Excerpts of the Journal of Erud II  

 

Journal Excerpt Four

The dwarves have been kind enough to invite us to their home city of Kaladim, a rather stuffy and cramped subterranean city built into one of the taller mountains of the Butcherblock range. The most impressive sight so far has been the enormous statue that has been carved into the very side of the mountain. Apparently it is the visage of a great dwarven king. Some of our company has taken a liking to the strong brews of the Dwarves. I fear it may be time to move on before their minds get dulled by the intoxicating substances, and the appressiveness of being constantly surrounded by stone and the clatter of the mines echoing through out the caverns is wearing on my sanity.

Journal Excerpt Five

My company has left the dwarven capitol of Kaladim and now journeys into the deep forests of the Faydark, home of the elves. We have had the fortune of hiring a scout and translator for our journey into the lands of the elves. It seems this odd individual, Tolsarian, is a half-elf. I had heard of the union between an elf and human, but have never before actually had the opportunity to meet one. I found Tolsarian to be a very intelligent individual and he possessed a vast knowledge of the Faydarks and its many inhabitants. Tolsarian spoke little, however, of his heritage. He spoke of the humans and elves as if neither were his people, and I sensed a deep sadness in his demeanor. Tolsarian’s spirits did seem to lift a bit when we reached the tree city of the wood elves, the Fier’Dal - I believe it was that Tolsarian called them - and were greeted by an elven maiden that appeared before us as if she had stepped forth from the very bark of the tree before us.

Journal Excerpt Six

I’ve found my stay in the tree city of Kelethin much more pleasing than my stay in the stifling halls of Kaladim. Some of my company do not agree with my pleasure. They find the wine of the elves to be far less enjoyable than the rich brews of the dwarves. These drunkards in my company have such simple minds to base so much of their enjoyment off the imbibing of intoxicating beverages. These Fier’Dal are a strange people, even stranger to me than the dwarves. The dwarves are blunt of speech and manner and their simple ways are easy for even the weakest minded of my companions to understand. The Fier’Dal, however, are puzzling. I have no doubt that they are an intelligent people, but they are uninterested in scholastics and conventional knowledge. Instead, these aptly named wood elves are frivolous and mysterious, spending all their time sneaking about the forests, caring for its wild beasts, and singing and dancing in their tree top city. Their history and lore seems to be told mostly in folklore and poetry, though they have a written language, which according to Tolsarian, is shared with their relatives, the high elves. They are, however, a good people and there is wisdom in their poetry and song.