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28 - Today is Day of the Huntress, day 3 of the month Phoenatos in the year 5107.

Fall from height

Hunting stone giants in stone valley is perilous indeed, especially on the ledge. I've fallen on numerous occasions and sometimes died as a result. However this is the first time that I have observed someone else falling.

You look in horror as Michaelous is caught by a rockslide that sweeps him from the ledge!

A mantled invar-plated helm with a single ruby tear on the cheek partially deflects the onslaught of the crushing attack.
... 5 points of damage!
Blow to the head causes Michaelous's ears to ring!
Michaelous screams!

29 - Today is Niiman, day 3 of the month Lormesta in the year 5108.

First sung to item

Today I had an item sung to for the first time. The bard was Bevan. What an excellent skill they have for discerning the hidden details of an item.

30 - Today is Restday, day 20 of the month Lormesta in the year 5108.

Have I mellowed?

I was reading my diary entry dated Niiman, day 19 of the month Olaesta in the year 5107, and chuckling to myself. I took a slightly aggressive approach to some of the locksmiths who were holding back the scarabs from my boxes. I've calmed down considerably since then.

So Scarab etiquette mark II. These days , if I like the locksmith I tend to just let them have all the scarabs. For locksmiths that I don't really know but who offer them to me i will let them keep them. But for those who ask me 'do you want this' I just say 'yes' and take it. I'm not even interested in the blasted things, if truth be told. It's just the principle of the thing.

31 - Today is Volnes, day 21 of the month Lormesta in the year 5108.

Hunting in Stronghold

I died today in Stronghold. Nothing new there... however it reminds me of two things:

The first is not to get too cocky in a swarm. Redux is not defence against a well aimed spell
The second is the ruthless efficiency with which a shaman can finish you off if you're not street smart

An Illoke shaman blinks dazedly a moment before shaking off the stun!
An Illoke shaman calls forth the wrath of his god as he points at you!
A massive stone hand appears in the air before you!
The huge grey fist wraps around you before you can move to avoid it! The massive hand clasps you tightly in a crushing grip, and your brain seems to scream as you feel your bones snapping!
... 50 points of damage!
Your left leg collapses as the bones are ground to dust!
That marathon will just have to wait!
You fall screaming to the ground grasping your mangled left leg!
You are stunned for 12 rounds!
... 45 points of damage!
Impact removes the right hand in a spray of red mist!
... 25 points of damage!
Strong shot to your head messes up the brain fatally.
You become solid again.
You notice your blood flow go back to normal.
The bright luminescence fades from around you.
The layer of protection fades away.
The brilliant luminescence fades from around you.

It seems you have died, my friend. Although you cannot do anything, you are keenly aware of what is going on around you...
You mentally give a sigh of relief as you remember that the Goddess Lorminstra owes you a favor.
...departing in 16 mins...
An Illoke shaman looks weakened!

So here are a few things you should know about Stronghold

If you can't climb you can't get in there in the first place. So get some climbing training
If in trouble you can voln fog out. You can even use your ring in some places but you can't ring back in.
Your friendly wizard can create a gate to get you out, but this only works in certain places
Try all doors and alcoves. Sometimes they are locked...but sometimes they are not
If caught in a swarm of varying attackers then kill the buggers in this order:

(1) Shaman; (2) Mystic; (3) Giant; (4) Mastiff

Yeah yeah yeah, I know that mastiffs are tougher than Giants but from a warriors perspective, an ankle biting dog is preferable to a spell casting giant!

32 - Today is Feastday, day 26 of the month Lormesta in the year 5108.

Another Guildmaster joins the ranks

[Guild Hall, Masters' Office] You walk on thickly padded carpet in this finely decorated, spacious room. You also see Guild Master Bertrandt, a large modwir wood bar with some stuff on it, a vultite reinforced door and a suit of black iron armor.
Also here: Great Lady Cinabar, Goldstr, Great Lord Eurt, Byyre, Goddi
Obvious exits: none

Goddi asks to be promoted to Guild Master.

Bertrandt completes the promotion ritual and says, "Congratulations, Goddi, for achieving Guild Master status! We trust you'll serve your guild well."

33 - Today is Restday, day 10 of the month Fashanos in the year 5108.

THE RIFT

Today I ventured into the rift for the first time. I did so with a feeling of excitement and trepidation. I also did so without any clear knowledge of what life had in store for me there.
The first people I met there were: Thoranios, Valglin, High Lord Mikalmas, and Bhodili who were all very helpful.

So what did I learn on my first visit?
(1): I can kill lunatics pretty well enough as long as I avoid swarms.
(2): I have to ring out so will need to ensure that I have rings set.

You swing a razor-sharp mithril claidhmore at a raving lunatic!
AS: +370 vs DS: +284 with AvD: +42 + d100 roll: +7 = +135
... and hit for 38 points of damage!
Left leg mangled horribly.
The raving lunatic is stunned!
Roundtime: 6 sec.

You swing a razor-sharp mithril claidhmore at a raving lunatic!
AS: +370 vs DS: +258 with AvD: +42 + d100 roll: +64 = +218
... and hit for 134 points of damage!
Masterful slash to the raving lunatic's lower back!
Spinal cord and life are just memories now.
The raving lunatic writhes in agony and dies.

(3): The way back to safety is by using a door or a mirror from the planes,
(4): I need to change my pants frequently

So what do I have to do to hunt there?
(1): Get some favor - the symbols will be very useful!
(2): Get some herbs and keep them topped up
(3): Get some gold rings and get them pre-set to the GreatHall in the Trading Post
(4): Get a map! This is a must.
(5): Get some scrolls and imbedibles for protection
(6): Dramatically reduce my container contents to make me more mobile
AND SO THE GREAT RIFT ADVENTURE BEGINS

34 - Today is Volnes, day 11 of the month Fashanos in the year 5108.

So that's why they call it the Rift!

I had my first true experience of 'rifting'. You start off on one plane which you think is within your capabilities and the next thing you know you are being hunted by creatures beyond your ability, having been 'rifted' to another plane. Fun if not a little scarey.

Suddenly you feel sick and queasy, and your world seems blurry and indistinct. You fight an intense vertigo for a moment before the sensation leaves you. You regain your senses, blink once and look around.

[The Rift] {plane 3}
A small, faded festival tent has been set up in a patch of grass here. The tent covers several long tables with cakes and pastries arranged on them. Behind and to the sides of the tent, couples dance together, completely oblivious to your presence. The crowd of revelers moves stiffly, like puppets under the hand of a new master. Slowly they all turn and look at you, lifeless eyes pleading for release from this grim masquerade, then return to their partners in resignation as the dance continues.

How bizarre is that!

On a more promising note, with only my third hunt under my belt I rescued someone today.

35 - Today is Tilamaires, day 12 of the month Fashanos in the year 5108.

First Rift Death
I had my first rift death today. As a side bar, as interesting as it is hunting in the rift, the learning is very slow. You can learn faster in Stronghold, whilst undertaking bounty tasks.

36 - Today is Tilamaires, day 12 of the month Fashanos in the year 5108.

Krag Slopes Discovered

I've discovered the Krag slopes with it's yetis and dwellers. This is a warriors dream. And a claid wielding warrior's delight! I will be hunting here for some years. I just need to explore a little more. There is more than meets the eye to this place.

37 - Today is Leyan, day 21 of the month Ivastaen in the year 5108.

Fixskills 5108

I removed all my brawl today and maxed out on physical training. It actually quite an interesting effect.

(1) I can now withstand quite substantial attacks that would otherwise have caused severe injury or death. (absolutely no spells and in offensive stance)

A krag dweller pounds at you with its fist!
AS: +400 vs DS: +155 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +60 = +337
... and hits for 33 points of damage!
Mighty blow cracks several of your ribs.

(2) However, the loss of the brawl training now seems to result in me getting knocked into another room.... something that never occurred before. I seem to be more susceptible to certain Yeti attacks: (Offensive stance and no spells)

A krag yeti swings a monstrous hairy hand at you!
AS: +363 vs DS: +164 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +97 = +328
... and hits for 32 points of damage!
Grazing blow to your stomach.

The impact of the yeti's blow rattles teeth and brain and sends you flying southeast!

Stunned for 6 rounds!

Seems there are greater benefits to brawl than voln fu. It just goes to show that there is NO perfect training regime. Everything is a series of compromises and tradeoffs. Will see how this plays out for the next 365 days.

38 - Today is Leyan, day 21 of the month Ivastaen in the year 5108.

Oh No! Please don't exclude me! - heheh

So i'm looking to buy a pink sapphire for a bounty. Here's the story:

I think on the merchant channel: "Buying pink sapphires - 6K"
Allereli (Focused) [General]: "In the bank.

I wander to the bank and withdraw 6K in cash. Allereli is there waiting.

Allereli tilts her pink sapphire side to side, making the light play off it.

You turn to Allereli and cheer!

You softly say, "Toss the gem over - not gonna do a runner.

You wink at Allereli and Allereli grabs your hand.

Allereli offers you her pink sapphire for 6000 silvers. Click ACCEPT CONFIRM to pay the silvers and accept the offer or DECLINE to decline it. The offer will expire in 30 seconds.

Allereli says, "I don't know ye.

You softly say, "And I don't do that for single gems - call it a quirk. Thanks anyway"

Allereli has cancelled the offer.

Up until this point everything is fine. I won't do an accept/confirm for single gems and the seller won't accept without it. Fair enough. But then I get:

Allereli (Focused) [General]: "My gem stash is closed to ye.

Is this person for real? I was roaring with laughter when I heard this thought! . So funny!! And she said it with such solemnity too, as if she was a priest excommunicating a sinner! Too funny. Of course, I couldn't resist a comment in return.

You (Focused to Allereli) [General]: "I will try to hide my disappointment - heh"

Oh boy. I love days like these. Keep em coming!

39 - Today is Volnes, day 26 of the month Ivastaen in the year 5108.

Disarming

I got disarmed today for the first time.

[Roll result: 121 (open d100: 72)]
A minotaur warrior swings a blackened steel moon axe at your mithril claidhmore and connects!
Your mithril claidhmore is knocked to the ground!
Roundtime: 5 sec.

A razor-sharp mithril claidhmore rises from the floor and flies back to your waiting hand!

40 - Today is Volnes, day 7 of the month Koaratos in the year 5108..

Beardless at last

I have visited the town pavilion today and asked for my beard to be removed. I had worn it with pride, but it was time for it to go. Besides, I was fed up of being referred to as 'Sir'. There are only so many times you can tell people that you are a 'Lady'.

41 - Today is Feastday, day 12 of the month Koaratos in the year 5108..

Missed a Wedding - Damn!

I missed a wedding I was hoping to attend. To be honest I was so exhausted that I probably could not have attended. Nevertheless it would have been nice to see Amberain before the event. Oh well. I will see if I can get some scrolls of the event.

Invitation: "You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of Amberain and Raissong on 07/11/2008 at 21:00 (Central). There will be a reception afterwards to celebrate this union, please bring this invitation with you for admittance."

[Diary Book I] - [Diary Book III]

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Assess risk personal - GemStone IV diary

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personal - GemStone IV diary