Current Training: I have been alternating between Histia and Darkus lately, and finally got Darkus where I want him for the moment. A little bit more work with Histia, and then I will begin the long road to building my defensive skills.

Circle test this week: Brutally beaten, since I just wasn't hitting the Banshee this time. So, yet more Atkus to train, as well as all the defense I still clearly need.

Donations: Meyson Carpent, Fat Alice's hut builder on the Kizmia Island West beach, claims to be finished. It looked to me like quite a bit of work remained at the time, but true to his word, he had it ready and open faster than "soon". I have switched to selling supplies to the chivalry hut builder, first because she is cute and second, out of some curiosity about what on earth they are actually erecting there.

Exploration: I regained the use of the McBolie's cave entrance path. And the exit too, thankfully, but not the way into the crater. For the first time, I saw the sparkles at Fat Alice's beach! But I still haven't regained the ability to use those pesky bear cave paths. Sigh.

After the Feast of T'srinn, things have settled down a lot around town. I have been hunting through all the usual spots (lily pond, rocky cavern, tree giant breeding ground), with a trip to the waters around Kizmia's Island whenever I can find a healer willing to go. Sadly, that's not very often, it seems. For some reason, there have been many more fighters than healers active when I am, lately. Many of the old familiar faces seem to be absent these days. I haven't seen Axell in ages, nor Veer, Slyph, J'nder or Koric.

I DID see Shamhat for a short while. Too short. But it was delightful to see her smile again ...

I was hanging out on Fat Alice's beach, and Skybird gave me a push toward the path leading into the island interior. For the first time, I saw the path sparkles there! It's unlikely I will get to go adventuring there anytime soon, but it's nice to feel that all that pathfinding training counts for something, sometimes.

I believe Evus is getting easily confused in his dotage. The poor old man.

Entirely by chance, I decided to speak to Kretski in the healer hall today, and got a big surprise. Now I had spoken to her before, but had the impression that she had only one job to do - informing Evus and Bodrus about exiles' training with the other one. Since their big fight, they each seem to look askance on each other's training and refuse to speak to each other, but Kretski seems to be softening their views of each other and serves as a mediator.

However, Kretski clearly also seems to help Evus to recognize trainings by OTHER fighter trainers as well, that he seems to miss himself when his mind wanders. And not just once, but over and over!

I had recently achieved a new level with Evus (see Storm 204), and immediately switched to training with Histia and Darkus. I felt that I was weak in these areas, and was half-expecting Evus to recognize that I had improved in these skills with yet another level of recognition, but he did not. Today I was rebuffed in this by Evus, as usual, then I spoke to Kretski about it, and suddenly Evus waves me over and tells me that I am now his 'respected colleague'!

My conversations with Kretski and Evus, verbatim:

11/14/01 9:22:27a Evus says, "Hail, Azriel."
11/14/01 9:22:28a Evus bows deeply.
11/14/01 9:22:32a Evus says, "Your devotion to the craft is exemplary."
11/14/01 9:23:01a Kretski says, "Greetings, Lord Azriel."
11/14/01 9:23:03a Kretski says, "I see your strength lies in the breadth of your skills."
11/14/01 9:23:06a Kretski says, "I will inform Evus of my observations."
11/14/01 9:23:14a Evus says, "Hail, Azriel."
11/14/01 9:23:16a Evus bows deeply.
11/14/01 9:23:20a Evus says, "It is always good to greet a respected colleague."

While I am pleased with this new recognition of the abilities I already had, I am concerned about Evus' mental lapses and worried that he may not be able to perform his duties in the future. I shall be speaking to Kretski regularly from now on, to inquire about Evus' condition.

While hunting, I pulled out my Sword of Souls and got quite a shock. No, not the usual shock of a screaming sword, but the shock of feeling the presence of Tenebrion reaching out of the mists to stare at me. I couldn't tell if his cold presence was intent on good or ill, or was merely curious about my use of his smith's handiwork.

Twice this happened to me this morning.

So I went ashore on his island intent on speaking to him. Curiously, I found his back door ajar, so I slipped in through the tunnel and marched right in to his audience chamber - and unexpectedly found a crowd of exiles there chatting with his brother Umbrion. Tenebrion did not answer my calls, and Umbrion ignored my questions about his brother's intentions. I must wonder what it is that Tenebrion really wants and how it is that he knows when a Sword of Souls is in use.

Click here for my report on the previous storm.

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