return to Yew.

Calla and I enjoyed eachother's company on the rooftop terrace of the tavern until it was time to head home. What is blossoming between us is certainly more than friendship or comradeship. It's funny how being accused by Walker of carrying contraband and then taking a beating at the hands of him and Fraser drew Calla and I together, albeit at the Captain's orders for her to tend to my wounds.

I'd endure that beating everyday from now until my passing if what is between Calla and I blooms into what I hope it might..

* * * * *

This eve saw my first duty with the Waywatchers. They seemed a hardy and driven group. We made a reconassence of Templewood where the Templars are building a stronghold and hope to claim a large tract of territory for their own rule under some spurious treaty.

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I hope my report is to the lieutenant is acceptable and that I made a decent impression for a Trainee at least.

Calla and I patrolled the road south of Stonekeep later last eve. We shared an embrace with the our patrolling done. Although layers of armour seperated us it did nothing to lessen the moments we shared holding eachother close.

[Cullen]

17th day of the ninth month.

Sergeant Madsen put us to the test last night. Quizzing Calla and I about a murdered Trainee. What might have happened, how would we have reported it, possible motives and suspects and so on. Some of Calla's answers seemed to grate him and they appeared to be a little at loggerheads with eachother over the exercise.

Lieutenant Carpenter pulled me to one side and had me follow him to the dorms where he asked how I was finding life in the militia and if I had any problems and such. Militia life has been good to me thus far. Challenging and rewarding I told him, though I'm sure he'd heard that stock answer many times before.

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He tossed me a Footman's badge and drew a new uniform from the stores for me before we headed back to find Sergeant Madsen and Calla still in heated debate so I tried to calm the situation by suggesting to the Lieutenant that Calla and I should go on patrol.

We patrolled the road north a while before I walked Calla home. Her exchange with the Sergeant had clearly got to her. I had only witnessed the kind side of her nature thus far but I found this stubborn, not to be intimidated side of her equally attractive.

We said our goodnights before I jogged along back to the Abbey.

[Cullen]

23rd day of the ninth month.

Life in the militia is hectic and my time seems to be passing at pace. many of my duties have been overseen by Waywatchers which I hope will keep me in their thoughts. Ridley gathered us in the keep to go through the importance of well thought out disguises before sending us off to create our own. Although my own shepherds disguise was convincing enough with my dyed blonde hair and sheep in tow it wasn't very practical in terms of concealing armour whereas the experienced 'Watchers Tim and Kathris' disguises offered both practicality and believability.

The weekend as always consisted of my many chores around the Abbey and they also kept me from visiting the tavern Monday eve as early as I would have liked. Thankfully Calla was still there, talking at the bar with Ridley so I joined them. We helds hands as stealthily as we could as Ridley explained that women especially and smaller opponents in general will always struggle in a fight with a larger male enemy. I tried to offer that it's not the bigger man who will win, it's not always the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

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I didn't want to be seen as disrespectful to the Waywatcher or seem to be belligerent either so I was relieved when our discussion appeared to eventually arrive somewhere near the same conclusion. After Ridley left, Calla and I were soon joined by the Besieger Tripps. I've been on patrol with him and he does seem more likable than many of his 'brothers'. He asked me about my run in with the Besiegers a little while back and reluctantly, as I did not wish to open old wounds, I explained the events once again.

Tripps explained to me that not so long ago another Waywatcher recruit had caused a good deal of discord between the divisions, so perhaps I had paid the price for their actions but it is in the past now and hopefully forgotten.

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Last evening the Waywatchers and recruits met for the weekly meeting. Kathris it turned out had been kidnapped and branded the night before so Lieutenant Tenne asked us all to make enquiries into the attack before Corporal James led us on seaborne training to test out some newly designed uniforms for such a situation. I managed to successfully swim undetected from one craft to the other and then be the only one undefeated in the various combat scenarios we enacted.

Time with Calla has been scarcer these past days, though every moment with her is something I cherish. I think what is growing between us is very special to us both.

[Cullen]

25th day of the ninth month.

Yet again the days fly by, consumed with my duties.

Lieutenant Carpenter led us on am extensive patrol to cull dragon kin of all shapes and sizes. Our travels took us through Ilshenar and finally to the dragon's lair south of Skara Brae.

Things seemed a little strange upon our return to the Keep. Call, myself and another Footman were ordered to drink some samples of dragon's blood that had been collected. Thankfully we suffered no ill doing this other than the repulsive taste. Lieutenant Tenne then called the three of us into the tavern and gave us some tasks to work on towards our promotions.

We had to work together in one task to show our creativity and then place recruitment banners as our second duty. Over the next few days Calla, Llewelyn and I worked hard on our tasks and constructed a formidable stronghold from scratch. I hope it meets with Lietenant Tenne's expectations. The Lieutenant had a few kind words for me after the dragon culling. I hope I'm catching her eye.

Later in the week we travelled to New Haven for a baker's fayre. Calla and I were excited about spending a little time off duty together and held hands as we happily walked into the town. However members of the Collegium, who were understood to have kidnapped a Trainee were in attendance and after being challenged our trip was cut short as we headed to Malas in order to check on the Trainee's safety. The Collegium claimed to be doing advanced medical work on the Trainee. Satisfied he was in no danger Daven ordered us back to the portal. I headed headed home whilst many others headed to Cove to share a drink with our friends there.

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Later that night Calla sought me out in the Abbey and told me of her ordeal. Our men had been ambushed in Minoc by Vesperians. Only Sergeant Madsen's efforts in running to Cove to seek aid prevented a slaughter. The Covians and our guards managed to rout the Vesperians but not before prisoners were taken on both sides, including Calla. An exchange was made and battered and bruised Calla now sat with me on my bunk. Before long she was asleep in my arms as I watched her peacefully, the exertions of the eve taking their toll on her.

I lay for hours watching her sleep, it fascinated me. When she awoke I walked her back to her cousin's house where she dwells and had to battle the emptiness I felt in the pit of my stomach at our parting.

[Cullen]

6th day of the tenth month.

Another day, another spot search and another punishment administered by the Besiegers. Something of a trend is forming here.

As I strolled into the Keep eager to see Calla in the tavern I was stopped and my pack searched by a Besieger I would later hear being called Killian. He delved through my pack, finding nothing of interest and even complimented me on the condition of my kit.

Next he tested my knowledge of Militia lore, which I am a little ashamed to say is lacking, much like my knowledge of our local bagball teams. In my defence, I have only recently returned to Yew having left with my parents as a child but when the Besieger asked me who founded the Militia, even though I wracked my brains and a 'D' name was prominent in my thoughts the answer I offered was wrong and thus a punishment was decided upon by the Besieger as we were now joined by a number of other guards.

My task was to head into the woods and shave a bear... With a pair of scissors.

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Neither the bear nor i enjoyed this action much but I managed to shave the beast to the Besieger's satisfaction without being grievously harmed and was then dismissed to join Calla in the tavern.

We sat and talked, holding hands under the table as we again pricked the interest of others in the tavern. Later I walked her home, spending a little time with her in the garden of her cousins house before saying goodnight. Calla asked me what I thought about the way other people spoke of us when we were together and I didn't mind admitting that I enjoyed the fact people found our being together note worthy nor the fact people seemed to consider us well matched. Calla thought on this for a moment before nodding and smiling in agreement as she squeezed my hand.

Calla visited me at the Abbey this eve as I lay on my bunk penning these words. She enquired about my duties and I told her of the tasks the Waywatchers had put me through. She listened attentively as I spoke, sitting next to me on my bunk, our fingers entwined.

It wasn't long before she had to return home to bed. Even though the moments we share are often fleeting, punctuated by duties and the need to rest, they remain very tender and the highlight of my day, hopefully Calla's too.

[Louisa Dart]

175 Copper awarded.

[Cullen]

23rd Day of the Eleventh Month

Having completed the tasks assigned to me to gain the rank of Rookie Guard I found myself laid low by some lurgy or other. I think I caught it on the spying mission to Vesper.

At least being laid up at Seanna's house hasn't been too disagreable. Having her and Calla fuss over me hasn't been as scary as I imagined it would be.

On my return to duty the Militia had to defend the local moongate from attack. Wave after wave of orcs, Jukka and lizards poured forth and were repulsed by the Militia, our allies from Cove and wandering adventurers.

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Lieutenant Wilkes then had us check on an orcish prisoner that had seemingly escaped and whilst Lieutenant Davion rallied a search party I was told to wait in the dorms by Wilkes he then presented my with my iron arms and badge.

Not the best garb to be sneaking around in but I'm honoured none the less. Hopefully I can gain entry into the Waywatcher Division and make good on a promise to someone special.

[Radek Wilkes]

30 Copper awarded.