17th November 353 SR

Becoming a citizen of Silverleaf

The last few weeks I have been exploring the elf side of my nature. It has many advantages, including giving me greater dexterity and the ability to move more quietly. One change I appreciate less is the loss of night-time. Nights appear like day to me now, and I used to enjoy walking the forests with a lantern to light my way. But the learning of magic is a blessing. The world shrinks to the size of a house, thanks to gating.

But the most memorable for me was may acceptance as a villager in a simple ceremony held by its lord, Phoenix, making me a scout of Silverleaf. I have lived here since I first found the village in the riven dell in the spring of 351, two and a half years ago - an eventful period of my life. Aegnor, the village bowyer, equipped me with clothing and an elven composite bow, everything made with his skilled hands. I met my father briefly, too. All is well. I am content and at peace.

I have also been talking to the elves of the Heartwood and agreeing to take on quests, the boar-cull being the first of a number. I have been ranging widely to familiarise myself with the new landscape, the forest that replaces the swamp. Mighty and ancient yew trees have sprung up everywhere, thanks, I now know, to the mightly magic of the elves! The bog denizens appear to have all gone, and all is calm and peaceful: wonderful!

Increasingly my thoughts turn to my mother and cousin in Trinsic. I must visit them soon. I need only step through the gate...

New Year's Day 354 SR

The marvel of magic

Equipped with a runebook from the well-ordered coffers of The Silverleaf Tavern, for the first time in my life I experienced the wonder of recall: instant transpositioning without summoning a gate! How did I manage before? I've been using recall to visit places, and before yule I recalled to the other end of the world, enjoyed a drink and congenial company at The Trinsic Rose before recalling home. Quite unbelievable!

At The Trinsic Rose I met the fair Lady VanQa whom Jern thinks highly of, and also her husband, Miguen. I still struggle to speak elvish: in my mid-20s it is too late for me to lose my yewish accent. Jern mentioned that, like me Miguen was half-elven, and has much wisdom. Also like me he has brown hair and a similar complexion: I feel the kinship. Must speak to him alone some time about being half-elven.

I also visited Cove for a ceremony for the retirement of Commander Eason. Jern had been invited but it was too far for him to go, so I went in his stead to represent the Frettings. With magic it was easy enough using the moongates. Many people, some clearly famous. The Yew Militia arrived and interrupted Eason's farewell address with accusations. Hard words were exchanged: I caught but snatches of conversation from my seat at the rear. I recognised one of the guardsmen, Daven, who healed me when I first arrived in Stonekeep but who later tormented me. The remembering was not good. Fighting broke out, arrows flew, one narrowly missing me. I recalled home, 'twas not my fight. I later learned that Commander Eason was killed resisting arrest.

The marvel of magic - it has changed my life...

15th January 354 Stratics Reckoning

Silverleaf Village: making a home
Kaine showed me a fine vacant site for my home on a cliff headland on the north bank of the riven dell west of the shrine/library. It is on the cliffs, with sea-views to both the west and the north, as well as south across the dell in which I can see other village buildings and hear Silverleaf brook as it tumbles over falls on its way to the sea. By the site springs a freshet that joins the brook, so sweet water is plentiful and close at hand.

Here will be my home. I have acquired the plot and have begun planning my house. It will have two floors. The ground floor will be traditional yewish stone, the one above it of elven design, to reflect the foundation of my life as a human and my new elven life growing from it.

There is much to do, and this is a time of great joy and content.


38th January 354

A visit to Smedly Herbwood's country cottage
Began scouting as part of my duties and came across a delightful country cottage with a millrace, on the coast immediately west of the Yew Flour Mill, the home of Smedly Herbwood. Fine garden, too. The name is vaguely familiar from my Militia days when I used to visit Underhill, though I had never met him. There was no sign of the owner, so I signed the guestbook and left for Yew Town to sell some skins and cuts of meat from my hunting.

Came back again the next day and pushed on further west along the coast. On my way home I passed the cottage and there, on the bridge over the stream running from the millhouse, stood one of the little folk, a bare-footed halfling. He held a lit lantern, from which I understood that it must be night-time for those races who have not the nightsight.

It was none other than Mr Herbwood: we introduced ourselves, I praised his fine home and we chatted amicably a while, before I continued eastward to overnight at the abbey.


11 February 354

Silverleaf: thoughts on my half-elven status
Accepting my elven heritage brought with it some immediate changes, notably faster reactions, a greater in-tuneness with nature, and the loss of darkness (and despite its advantages, I do regard it as a loss, especially not seeing the moons so clearly). But I recognise I am still more human than elf in the way my upbringing and life-experiences have formed me. In some ways they are the same, especially my love of the forest that all Leafstans bear.

So now when I come to make my home here in this elven village that I have come to love, I find that I am more comfortable with a traditionally-built home. I know that my elven villagers are rebuilding their homes in the elven style, using the materials and designs of the Heartwood, and they hope that I will do likewise. Yet the elven style is grand and princely. One day I will come to feel comfortable with it, but my humble human beginnings and simple life have ill-prepared me for such a change. I hope my villagers and especially my father will be patient with me.

I expect it may take some years for me to adapt. But time passes quickly in Sosaria, so I see no problem in accepting who I am, a half-elf whose human side is still very much to the fore, and so to allow my elven nature to bloom and take its place in my life at its own natural speed.

Jern knows remarkably much about elves. It was only after yuletide when I visited his favourite watering-hole, The Trinsic Rose, that I realised how this can be. Miguen Half-Elven, in particular, is one I wish to speak with more. Jern recounted how Miguen told that whether a half-elf has the life of the eldar or not depends on whether he or she embraces his elven nature or rejects it. I do embrace my elven heritage. Yet I do not reject my human nature either. I am content to let nature take its course and integrate my elven nature with my human side. Perhaps this patience and long-sight is a sign of my growing elvishness. Time will tell.