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Will be out of town starting tomorrow 4/3 through Sunday 4/6.

And likely less active than I have been throughout the next 2.5 weeks.

If Ritz is needed, I'll check for letters and still be around the Discord, can work around scheduling time if she's needed.

[Hziran 29, 7789]

——

Hziran 29, 7789

Something grave has happened. An Assembly of sorts, in audience of the Princess heir. A condemnation of Kha'esh and a seizure of Arslan - the Jackal did not take kindly to the message.

Something is brewing. And it's not going to be good.

——

[The penmanship is manic, filled with energy.]

I saw her again, Calliope. What little time she had away from her duties in the Priory, and I caught a glimpse of her in the Krak. I almost couldn't believe my eyes - but I'd never forget that face, that tenacious gait, that flash of red under the cowl.

We caught up for a time, it's been almost a month or so since I'd seen her. But it was still as if no time had passed at all. I took her to the restaurant, and showed her how well the oven's been working - for old time's sake. Oven spirits, who would have thought.

Then Garen showed up. Gerg made an appearance too.

I've missed her. More than I've been willing to admit. I hope I can see her again.

——

[Hziran 28, 7789]

——

Hziran 28, 7789

There's been some commotion. Rowan's made another attack - and then he made it clear why. The trees - those magnificent wonders at the Abulmahhu. Their destruction, an affront to the Wyld and blasphemy against Her. In less words, but the sentiment felt. I- [There's a moment of reflection.] understand. I saw it with my own eyes. Even in the laments of the Kusatma, guilt and despair in its wail. This is what brought the Well under His gaze. This was the stone cast against Rowan - the Wyld only acts in turn.

——

The Sukaitza came by the restaurant for a dinner. It was Garen's first shift too.

It was quite enlightening. Who'd have thought to find an Asterabadi philosopher among them. It gave me a lot to think about, and some reading to do too.

They seemed to like my food though, everyone except for what appeared to be the ranking officer. I dont think I got her name- [A moment of thought.] Lekubarri? I need more fish.

——

[The penmanship is sleepy and loose.]

A dream of darkness

In the distance, a flame
All around me - cries of anguish.

And then silence

Darkness.

——

[Hziran 26, 7789]

——

Hziran 26, 7789

So many new faces, it's hard to keep up. It's harder even - to know who to trust.

High Treason - Oswick and that gnome with the parrot, Ronald Goblinbutt- [The pen lingers in a moment of thought.] Reginald Goblinbane, for reasons unknown to me right now. Not that I thought I could trust them, after all one of them was thief and the other a gnome. But still - I'd never thought them capable of such betrayal.

I met a curious pair of new arrivals. An old man insistent that he was a young boy, dreaming - and that the Chalice would wake him from his slumber and reforge his body. Does he know that he already awoke? And then a woman - sickly and pregnant? intent on dismissing reality as a ruse. That this Disc we find ourselves on is a prison - our Gods merely children, and we their playthings.

Blasphemy clearly.

But I do wonder - have I ever been on a ship before?

——

[There's a manic edge to the penmanship.]

That's the last of it. Not that it was helping much anymore. It'd be a waste to ask for more.

He's getting too close. He admitted as much, and all I could do was run away. No warning, no rebuttal - no truth.

The truth is - I don't want to be alone anymore.

The truth is - I'll kill him.

——

[Hziran 24, 7789]

——

Hziran 24, 7789

I've been learning more about the Wroth lately. The rightfully feared Eighth Spoke of the Wheel, for we are all judged under His gaze. But to repent for our sins and enact His vengeance - this is the only way to avert His wrath.

I wonder what the Wyld thinks of me - I've devoted my worship to Her ever since I awoke, and she blesses me everyday with her bounty. I honor Her - creating nourishing meals from Her harvest, tending the garden that is my home.

But I find myself harboring deep thoughts of revenge - against those that murdered my friend, against the evil that stole her from me.

——

Something frightening happened today. The charity chest in the Hope was cursed, and three spirits of a sort hovered about. There was some arguments - on whether this was a matter of faith and a task for the Speakers, but the Apothar Zol Nur made it clear his arcane knowledge was the answer. To which it seemed was the truth.

All the more reason to be frightened. The spirits spoke - at first, innocuous. A taste in the air. Could they smell me? And then a warning - blood, boiling and bubbling beneath, the sky falling in a thunderous clap.

The curse was lifted without much trouble - a concentrated effort between the faithful and the arcane. Inside were the tools of a necromancer, thought to be the source of the curse.

I'm not so sure.

——

[The penmanship is manic and hurried.]

I can hear it.
Taste it.

The boiling - thick and viscous.
Blood.

It grows louder.

They're still here.

——

[Hziran 22, 7789]

——

Hziran 22, 7789

[There's some sense of catharsis in the penmanship.]

The Coiled Canyons - Sibilant defilers. Important work to be done. Important that even the Wroth would direct His gaze, and send a Makhyoon to see it done. The work was swift.

I learned of his Temple - of its tenets.

It's been some time I think, since His gaze has been drawn to the Well. There's a reckoning due.

An extra prayer to the Wyld tonight. [A scribbled star reminder.]

——

I've got a brand new steel pan now. Found among the treasures in the canyon - some culinary palette. Destined for Baz'eel from the looks of it, before it was intercepted by the Sibilant. Most of it not worth hauling home.
 
But this pan - by the Wheel was it my lucky day. Something truly deluxe, the Chef who ordered this is certainly devastated.

And Katya ordered some candy - she's hoping to have a meeting or something. With her neighbors.

——

[Hziran 21, 7789]

——

Hziran 21, 7789

I'm thinking about Grenth again. The Wroth's gaze is upon the Well now, and these feelings of vengeance resurface. There's whispers of a Makhyoon and some Temple of the Vigilante. And though the Wroth has already answered my prayers - they're still out there, the conspirators.

Perhaps, at the very least - I can offer a tithe.

——

I finally caught up with Haknar - I showed him the new contract and he signed it on the spot, even complimented me on my writing. I had no idea he was teaching the refugees how to read and write- [A brief moment of thought.] at least enough to sign an enlistment contract.

I have a good feeling now - I think we're on the same page, and we can both benefit from this relationship. He even met Gerg, and they seemed to get along. Hopefully the rest of the oven spirits will feel the same. I can't afford any trouble in the kitchen.

——

[An ashy streak stains the margin as something is brushed away.]

I don't know where he got them, and so quick too. Two fresh packs in no time. I guess he is a Senior Scribe, he'd know where they keep all the cigarettes they use to stock the worm-exchange.

I've missed it - and she's not here to tell me not to.

And neither is she.

I don't think the water is working anymore, I'm not sleeping well. I'm not dreaming either, but I'm not sleeping.

——

[The penmanship trembles - shaking in some amount of pain.]

It's your fault.
It's all your fault.

——

[Hziran 19, 7789]

——

Hziran 19, 7789

Just when I thought the restaurant was keeping me busy enough - now I'm spearheading some project for the Smithing Guild.

Lujayn has grant money. She wants to fund the apprenticing of refugees, that they may learn a craft and find purpose - a noble cause. The request was obviously aimed at Dudley - considering she's the head of the guild. But I suppose I was the one who suggested shovels so it's my responsibility now. Lujayn was also talking to Katya, about supporting the Balladeers with this grant money too - a smart move.

She'll make a great politician.

I need to talk to Theo.

——

A tea party - it'll be perfect. Garen's been able to brew up some tea that will go great with my pastries. Now to just finalize the menu and make the announcement. I have a feeling I'll need more tea - it's not something commonly brewed around the Well, and I'm sure there'll be more than a few curious patrons.

Garen also gave me some perfume. It was lovely, but I hope- [There's some amount of hesitation.] I'm not getting too close I don't give him the wrong idea. But he's also got some good recipes for useful incense and these baubles of darkness.

I wonder if I should try my hand at merchanting. Ritz's Antique & Thrift.

——

[The penmanship is harsh, pressed and scratched into the page.]

There is no justice in the halls of jurisprudence. Oswick made magistrate, false confessions, and the 4th - hamstrung by politics and bureaucracy.

But now, Cort says the Wroth is on the Stele.

And now, it calls to me.
Beckoning for vengeance.

Wroth on the Stele.

——

[Hziran 18, 7789]

——

Hziran 18, 7789

What have I gotten myself into? It'll be good to have Garen around the restaurant, but I think- [There's some consideration before the thought is cast aside.] at least I'll have someone I can trust around.

Haknar's got me thinking though - says I ought to have a charter of sorts. A proper guild he says. Casa Manta, something more than just a restaurant. That's a thought. I suppose it's a start of something. Hiring Garen on and contracting with Haknar.

Suppose I really ought to look for a Sous Chef now. What am I getting myself into?

——

[The penmanship is loose and messy.]

What are you getting yourself into?

You think you can hire people to be around you - to feign some kind of camaraderie? You think you can buy relationships? You can build an empire, surround yourself with suitors, and you'll still be alone.

No one knows you, not anymore. They're all dead - or realized that it's dangerous to get any closer, so they left. You can't blame them.

You're going to get that poor boy killed.

——

[Hziran 16, 7789]

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Hziran 16, 7789

[There's a peculiar energy to the penmanship, something masking the exhaustion.]

Where do the days go?

It's all a blur and I'm exhausted. It feels like so much has happened in these last few days, but- [Some amount of hesitation lingers in the ink.] where does it go?

Whisked away to some place liminal, as Maqqari put it. An Astral Whale, and the stirrings of a frenzied school. Rescued maybe? by something. Someone - taken to another place, a strange room with winding hallways before finding ourselves back where we started.

And then there was a murder - again. The Vizier, Inanna. A terrible fate just outside the Krak, in the middle of the Plaza. How? I wonder if what happened to us was an omen. Some kind of sick irony. Poor Vellyn.

And then there was War - again. An assault against the Abulmahhu - led by Aurelio and a success this time around. Tension and nerves leading up to the battle. Garen, Nela and I agreed to stick together, but we ended up separated.

And then there was fire - again. The burning of another ancient tree - slumbering, knowing not of its fate. The cry of desolation - Kusatma. Doubt was never in my mind. And yet here, now - I wonder if this is the right course.

And in between all of this - work. Seemingly insignificant, but work nonetheless. I wonder if hiring Haknar to bartend is a smart decision - I'd still like to hire Garen, but not if he's going to study under the Balladeers.

——

——

[The page is filled with incomprehensible scribbles and scratchings]

——

[Hziran 12, 7789]

——

Hziran 12, 7789

[There's an edge to the penmanship.]

Bumped into Sister Jamei - I need more water. I don't know if she knows. I don't know if she was told. She asked to hear more. But I had to get this board work done.

A caravan job with Garen and Qen. Korin gave us blessings. It was dogmen - my heart was racing. The howling. We found a hole in the ground too. Some scientist selling scrolls. A nice cape - and Qen was real excited about some Tome. I barely got a look before he snatched it up.

It was so loud in the Krak when we got back. Katya has been teaching Garen. They share a room now. Good for her. She was going to give him a lesson, but they came along for more work - Katya stood guard at camp.

A cave of spiders - they don't bleed like the dogmen do. But the flames - a priestess of the Second. Like an old friend, nostalgic - invigorating.

——

[The penmanship is manic.]

Thinking of her,
again.
Running out of water,
again
Craving a smoke,
again

Alone,
again.

——

[Hziran 11, 7789]

——

Hziran 11, 7789

I bought Bashir's new outfit. Just like I said I would. It's quite nice and he's putting a lovely line together. I'm really looking forward to the next one.

But that mean's I need extra work. Board work. Another graveyard - more Sibilant. Then a trip to the Ashways. Harpies were the priority, but we took out a tower of trogs on the way.

I'm so tired.

——

[A curiously blank page. There are faint scratches - as if something was written without any ink.]

——

Ritz Chapter 2:

"Tonight I'll sleep
With demons in my hair"

[Hziran 10, 7789]

——

Hziran 10, 7789

My Shoe Buns were a hit! A shame really, that I couldn't present them myself - I was lucky to run into Bashir though. He was gracious enough to give Angelica the box of pastries I had ready. At least she got to try them.

——

Some drama about the well. Mazeed the Wyrm apprentice was slain by one of the Absolvers. Then there was some chatter about what sort of authority an Absolver holds.

Solina made some claims about the 2nd Legion - or bandits dressed as the 2nd Legion. They didn't take kindly to the accusation and made sure their thoughts on the matter were known. Probably not bandits.

She really ought to lay off the frogs.

——

I ran into Cort for a bit. Caught him up on the gossip. He's been really busy lately - Prelate and all. It's been a while since we set out on some work together. But it was nice catching up, him and Selwyn seem to be back at it together.

——

[The penmanship winces in pain. Shaken and unnerved.]

I was caught being reckless. Tunnel vision in the heat of the moment. Sibilant - what are they doing so close to the Well? Regardless, some lessons learned - and some harsh reminders.

I suppose when you're alone, what's there to be cautious about?  I've been injuring myself more as of late. Less care, less precision. Just instinct and bloodlust.

What's happening in my sleep?

——