Posts from ☀️ Arselia and Akonia

07.06
Events:

UNPLEASANT MORNING. The entire squad ended up in the guard barracks on false charges. Of course, I didn't have the worst of it, but that only added to the sadness of the whole situation: a leader must answer for their subordinates. Anyway, after we were assigned to solitary cells, nothing else happened that day for technical reasons. I caught a brief glimpse of several guards (whose faces it's high time to remember), spent considerable time in futile negotiations with ZV. Studied the pattern on the stone walls of my cell.

Personnel:

N (aka Nora). A hereditary fire maiden. Relatively inexperienced, but who am I to talk? Her heart is in the right place. When she stumbles over something while walking (which is often), she swings her sword as if about to cut down an invisible foe. How do I know so much about her? That's another story.

Y (aka Yuri). A dark-haired young lad, one of those who try to look more serious and stern than they really are. Worked in a pair with N.

VL (aka Viktor Loss). Also known as IKAL (aka I'll Kill All And Remain). At the time of our last meeting, completely out of his mind. The soldiers were lucky not to accidentally step on his shoe or give him too sideways a glance during the arrest, otherwise it would have ended grimly. How did such a man rise to captain without anyone noticing something was wrong with him? A monument to the professional incompetence of the entire Margel guard.

TV (aka The Other Viktor). I don't know this blond guard's name, but his stern gaze makes him akin to VL. However, his noble manner sets him apart completely; he could be a brother to some duke or local king.

SV (aka Sarana Waltz). Likes to sit in ambushes, sipping coffee, while real criminals freely roam somewhere else entirely. Don't bother running from her; she'll stab you in the back. She doesn't forgive mistakes (well, she does, but too late for the one who made them). Although if you're lucky enough to fall by her sword in a potion shop, she'll act like a true lady (but I wouldn't recommend it).

EA (aka Elliot Ironbutt). Also known as HC (aka Hardened Case). Shines a lamp in your face and makes you confess to every villainy in existence all at once.

Locations:

MARGEL GUARD FORT. A place where minutes feel like years and days like millennia. Also, did you know that if you cross the threshold of this place not as a guard, you are automatically sentenced to life as a prisoner? I didn't.

08.06
Events:

STUDYING THE PATTERNS ON THE TILE AND ITS COMPOSITION. Clay, feldspar, sand, kaolin. The stone walls resemble those from quarry number 378 in Cridear near the village of Belopoganets. The window glass is double-layered for strength, but too high to examine closely. Dear mother, what am I even doing here...

09.06
Events:

FREE THANKS TO EV. She really is wonderful... At least she spoils us. Only one of the squad had to stay behind for now: it's sad they didn't even let me attend the court hearing. The justice system works strangely and quite conditionally.

I PAY HALF THE SALARY to everyone in advance for the inconvenience endured. Yes, we haven't earned it yet, but it's high time to somehow compensate for all the stress suffered. Meanwhile, I receive interesting news from OA: a candidate for the role of serial killer has been successfully found.

WE VISIT BB, ALSO KNOWN AS FSIP. Of course, not empty-handed, but with food from our favorite eatery. She says she doesn't live alone, has roommates... Though I have doubts about what those roommates are like; BB spoke well of them, but my perception differs. Right after that, another pleasant audience with EV, but very brief, because...

SERVANTS BURST IN, and it turns out the criminal didn't wait for my report to finish, but got straight to business. Entering the guard building, we see a terrible sight: not one but two law enforcers covered in mournful black cloths, and a bloody trail leading outside. Along the way, we learn that the rebelling VL recently caused havoc in the torture chamber following the same principle as before—senseless and merciless. Only one person survived that situation.

Personnel:

UU (aka UtUlg). Not our client. I don't even know who or what he wants to liberate...

MJ (aka Mitsurugian Priestess). Also known as AT (aka Ayano Tan). A practically immortal servant of gods unknown to me, who also had to sit in the dungeon against her will. She can knock down a very non-metaphorical bull with a piece of paper. Wants to build a new sanctuary in the city; I hope there won't be problems with the Arcelites over this.

Events:

WE BEGIN PLANNING the final part of our assignment from EV. A threat looms over us that no one seemed to expect: thanks to reconnaissance from OA, it became better understood. But MJ turned out to be an unexpected and very welcome ally (or are we to her?). I'm learning the fire arrow spell for the operation (only later did I notice a planning error in this regard).

10.06
Events:

BEFORE DAWN, I manage to enchant MJ's outfit; it turned out to be a fine kimono with regeneration. By the way, the fabrics looked quite unusual, despite the simple bonuses they initially provided.

WE HEAD TO THE FOREST, navigating by compass. We arrive. Positioning. Success. But it was terrifying; thanks again to MJ for bailing us out.

A COMPLICATION AROSE when MJ decided to perform some ritual. The first phase was successful, but during the second, our companion fainted, taking spiritual damage. A little later, I myself took similar damage, slightly less, because I decided to read some nasty thing, justifying it as useful for the cause. Then similarly with Kilika, because she decided to touch some nasty thing. In short, wherever you spit, you get "zapped." So it goes.

Locations:

FOREST TO THE EAST. A lovely little spot. Birds hide in hollows, squirrels pretend to be tree bark, insects prefer to burrow deeper into the ground—because all these animals perfectly understand what will happen if they show themselves to the wrong person. The right choice.

11.06
Events:

HOW PLEASANT it is to sleep in a soft bed not just for the sake of it, but with a sense of duty fulfilled. Another audience with EV; we received a budget, preparing for what fate has in store for us next.

WE DECIDED TO CELEBRATE. The squad invited MJ; we went together to eat local seafood. Heard a lot of interesting things about the spiritual, and overall had a wonderful time: we all needed an outlet, and we got one.

DURING THE FEAST, MJ turned out to be acquainted with ZMMO and nearly lured her away to her temple... Although I wouldn't have minded; we try not to overburden ZMMO, but sooner or later the issue that she can no longer do even light physical work will probably come up. For now, I'm glad she stayed with us—too valuable an asset.

Personnel:

AR (aka Anna Sophia Roa). The rose in her right eye gives her a resemblance to a character from classical plays (which I've only read, though, not seen in person). Imposing. Yet another cousin of SS (hmm, which number is this? There are many talented people in Margel).

Locations:

THE YOUNG DROWNED MAIDEN. A restaurant a class above what we're used to, but you only live once.

12.06
Events:

FINISHING UP PENDING MATTERS. Looking for ways to obtain some personal funds, because public money certainly can't be spent on oneself. Going with Kilika to the second lesson at the Academy.

REPAYING DEBTS. Since SD had to part with some of her property during the mission, it was my duty to compensate her with a brand new topaz.

Locations:

WORKERS' GUILD. An excellent and safe way to earn some extra money by putting in some effort. Also found out that no one in this city knows how to play musical instruments—what irony: the music shop on Emerald Avenue risks going bankrupt.

13.06
Events:

ASSIGNED A NEW QUEST; we're heading to Sidgimort for training. Contrary to usual, there's no joy; how I wish I could stay in Margel and continue combat training here... I'm saying this even from the perspective of that time, not just today, but work is work. EV scared me a bit, of course. Too ambiguous. Too strange. Of course, I can rationalize it, but I had a feeling there would be failure.

PREPARED A BUSINESS PLAN. You always need a reserve in case things go very badly financially, so I gladly invested in BM. I wonder how he's doing? Never got to check the results of that work and discussions; I spent quite a long time calculating all the options, estimates... Ah, those were the days when work came particularly briskly and well for me, not like now. Well, BM turned out to be an understanding listener.

PE'S NOSE. I understood this woman less and less; according to her data and OA's data, PE broke her nose trying to enter the Dryad store (what...), but by the next morning this important organ was intact. How am I supposed to keep an eye on my comrades if they're constantly getting into some nonsense?

14.06
Events:

TEMPORAL ANOMALIES helped me unlock the leadership specialization: one step closer to being an excellent fighter for my squad. Now I just need to learn it. Starting the next phase: reading advice for those placed in command of a combat squad while wearing a magnificent cloak on their shoulders.

THE SUDDEN DEATH OF PE on Emerald Avenue. Some time later, I developed an unsubstantiated but strong suspicion that PE did not die of heatstroke, but rather from a curse she had picked up somewhere. Yesterday's incident with PE and the Dryad store might still have meant something, and although I find it hard to believe that the vendor there is openly plotting, PE could have done something unwise afterwards. Approached some suspicious person in a dark alley who promised to heal her broken nose. Or found a cursed item, the kind that jump into your hands themselves, sensing your spirit's weakness. In the worst case, it could even have been some otherworldly god.

(This day is a work in progress)