Arcavius's Journal

The second page of the journal is holding a folded map of Falanar with a myriad of letters and numbers that all relate to a table written on the page.

The map of Falanar we were given may be slightly out of date, but most of the currently recognized maps of the continent aren't exactly full of details either. This one doesn't recognize the Everstar Isles, so it was likely made long before anybody decided to sail over in either direction.

I am excited to venture across the sea and see this place for myself. Everstar lacks in the diversity of race that Falanar has, a melting pot of many of the more uncommon faces we rarely see come through Sabrelot. Thankfully, our first stop is Ya'jar to meet with the Tieflings, and since we're sailing there we'll likely have time to take in the sights and meet the locals. I've only ever met the one tiefling, Cha'ra. She's nice enough, but works on the other end of the city, so we rarely interact.

A few doodles take up the next few lines. Imagines of a poorly sketched griffon's head and the symbol of The Dawnsilver Riders, equally poorly sketched.

A few lines below that is a second entry.

Ya'jar is everything we expected it to be! A very functionally built place with a magnificently constructed palace. The Tieflings were very happy with our attempts to contact them, offering to send a few instructors to Sabrelot to teach us some of their more advanced fighting techniques. The Ya'jar people are masters of warfare, and it shows! I'm hoping we'll be returning to Sabrelot soon that I may be able to book myself into one of the training sessions. Knight Seraphine has suggested that we may stay in Ya'jar for a time, she seems to have caught the trail of something going on. I don't know how she gets so much information so quickly in a new city like this, it is truly fascinating.

A few swords and axes are drawn below this entry before the next bit of writing begins a few lines down.

On our way back to Sabrelot! It took us a few days, but Knight Seraphine managed to dig up whatever it was she was looking for. I took Aurelia for a flight around the city since she hadn't stretched her wings in a few days, she seemed quite thankful for the small bit of exercise she was able to get. We're on the boat now, and as it was on our way here, half of us are seasick. Some of the griffons take to the sea about as well as their riders do, and I've heard Knight Arlow running down the hallway three times now to go throw up. I am, blessedly, immune to the seasickness that seems to plague everyone, but that also means I have twice the work to do. Oh well.

We arrived safely back in Sabrelot, though a storm through us off course by an entire day. Knight Arlow was furious, and Knight Seraphine looked like she was about ready to try and fly all the way home herself. Neither of them seem interested in travelling by boat again, but the griffons simply can't carry us and our packs that far-- they know this, of course, and I don't envy their suffering. I'm sure once they've had a few days back in the city with some proper food they'll brighten up. As for myself, I signed up for one of the training lessons held by a tiefling polearm master. I'm hoping he can teach me to use a billhook properly, as other riders were always a trouble for me during training. Having a proper polearm, as well as my sword, seems like a good combination.

Several doodles of various weapons plague the majority of this page, everything from crossbows to zweihanders, and everything in-between.

The first training session was a disaster on my part! I learned a lot, but it was clear that I have an immense amount of learning to do if I wish to properly use anything larger than an arming sword. The instructor was kind enough to book me in for the next training session, though I think it may have something to do with my affiliation more than any latent skill he thinks I possess. Still, I will do my best to practice whenever I can. The next training session will be in training hall B on the east wing DON'T FORGET!!!

It seems like some kind of disaster has struck a city in Falanar. Many people are speaking of an entire city being destroyed, but nobody knows what did it. Several knights have been dispatched to render aid, and when I asked whether we were going or not, Knight Seraphine said that drow raiding parties were out of my league. She seemed quire annoyed at the time so I left her alone, though I fear she may have been born in the city that was destroyed. I'm going to go to the library to see what I can dig up about the city.

A few small notes on Regus are scribbled down, though they simply reference the city's past.

Knight Seraphine approached to apologize for her anger earlier, which is entirely odd for her. We spoke briefly and she revealed her parents were living in the city, so she is flying out there to ensure they are still alive. The trip would take at least a month just to arrive there, I worry that she may be simply going to find corpses. I offered to go with her but she turned me down, stating this was a personal matter that should be handled as such. Knight Arlow called her a fool and said that we were all going together, and that got her to agree. My bags have been packed for what will likely be my longest outing from Sabrelot in my entire life. I'm excited but also beyond worried, hopefully we don't run into any trouble.

Once more we are boat-bound for Falanar. Regus sits on the southeastern coast, so we're simply sailing there and will fly out once we're close enough. The entire city has been destroyed, and is likely full of raiders and pillagers now, so we don't want to risk the ship in the event the city isn't receptive to our visit. The knights have been all too quiet during the trip, not even complaining about the sea-sickness, I worry the mood is never going to improve once we reach the city itself.

A few doodles of sea-monsters and ships take up the next few lines.

We arrived in Regus, or what was left of it, in the early morning. There was no time for preparation or planning, we flew into the city under the cover of the early morning darkness, and Knight Seraphine flew to the house her parents lived in only to find a massive crater. The hole was unfathomably large, and there was no end to the holes in the ground. It was as if someone had poked holes in the earth like a fine cheese, I can't even begin to imagine what could have done this. The knights have been searching around the city for the last few hours, we're currently taking refuge in the remains of a smithy, and I've been ordered to sit here and keep watch. I pray they are safe in their search. The sun is beginning to rise and I fear we should be leaving sooner than later, I keep hearing distant noises in the darkness, and my nerves have been shot all night. Even Aurelia has been spooked several times now.

Knight Arlow was shot by a crossbow during the search, but we managed to get him out relatively unscathed. It seems that drow raiders had infested the ruins of the city and were attempting to capture anybody who came looking to scavenge the remains of the city, even a month after the place was destroyed. The patience of some is unfathomable. We are returning to Sabrelot now.

He's being treated for a grazing hit now, nothing even near fatal thanks to his helmet, but it managed to clip the side of his neck. Clearly whoever shot at him knew what they were doing, I doubt I could land a neck shot with a crossbow in the dead of night.

We're delayed quite a bit on our trip back to Sabrelot, the sea is not keen on letting us through without a fight. Interestingly, we met a sea-elf named Therris who was travelling with a pod of massive fish. He was very kind and offered directions on how to reach our destination a bit faster as he knew the currents of the area well. Astounding.

Knight Arlow's wound seems to be giving the healers a bit of trouble. He assures us it's nothing a bit of rest won't fix, but Knight Seraphine doesn't seem convinced. I can hear her pacing back and forth during the night, she's very troubled. I pray her family made it out of the city even without the city.

A new style of writing sits below this entry, a quote from the sea elf, Therris.

"To Arcavius, may your wings carry you to greatness. Embrace each sunrise with the knowledge that each new day brings you endless paths to take, and let all of the trials ahead simply flow around you like a rock against the flow of a stream. - Therris

We've arrived back to Sabrelot, and managed to make up the lost time thanks to Therris' guidance. Knight Arlow was taken to the medical ward as soon as we arrived, and I've only just settled in my room once again. The healers will be able to purge whatever infection has taken hold, as they've always been able to patch me up after all the scrapes I picked up. Knight Seraphine has closed herself off in her chambers, likely needing time to process everything properly. She barely spoke a word this last month, hopefully Arlow's recovery will see her spirits brighten.

It's been a week since we arrived, I saw Knight Arlow walking around with his helmet on in the halls today, which was a bit odd, but I'm glad to see him up and about. I have continued my training with the tiefling instructor as well, I'm slowly catching on to some of the techniques he's trying to teach. Being able to trip an opponent in the middle of a fight seems like an immensely helpful skill to have, and Aurelia has joined in on the training as well! She acts as an impressive distraction in the middle of a fight, or allows me to more easily flank an enemy. I've been booked for another lesson, and I believe the instructor might simply enjoy the novelty of teaching a griffon how to fight, but that's fine with me!

Oddly enough, I was called a "senior squire" today. I can't decide whether this was a jest or a sign of respect. Nobody has ever called me such, and I've never heard any of the knights calling anybody else as such, so I'm beginning to believe that, perhaps, it's a jab at my not having risen to Knighthood yet. Knight Arlow has said multiple times now that he's appealed for my Knighthood trail, but I believe Knight Seraphine may think I'm not ready yet. I believe I've proven myself in every trial set before me so far, and I've never once slacked on my given duties no matter how much I despise certain ones.

I may also be overthinking it all. Still, I hope this doesn't stick.

A few sketches of knight helmets are covering a few lines on the page. Some of them almost look halfway decent.

It's been a few weeks since anything interesting worth writing about has happened, but today a Dwarven trader came by the markets. He claimed to be trading in siege machines and some of the rarest materials known to man, with quite a lot on display as far as common items went. I hadn't purchased anything from the last few traders that made their way to Sabrelot as most simply try to sell off novelties they think will impress people, but I must confess the dwarf was selling a very nicely made arrangement of weapons. Most squires eschew buying gear that hasn't been provided by the Order, typically talking about how our Dawnsilver weapons will always be better than any commonly forged weapon, but as I haven't been issued my trials yet I decided to buy a proper billhook for myself-- or a guisarme as the dwarf called it. I also purchased a scimitar for what may be a foolish reason, but I was told it was the favoured weapon of The Everlight many years ago, stories of Sarenrae have always inspired me, and it felt fitting.

It seems the rest of the page is filled with various sketches of various quality.

A fantastic find! As I was cleaning out my old room I stumbled upon my old journal. I can't believe it had gotten lost behind the bed of all places, stuck between the frame and the wall where I never would have found it had I not been changing rooms. I gave a read through it, and I noticed my last entry was when I first bought my guisarme and scimitar. A great bit of nostalgia, even though it was only two years ago.

A great many things have happened since then, it's hard to remember all of the important details, and even harder to put them into a short summary, so I will simply write the most important pieces of information.

We took a secondary trip to Regus in an effort to aid the reconstruction efforts. It was a very brief outing, but Knight Seraphine managed to contact her family again. As far as I know they've since moved back into the city.

Knight Arlow was scarred terribly from the bolt he was hit with in Regus, I caught a glimpse of his face a few weeks after my last entry. He now wears his helmet all the time as his face has been damaged quite extensively, though his spirit and mood remains as bright as ever. We insist he need not wear the helmet, but he insists back that he doesn't wish to scare off the ladies.

One of the griffon elders passed away a few months ago, I believe he was Aurelia's father. Griffons don't care much for family, of course, but we held a small service for him regardless, as is tradition.

The rank of Knight-Commander was awared to Knight Eltrix who has been tending to the aviary longer than me, my parents, and my grandparents have even been alive. He kept saying he never wanted it, but this is his retirement plan I think. His apprentice has taken over the griffon aviary and he now advises on the council.

I completed my lessons with the tiefling martial instructor, Ker'rix. During our final duel, I won two of three bouts, and he declared he had nothing further to teach me. He's been instructing here for three years total and I believe he's going to head back home for a few years. It was a pleasure to have him in Sabrelot.

As of Sabrelot itself, one of the dragons passed away due to old age which is...not something I expected to ever do in my lifetime, attend a dragon's funeral. It was a very impressive display.

I was offered a position in the Nightstrum military by a visiting lesser noble. I declined.

Several more sketches coat half of this page. The quality of sketches has improved dramatically, and now consist of sketches depicting various members of the Order with their names under each one.

The time has come! I've been issued my Knighthood Trials. I didn't expect the ceremony to be so official and fancy, but I was brought into the Knight-Commanders chambers and asked to take a seat at the end of the table. A fairly lengthy discussion went on, I was praised for my deeds thus far, and Knight Seraphine issued me a sealed scroll. I was told that I had a year to complete each of these trials in order to ascend to knighthood.

My excitement is showing a little too much, I can't stop my hands from shaking and it's infected Aurelia as well. I'm writing the trials down here just for my own sake, but the scroll will need to stay with me during them.

Knight Seraphine, Knight Arlow, and I are all heading to Falanar once again. It's been a few years since I was there, so I'm excited for the chance to travel, though I haven't been told as to the why of this visit. I'm choosing to believe the pair of them are simply taking me there as a chance to look for solutions to my Trials. I've been obsessing over them for the last few weeks, and I think they know as much. Knight Arlow was very keen to tell me about his trials. Each knight is issued a unique set, and his targeted his ego and vanity quite harshly. He keeps telling me to try and figure out what mine are focused around, but I'm coming to no conclusions at all. Perhaps my lack of introspection is my problem?

We arrive at a small village outside of First City to dock soon. From there we'll simply fly to our destination. Knight Arlow keeps talking about a tavern he ate at a few years ago that he's pining to return to, so that will likely be our first stop.

The top of the page features a scribbling of the most feral of creatures, a rat with scratchy vibration scribbles, a cartoonish depiction of a bear, and a cat with guns in it's paws.

So, it seems, I've fallen in league with what I am assuming is a group of travelling entertainers who masquerade as adventurers. They gave me a wooden pin to signify I was a part of their ranks, and off we went to investigate a cave said to be full of riches.

While this is a slight detour from my originally planned route, I still intend to see this job through with them. If I'm lucky, they will eventually lead me unto someone who might actually hold a crumb of relevant information. A woman and her griffon can't needs move about the place without arousing a bit of attention.

Our first encounter of the day was possibly the most deranged group of kobolds I'd ever seen. Single-mindedly pursuing their great act of suicide in the name of whatever foul creature they worship. They...were defiant, if nothing else, but posed little threat to the group. Hopefully those that ran away live a fairly fruitful life and don't just throw themselves into the jaws of the next bear they see.

I'll admit, I wouldn't have chosen this group as my first choice in companions. The large Ursine fellow wanted to duel me the moment he met me, the kitsune fellow seems to have glass bones and paper skin, the...talking house cat seems to run the place with a very loose grasp on the reins, the rat seems to have a deep need for validation that borders on the obsessive, the...scarecrow? Goblin? Seems to be an objectively cursed creature whose existence on this plane feels like a mistake, and the cat-woman with  the gun is about as inclined to engage with them as I am.

Still, they seem to be close with one another, and while they may be a little...unorthodox, they certainly manage to show deadly efficiency when it comes to dispatching kobolds. That said, two of them became petrified the first time we saw something that wasn't a kobold, so perhaps I may have to reevaluate their familiarity with the local monster species. I've an old encyclopedia they may benefit from since it has a myriad of pictures.