Rayel Needle's Journal.

[written in elven, in a somewhat strict manner, even letters are looking less soft and vibrant than usual - sharper, with bold lines and rough edges]

Day 1...
Nightmares are coming no more. Luckily, will be able to sleep almost normally in a new place.

Priorities this week - learn the new place, restore, work on the equipment, then start searching.

Note to self - look for information sources. It might be useful later on.

Innkeeper assistant asked to deal with a common problem - rats. Assistant told about some particularly big one. It will not be a problem.

Need to investigate the city thoroughly. Do not trust this map the dwarf sold me.

Day 3.
Met a person in the sewers, who goes by the name Gala.
Hooded mage, presumably human, male. Summoner.
Shown some knowledge of arcane arts, though still learns his way through it. It might be useful.

Asked him several questions - knows not much about the region. Need another information source.

Finished mapping the inner parts of the city and naming most of the shops and inns inside the town.
Still lots of places to be and to see.

Starting to map the sewers and slums properly.

Day 4. Finished mapping the slums and the first level of the sewers.

Day 5. Gala is a good companion to have around. Useful.

While restoring the strength and him placing his summons between us and foul creatures, this cooperation is fruitful.

He gets along with my humour. Remarkable.

Registered in the Guild, to be able to conduct business officially.

Finished mapping the outskirts of the city.
Found an additional exit out of the sewers to Arabel outskirts. Portal nearby. Leads to the Underdark.

Probably is where the smuggling is coming from or coming to.

Got the smugglers ringleaders' head. Closed the bounty task that the 'Eyes' gave.

Visited the Raven's Plumes, got a decent pair of shoes.

Day 6.
Got a decent bounty for cleaning up cultists and smugglers in the sewers.

Used it to upgrade the equipment.

Found a place, Violets, where scrolls are being sold. Some very useful ones in particular.
Need to stockpile for future endeavors.

..Should try calling Hiss, later.

Day 8.
Gala showed 'The Ends of the World' inn in slums.

So far liked it the most, apart from bath's hot springs and one of the bigger rooms in Warblin Seraph.

...This is it. Ccan dream here with almost no nightmares.

Odd. Like it.

Day 9.
Finished mapping the sewers lower level and smugglers hideout.

Those cultists never knew what hit them this time.

Cannot get deeper, requires some sort of key. No interest in searching for it.

Day 10.
Met and conversed with several folks who look just like Equier's mother.
Casually sitting near the trees, fighting their boredom, with the power to lit the nearby grove with a snap of a finger.

They might be useful. Need to get acquainted.

During the day, met with a young elf, Irya, very new to the outside world and its dangers. She was decently taught to handle a sword, though.

Accompanied Gala and Irya, exploring the local area. New targets for rat-get practice.

Day 11.
Gala showed a cave in Hullask Forest. Kobold's Den.

Slew every lizardcur could find, may Shevarash claim their filthy souls.

Odd. Lizards were protecting a Yuan-Ti worshipper, who was performing a ritual over a dead human male. Need to investigate for possible clues.

Day 13.
Became strong enough to summon Serene and Gabriel. Shevarash's blast, but missed them so much.

Met a wiseman, Kaladin.

By the look of his robe and that strange aura feel, assumed he was a magic weaver, like the others.

Proceeded to bluntly question him. Got lucky, wiseman did not got angry or refuse talking.

We had a conversation.
He knows now of my pursuit of the Oathbreaker.
He said bestie was not spotted in the area as far as he knows. Same - about Yuan-Ti and Kobolds in the region.
He said he is not the best source of information. Suggested to meet his friend, Blade Nallah, who he said is a renown dragon hunter.

Dragon hunter? This is just what's needed. Need to question her thoroughly.

Day 15.
Finally. After a week of attempts, managed to imbue an arrow properly.

My power is slowly returning.

Feel ready to start asking questions.

Day 17.
Met a bard that goes by the name of Mari 'Melody' Sigers.

We conversed, questions was asked.

She learned about the searches of Yuan-Ti and the dragon.

The conversation was fruitful.
She pointed several directions to check:
- Suzail, the capital. (archives, search for the information on Thauglor, the black-turned-purple dragon, possibly the recorded spawns) (note on the side - Thaug-lori-morgorus)
- Dalesmen. (old wisers, can know whereabouts of a dragon).
- Elves of Velethuil. (quite possibly some were living during the reign of the Purple Dragon itself, will not hurt to investigate).
- Shallast. (Yuan-Ti traces, ruins).
- Edasseril. (Yuan-Ti traces, near Dales, marches).

Day 18.
Read several books in Arabel's library on the lore and history of Cormyr. No hints of the Dragon.
In fact - not even a single one, aside from regular history.

A journey to capital bore no fruits.

Need to gain the audience with royalty or find a War Wizard official.
Search for archives closed to the public? Save for later.

Asked a tall elf, who called himself Camthallion, "Arabel's most hateful elf", of where Shallast and Edasseril can be found.

Several individuals were unable to guide to those places either.
White-hooded-female, presumably elf that was accompanying him, the other female by the name Sin and third one, halfling, presumably do not know either or wished not to help.

Conversations today bore no fruits.

Day 20.
Followed Mari Siger's advice.

Met a woman, War Wizard official, officer, that goes by the name Maria.

We conversed, conversation bore some fruits.
She mentioned Vast Swamps in the area. Can potentially be a hideout. Sounds reasonable to check it out.

Told about Yuan-Ti in Shallast, then said the ruins that go by this name are guarded and off-limits.

Denined my request of passage. Not a problem. Yuan-Ti is only a tertiary priority.

Finally met with 'Blade Nallah'. Kaladin's friend.
The best source of information so far.

Allowed to use her name to refer. Might be useful.

Leads to other dragons lairs:
- The Bloodthorn, Red Dragon lair. Direction - East, after Hullack Forest, after Thunderlun, close of Murky Swamps.
- Stormhorns, Lightning Pearks, Eagle peaks - have caves. Close to the Valley of Broken Sky. Caves - check, can be bandits. Valley - dragon cultists. Double-check. Oathbreaker might try to hide in there or take help from cultists. Questionable, but possible.
- Tur Plains, a village with Cyric cultists. Dangerous, need a heavy team. They block an entrance to the place named 'Wall of Dragon'. Might be a lead, though doubtfully. Last resort check place.
- North. Long bridge with cursts. Two places - deadly golems cave, Netheril Archives, and skull-shaped cave, leads to Mist Dragon lair.
- Swordhaven, seek the man named Zander - is said to be a professional, veteran, noble Knight of the Purple Dragon. Might help. Potentially a good information source.

Leads to Vast Swamps:
- Hullack Forest - The East Way - Forest Edge, then go to the south. Find Hullack Forest, some giant trees. Keep going south, will find the Vast Swamps.

Leads to Yuan-TI:
- Past Thunderlun to East, in direction of Thundergap. Find Eastway borderlines, then go north, find Murky Swaps.
Might be a hideout somewhere in the 'middle'.
Search for clues - can be a Black bestie lair site, as well.

Find Frigo, a hin rogue. Knows places and information.
Find Don Macbane, human. Huge mustache, swordmage, dance instructor. Knows places.

Day 56.
Gala showed to a place that was not scouted yet thouroughly - Hullack's forest, southern stretch.

A camp on a platform... on the top of a huge tree. Can make it my place of operations, before venturing to the Vast Swamps.

It became hard to suppress the memories and pain.

Gala showed signs of affection. Need to be careful with the words and actions when he is around.

Sleeping undressed probably was not a good idea.

Did not sleep well today.

Day 58.
Got wounded, an orc managed to stab the left arm. Slashing hit, was not fast enough. Can still hold the bow.

Got a lot of their scouts around the camp.

Not ready to face the camp, alone. For now.

Sleep is getting worse.

Day 59.
Visited Swordhaven.

Did not find the man Nallah mentioned.

Mapped the outskirts of the town.

Found ogres hideout in a something looking like ruins of a castle, buried in the rock.

Formidable foes. The cut prevented to operate the bow.

Need to be careful.

Day 61.
Went for bounties on ruffians heads around the Halfhap. Again. Cleared all of them.

The reward was good.

Got another hit to the same place. Healing potions will not be enough this time. Need some rest.

Met Victorian, paladin, at baths. He healed the arm and the bruises. We conversed.

Told him about the dragon. And the past.

Probably was a mistake.

Nightmares will surely worsen soon.

Day 62.
Bad dreams keep coming.

The only place to sleep barely acceptable is at the 'Ends'.

Not enough. Still hear their screams.

Need to find a solution, quickly.

Need to investigate the Vast Swamps.

Do not feel ready.

Day 64.
Fourth day with no sleep. Hard to think straight.
Need to suppress the dreams, or embrace. Too much pain.

The scroll did help to refresh the body. But not the mind.

Healing did not go in vain. Muscles are operational, can hold the bow. At least some good news.

Went for the bounty on backbiters' heads again. They seem to plague these lands, like mosquitos.
Even keep bringing the ogres to the fray.
Does not matter. As long as the bounty is paid and the arrow flies.

Shown Nolyth the place in Giant Trees.
Told her something of my past. She knows why, now.
Probably did a mistake, again.
Saw the nightmare to it's fullest. Managed to overcome it.

Probably she helped somehow, not sure. Did not feel like an outsider's presence.
Not a cleric or bard magic. Weird.

Need to test if it was her. Will ask her later.

She is a nice pillow.

Day 66.
Met a woman with a dragon tattoo on the hip - why it always must be a blasted dragon - who lost an object of importance to her.
Rogues ran to the forest, the direction on the schedule.

Need to stay alert.

Continue to map the Semberholme Forests.

Visited Velethuil.

Need to get acquainted with the locals, then ask questions.

Bought a proper bow and arrows.

Owl Wisdom potions are helping. Second day without dreams.

Day 67.
The bandit hideout on a quiet farm was refreshing. Tested the new bow. Liked the sound of the bowstring, masterful work.

Need to study the book found there later.

Did not manage to find the object that the waitress mentioned. Found chambers, locked. Had no means to access those.

Found the ruins protected by goblinoids. They resemble the description Gala gave several days ago. Those must be the Ancient Halls he was after.

Day 68.
Met a person that goes by the name Mag'ariel and her companion, shady and silent character.

Both do not look useful.

Asked Mag'ariel for assistance with the mansions' locked doors. She provided it.

Need to be twice as careful. Mag'ariel. Deliberately or not, she left. Got trapped by her closing the doors. Could not unlock them on my own.

Need to find alternative means to make the doors open. No more risks with unknown rogues.

Did not ask for a reward from the waitress. She did not look capable of paying the full price for what it costed.

I hate teleports.

Day 69.
Assisted Nol in collecting bounties on Green Valley ogres and King Forest's ores.

Met new people. One seemed to be interested in helping out. Need to speak of it later.

Need to use fewer names in the journal.

Internal bleeding did not occur this time. Good advice, to use Endurance and Elemental Resist potions. Mitigates the damage.
Not the pain.

Need to rest and try to sleep.

Hate. Teleports.

While in town again, might try my favourite place.

Day 70.
It helps, but not much. Dreams are returning, again.