Before I started farming again, I had spent my marcs striking down the creatures of the dead zone. At one point I paused a moment to reflect upon a simple leather hat that had rolled out of the belly of the latest grazer fortunate (unfortunate for him) t o have met with my blade. And I smiled, strangely enough. Quite odd I know, for the area is surrounded by masses of shallow graves - nothing but vile and evil - but for a fleeting part-marc I saw in the little hat something warm and cute resting amongst the decay and darkness. As bad as I feel for the poor soul whose head the hat likely once rested on - there was just something briefly calming about the experience. I shook the blood and guts off as best I could and placed it in my robe pocket and held onto it for a few days.

The guild is doing well and growing happily with lovely people. Some who I sponsored in the past, and others very new to the lands of Valorn that I met during their first steps and helped out. I love mentoring any chance I get - but it is extra rewarding when you build a bond to the point that they later become guild kin as well as friend.

The Bunnies won the guild contest and now have their own guild cannon! How very neat. Even better - it is open to everyone. Thanks Bunnies.

These past days I've had much gardening to do when I've not been mentoring - and so I have had alot of time to think clearly during my work and I have determined that not everything in this world is relative and without condition. There are some facts that can not be altered - some absolutes we accept to be truth - and nothing can change a truth that is absolute. Balthazar is evil. A circle is round. My eyes are green. Fire is hot. If you add one plus one it always equals two. And unless all these years I have been seeing things, our Gods of Sunrifter exist - and even walk amongst us at times. But other things, other truths, are most certainly relative. In our reality what one person believes may not be shared by others. And so on. But what standards define reality? What if for some reason reality can not be distinguished from a dreamed or imagined experience? But I digress…

In truth it will always come down to one set of beliefs dismissing another. It doesn’t always matter who is right and who is wrong when there is relativity – just that we have clarity and respect for others opinions and that we allow the now to happen, as it is to happen. I’m not saying that we should just sit back and always go with the flow and that we shouldn’t ever make choices. Certainly not, but choices aren’t always easy and can often lead to misery when it is sometimes best to just agree to disagree, let go and move on. I for one prefer to be charged with positive vibes rather then negativity. It is much healthier for the mind, body and soul!

A few days back I was finally able to give a good friend a tour of the halls and it was a fun time.

I finally got the elusive hat! Seems the 6th time was the charm. AND best of all I got to speak with Pallas who left me the sweetest parchment I've ever received. I shall cherish it always.
So I will say that last night was a good night - and I finally got some peaceful and much needed rest.

And though all is not well in the lands - all feels well this moment.

Note: The third time was NOT a charm. Or the 4th or 5th.... (Im going to loose count soon)

Im so frustrated trying for this hat I think I need a serious break!
Only I am far too worried about Pallas sleeping so much to sleep myself.

And yet again, another useless hat from the Rat Sire. For the amount of junk he drops you think he would need to wake more often to collect it all!

Maybe the third time will be the charm...

I got so anxious last evening waiting for Pallas to wake I decided to poke around the rat nursery to see what I was going to be up against searching for the Rat Sire. The map was useless to me and I had no clue where he might be so I just started to wander aimlessly in the foul, stinking nursery and to my surprise I quickly was face to face with the Rat Sire. What a matted up and nasty looking rat he was, too. We fought and I was surprised - and slightly impressed that such a foul little creature could stand up to me in battle for as long as he did. But he soon fell to my blade and as he did he dropped his prized hat - which I was so happy to see and then promptly ruined trying to modify it with an item scroll. That’s just my sort of luck! So I sulked off alone to go rest but was unable to catch even a wink because I was obsessing over the incident.

So I grabbed my gear and some time later returned (there was no way I could wait to go back after having ruined the hat. My mind wouldn’t allow it) only to encounter what felt like quicksand on the way - and a longer and tougher battle then the previous encounter. My sword felt so heavy in my hands - as if I had some sort of strange spell or curse on me that slowed my every movement. It was very unsettling. And wouldn’t you know it after ALL that work to win the fight as he falls to the ground he drops for me the same old rat skin hat the smaller, juvenile rats drop. I sliced it into pieces with my weapon and in my confusion and frustration, I left. I had never before been on a quest where the item I expected was not dropped though I suppose there is a first time for everything.

Perhaps I’m doomed to wear this clunky centaur helm for the rest of my fighting days but the rat Sire has not seen the last of me.